NASHVILLE – DeAndre Hopkins has seen plenty of changes around him.
In the past few months, he has a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator, a new receivers coach, an improved receiving corps to work alongside, and a secondary that's added top-flight cornerbacks to compete against in practices.
The Titans veteran receiver is excited about it all, but after an OTA practice this week, Hopkins made it clear his focus is on himself – and being the best he can be.
"I am always competing," said Hopkins, who is headed into his 12th season. "Any time we get anyone who is a No.1 receiver, my mindset is to go out and outcompete them, outdo them. I've always had that mindset, Kobe Bryant being my favorite athlete of all time. Any time I get a chance to compete against anyone I am trying to outcompete them, trying to outdo them. And that's only going to make the team better."
Hopkins knows the potential at receiver, with veterans Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd being added to the team.
Ridley and Boyd have both been productive in the league, and with Hopkins coming off yet another 1,000-yard season, the group has a chance to be special. During his media availability, Hopkins also raved about fellow receiver Treylon Burks, the team's first-round pick in 2022.
"I think this is one of the best wide receiver groups I've had the chance to play with on paper," Hopkins said. "Obviously, I could come up here and say a bunch, but we haven't played a game yet. So, we'll see how it goes once we hit the field.
"(We're) just taking it day by day. Tyler Boyd has been in this program for a while. A lot of us are still learning how things go. Just coming out practicing."
Not everything, Hopkins conceded, has been perfect.
"This is an offense I have never played in," he said. "There's a lot of things I can do to help this offense, so trying to execute and be perfect. I am a perfectionist, and I've definitely made some mistakes already. Just come in the next day and not make those mistakes."
While watching Callahan's offense in Cincinnati from afar, Hopkins said he saw more reasons to be excited.
Having cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and L'Jarius Sneed across from him in the defense adds yet another reason to think the receivers will be pushed to be better.
OTAs and minicamp will set the stage for what's to come in training camp, leading up to the season.
Now it's time to build chemistry with quarterback Will Levis, and each other.
"We have to be on the same page with Will," Hopkins said. "We have to know what he is thinking, what he is doing, and be able to take his criticism, and him being able to take our criticism. It doesn't happen just on the field, you have to build that bond. It's up to us to go out and help him be the best quarterback he can be."
