A few years ago, the 49ers likely would have jumped at the chance to sign DeAndre Hopkins.

However, this offseason, when they had such an opportunity with Hopkins having identified them as a team he would like to join following his release by the Cardinals, the 49ers showed no interest.

Hopkins revealed as much in an interview with GQ, saying the 49ers were on his list and that he reached out. However, the Niners ignored his enquiries.

"There were some teams that I had on my list that I gave them calls, and they didn't give a call back," said Hopkins. "Detroit Lions, they didn’t want me. Dallas Cowboys didn’t want me. Giants didn’t want me. Shit. Who else ain’t want me? San Fran ain’t want me."

Hopkins went on to sign with the Titans and won't get the chance to show the Niners what they missed out as the 49ers do not play the AFC South on their schedule in 2023.

It is not that surprising the Niners elected to pass on Hopkins given that, in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, they already have one of the most dynamic receiver duos in the NFL and, though 11 was the personnel group they used most often in 2022, are likely to lean increasingly heavily on 21 personnel in 2023 given the success they had utilizing it following the trade for Christian McCaffrey.

As such, Hopkins role with the 49ers likely would have been as a sparingly used 'power slot' receiver who does not bring as much yards after the catch upside as San Francisco's current number three receiver, Jauan Jennings. Hopkins, per NextGen Stats, averaged 2.9 yards after catch per reception compared to 5.1 for Jennings.

The Niners were never likely to pay Hopkins $13 million a year, which he got from the Titans, to perform at an inferior level to a younger and significantly cheaper receiver in Jennings whom they essentially have under team control for another season after 2023. Jennings is a restricted free agent in 2024.

There is a case to be made that Hopkins may still have been valuable to the Niners as a ball-dominant receiver who could be a significant asset in the red zone. 

However, after taking so many swings on premium talent that has cost them draft capital and cap space, the 49ers weren't in a position to pay up for him in a year that saw them make Nick Bosa the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history on Wednesday. For Hopkins and the Niners, this was simply a case of a great player who is arguably on the decline coming available at the wrong time.

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