The Tennessee Titans took the NFL world by storm on sunday with the reported signing of star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. 

All eyes have been on the prized free agent for months after his release from the Cardinals in May. In the last several weeks, much of the specualtion involved the Titans, Bills, Chiefs, and Patriots. 

The Titans appear to be the winners of the sweepstakes, and the move could have division-altering repercussions.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the betting favorite to win the AFC South this offseason. After narrowly winning the division in 2022, it makes sense for the Jaguars to be hyped up this offseason. 

The Titans, on the other hand, have not received any hype this offseason, with it not being uncommon to see the team in the bottom 10 of power rankings. This is mainly due to the lack of a star QB, questionable weapons on offense, and a poor offensive line. However, the addition of Hopkins could change some things. 

I believe that Hopkins will be the difference between another disappointing season and a return to the playoffs. It's easy to forget just how dominant Hopkins has been in his career due to a couple of down seasons in Arizona. 

I said "down" seasons, but even Hopkins' 2022 season was more productive than any Titans' receiver. Hopkins served a six-game PED suspension in 2022 and still ended with 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns. For reference, Robert Woods led the Titans with 53 catches for 527 yards. 

So even at Hopkins' worst, he's much better than anything the Titans have had post-AJ Brown. Hopkins has been remarkably injury-resistant as well, having played 15 or 16 games in all but two of his 10 NFL seasons. Hopkins has earned three First-team All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl nods, and led the NFL in receiving TDs in 2017. 

To put it mildly, Hopkins is not just another free agent signing. Hopkins has been one of the most reliable receivers in the NFL for years now, and is likely the best receiver the Titans have ever had. 

With Mike Vrabel being one of the best head coaches in the league, and Derrick Henry still being Derrick Henry, it's not hard to see how the addition of Hopkins could put the team over the edge. The Titans had absolutely zero receiving threat in 2022. The offense looked completely lost on passing downs, and if Henry struggled, the offense couldn't move at all. 

With Hopkins on the team, the Titans now have a weapon other than Henry that teams have to gameplan for. Even when Hopkins doesn't get the ball, he will take attention away from young studs Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo. Overall, the offense will look like a completely different unit with Hopkins. Add in the addition of new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, and the Titans could have one of the most exciting offenses in the league. 

With the Texans and Colts rebuilding, the division will likely come down to the Titans and Jaguars. Would you rather have Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk, and Evan Engram or Henry, Hopkins, and Okonkwo? Henry and Hopkins are both two of the best at their positions, so the Titans have the edge here. 

The Titans' defense often played well enough to earn a win in 2022, the offense just couldn't capitalize. In fact, the Titans' defense finished a respectable 12th in opponents' points per game in 2022. It's hard to see the unit being worse in 2023 with Harold Landry III returning and the additions of Sean Murphy-Bunting and Arden Key. 

Ultimately, the Titans should now be seen as the favorites to win the AFC South. A bonafide number one receiver completely changes the dynamic of the team, and coupled with an elite head coach and solid defense, the team should have just enough to outlast the Jaguars. 

Featured image via © Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK