Hope Springs Eternal

Shortly after he signed with the Tennessee Titans, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins talked about factors that influenced his decision, including his relationships with coach Mike Vrabel and running back Derrick Henry. Curiously, though, he also cited the team's performance in the final two games of 2022, defeats that extended Tennessee's losing streak to seven games and ended its reign as AFC South champion. ... The Titans were able to make the deal for Hopkins -- in part -- because safety Kevin Byard was willing to restructure his contract. That selfless move ended a contentious offseason between the leader of the defense and the new front office. It also undoubtedly was dreamed up by one of the more underappreciated members of the front office. ... The recent decision by the NFL to suspend right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere has created some training camp intrigue. To date, the team has resisted the urge to sign a veteran fill-in, namely George Fant. The current roster includes one candidate (likely the leading candidate) who was a forgotten man a year ago. ... Finally, Vrabel can't seem to say enough good things about the work second-year quarterback Malik Willis put in (and the attitude he displayed) during the offseason. What happens in the preseason games, though, is likely to speak volumes about what coaches want to do about who backs up starter Ryan Tannehill during the regular season.