Tennessee Titans needs: Wide Receivers

Wide receiver is a big need for the Tennessee Titans, but not if they aren’t unique.

If you are the Tennessee Titans, looking back on the 2016 NFL season you can say a few things about your offense.

Firstly, you were a very successful running team. Your offensive line took over games and you have two capable running backs that can create yards and find holes.

Secondly, Marcus Mariota is going to be a great quarterback in this system. As the year went on he found more and more consistency against very good defenses. If he can start the season as well as he played during that 10-week stretch in the middle of the season he can be a top-10 QB at worst.

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Finally, you have some really solid options in the passing game. Rishard Matthews was a WR1-caliber target after taking over the starting role from Andre Johnson. Tajae Sharpe showed a lot in the preseason and flashed throughout his rookie year. Delanie Walker is going to continue to be a top-4 tight end in the NFL for at least another two years.

What you really don’t have is a game breaker on offense. Sure, your running game is solid and consistent, but the Tennessee Titans don’t have another CJ2K back there.

Where this really shows up is in the passing game. There is no one there that makes defensive coordinators have to adjust for. Every great offense has that guy that really scares DCs into playing conservatively and the Tennessee Titans just don’t have that yet.

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Now, this can be several different types of players. A.J. Green wins with height, technique and deep speed. Antonio Brown and Julio Jones win because of their explosion out of their breaks and how strong and fast they are with the ball. Odell Beckham does it with his leaping ability, YAC and great hands.

The point is, game changing WRs can come in a lot of different shapes and sizes but the one thing they have to be is unique. Let’s look at the Tennessee Titans current wide receivers and see what they have.

Current Wide Receivers:

Rishard Matthews- WR1/2

I think Matthews is talented wide receiver and if he gets a true WR1 opposite him, he will be a dominant number 2. He was on pace to put up 1,100+ yards conservatively last year if he would have started all season.

Tajae Sharpe- WR3

Sharpe is a good receiver who has nice size and can run routes well. His defining skills should be his routes and hands, and while he may not be an explosive option for the Tennessee Titans he is a solid player who fits what they want to do on offense.

Harry Douglas-Possible cut

I don’t see a spot on the roster next year for Harry Douglas. While he has been a great locker room guy for this team, I think that his struggles and limitations combined with the money he is due just won’t work out.

Potential Free Agents:

Pierre Garcon, Washington Redskins

People will talk like Garcon isn’t a great receiver or that injuries have derailed his career. That is absolutely incorrect. While his teammate DeSean Jackson has struggled with injuries, Garcon has played 46 of 48 games over the last three years and averages 857 yards per season over that span.

That isn’t including his monster 2013 season either where he topped 1,300 yards.

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears

Jeffery has struggled with injuries, but when he is healthy he has been a classic WR1 that you would draw up. Even though he hasn’t had a healthy season in 2 years he managed to top 800 yards in both of those seasons.

Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins

If the Tennessee Titans really just want a pure slot receiver in free agency then Stills is there guy. Stills has big play potential and while he will never be mentioned with the top wide receivers in the NFL, having stars in niche rolls is how Wes Welker became a star with the New England Patriots when Jon Robinson was there.

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Potential Draft targets:

Corey Davis, Western Michigan

If we are being honest and if you have watched this receiver class at all, then you know Corey Davis is the best wide receiver in the class. If you argue that point you are either sticking to your preseason narrative or you are afraid to commit to a guy that plays in the MAC.

Davis does everything well and he has been a star for 4 years even opting to go back to school last year when he could have easily entered the 2016 NFL Draft.

He is a better route runner, creator, deep field target, possession receiver, etc. than this next guy.

Mike Williams, Clemson

Williams is going to be a really good post up wide receiver who can get you a first down on 3rd and 8 if your quarterback can throw the comeback. However, if you need a guy to get YAC, beat people with his routes, win deep passes, or get big plays with OPI then you probably shouldn’t go all in on Williams.

I don’t hate him, I think he has a lot of talent. But if you are going to sell me on the fact that he can be a solid target that can beat smaller defenders in post-up situations, but he isn’t going to separate from good CBs then why would I ever put him on the field when I already have Delanie Walker who does that at minimum.

John Ross, Washington

If you want a speed demon like DeSean Jackson or Will Fuller, then this is your guy. Like all speed-first wide receivers injuries are going to be an issue. However, unlike Fuller Ross can run a variety of routes and he constantly beats man coverage at any part of the field.

Having a wide receiver like this combined with Marcus Mariota’s newfound deep ball and his accuracy would make RPOs so much more deadly.

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