Projected 53 Man Roster for the 2017 Tennessee Titans
By Luke Worsham
WIDE RECEIVER
11. Rishard Matthews: In 2016, Matthews proved to be worth every penny of the 3 year, $15M contract he was signed to during the offseason. The castaway of the Miami Dolphins consistently created separation with crisp route running and became a dominating force in the red zone, hauling in nine touchdowns. The Titans’ new additions at WR will only help him be more effective.
12. Corey Davis (R): General manager Jon Robinson takes the New England Patriots’ approach of acquiring as many picks as possible into the draft. So, when he has a top 5 pick and doesn’t trade it away for more capital, he clearly likes someone a lot. That’s the case with Davis, a big bodied receiver whose size and athleticism have drawn comparisons to Terrell Owens. He may not become Owens, one of the most dominant receivers in NFL history, but his skill-set could transform the Titans’ offense.
13. Taywan Taylor (R): The Titans’ first trade of the 2017 NFL Draft came in the third round when they moved up to select Taylor. A dominating slot receiver at Western Kentucky, Taylor makes up for his lack of burning straight-line speed with his quickness and ability to create separation over the middle of the field. He’ll try to become what the team expected Kendall Wright to be.
14. Tajaé Sharpe: When the Titans selected Taylor, it became clear that Sharpe’s role in the offense will be diminished in 2017. He’ll likely start the year as the fourth WR on the depth chart, but could earn himself more playing time if he proves that he has developed his route running. Sharpe is a competitor and detailed in his preparation; he won’t go down without a fight.
15. Tre McBride: One of three survivors from Ruston Webster’s mostly dismal 2015 draft class, McBride has a good chance to make the Week One final 53 for the first time in his young career. He still really hasn’t gotten any sort of chance to play offense, and that isn’t all that likely to change in 2017. McBride’s value comes in the kicking game, where he has shown to be very alert and a willing tackler.
16. Harry Douglas: Douglas made Titans fans scratch their heads throughout the 2016 season, and finished the year as a healthy scratch. However, his knowledge of the game and experience make him a candidate to make the roster if the Titans decide to keep six wide receivers.