1. A.J. Brown WR, Ole Miss
2019 projected snaps: 800 snaps
With Jeffery Simmons injured and the Tennessee Titans desperate need for new bodies at wide receiver, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you that I think Brown will lead all Titans rookies in snaps.
Where he fits:
I have said before that people who think that Brown is just a slot receiver are sorely mistaken. While he shows flashes of brilliance there, he was equally as dominant on the boundary.
The reason he didn’t play on the outside in college wasn’t lack of ability or size like it is for so many other teams. One starter was Damarkus Lodge who was a year ahead of Brown and an inch taller, while the other starter was D.K. Metcalf who was a much better fit outside than in.
Neither of those guys had the lateral explosion or agility to play on the inside and they are all guys you want on the field so Brown was kicked inside until Metcalf’s injury.
The Titans could choose to use him as an extra receiver inside in four WR looks if they wanted to get Brown, Corey Davis, Adam Humphries, and Taywan Taylor all on the field at the same time. However, I think his job will primarily be as an outside receiver in this offense.
He is a good blocker and has all the skills to play every down if healthy, so I expect him to get full WR2 reps in the Arthur Smith offense.