Was Tennessee Titans Adam Humphries signing riskiest offseason move?

Is calling the signing of Tennessee Titans wide receiver Adam Humphries the team’s riskiest move an accurate assessment?

The Tennessee Titans added veteran wide receiver Adam Humphries during the offseason, but was that the team’s riskiest move?

Humphries inked a four-year, $36 million deal ($19 million guaranteed) back in March, and in the process spurned the New England Patriots, a team that also coveted the talented slot receiver.

Before we break down why this move made a ton of sense, here’s Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who believes Humphries’ lucrative deal was the Titans’ riskiest move this offseason.

"That’s a lot of money for a good-not-great slot receiver. It’s also a lot to give to a player who could well be a product of the offense in which he played. Yes, Humphries racked up 816 yards last season, but he also did so while playing alongside Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson and O.J. Howard. As a team, the Buccaneers averaged 320.3 passing yards per game, which was the most in the NFL."

While we understand the concern here, you have to put Humphries’ role into total context before calling this move risky at all. Yes, Humphries had a great season in 2018 on a pass-heavy offense, and yes, that is a lot of money.

Why Adam Humphries is worth it

However, the Titans were staring 2019 in the face with a young receiving corps. that needed some experience and a passing attack that was ranked 29th last season.

Having totaled 600 yards or more the past three years—including career-highs in receptions (76), receiving yards (816) and touchdowns (five) in 2018—Humphries gives them just that.

Furthermore, he adds depth and stability to the offense from the slot for a quarterback like Marcus Mariota, who hasn’t had much of either during his four-year career. This move was mostly about putting Mariota in the best possible situation to succeed.

Humphries can help with that and then some, especially with his prowess as a chain-moving machine who is a top receiver when targeted on short passes.

There has been a lot of noise about the Titans having too many slot receivers, which is true in a sense because this team has multiple guys who can play that role. The selection of A.J. Brown just added to that stable.

But the slot receiver spot has become more and more important in today’s NFL, and talented guys in the slot are like money: you can never really have enough.

Not to mention, A.J. Brown was drafted after the signing of Humphries and the Ole Miss product has already proven he can line up all over the field. Titans fans can expect to see the second-round rookie on the outside for the vast majority of his snaps, just adding to what can be considered as a lethal group of pass-catchers the likes of which Mariota has never had.

Can Adam Humphries match his best season?

Will Humphries match or better his 2018 production? That remains to be seen and will depend on how quickly he develops chemistry with Mariota, and how well the Oregon product plays in what should be a run-first offense.

Even if numbers similar to last season don’t come to fruition for Humphries, it doesn’t mean he’s  a waste. His sheer presence as another option for Mariota to throw to makes him more than worth his weight in gold and opposing defenses now have a passing attack they must respect.

And imagine defensive coordinators having to deal with both he and tight end Delanie Walker over the middle of the field. I wouldn’t want that burden.

Should things go south for Humphries and the Titans, he has dead cap hits of $5 million in 2021 and $2.5 million in 2022—not exactly the end of the world there.

Remember: this is an experienced and proven receiver who can make an immediate impact for Tennessee’s needy air attack, and he wanted to be here over the Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Sign me up for a guy like that.