The Tennessee Titans declined the fifth-year option for Corey Davis.
The Tennessee Titans have decided to decline the fifth-year option for wide receiver Corey Davis, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The #Titans are declining WR Corey Davis' fifth-year option, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 1, 2020
Drafted fifth overall in the 2017 NFL draft, Davis is entering his fourth season with the Titans. The declined option will make him a free agent after the 2020-21 season. The fifth-year option was expected to be worth upwards of $15 million.
The move is not surprising given his mercurial production. After an up and down rookie season that was limited due to injuries, Davis broke into the scene with 891 yards in 2018 where he started all 16 games.
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However, Davis regressed in 2019 with only 601 yards and two touchdowns. Davis fell wayside on the depth chart with rookie A.J. Brown posted a dominant 1051 yard season. Paired with his lack of high-end production is the injury concerns. Davis has missed games due to hamstring and hip injuries that have limited him in the NFL.
With a $15 million price tag, Davis would be in the range of Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyreek Hill in terms of 2021 wide receiver salary. It is unquestionable that Davis does not garner that much money, even with a proven 2020 season.
The team has a few options on the table here. First, they can let Corey Davis play out his contract and let him walk in free agency, similar to what the Titans did with Jack Conklin this offseason. The team could also opt to find a trade partner and get some compensation back in return.
While that would require Corey Davis to have a big season and the Tennessee Titans to be relatively quiet in the hunt for free agents, getting a 3rd or a 4th in 2022 is pretty enticing.
However, the declined option does not mean the end of Davis as a Titan. The Titans could also try to sign Davis to a cheaper extension that is more team-friendly.
The young and talented Davis can still flourish in the NFL. He has the ability to win matchups against physical receivers and has shown up in clutch situations in the past. The Titans offensive struggles in the past have definitely lowered Davis’s production but it will be interesting to see him fit in with this iteration of the Titans under Ryan Tannehill.