Titans should look at these free agent replacements for Adam Humphries

The Titans need receivers.

For the second time this season, wide receiver Adam Humphries is going to miss a significant amount of time, once again leaving the Titans short-handed at receiver.

Humphries returned to the lineup against the Cleveland Browns, but it seemed like he returned a bit too early. He had one reception for nine yards on four targets, and let a pass bounce off of his helmet into the hands of Browns safety M.J. Stewart, resulting in a critical interception in the red zone.

While Humphries isn’t completely to blame for the loss, that interception more or less ended up being the difference (although AJ Brown dropping a sure touchdown pass on the next drive sure didn’t help matters either).

Now, with Humphries returning to IR due to recurring issues related to the concussion he suffered in Week 8 in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Titans will once again look to replace his productivity.

Aside from starters Corey Davis and A.J. Brown, the Titans also have Kalif Raymond, Cameron Batson, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but none of them really seem like ideal replacements for Humphries

There is plenty of veteran experience out there in free agency.  Let’s take a look at who the Titans could look to in order to replace Humphries in case he is unable to return for the rest of the season.

Kenny Stills

Recently released by the Houston Texans, Stills is the only person on this list to have been on an active roster in 2020.

After the Texans traded away star receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Stills was expected to contribute much more heavily in the passing game. However, he was unable to make the most of his opportunities with Houston this year, getting just 11 catches for 144 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets before being released just a few weeks ago.

Now, a free agent, it’s very possible that the former fifth-round pick could end up going to the Texans’ division rivals.

Stills has certainly had his moments as far as production goes over the entirety of his career, racking up 4843 yards and 37 touchdowns on 310 receptions in his eight-year career with the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and most recently the Texans.

To be brutally honest, he may not be a great No. 1 or even No. 2 option as far as receivers go, but he can certainly contribute as a No. 3 option behind Davis & Brown should the Titans choose to sign him.

Tajae Sharpe

It is rare that a team is given a mulligan on a free agent move, but the Titans have a chance to basically wave off the decision to let Tajae Sharpe walk in free agency this offseason.

While he isn’t going to blow anyone away with his speed or size, there are a lot of reasons to like Tajae Sharpe as the replacement for Adam Humphries. Why not start with the fact that last year he was as productive as Adam Humphries and Cameron Batson combined this season:

Another benefit is that there should be very little teaching that you have to do with Sharpe. At times he has played inside or outside and he has done it with this coaching staff. Maybe even more important is that he was a steady presence on the offense when he was asked to fill in and spot start.

Right now the Titans have two receivers under contract for 2021: A.J. Brown and Adam Humphries. Tennessee could do a lot worse than giving Sharpe a trial run this year and seeing whether or not they want to sign him long term after the season (for veteran minimum).

Paul Richardson

It’s actually pretty surprising to see Richardson is still available given all the practice squad exemptions that teams have.

After a short injury-plagued two-year stint with Washington, Richardson did sign with his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, early on in the season but was cut right before Week 1.

Richardson isn’t a top receiving threat, but as he proved in his final year in Seattle, where he racked up 703 yards and six touchdowns, he can be a contributor in the passing game.

If the Titans want a third receiving option that has the potential to make big plays, Richardson could be what they’re looking for.

However, after missing time in parts of the past two seasons with injuries, the Titans might not be interested in him, especially since they are trying to replace somebody who is injured, but the risk should be relatively low, since no other teams seem to be interested in his services.

Signing Richardson seems to be a low risk, potentially high reward situation.