The 20 best wide receivers in the history of the Tennessee Titans

For basically the first 30 years of their existence, the Houston Oilers’ offense was more known for what it did on the ground than what it did through the air. That’s not to say this franchise didn’t have its share of talented wide receivers, but they were often overshadowed by some of the most gifted and physical running backs in league annals.

Then came the arrival of future Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, the advent of the “Run and Shoot,” and the steady evolution of passing game in the NFL. As the league changed, the Oilers changed, and in more ways than one. The team became the Tennessee Oilers (1997-98) and currently goes by the Tennessee Titans.

All told, it’s not a surprise that the majority of the names on this list come in regards to the modern passing game. Again, that’s not to say that this proud franchise didn’t have some star pass-catchers back in the good old days. Welcome to the latest subjective exercise in regards to this team. It’s more than just total numbers that determine the order. Overall impact and tenure with the franchise is also a major factor.

One last thing. What would this list look like if the Oilers, who used a fourth-round pick in 1976 to draft Tulsa’s Steve Largent, had not dealt the future Hall of Famer to the expansion Seattle Seahawks?

The Top 20 wideouts in Oilers/Titans annals

20. Corey Davis

It’s obviously not a player’s fault in regards to when he was selected in the NFL Draft. In 2017, the Tennessee Titans used the fifth overall pick on Western Michigan University wide receiver Corey Davis. There were those who felt that the 6’3”, 209-pound pass-catcher didn’t warrant that high of a selection.

Davis would play in 56 of 64 regular-season games with the club, and he made 48 starts. His four-year total with the club added up to a somewhat-respectable 207 catches for 2,851 yards and 11 scores. Interesting enough, he played in six playoff games and caught 15 passes, three for touchdowns.

Of course, the Titans wound up declining the fifth-year option for Davis, who moved onto the New York Jets.

19. Chris Sanders

The former Ohio State Buckeye’s NFL career got off to quite a start. Chris Sanders was a third-round pick in the 1995 NFL Draft. He appeared in all 16 games as a rookie and proved a big-play performer. He totaled just 35 catches, but they added up to an amazing 823 yards (23.5 average) and nine touchdowns.

Sanders’ second season in 1996 saw him total 48 catches for 882 yards, both career highs. He reached the end zone four times. However, his final five years with the club were far from awe-inspiring for any number of reasons. In 65 games over that span, he totaled just 94 receptions for 1,580 yards and four scores. His career 43.9 reception percentage is what holds him back from being a lot higher on this list.

18. A.J. Brown

He’s now a productive performer for the Eagles, who gave the Titans a first- and third-round pick in 2022. A.J. Brown recently signed a three-year, $96 million contract extension. In two seasons, he’s rolled up 194 catches for 2,952 yards and 18 TDs in 34 regular-season games and has been named to two Pro Bowls.

Brown was no slouch with the Titans, who used the 51st overall pick in 2019 to secure his services. The former Ole Miss standout totaled 185 receptions for 2,995 yards and 24 scores, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2020. Tennessee reached the playoffs in each of his three seasons with the franchise, and he totaled 16 catches for 289 yards and a pair of touchdowns in five playoff games with Mike Vrabel’s talented team.

17. Webster Slaughter

He began his career with a division rival but then joined the Houston Oilers as a free agent in 1992. Big-play wideout Webster Slaughter was a second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 1986. He spent six seasons with the club, catching 305 passes for 4,834 yards and 27 scores, and was a Pro Bowler in 1989.

Slaughter spent only three seasons with the Oilers. However, he certainly made his presence felt with 184 receptions for 2,236 yards and 11 touchdowns. The former San Diego State standout enjoyed a Pro Bowl campaign in 1992, snaring 77 passes for 904 yards and five TDs in 14 contests. Slaughter caught a touchdown pass in the team’s stunning 1992 playoff loss at Buffalo.

16. Kendall Wright

Time for another player who, in some people’s eyes, may be considered a disappointment. Once again, no player drafted himself. Baylor University wide receiver Kendall Wright was the 20th overall pick in 2012. He spent five seasons with the franchise and ranks a respectable 11th in team history with 280 receptions.

It’s not as if Wright didn’t have his moments. He played in 15 games as a rookie and made only five starts, catching 64 passes for only 626 yards and four scores. He was a much bigger factor in his second year, finishing with career bests in receptions (94) and receiving yards (1,079) but scoring only twice in 16 contests. In terms of reaching the end zone, one-third (6) of Wright’s 18 touchdown grabs came in 2014.

15. Drew Bennett

An undrafted free agent from UCLA, Drew Bennett’s NFL career began in 2001 with the Tennessee Titans. He spent a total of six seasons with the franchise, and somewhat surprisingly ranks 12th in team history with 273 receptions. Those catches amounted to 4,033 yards and a solid 25 trips to the end zone.

The former Bruin’s best campaign came in 2004. Bennett started all 16 games for the only time in his pro career. He was targeted a total of 144 times and snared 80 passes for 1,247 yards and 11 scores. All of those numbers were career highs. That season, quarterbacks Steve McNair (eight) and Billy Volek (18) teamed up for only 26 touchdown passes. There was a 27th TD pass from a Titans player, namely Bennett himself.

14. Charley Frazier

The Oilers won the first two AFL championships, but wide receiver Charley Frazier didn't arrive until 1962. That team fell short of a three-repeat, falling to the Dallas Texans in overtime in the league title game. As a rookie, Frazier played in 15 total games. He caught just seven passes for 155 yards and one touchdown.

By the time his seven-year stint with the franchise ended, the former undrafted free agent from Texas Southern had hauled in 179 passes for an impressive 3,060 yards (17.1 average) and 22 touchdowns. Much of that came in 1966. Frazier caught 57 passes for 1,129, reached the end zone a dozen times, and was named to the AFL All-Star Team. The nine-year pro concluded his career with the Patriots from 1969-70.

13. Charlie Joiner

He had a brief stay in Houston, wound up playing for the Bengals, and finished his career in stellar form with the Chargers. Former Grambling University star Charlie Joiner was a fourth-round pick by the Oilers in 1969. His NFL career spanned 18 seasons and wound up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He spent three-plus seasons with the Oilers and a total of 36 regular-season contests. He totaled only 82 catches, but it added up to 1,480 yards (18.0 average) and a dozen touchdowns. Those figures put him way down the list when it comes to wideouts who have played for this franchise. It's worth noting that in his third season in 1971, he caught 31 passes for an amazing 681 yards (22.0 average) and seven TDs.

12. Curtis Duncan

The four primary wideouts in Houston's “Run and Shoot” attack, with quarterback Warren Moon at the controls, joined the Oilers in various ways. Heywood Jeffries was a first-round pick in 1987, Ernest Givins was a second-round selection in 1986, and Drew Hill was obtained in a trade from the Rams in 1985.

Curtis Duncan was a 10th-round selection out of Northwestern University in 1987. He was a highly-reliable target for the team for seven years and ranks ninth in the franchise annals with 322 catches. He totaled 3,935 receiving yards, and 20 of his grabs went for touchdowns. Every one of Duncan’s seven campaigns resulted in a postseason appearance. He totaled 34 catches for 274 yards and two scores in 10 playoff contests.

11. Drew Hill

Drew Hill was a 12th-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 1979, and he caught a 28-yard pass in the Rams’ 31-19 loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV at Pasadena. He played five seasons with the club and was then traded to Houston in 1985. The reliable wideout spent seven productive years with the Oilers.

Only three players in franchise history have caught more passes than the former Georgia Tech product. He totaled 1,000-plus receiving yards in five of his seasons with the team and 900-plus yards the other two years. His totals with the club read 480 receptions for 7,477 yards and 47 TDs. Hill was named to three Pro Bowls during his stint with the Oilers and was part of five teams that reached the playoffs.

10. Billy “White Shoes” Johnson

He’s better known for his work on punt and kickoff returns, as well as his always-entertaining end zone dance. Widener University’s Billy Johnson was selected by the Oilers in the 15th round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He was the 365th overall pick that year and made his presence felt throughout professional football.

Johnson spent seven seasons in Houston before moving on to the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes in 1981. For a moment, put aside the fact that he returned a total of eight return scores during his time with the Oilers. He amassed 2,357 yards from scrimmage, totaling 171 receptions for 2,149 yards and 13 touchdowns. Johnson also ran 24 times for 208 yards and a pair of TDs. He was instant excitement.

9. Kevin Dyson

It was short-lived but highly eventful. University of Utah product Kevin Dyson was the 16th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. After a fairly quiet rookie season, he made quite the splash in his second campaign, including two memorable moments during the team’s playoff run.

As for the numbers, Dyson totaled 157 catches for 2,450 yards and 19 scores in 58 regular-season outings. In four games during the ’99 playoffs, he finished with eight receptions for 82 yards. He was the “miracle” in the “Music City Miracle,” taking a lateral pass from Frank Wycheck on a kickoff and retuning it 75 yards to beat the Bills In the wild card round. There was also the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV against the Rams.

8. Nate Washington

He began his career as an undrafted free agent via Tiffin University in Ohio. Wideout Nate Washington joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005, spent four seasons with the club, and made his share of plays for a team that won a pair of Super Bowls during his stay. In 2009, he inked a six-year deal with the Titans.

It may surprise some that Washington actually ranks 10th in the team’s history with 307 receptions. His half-dozen seasons in Nashville saw those grabs add up to 4,591 yards and 28 touchdowns. His best year with the Titans came in 2011, when he amassed career bests in receptions (74), receiving yards (1,023) and TD receptions (seven). Washington’s NFL career ended with a one-year stint with the Houston Texans.

7. Mike Renfro

He remains a vital part of Houston Oilers lore and was involved in two of the biggest plays of the 1979 NFL postseason. Receiver Mike Renfro, a fourth-round draft choice in 1984 from TCU, was an effective performer who spent six years with the organization before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 1984.

He totaled just 160 catches for 2,183 yards and 11 touchdowns during his time in Houston. In the 1979 AFC Divisional Playoffs, his 47-yard catch-and-run for a score was the difference in a 17-14 upset of the Chargers. A week later, a thought-to-be TD reception in the right corner of the end zone at Pittsburgh in the AFC title game was ruled incomplete. It remains one of the most controversial plays in league history.

6. Derrick Mason

He enjoyed a 15-year NFL career that included stints with four different teams. One-time Michigan State wideout Derrick Mason was a fourth-round pick by the Titans in 1997 and made an impact in many ways on offense and special teams. The two-time Pro Bowler and 2000 All-Pro spent eight years with the club.

The versatile former Spartan racked up 453 receptions (fifth-most in the team annals), good for 6,114 yards and 37 touchdowns. He became more of a factor on offense as time wore on. He totaled 343 grabs for 4,611 and 29 scores in his final four seasons with the club. amassing 1,000-plus receiving yards each year. And there was that 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the 1999 AFC title game win at Jacksonville.

5. Bill Groman

Talk about making the most of your time with an organization. Wide receiver Bill Groman joined the Houston Oilers in 1960 as an undrafted free agent from Heidelberg University. He spent only three seasons with the franchise but was a huge big-play threat and part of two AFL championship squads.

In 1960, he caught 72 passes for 1,473 yards and 12 scores in only 14 games. That yardage total remained a rookie record until 2023 (the Rams’ Puka Nacua with 1,486 in 17 games). In 42 regular-season contests with the Oilers, he totaled 143 catches for 2,976 yards and 32 TDs. He also caught a scoring pass in the 1960 AFL title game win over the Chargers. Groman won two more AFL titles with the Bills in 1964 and 1965.

4. Ken Burrough

The No. 0 jersey has become a little more en vogue these days as the NFL has relaxed its rules in regards to jerseys and positions. Current players such as the Giants’ Brian Burns and the Ravens’ Roquan Smith sport a zero. In the 1960s and ’70s, there were a pair of double zeros, the most famous coming from Raiders center Jim Otto.

There was also wide receiver Ken Burrough. Originally the 10th overall pick by the Saints in the 1970 draft, he was dealt to Houston after one season. He spent 11 seasons with the Oilers, earned two Pro Bowl invitations, and still ranks seventh in franchise history with 408 catches. Only Ernest Givins (7,935) and Drew Hill (7,477) have amassed more receiving yards in team annals. All told, 47 of his catches went for scores.

3. Haywood Jeffires

Houston’s “Run and Shoot” attack featured quarterback Warren Moon and a quartet of targets in Ernest Givins, Drew Hill, Curtis Duncan, and Haywood Jeffires. Of the four, only the last was a first-round pick. The 6’2”, 210-pound North Carolina State product was the 20th overall selection in the 1987 NFL Draft.

Jeffires didn’t do much his first two years, totaling just nine receptions for 138 yards and one score in 11 regular-season outings. In the 1988 playoffs, he totaled eight grabs for 130 yards and seemed to turn the corner. His nine seasons with the club saw him finish with 515 catches (second in team history), 6,1119 yards, and 47 touchdowns. He also caught 41 passes for 413 yards and three TDs in nine playoff games.

2. Ernest Givins

He was an electric performer (pun intended) during his somewhat-brief stint in the NFL. Former University of Louisville wideout Ernest Givins played 10 seasons, the first nine with the franchise that made him the 34th overall pick in the 1986 draft. He brought plenty of excitement to the Houston Oilers’ passing attack.

Givins spent nine seasons with the Oilers and caught at least 50 passes in each of his first eight seasons with the team. He owns the franchise records for receptions (542) and receiving yards (7,935) and totaled 46 touchdown grabs. The steady performer earned Pro Bowl invitations in 1990 and ’92 but totaled only 1,000-plus receiving yards just once. His postseason resume reads 60 catches for 774 yards and eight TDs.

1. Charlie Hennigan

He ranks sixth in franchise history in catches (410), andfourth in receiving yards (6,823) but first in TD receptions (51) over seven seasons with the Oilers. The numbers really don’t do former undrafted free agent Charlie Hennigan justice. He was a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro, and two-time AFL champion.

Plus, consider these words from Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin back in 2017: “You can say Bob Hayes changed the way the game is played with his speed. You can say Charley Taylor changed the way the game is played with his power. And you can say Jerry Rice changed the way the game is played with his precision and grace. But no wide receiver changed the way the game is played like Charlie Hennigan.”