Calvin Ridley is going to be a dominant force for the Tennessee Titans, but he can't do it by himself. The Titans rookie pass-catchers don't have the luxury of sitting back and learning the position; they will be thrown into the fire from day one.
Whether or not the Titans' collection of Day Three talents can rise above the expectation of their draft positions is up to them, but within the context of the offense, each player could play a very specific role.
Biggest Sleeper: Gunnar Helm, TE
How big of a sleeper is Helm? If you polled Titans fans for their pick for this award, roughly 90% of the votes would have been for Xavier Restrepo or Chimere Dike, and few (if any) would have even remembered Helm.
The Texas Longhorns had a receiver drafted in the first round this year (Matthew Golden), but that didn't stop Helm from leading the team with 60 receptions. He also ranked second in yards, yards per game, and touchdowns, so it isn't a situation where Helm was just cashing in on dozens of dump-off passes.
Helm will push Josh Whyle hard for the TE2 job, and rookie quarterback Cam Ward liked his TEs a lot at Miami, so that will be a very important role for the Titans this year.
Most snaps: Chimere Dike, receiver/special teams
Dike is going to wear a lot of hats for the Titans, including roles on special teams. That will make all the difference in this category, but his versatility isn't limited to just his expected roles in the third phase. Comments from the coaching staff and offseason reports make it clear that Dike is going to play several receiver positions in Brian Callahan's offense, including "Z" and in the slot.
Dike could play a hybrid role like former special teams standouts Kalif Raymond (big-play ability) and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (offensive versatility and football IQ) did in Tennessee during their time with the Titans.
Most receptions: Xavier Restrepo
Everyone knows the magical connection Ward and Restrepo had at Miami in their one season together. The two combined for 69 receptions, 1,127 yards, and 11 touchdowns, numbers that put Restrepo in Miami's history books as the most prolific receiver in school history.
However, people seem to forget that Restrepo isn't just a product of Ward's magical play. In 2023, he had 85 receptions, 1,092 yards, and six touchdowns without Ward as his quarterback, so he is talented enough to stand on his own two feet.
Restrepo has already earned Ward's trust when things get hectic, and he should be on the field on for many third-down attempts this season. With so many mouths to feed, Restrepo's clear role should put him ahead of his rookie teammates in terms of volume.
Most yards: Elic Ayomanor
Ayomanor wasn't the first pass catcher selected in this Titans draft class, he isn't the tallest, fastest, and he doesn't have a connection with the team's new franchise quarterback. What makes him the favorite for this designation is that he is an "X" receiver on a team that sorely lacks anyone who can fill that role. Ayomanor also happens to be a pretty good receiver when he isn't dropping passes.
If Ayomanor can catch the ball more consistently, he could start the season playing at a level similar to what we saw from Westbrook-Ikhine last season. The difference is Ayomanor has room to get much better, and he flashes physical skills that Westbrook-Ikhine never did.