The Tennessee Titans have been negligent when it comes to the wide receiver position this offseason, as the team has failed to adequately address what was its biggest need going into the draft.
Tennessee’s only moves at the position this offseason have been to re-sign Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, sign veteran Chris Moore, and draft Colton Dowell in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft.
While it remains to be seen what each will contribute this year, on paper the Titans did not add a clear impact pass-catcher and currently sit with the worst receiver corps. in the NFL, in my humble opinion.
When asked about the situation at the position, head coach Mike Vrabel noted there is still time to add help, but there’s no question Tennessee’s options to do so have dwindled considerably.
One potential option out there is free-agent receiver Jarvis Landry, who Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger believes is someone the Titans should sign as their “last offseason move.”
Landry is an underneath slot receiver who could be a safety valve over the middle for Ryan Tannehill — and, eventually, Will Levis — and the Titans desperately need to add pass catchers. After missing most of the 2022 season with an injury, Landry is likely looking at one-year flier contract offers once again in 2023.
He is also known to be a good veteran leader, which could be a nice addition to a team with a lot of young offensive weapons. He’s coming off the two worst seasons of his career, but he was arguably the best slot receiver in the NFL from 2015 to 2020. His 3,938 receiving yards, 1,748 yards after the catch, 1,166 yards after contact and 91 explosive receptions of 15 or more yards all ranked first among qualifying slot receivers over that span. Buying low on a potential bounce-back player could age nicely in the right setting.
The way I see it, there are a few problems with Landry, who first and foremost would have to come very cheap to even consider.
For starters, he’s turning 31 in November and is coming off two seasons in which he’s missed a combined total of 13 games. He’s also a slot receiver, something the Titans figure to have in multiple guys, including 2022 fifth-round pick, Kyle Philips.
That said, beggars can’t be choosers here.
The Titans are in dire need of any semblance of a respectable body at the position, and I’d consider the veteran Landry, who was one the best in the business out of the slot up until the last few years, that at the very least.
Not to mention, Philips is no lock to pan out, especially after an injury-plagued rookie campaign.
Bottom line: just give me a name, even if it doesn’t make sense on paper.
