The Tennessee Titans wide receiver corps. looks unnervingly thin after Julio Jones was released on Wednesday. While the post-June 1 designation saves the Titans just over $9.5 million in cap space, there’s no doubt the organization has to address the position this offseason.
Looking at the depth chart, A.J. Brown and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who was recently re-signed to a one-year deal, are the top-two wide receivers.
Westbrook-Ikhine did a fine job stepping up this past season when called upon. The 24-year-old achieved career highs in receptions (38), receiving yards (476), and touchdowns (4).
That said, Westbrook-Ikhine is probably a No. 4 wide receiver on a roster hoping to contend for a Super Bowl.
One player that the Titans should take a long look at this offseason is former Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears wideout, Allen Robinson.
The Penn State product spent the last four seasons in Chicago, hauling in a career-best 102 receptions to go along with 1,250 receiving yards and six scores during the 2020 season, his second of two 1,000-yard seasons in Chicago (he had 1,147 yards in 2019).
His best season came in 2015, when he tallied a career-high 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns with the Jags.
However, after tallying just 410 yards on 38 receptions across 12 games in 2021 with the Bears, Robinson could potentially be had at a somewhat inexpensive, one year “prove-it” deal.
It is important to note that Robinson’s issues in Chicago weren’t all his own. He dealt with poor quarterback play in Chicago, something that has plagued him since his days in Jacksonville.
If given a good quarterback, Robinson can be one of the better perimeter wide receivers in the league. He’s capable of making big plays, can move the chains, make contested catches, and he’s a solid blocker.
Robinson would also have more room to work with than he’s probably used to thanks to having Brown lining up opposite him.
The elephant in the room here is the Titans’ salary cap space. Even after releasing Jones, Tennessee doesn’t have a lot to work with.
To make a Robinson signing feasible, the Titans would need to free up more cap space, which they can do by restructuring top-paid guys like Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard, and Taylor Lewan.
I’d expect a wide receiver to be a priority during next month’s draft. Still, this offense needs proven talent at the position to put quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the best possible scenario heading into 2022.
