Tennessee Titans: Why the Titans Still Need to Take a WR Early in the 2022 NFL Draft
During the first week of free agency, the Tennessee Titans made two notable moves to shore up their receiving corps. First, they signed TE Austin Hooper to a one-year contract. Hooper, though not a world-beater, is a reliable and capable pass-catching threat⏤something the Titans didn't have at tight end in 2021. Tennessee also traded for […]
During the first week of free agency, the Tennessee Titans made two notable moves to shore up their receiving corps.
First, they signed TE Austin Hooper to a one-year contract. Hooper, though not a world-beater, is a reliable and capable pass-catching threat⏤something the Titans didn't have at tight end in 2021.
Tennessee also traded for former Rams WR Robert Woods. In his five years with the Rams, Woods twice eclipsed 1,000 yards and 90 catches.
Still, the Titans should use their first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, whenever that comes, on a receiver.
The Titans are currently slated to pick 26th in the first round, but they very well may trade down. Either way, wide receiver is their best option.
Before trading for Woods, the Titans released WR Julio Jones. Even when Jones was still on the roster, receiver was pretty clearly the Titans' biggest need.
While Woods fills the void left by Jones' departure, the team still has a lot of room to grow at the position.
Currently, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is the Titans' third-best wide receiver. While Westbrook-Ikhine is a capable role player who helped Tennessee win games in 2021, he's not good enough to be a No. 3 option in the NFL.
He's best used as a backup option, especially since his ability to play all three receiver spots makes him a quality injury replacement.
If the Titans truly want to be "great" around QB Ryan Tannehill, something Mike Vrabel discussed in his end-of-season press conference, they need to upgrade from Westbrook-Ikhine.
The best way to do that is drafting a receiver early.
Why does it have to be early?
Just look at what happened to the Titans in the 2021 draft. They had a clear need at receiver but chose to wait around for one instead of making an early push.
Unfortunately, the best options for the Titans were off the board by the end of the third round and they wound up having to overdraft WR Dez Fitzpatrick.
The best way to avoid a similar fate in 2021, and to drastically help Tannehill, is pulling the trigger in the first or second round.
- Woods image: Robert Hanashiro/USA Today
- Robinson image: Kirby Lee/USA Today
