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Titans back in a familiar rut: Who will they throw to next season?




Treylon Burks, a first-round pick last year, is currently the best option among an unproven group of Tennessee Titans receivers. PHOTO ANGIE FLATT

Who the (expletive) would we throw it to?”

That question was reportedly asked by Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel last season in response to a question about the Titans offense and the sustainability of relying on Derrick Henry from veteran NFL reporter Ed Werder.

It is a question that has haunted the Titans franchise for the better part of its time in Tennessee. A few names of success from the past come to mind like Derrick Mason, Drew Bennett, Nate Washington and most recently A.J. Brown. But now the Titans find themselves back in a familiar rut: Who would they throw it to?

So far, there have been no major answers to that question this off-season. The only real move has been the re-signing of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to a salary less than half the restricted free agent tender and the release of veteran Robert Woods after just one season in Nashville. Woods (53 catches) and tight end Austin Hooper (41 receptions) were the Titans top pass-catchers, and both have signed elsewhere in 2023.

So what does that leave at the position currently for the Titans? Aside from promising second-year tight end Chig Okonkwo, who averaged more than 14 yards per catch on 32 receptions, it leaves them searching yet again for dynamic playmakers in the pass game.

There is no doubt that second-year receiver Treylon Burks, drafted with the pick that came in return for the unpopular peddling of Brown to Philadelphia last year, is being counted upon to show more of the big-play flashes he had on occasion as a rookie. But conditioning issues and injuries limited Burks to just 11 games and 33 receptions for 444 yards and one touchdown (a play on which he was knocked unconscious in the end zone).

Burks does have some of the pizzazz that Brown had as a Titan, but is still a long way away from establishing himself as a No. 1 receiver.

The Titans not only have productivity problems at wide receiver, they also have a sheer numbers issue as well. Currently, only Burks and Westbrook-Ihkine have any measurable experience and productivity at all. The other four receivers currently under contract – Kyle Philips, Racey McMath, Mason Kinsey and Reggie Roberson – have a combined 11 games played and 11 catches in their NFL careers. Under the heading of “you get what you pay for,” the ignoring of the receiver position has come home to roost. Yes, Burks was a first-round pick. But of the other five Titans receivers, three were undrafted, one came in the fifth round and one in the sixth round.

New general manager Ran Carthon didn’t delve into the market for any help at receiver in the first wave of free agency, even as the Titans went low-risk, high-upside with most of the additions they made this off-season.

So it appears that Carthon may be tied to having to use his first-round pick (No. 11, barring a trade back) on a receiver. The draftniks’ assessment of the 2023 class of wide receivers doesn’t really show many surefire, plug-and-play game changers like the ones that have been available in recent years, such as Brown, Deebo Samuel, Justin Jefferson, JaMarr Chase or D.K. Metcalf.

The top two wideouts in this year’s draft appear to be Quentin Johnston of Texas Christian and Jaxon Smith-Njigba of Ohio State. The Titans would be fortunate if one or both are available at No. 11. It’s a draft where they likely will need to draft at least two receivers and then sift through the free agent remnants and post-June 1 salary-cap cuts to find a veteran or two to answer that age-old question.