What Options Remain for Tennessee Titans at Wide Receiver on Trade and Free Agent Market?

The Tennessee Titans have yet to make a meaningful upgrade at the receiver position this offseason, but they do have some options available that they can add before the NFL Draft on the free agent and trade market.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans came into the offseason with a five-alarm fire at the receiver position. With the importance of the wide receiver growing by the day in the NFL and the lack of talent on the depth chart, the assumption was the Titans would add a veteran of some kind to try and bolster the group. That simply hasn’t happened as a reunion with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was the only move at the position the Titans have made so far.

The obvious answer here is the Titans will add a receiver in the draft. As we get closer to the draft it becomes clear the Titans must draft a receiver in the first round. Desperation may be the best way to describe it. Most of the time the Titans, and most NFL teams, will try to add veterans in free agency at their need spots so that they have some flexibility in the draft and don’t feel forced to reach on a player due to a glaring need. The Titans are getting close to securing a spot in that dangerous territory. However, there are a few moves out there the Titans could make to add that meaningful veteran.

TRADE OPTIONS

DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals

The rumor mill is operating at full capacity. We got a report that the Titans were one of the teams interested in Hopkins earlier this week and, if you’re someone who wants the Titans to make the deal, you got two pieces of good news because according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the price for Hopkins is going to be less than what the Cardinals were hoping for.

The Hopkins debate has been ongoing within the fan base. Memories of wide receivers past their prime haunt longtime fans of the team. Randy Moss, Andre Johnson, Julio Jones. Names that could make a fan shudder. However, maybe it’ll work this time? Hopkins played well at the end of last season and is relatively affordable considering the ballooning contracts at the position. Hopkins would only cost the Titans $19 million on the cap and thoughts are that he would lower that number with a new contract after a trade. We can’t know if it would be worth it, but it would definitely upgrade the talent in the Titans’ receiver room in a major way. Add in a highly-drafted rookie and you might have a decent group.

📫@AlbertBreer’s mailbag

✉️Who the Panthers could take at No. 1
✉️What Arizona can get for DeAndre Hopkins
✉️Timeline for a new Commanders owner
✉️Will Levis’s draft prospects
✉️More https://t.co/Gbc05sNt7N

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) March 22, 2023

Jerry Jeudy

Courtland Sutton

We continue to hear the Denver Broncos are shopping their receivers. Both offer different things and will require different prices. Jeudy will be the more expensive trade option. Jeudy is four years younger and considered a more talented player. Not only will the trade cost more with Jeudy, but he is going into year four of his career and will need a new contract very soon.

Sutton is 27 years old and is a more experienced player. Maybe not the route runner Jeudy is, but Sutton wins down the field with size and physicality. He is a productive player and is on a reasonable deal. Sutton signed a four-year contract in 2021 and will only cost $17 million on the cap the next two seasons, even less if he is traded. Sutton could be a cheaper option for the Titans and would fit the mold of what they tend to look for at the position. Although, you could easily argue Jeudy is a better fit with Treylon Burks.

FREE AGENT OPTIONS

DJ Chark

Chark would be an instant upgrade for the Titans talent-wise. While his fit with the Titans’ run-first ethos is questionable, at this point, the Titans just need anyone with some skills at the position. Chark brings speed with good size at 6’4’ and isn’t going to cost an arm and a leg with contract estimates around $10 million for one year. Word on the street is the Carolina Panthers are in heavy pursuit of Chark though, so the Titans better move quick if they are interested.

Odell Beckham

Another player that doesn’t really fit the personality of the Titans, but again, they have put themselves in a desperate position. Beckham has a list of concerns, but beggars can’t be choosers and the Titans are begging for help. Beckham recently had a workout for NFL teams and looked like he was ready to play in 2023. If Beckham is right, he is a generational talent, but even 80% of Beckham is probably the second-best receiver the Titans have.

Olamide Zaccheaus

Not quite the name recognition for the third option here, but Zaccheaus would be a nice player that fits the mold of what the Titans have signed so far. Someone who maybe hasn’t gotten the opportunities he deserved so far, but has the potential to be a steal on a smaller contract. Zaccheaus has played both inside and outside even at his small stature. At 5’8”, he isn’t the bigger receiver the Titans look for, but he plays bigger than he is and would add some vertical speed. He’s only 25 years old and has a contract estimation of $3.7 million for one year, per Spotrac.

Titans Related Stories

BYARD DECLINES PAYCUT: The Tennessee Titans approached All-Pro safety Kevin Byard about a pay cut, but Byard refused to take it, per multiple reports. Byard and the Titans now sit at a “crossroads” in regard to his future with the team. CLICK HERE

TITANS TO SIGN MURPHY-BUNTING: The Titans have addressed one of their other biggest areas of need outside their offensive line with the announcement that they are close to a deal with former Tampa Bay cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. CLICK HERE

TITANS FREE AGENT GRADES: The Tennessee Titans have signed five new players so far in free agency, but how smart of a signing was each move? Let’s take a look at some grades for each of the Titans' moves up to this point. CLICK HERE