Position Primer 2013 - Wide Receiver

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Carpy, Jan 3, 2013.

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  1. Carpy

    Carpy Disgruntled foreign veteran

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    2013 Cap hit for all WRs on roster ($12.795m) – 11.97% of team spend

    Players under contract:
    Nate Washington (6’1”, 177) – 29 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $5.1m ($4.2m salary + $0.9m SB pro-rata)
    2014 Cap Number – $4.8m ($4.8m salary)
    2015 Cap Number – UFA

    Lavelle Hawkins (5’11”, 194) – 26 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $2.57m ($1.9m salary + $0.67m SB pro-rata)
    2014 Cap Number – $3.17m ($2.5m salary + $0.67m SB pro-rata)
    2015 Cap Number – UFA

    Kendall Wright (5’10”, 196) – 23 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $1.86m ($0.76m salary + $1.1m SB pro-rata)
    2014 Cap Number – $2.24m ($1.14m salary + $1.1m SB pro-rata)
    2015 Cap Number – $2.61m ($1.51m salary + $1.1m SB pro-rata)

    Kenny Britt (6’3, 215) – 24 years old
    2013 Cap Number – $2.33m ($1.35m salary + $0.98m SB pro-rata)
    2014 Cap Number – UFA

    Damien Williams (6’1”, 199) – 24 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $0.78m ($0.58m salary + $0.2m SB pro-rata)
    2014 Cap Number - UFA

    Marc Mariani (6’1”, 190) – 25 years old
    2013 Cap Number – $0.575m
    2014 Cap Number – UFA

    Michael Preston (6’5”, 206) – 23 years old
    2013 Cap Number - $0.48m
    2014 Cap Number - RFA

    3 burning questions

    1. Is Kenny Britt ever going ot be a true #1 again?
    Before his knee injury last year, his performances on the field were clearly the best we had seen from a receiver in Tennessee for some time (or ever). He had all the makings of a dominant #1 receiver. His season in 2012 was just ok, and despite flashes of great promise, he didn’t make it back to anywhere near what he was before. This is his last year before free agency, so he needs a big year as much as the Titans do.

    2. Is Nate Washington’s time up?
    Washington has been a very serviceable receiver for the Titans, but he has not shown any signs of becoming more than a complement. As our highest paid receiver and earning over $5m this season, he may not be worth the investment.

    3. Will Mariani make it back from his broken leg?
    I have no doubt he is re-habbing as hard as he can to make it back, but there is no doubt that his roster spot is in jeopardy (either from Reynaud or a rookie). If he is not full speed by training camp, he faces an uphill battle.

    Free Agency:
    A smattering of #1’s are likely to hit the market and the fanchise tag of over $10m means it may be prohibitive for their teams to retain them.
    Dwayne Bowe
    Greg Jennings
    Mike Wallace
    Wes Welker
    Victor Cruz (RFA)
    Danny Amendola
    Brandon Tate
    Donnie Avery
    Austin Collie
    Brian Hartline
    Jerome Simpson
    Julian Edelman
    Devery Henderson
    Danario Alexander

    Possible Cap Casualties:
    Darius Heyward-Bey
    Steve Breaston
    Devin Hester
    Anquan Boldin

    Potential Draft Targets:
    It wouldn’t totally shock me if we go WR in the 1st round again. I certainly think that the Titans staff know that their future rests entirely with Jake Locker’s success and if getting him more targets helps that, then it may well happen. Expect at least one receiver to be drafted, regardless of whether or not we play in free agency.

    Cordarelle Patterson, Tennessee
    Da’rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech
    Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech
    Cobi Hamilton, Arkansas
    Marcus Davis, Virginia Tech

    Summary
    Going into this season, I think everyone hoped the return of Britt and arrival of Kendall Wright made this a team strength. Well, it didn’t quite pan out like that. Britt was barely average and while Kendall Wright led the NFL in receptions by a rookie (and led the Titans in receptions), he had a very low yards/catch (9.8). He did not prove to be the explosive big-play threat we hoped for. I think it is fair to expect much more from both these guys in 2013. Williams and Preston both have low cap numbers and will stick through training camp where they will have an opportunity to audition for more playing time. It is likely they will be kept as bit-part players and depth. Hawkins is gone for sure. 5 receptions in 2012 does not justify his salary. Nate may also be shown the door if the Titans decide to make a splash in Free Agency or the draft.

    My take
    With the only players contracted beyond 2013 at WR being Wright, Hawkins and Washington, the Titans need to do something to shore up WR long term. They also need to ensure Jake gets every opportunity by surrounding him with explosive playmakers. Hawkins will be one of the first guys cut, and I think the Titans will let Nate go as well. Of the big name free agents, Jennings appeals the most and I can see the Titans making a play for him. If not, don’t be shocked if the Titans draft one high (again). I would be inclined to extend Britt’s contract but I don’t think the coaching staff (or Britt) are keen to do so.
     
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  2. Titans2004

    Titans2004 Pro Bowler

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    The Hawk extension is one of the head scratchers that I'm sure Bud looked at and just couldn't believe he was having to pay that for a guy who was inactive most of the games. If you were evaluating Reinfeldt and how he has handled internal extensions it hasn't been pretty.

    I spend Washington and Cooks money landing a true #1 WR. I then build my offense based off of playing a power run game (TE and FB or 2 TE set) and having Britt and new #1 lined up outside to keep the safeties out of the box. If Britt gets back to #1 material then you can tag him after the season to keep 2 #1 WRs. If Britt doesn't return to form then you are still fine with the new #1 and Wright as your #2.
     
  3. Titans2004

    Titans2004 Pro Bowler

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    I think it will be very hard to attract a #1 WR FA to play with Locker unless we over pay him. Plenty of other more accurate and more prolific QBs that WRs would love to play with.
     
  4. RavensShallBurn

    RavensShallBurn Ruck the Favens

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    Bowe will be available. No way he stays in KC.

    Cut Hawkins, sign Bowe. Next year we will likely move on from Britt, so we need another good WR. Bowe, Washington, Wright sounds pretty good.
     
  5. Gunny

    Gunny Shoutbox Fuhrer

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    There is no way we could possibly draft a WR in the first.
     
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  6. Carpy

    Carpy Disgruntled foreign veteran

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    If we are aggressive enough in Free Agency, we should put ourselves in position where it is not out of the question, and we have the potential to add to a strength rather than patching a weakness.

    I think it is highly likely that 2013 is Britt's last year as a Titan. If we can get the next Julio Jones with the 10th pick, then I wouldn't rule it out.
     
  7. Gunny

    Gunny Shoutbox Fuhrer

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    We'd have to have a hell of a free agency period for that to happen. Even if we do think it's Britt's last season, I see us signing a WR rather than drafting.
     
  8. Titansman1

    Titansman1 Time To Start Crushing!

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    We need to hope that Jake steps it up next year and becomes a quality QB or otherwise any money we spend on WR's will just be wasted. Ever notice how a so so receiver looks like a stud with a quality QB throwing to them. Look at Denver's WR's this year, making crazy one hand catches and looking nothing like they did last year with Tebow under center. When the receiver truly believes in his QB they play with a lot more passion than when they don't believe.
     
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  9. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    Cut Hawkins.
    Cut Mariani.
    Keep Preston.

    Britt - Washington - Wright - Williams - Preston
     
  10. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    I made sense of the Hawkins signing and here it is:

    Everyone knew coming into 2012 that Kenny Britt was going to be a little slow this season, so as an insurance policy in case we didn't land a worthwhile WR in the draft we had Lavelle to fall back on.

    If we held off on signing him when we did, he would have signed somewhere else.

    So basically Ruston Webster and or Mike Reindfeldt wanted to cover their butts in case Kenny didn't return on time. That has to be why we gave him a $2M signing bonus in February and a nice contract to go with it. To me thats not so bad really, I mean we deactivated him so we could have the players we needed heading into games. Not like his presence held hostage a roster spot.
     
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