In an article suggesting trade or free agency moves for each franchise to make before training camp, the Packer, Colts, and Titans were all encouraged by Pro Football Focus’s Doug Kyed to make a move for a wide receiver. While other teams were also identified as needing wide receiver help, these teams were suggested for veterans, players available on the market who can be key contributors for a team that already has most of the right pieces in place.
Green Bay has a lot going for them as they continue their recent dominance of the NFC North. They have a star quarterback, a strong two-deep at running back, a solid offensive line, and a top-ten defense in many categories last year. They lost two of their top receiving options from last year as Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling both departed this offseason. Replacing them, the Packers have formerly undrafted Allen Lazard, rookie Christian Watson, and veterans Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb, among a few others. Clearly this isn’t a star-studded group, and, while Aaron Rodgers doesn’t usually have a wealth of talent to throw to, he usually, at least, has Adams. Kyed suggests the team sign another veteran in T.Y. Hilton to perhaps provide some leadership to the receiving corps.
The Colts offense has been working on an (insert-quarterback-name-here) basis for the past couple of years, this year bringing in long-time Falcon Matt Ryan to lead the group. The offense will likely be carried by the team’s strong offensive line and star running back Jonathan Taylor, but having some receivers to take some pressure off the running-game would be ideal. Indianapolis is set to trot out Michael Pittman Jr., rookie Alec Pierce, and Parris Campbell as their top-three wideouts. Pittman had a breakout year and is set to prove he can be a No. 1 receiver, but Pierce is unproven and Campbell has yet to play in half of an NFL season or reach 200 yards receiving in a season. Kyed suggests the team sign free agent Julio Jones to provide some veteran experience to an extremely young receivers room.
The Titans will be trotting out a new-look offense in many position groups this year. They’re currently trying to finalize the last few position battles of their offensive line, Austin Hooper with be the team’s starting tight end, and the wide receivers group will look completely different. With Derrick Henry leading the offense alongside Ryan Tannehill, while rookie quarterback Malik Willis waits in the wings, Tennessee will field Robert Woods, rookie Treylon Burks, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as their top-three receivers this year. Woods is coming back from a mid-season ACL tear, Burks is an impressive first-rounder but is being expected to replace the production of trade-departure A.J. Brown, and Westbrook-Ikhine stepped up in a support-role last season. Kyed suggests that the Titans sign another former-Rams receiver recovering from an torn ACL in Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham showed a clear ability to dominate as a true No. 1 wide receiver early in his career and has shown flashes of dominance since. Pairing Beckham with Woods and Burks would create a trio of pass catchers who all have impressive ceilings of potential in any given season.
All three receivers are still looking for homes and Kyed makes good points for all three franchises reaching out to players like these. There’s still lots of time until the 2022 NFL season kicks off and several dominoes still to fall. It’ll be interesting to see if any of these teams reach out for receiving help.
Julio to Indy is the only one of these that really makes sense. Hilton is not going to Green Bay. They already have Watkins and Cobb. OBJ wants a good QB and Tannehill isn’t one.
I almost upvoted you, but I have to disagree about Tannehill, who’s done a fantastic job taking over in Tennessee. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with the rest of what you said. Considering the immense turmoil that the Titans went through last year, Tannehill’s numbers should have been even worse than what they ended up being. Most quarterbacks would have struggled more in that role, and while Tannehill is likely not ever going to be truly elite, he does do a solid job running that offense and even carrying it at times.
Bro ain’t carrying anything. Henry carries that team.
And when Henry went out, along with Tennessee’s top two wideouts, Tannehill was throwing to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as his primary target. Tennessee kept winning games. I’m pretty sure that they went 6-3 after Henry went out last year to close out the season (including a good win over the Rams). You can’t say that Tannehill had no hand in that.
Julio to the colts makes sense for a Matt Ryan reunion storyline, but isn’t he sort of an older, more injury prone version of Pittman? I’d think the colts would want a guy who can get some YAC more than Julio can at this point in his career.
There isn’t anyone else at this point
As a Packer fan you know they won’t do anything. You would think writers would catch on eventually. They aren’t going to sign anyone. They never do. Why? Because fans want them too
What do Hilton, Jay Jones, and Beckham all have in common? They all played in at least 10 games last year and only had 330, 430, and 530 yards receiving respectively. It seems like their best days are behind them unless injuries we’re holding them back last year.
Titans are gonna swoop in and grab another WR. Of course it’s not Julio or OBJ, although the GM loves him some injured players.
Is Cole Beasley still out there? Or Emmanuel Sanders? That’s who Titans sign.
Green Bay maybe Julio, if price is right.