money Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson on expectations for Dez Fitzpatrick, receiver room
The Tennessee Titans could prioritize bolstering their wide receiver room this offseason.
“I think we’ve got to continue to add depth at that position group,” general manager Jon Robinson told The Tennessean at the Senior Bowl last week. “Some guys that can win (against man coverage). It’s another thing that affects the quarterback play. ... There are so many timing things on route concepts.
“I think depth and health at that position will certainly bode well for us moving forward.”
The Titans’ top two receivers, A.J. Brown (four) and Julio Jones (seven) missed games this season. Tennessee played nine games with either one or neither of their star receivers on the field. The Titans finished the season 24th in passing yards per game.
Jones, 33, had the least productive season of his career in his first with the Titans – 31 catches for 434 yards and a touchdown – and battled a lingering hamstring issue. The injury raised concerns about how durable the seven-time Pro Bowler can be the remainder of his career. He’s due $23.026 million in base salary over the next two seasons, including $2 million guaranteed in 2022, according to the website Over The Cap, which provides NFL salary information.
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Brown is entering the final year of his rookie deal but is eligible for an extension this offseason. The Titans’ second-leading receiver in 2021, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, is set to become an exclusive rights free agent. Marcus Johnson, Chester Rogers and Cam Batson are also pending unrestricted free agents. Batson (played four games) and Johnson (seven) landed on season-ending injured reserve. Josh Reynolds, who was signed to a one-year deal last spring, was released after five games.
A factor in the receiver room moving forward could be fourth-round draft pick Dez Fitzpatrick, whose slow start to training camp landed him on the practice squad to start his rookie season. He received praise for his work on scout team, though.
Fitzpatrick had just five receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown in four games in 2021.
“I wouldn’t even call it slow. It was backwards," Robinson said of Fitzpatrick’s start in training camp. “I’ve had that discussion with Dez. I have no problem saying that. But I’d follow that up with I’m probably as proud of him as any of the rookies we drafted last year (with) the way he improved throughout the course of the season. He was at a very low, low, low point in training camp. He had zero confidence. It was not good.
“He kept fighting. Working to get better. Improve his craft as a route runner. Gained some good weight it looked (like) to me. Didn’t look as thin, especially in his upper body. We’re counting on Dez to carve out a role. Whether it’s a fourth receiver, third receiver, starting receiver, I don’t know. It will be up to him how he comes in. If he is better than some guys ahead of him, great. Go play.”
Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson: Depth at WR needed for 2022
