If you’ve kept up with my writing and/or podcasting over the last several years, you already know that I have a soft spot in my heart for now former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe. The guy had such a promising start to his career with the Titans before an injury derailed him. He worked his way back into a role with the team and made some big plays in 2019. He was a damn good option to have as the #4 wide receiver, but has the skill to be a solid #2 as well.
He’ll get the chance to do that in 2020, as word broke yesterday that he had signed a one-year deal worth $1M with the Minnesota Vikings.
Source: Former #Titans WR Tajae Sharpe is signing with the #Vikings on 1-year deal. He’ll likely be the No. 2 alongside Adam Thielen, filling the void left by the Stefon Diggs trade.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2020
Good for him.
It’s more about the opportunity than the money. With the Vikings shipping Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills, that means it’s the Adam Thielen Show now. Behind him, it appears that Sharpe is going to get a real shot at taking the #2 spot.
The Vikings are getting a guy who is as iron clad as it gets when it comes to being a dependable route runner. Regardless of whether it was Marcus Mariota at quarterback or Ryan Tannehill, Tajae Sharpe always had a real knack for being at exactly the right place at exactly the right time. He caught a lot of first downs, too.
Tajae Sharpe among WRs min 35 targets in 2019:
— PFF TEN Titans (@PFF_Titans) March 25, 2020
1 of 5 receivers to not drop a pass
120.0 passer rtg when targeted, 10th highest
You got a good one @PFF_Vikings pic.twitter.com/KRjaLqw1F3
Look at that! Among receivers with at least 35 targets, Sharpe was one of just five that did not drop a pass. AND, yielded the 10th highest passer rating when targeted. This guy made himself a model for reliability in 2019. It’s wild to think that the Titans simply didn’t look his way very often. Obviously, AJ Brown became this team’s #1, they’re not going to give up on Corey Davis just yet, and they paid Adam Humphries top dollar. So, the receiving room was crowded. That said, when the Titans went to him, he was almost always there. That’s the kind of depth that most offenses would kill to have.
It’s crazy to think about how far this Titans offense has come in the last several years. The team’s #4 option just left to sign a deal to potentially become another team’s #2 option. I’m not saying Sharpe is going to replace Diggs – the talent level and the production is just too disproportionate between the two. But, Sharpe can really show us how far he’s come as a receiver in 2020. We’ll see whether or not he’s deserving of a larger role in an offense. Hopefully, the Titans won’t regret not re-signing him (especially given how cheap he was – you tellin’ me y’all couldn’t find another mil to pay this man?!?! SMDH.).
Nonetheless, the bottom line here is that the Vikings got themselves a good one in Tajae Sharpe.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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