It’s no secret that the Tennessee Titans have a pretty shitty history at wide receiver. For the better part of 15 years, it seemed like they avoided investing any real resources (money, draft picks) into getting a top flight receiver in town. Instead, they just threw a bunch of mid-round draft picks or undrafted free agents at the wall to see what would stick. That’s not to say they’ve never had talent at the position, though. There have been some pretty good receivers take the field in the Music City, so let’s take a stroll down memory lane. I’m counting down the top 10 Titans receivers in franchise history. Since the team relocated to Nashville, that is.
I don’t really know what to make of this list. It’s littered with steady WR2s miscast as WR1s, and guys that had truly elite potential though they either didn’t live up to it, or moved on to greener pastures before realizing their potential. To think of where some of these guys would rank in other franchise histories is also pretty hysterical. The fact that this is our city’s top 10 makes me really want to pull for Treylon Burks even more. Let’s get some more receiving talent in the record books, folks.
Finally, before we get started, gotta give an honorable mention to Randy Moss. One of the two or three greatest wide receivers of all time, who, had he actually looked like Randy Moss, probably would have actually cracked this list. But, man – when he came to the team in 2010, it was bad. Moss had six catches for 80 yards as a Titan. Chase Coffman and Michael Preston had more receiving yards for the Titans than the great Randy Moss. Didn’t stop me from buying my #84 Moss jersey tee, though.
The Top 10 Wide Receivers in Tennessee Titans History
10. Justin Gage – 2,050 receiving yards as a Titan with 12 touchdowns have him at 10th and 10th, respectively. So, he’s a rock steady lock for 10th on this list. It wasn’t the stats that defined Gage, though. That dude was as reliable and sure-handed as they come.
9. Kendall Wright – I was shocked when the Titans selected Wright in the first round just three years after selecting Kenny Britt in the first round. Though his exit from Tennessee was a little rocky, this guy was still pretty electric to watch at times. He finished his career with the Titans with 3,244 yards (5th) and 18 touchdowns (6th), and to me, fits into that “miscast in this Titans offense” category. I don’t know that any coach knew how to get the most out of him while he was in Tennessee.
8. Corey Davis – Davis may not have ever lived up to the expectations that come along with being the 5th overall pick in the draft, but I always thought the “bust” talk was way overblown. He was a serviceable receiver that might’ve been miscast as a number one. His best year came when AJ Brown was drawing attention away from him. He was a big, physical presence in the Titans receiving corps, and he parlayed that in 2,851 receiving yards (7th). If he had been able to find the end zone more than 11 times (11th) in four seasons, he’d probably be higher on this list. But, he’s still worth a spot in the top 10.
7. Kevin Dyson – I was surprised to see that Dyson was not nearly as productive as I thought he was based on the way we all look back to his era of Titans. Those were the glory days, and I think we tend to paint them in gold. Don’t get me wrong – he’s still one of the greats, but his 2,310 yards are good for 9th, and his 18 touchdowns put him in a tie with Wright for 6th on the all time list. When Titans fans think of Dyson, it’s his involvement in some of the most memorable moments in the franchise’s history that comes to mind.
6. Kenny Britt – I may get reamed for this, but Britt was an absolute physical specimen. There were games when he proved capable of completely dominating and posting some gaudy stats. The guy’s 6th on the team in receiving yards with 2,450, and 5th in touchdowns with 19. Let’s not let all the off-the-field stuff make us think he was completely useless. At one point, people were calling Britt the next Randy Moss. He was that talented.
5. Chris Sanders – He’s 4th in yardage with 3,285 as a Titan, and 8th in touchdowns with only 17. But, there was something about Sanders that just felt like a top flight receiver. He’s usually among the names that pop up first when you start talking about this team’s receiver history.
4. Drew Bennett – Bennett was a sure fan favorite throughout his tenure with the Titans from 2001-06. I remember hearing boos rain down in Nissan Stadium one day, thinking, “why on Earth would people boo a Drew Bennett touchdown reception?” That was the first time I heard people chanting a name in a manner in which you’d think was a boo. “DREEEEEEEEEEWWWWWW!” But, Bennett was awesome, and was the real linchpin of some of those Titans receiving corps. He finished his Titans career with 4,033 yards and 25 touchdowns, both 3rd among the all-time Titans list.
3. AJ Brown – Listen, I know it hurts, Titans fans, but it’s time to move on. Maybe it’s too soon to bring this up, but even with only three short years with the Titans, it’s fair to say that Brown was among the best receivers this franchise has ever seen. I have no issue with folks saying he was the most talented receiver the Titans ever fielded, but without the stats and accomplishment that comes along with a longer tenure with the Titans, I don’t think it’s fair to say he’s the all-around best. His 24 touchdowns are 4th among Titans receivers, while his 2,995 receiving yards are good for 6th.
2. Nate Washington – I wanted so badly to rank Washington at #1, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger on it. I think this guy is vastly underrated for what he did during his time with the Titans. Washington played six straight seasons for some of the worst Titans teams in the franchise’s history. Somehow, he was able to manage 4,591 yards and 28 touchdowns out of that tenure. Projected over the course of Derrick Mason’s stay with the Titans, and he would’ve had more yards and more touchdowns than him playing with lesser quarterbacks. That’s why I had to wrestle with putting him at #1 despite the clear and logical choice – I just want y’all to put the respect on this man’s name that he deserves.
1. Derrick Mason – He certainly has the attention of the Titans fan base, that’s for sure. If you ask any ol’ Titans fan who the greatest receiver in Titans history is, Mason is the default answer. It’s not like there’s no reason for that, either. Four straight 1,000+ yard seasons from 2001-04. In his eight years with the Titans, he amassed 6,114 yards and 37 touchdowns, both are still 1st among Titans receivers. The man is the face of the position for Titans fans.
Outspoken Owen Reed and I recently got together to hash this conversation out on The Unofficial Titans Podcast. Subscribe to The Unofficial Titans Podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or wherever you take in your podcasts! Or, you can simply smash that play button on the embed below to listen to us talk Titans wide receivers:
Listen to “Ep. 107: The Top 10 Wide Receivers in Titans History” on Spreaker.Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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