PHOENIX – The Titans added a veteran to the room at receiver in Adam Humphries, and they expect big things from the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer, primarily from the slot.
But here at the NFL owners meetings, Titans GM Jon Robinson challenged the team's young receivers as well when asked if the team still needs help at the receiver position.
"I like the guys that we've got currently under contract," Robinson said. "It will be a big year for some of those younger guys. At some point, they need to mature and come along and progress.
"You can't keep saying, 'He's a young guy. He's a young guy.' At some point you have to step up, and we've shown signs of that last year certainly. But we'll see how it goes."
Receiver Corey Davis, the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, doubled his production in his second NFL season in 2018, finishing the year with 891 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 65 receptions.
Taywan Taylor had 37 catches for 466 yards and a touchdown in 2018, while Tajae Sharpe had 26 catches for 316 yards and two scores. It was the second NFL season for both Taylor and Sharpe. Darius Jennings (11-101) and Cam Batson (8-82) made contributions as well.
Humphries should help the cause, but more help could also be added, Robinson said.
"If we can add another guy who can create some competition in there, get open and catch," Robinson said, "we'll certainly take a look at it."
Vrabel believes Humphries will be a big asset to the offense.
In 2018, the 25-year-old Humphries had a career high in receptions (76), receiving yards (816) and receiving touchdowns (five). The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder became Tampa Bay's top slot receiver while catching 219 passes for 2,329 yards and nine touchdowns over the last four seasons.
"I think that he adds the ability to catch the ball inside," Vrabel said of Humphries. "He has a good feel for zone and man, and he does a good job with screens, and run after the catch. He can help us returning the football. He is a proven veteran player at a position we feel like can help the team."
Overall, Vrabel believes the receiving corps should make even more strides this offseason to help quarterback Marcus Mariota.
But like Robinson, he knows the team needs it to happen now.
"They're improving," Vrabel said of the team's receiving corps. "It's a young group. I mean, Humphries is going into his fifth year, but we don't have an eighth year, ninth year guy that has done it. So there will still be things that guys are seeing for the first time.
"Taywan showed glimpses, Tajae did a good job for us on third down, being reliable. We just need to build on what we did last year and get some of these young guys to continue to develop and improve."
