Titans Need An X-Factor Offensive Weapon

Deebo Samuel is the current gold standard for a player who can line up in multiple positions and give you big plays. The Tennessee Titans need one of those on their roster.

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans need dynamic playmakers on the offensive side of the football, and they need to find at least one, if not more, in this draft. 

The most prominent position of need for the Titans is at receiver, and when looking into this draft class, there are some exciting candidates to add that could fill a role similar to that of Deebo Samuels of the San Francisco 49ers.

Samuels is a "Swiss army knife" type of player. Line him up at receiver, running back, or tight end, and get him the ball and let him work.   

There might not be an exact match of Samuels for the Titans, but some players could provide the same type of impact here. 

One such player who has gotten some buzz with the Titans in mock drafts as a day-two talent is Jonathan Mingo from Ole Miss. 

At 6'2", 220 lbs, Mingo has exceptional size, length, and a large catch radius, while breaking the tape with a 4.46 forty at the combine. 

While an injury cost him his second season in Oxford, he returned in 2022 and posted his best season with 51 receptions for 861 yards and five touchdowns in 13 starts for Lane Kiffin's offense.   

Mingo is a smart, physical player who can line up outside or as a big slot and even step onto the offensive line as a tight end for certain plays. He is not afraid to go over the middle, and if matched against most linebackers in coverage, he would be a mismatch.  

Oh, and for those who like receivers willing to block, Mingo is that guy. 

While his college production isn't that of others in this class, still, he has the physical talents to pair with Treylone Burks and others to add versatility and playmaking to this bland offense.

Other players could add dynamic playmaking ability, but perhaps none with all the physical gifts of Mingo, whose football IQ should allow him to learn the nuances of multiple positions in a slash-type role for Tim Kelly's new offense.   

Under The Radar Guy I Like 

Arkansas receiver Matt Landers is a guy who isn't getting talked about as much as some others, but he is a guy who should be available in the mid-to-late rounds and brings some interesting numbers to the conversation.    

Standing 6'4", 200 lbs, with a blazing 4.37 forty, Landers produced 47 receptions for 901 yards (19.2 yards per reception) and eight touchdowns in his final Razorbacks season. 

I could envision a Titans receiver group with Landers as a big receiver with speed to get over the top, paired with Burks, and Mingo in a slash-style spot, who could play as a big slot receiver in a three-wideout set. Remember that Kyle Phillips is still on the roster and would be the actual slot as part of a much-improved receiver rotation.   

The Titans have met with Mingo but have had no public contact with Landers, so he is likely a longshot for Tennessee, but his measurables are intriguing. 

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