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Sleeper in Tennessee?

Taylor thrives while Matthews is on the PUP list

The Titans have Rishard Matthews on the PUP list. He hasn’t practiced at all. And that increases my interest in Taywan Taylor. Not a sure thing, of course, but he could prove to be an awesome late-round pick.

I think back to last year. When I saw Tennessee in the preseason, I was wondering whether Taylor or Corey Davis would be the team’s best rookie receiver. They selected Davis with the 5th pick of the draft, but Taylor sure looked like a receiver who’ll be starting in the league for a long time. He was catching balls and running the ball on end-arounds in all of their preseason games, looking like a young Randall Cobb. (And I say that because of the body shape and the style of play – not because both played their college football in the state of Kentucky.)

Taylor ended up not being much of a factor. But he’s back and more knowledgeable and confident now.

“Oh, he looks a lot more sure of himself,” Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard said in an article in The Tennesseean.. “I wouldn’t say he looks any faster because he’s already been fast. But he’s definitely making a lot more plays, man … I think he’s a lot more sure of himself when it comes to either the play call or just reading things. He’s looked great so far.”

With Matthews sitting out, Taylor has been working with the first-team offense, with some of the other receivers playing in the slot – like Tajae Sharpe and Michael Campanaro. That surprises me. I would have expected Taylor to play in the slot (that’s where I think he’ll play) with Matthews’ backup taking that spot on the outside. It’s a situation that will need to be looked at more closely in the preseason games.

Could it be that the Titans are putting Taylor in their regular starting lineup? He’s definitely an athletic, talented guy, and nobody is shedding much light on Matthews’ status. “Basically, he’s just not able to practice right now,” Mike Vrabel said in a second article at the website.

We’ll see how it pans out. For now, I’m continuing to expect that on opening day, it will be Davis and Matthews starting outside, with Taylor serving as one of the league’s top half-dozen slot receivers. While Taylor has some sizzle, I have to respect that Matthews has been one of the league’s most underrated wide receivers. Over the last three years, 63 wide receivers have seen at least 200 targets, and only four of those players have averaged more yards per pass play. Matthews catches balls and gains yards.

WIDE RECEIVERS, YARDS PER TARGET (last 3 years)
PlayerTgtRecYdsAvgTDAvg/Tgt
Julio Jones, Atl.4803074,72415.4179.84
Sammy Watkins, tms2181272,07016.3199.50
Adam Thielen, Minn.2521722,38713.999.47
Brandin Cooks, tms3602273,39314.9249.43
Rishard Matthews, tms2561612,40214.9179.38
Doug Baldwin, Sea.3442473,18812.9299.27
DeSean Jackson, tms2391362,20116.2119.21
Antonio Brown, Pitt.5103434,65113.6319.12
Marvin Jones, tms3131812,84715.7179.10
Willie Snead, N.O.2211491,97113.278.92
A.J. Green, Cin.3752273,33914.7228.90
T.Y. Hilton, Ind.3982173,53816.3158.89
Michael Thomas, N.O.2701962,38212.2148.82
Tyler Lockett, Sea.2061371,81613.398.82
Ted Ginn, tms2621512,27815.1188.69
Terrance Williams, Dall.2321492,00213.478.63
Kenny Britt, tms2261241,93915.6108.58
Keenan Allen, LAC2551752,18112.5108.55
Stefon Diggs, Minn.2912002,47212.4158.49
Odell Beckham, NYG3682223,11914.0268.48
Travis Benjamin, tms2621492,21014.8138.44
Allen Hurns, Jac.2371381,99214.4158.41
DeVante Parker, Mia.2331391,90813.788.19
Amari Cooper, Oak.3582032,90314.3188.11
Kenny Stills, Mia.2491272,01315.9188.08
Robert Woods, tms2411541,94612.698.07
Dontrelle Inman, tms2041181,63913.988.03
Jamison Crowder, Wash.2801922,24011.7128.00
Mike Wallace, tms2801632,23813.7107.99
John Brown, Ariz.2291251,81914.6127.94
Pierre Garcon, tms2921912,31812.197.94
Alshon Jeffery, tms3081632,41714.8157.85
Mohamed Sanu, tms2261591,75011.097.74
Jermaine Kearse, tms2591552,00512.9117.74
Mike Evans, T.B.4572413,52814.6207.72
Danny Amendola, N.E.2021491,55010.497.67
Allen Robinson, Jac.3031542,30014.9207.59
Jeremy Maclin, tms2721712,06412.1137.59
Eric Decker, tms2361431,78412.5157.56
Golden Tate, Det.3832732,89310.6157.55
Marqise Lee, Jac.2331341,74413.077.48
Jordan Matthews, tms2791832,08311.4127.47
Emmanuel Sanders, Den.3652022,72213.5137.46
DeAndre Hopkins, Hou.5172853,85313.5287.45
Larry Fitzgerald, Ariz.4563253,39410.4217.44
Adam Humphries, T.B.2061431,51310.647.34
Brandon Marshall, tms3341862,44413.1177.32
Julian Edelman, N.E.2471591,79811.3107.28
Devin Funchess, Car.2321171,68414.4177.26
Jordy Nelson, G.B.2401501,73911.6207.25
Demaryius Thomas, Den.4612783,33612.0167.24
Jarvis Landry, Mia.4583163,28010.4177.16
Cole Beasley, Dall.2361631,68310.3147.13
Brandon LaFell, tms2701531,92512.697.13
Davante Adams, G.B.3321992,36511.9237.12
Donte Moncrief, Ind.2081201,43111.9156.88
Randall Cobb, G.B.3052052,09210.2146.86
Nelson Agholor, Phil.2081211,41611.7116.81
Dez Bryant, Dall.3001502,03513.6176.78
Anquan Boldin, tms2061361,37310.1126.67
Michael Crabtree, Oak.3922322,54311.0256.49
Kamar Aiken, tms2211191,40511.866.36
Tavon Austin, LAR2151231,0298.484.79

Could Taywan Taylor eventually prove to be better than Corey Davis? Right now I don’t believe that will happen, but it wouldn’t surprise me. In the last 20 years, there have been 20 other instances where teams drafted two wide receivers in the first three rounds. Four of those second wide receivers chosen went on to become really good players.

The 20 pairs of wide receivers are shown below, and I’ve got black dots next to the names of the second wide receivers listed who went over 1,000 yards sometime in their first three seasons.

For the stats on this chart, you’re looking at the best single-season numbers by the second receiver during his first three years.

Too early to promise big things from Taylor (I would still select Matthews before him right now) but let’s keep a close eye on this one.

SECOND BITE AT THE APPLE (last 20 years)
TeamYearReceiver (earlier WR)NoYardsTD
Ind.1998E.G. Green (Jerome Pathon)212870
NYG1998Brian Alford (Joe Jurevicius)171
Chi.1999• Marty Booker (D’Wayne Bates)1001,0718
Cin.2000Ron Dugans (Peter Warrick)474210
Clev.2000JaJuan Dawson (Dennis Northcutt)222811
Ariz.2003• Anquan Boldin (Bryant Johnson)1011,3778
S.F.2004Derrick Hamilton (Rashaun Woods)000
Tenn.2005Brandon Jones (Courtney Roby)273844
Pitt.2006Willie Reid (Santonio Holmes)4540
Cin.2008Andre Caldwell (Jerome Simpson)514323
Wash.2008Malcolm Kelly (Devin Thomas)253470
Clev.2009Mohamed Massaquoi (Brian Robiskie)346243
NYG2009Ramses Barden (Hakeem Nicks)9940
Den.2010• Eric Decker (Demaryius Thomas)851,06413
St.L.2013Stedman Bailey (Tavon Austin)304351
Buff.2013Marquise Goodwin (Robert Woods)172833
Jac.2014• Allen Robinson (Marqise Lee)801,40014
Phil.2014Josh Huff (Jordan Matthews)273123
Hou.2016Braxton Miller (Will Fuller)191621
Tenn.2017Taywan Taylor (Corey Davis)162311

—Ian Allan

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