The Tennessee Titans worked hard to revamp the wide receiver position this offseason. They drafted Carnell Tate at No. 4 overall and also signed Wan’Dale Robinson to a four-year, $70 million contract in free agency. Everyone expects Tate and Robinson to be the Titans’ top two receivers for quarterback Cam Ward in 2026.
Well, everyone but Pro Football Focus, apparently. PFF recently ranked all 32 starting wide receivers (WR1) in the league. For the Titans, they… chose Calvin Ridley and ranked him dead
last at No. 32 overall. In what universe is Ridley still the Titans’ WR1 after the Tate and Robinson offseason acquisitions?
“Ridley’s 2025 season was cut short by injury, but he is expected to return as Tennessee’s top target in 2026,” Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick wrote. “He recorded 1,000-yard seasons in both 2023 and 2024. Before the injury, Ridley was averaging a career-high 17.8 yards per reception, which ranked fourth among wide receivers with at least 30 targets last season. Flanked by free-agent addition Wan’Dale Robinson and first-round pick Carnell Tate, Ridley should see more favorable matchups on the outside in 2026.”
Wasserman and Chadwick are talented writers, but this feels like a whiff. A lack of knowledge surrounding the Titans by mainstream media members isn’t new for this fanbase. A 32-year-old Ridley coming off a serious injury won’t be the Titans’ WR1 in 2026.
In fact, Ridley is likely competing for the WR3 role with both Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. Ayomanor and Dike had impressive rookie seasons, and should be better as sophomores.
Ayomanor is a bigger bodied outside receiver with blocking capabilities. Like Ridley, Dike is flexible enough to play multiple receiving positions, both inside and outside. Ridley won’t be handed reps by Brian Daboll.
Expect Tate and Robinson to be the Titans’ preferred receivers.
