The Tennessee Titans have apparently drafted a gem in fifth-round wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, and he could be among the league’s best by the end of the season.
It is relatively rare for rookie wide receivers to come out and dominate the league. There are only so many Odell Beckham Jr. and Randy Moss-type players that are capable of doing so. Those that do are usually top picks and are expected to perform at a high level.
But Tennessee Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe may change all of that.
Quickly becoming a popular pick as a possible breakout player in 2016, Sharpe’s name is becoming increasingly common to hear talked about as a stud wide receiver and fantasy football option.
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The Titans knew he was something special early on. The receiver out of UMass (where he had an FBS-leading 111 receptions in 2015) began impressing with crisp route running, created separation, and worked hard on each and every snap in camp. Head coach Mike Mularkey was particularly impressed, saying per the Tennessean:
"He’™s made the plays. He’™s been very impressive in the one-on-ones, where he’s going against No. 1 corners. A lot of guys, rookies especially, are very impatient. They shorten their routes. Their double moves are too quick. He is playing like he’™s been in the league for a while."
That professionalism and experienced appearance has translated to on-field gains as well. Midway through Week 3 of the preseason, Sharpe is 11th in the NFL with eight receptions after just two games. He’s already a favorite target of young quarterback Marcus Mariota, and his ability has enabled the Titans to jettison 2015 second-round pick Dorial Green-Beckham in a trade.
Sharpe is shaping up to be the top receiver for the Tennessee Titans in 2016. For a team that has relied primarily on tight end Delanie Walker, this is a major improvement for their offense.
How Sharpe measures up in the broader rookie wide receiver landscape is a different question. Players like Laquon Treadwell, Will Fuller, Josh Doctson, and Corey Coleman aren’t simply going to disappear. They will certainly produce.
What Sharpe has over those others is that he is likely going to be the top target in his offense. Treadwell has Stefon Diggs to compete with (not to mention tight end Kyle Rudolph), Fuller has DeAndre Hopkins, Doctson has DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, and Coleman has Terrelle Pryor and Josh Gordon. Sharpe doesn’t have an established receiving threat to compete with at his position and will likely benefit from Walker’s presence at tight end.
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Assuming Sharpe continues to produce through the rest of the preseason and delivers in his first game to open the season (against the Minnesota Vikings), look for him to set the pace for his rookie peers. He has the talent to be a top receiver on his team and in the NFL. It wouldn’t be unrealistic to see him catching 75 passes or more in 2016, putting him in line to be a top 30 receiver.