#ProTops: Taylor To See Bigger Role With Titans in 2018?
If a lot of immediate post-training camp and preseason talk was to be believed, Taywan Taylor’s rookie year in the NFL was, for lack of a…
If a lot of immediate post-training camp and preseason talk was to be believed, Taywan Taylor’s rookie year in the NFL was, for lack of a better term, underwhelming.
Taylor finished with 231 yards in all 16 games (he started four) with one touchdown, and was even used out of the backfield a bit, taking eight carries for 43 yards.
Taywan’s receiving total was fewer than Corey Davis, who missed time with an injury, and DeMarco Murray, who is a running back. Suffice to say, we didn’t see quite what we thought we would out of him in Tennessee in year one.
But, with the departure of Eric Decker from Nashville, that might change.
In a brief writeup from RotoWire, it’s noted Titans’ GM Jon Robinson has said he doesn’t “anticipate adding any marquee wide receivers,” and is content with the receiving corps he has with Taylor, Rishard Matthews, Corey Davis and Tajae Sharpe.
While it isn’t a slam-dunk that Taylor will be the guy to replace Decker, I’d venture is a better possibility than not. Last year’s depth chart regularly had Taylor as WR2, behind Matthews, and he also was the number two slot receiver behind Decker. Remove Decker, and it’s a natural fit (along with his size) for Taylor to be the regular on-field WR3 down after down.
After Bobby Rainey not quite working out at each of his stops and the continuous saga with Brandon Doughty fighting for a shot at a 53-man roster, I’m going to think this about Taylor in the NFL — as long as he’s 1.) on the field 2.) on the 53-man and 3.) not fighting for his professional life with a big-name signing or a flashy new draft pick, I’m going to trust that he’ll get reps, catches and yards in due time as he ages.
At the very least, I cannot predict a scenario — baring injury — that Taywan sees less yards in 2018 than he did in 2017, and I hope in six months time we look back at this and laugh at how small our hopes were for him in baby-powder blue.