Titans: Who should be WR2?

Going into the 2025 Tennessee Titans offseason this question marks at almost every position on the depth chart. However, One I believe many fans will agree is most interesting is the battle in the wide receiver room. It is safe to say that 2024 was not a benner year by any means but especially in the receiving room. The Titans ranked 25th in 2025 in receiving yard per game and left many yards on the table. Although quarterback play was poor in a majority of games, there is no excuse for little wide receiver production in 2024. Calvin Ridley, despite all of the seasons passing strife, amazingly finished with 1000 yards and 4 touchdowns while Nick Westbrook-Ikhine was the opposite with 497 yards and an improbable 9 touchdowns. Tyler Boyd also trailed with 390. Beyond those 3, no one eclipsed more than 200 yards. Tennessee is only returning Calvin Ridley of those 3 which makes the wide receiver room wide open for 2025. Assuming Ridley is WR1, who takes the WR2 spot? In this article we’ll detail who we believe will get the nod week 1 and who will ultimately finish as the WR2.

Before we begin, let's go through who the Titans are returning and who they added this offseason. Returning this year includes undrafted free agents from 2024 Bryce Oliver and Tay Martin who combined for 140 yards and a touchdown. Long time practice squad and active roster flip flopper Mason Kinsey and former first round pick Treylon Burks are making their return as well. In free agency, the Titans added veterans Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson. Lockett, 31, comes from Seattle where he spent nine seasons as a dependable slot receiver and deep threat, racking up over 7,500 career receiving yards. Jefferson, a middle Tennessee native is 28 and a former Rams, Falcons, and Steelers receiver who won a Super Bowl with L.A. in 2021. Known for his straight-line speed, he adds depth and experience to Tennessee’s receiving corps. And finally, in the draft the Titans added 2 Wide-outs and signed one undrafted free agent. The team drafted Florida return specialist Chimere Dike and Stanford Standout Elic Ayomanor with third and fourth round picks respectively. They also signed Cam Ward’s number one receiver from his time at Miami in Xavier Restrepo. So of these 7, who do we think will earn that WR2 spot in Week 1?

Tyler Lockett

The favorite on paper to land the WR2 spot is veteran Tyler Lockett. At 31, Lockett brings nine seasons of NFL experience, all with the Seattle Seahawks, where he quietly built a résumé as one of the league’s most consistent and efficient receivers. A savvy route-runner with sure hands and excellent chemistry with quarterbacks, Lockett has four career 1,000-yard seasons and over 7,500 career receiving yards. While he may have lost a step in terms of pure speed, his football IQ, ability to find space, and reliability on third down make him an ideal candidate to complement a true WR1 like Calvin Ridley. If healthy, Lockett’s veteran presence and polished skill set make him the early front-runner for the WR2 job and become a Rookie Quarterbacks best friend.

Van Jefferson

Van Jefferson, 28, is a middle Tennessee native looking to revitalize his career back home. After a promising start with the Rams, including a key role in their 2021 Super Bowl run, Jefferson’s production dipped in recent years due to injuries and inconsistent quarterback play in both Pittsburgh and Atlanta. Known for his speed and vertical ability, Jefferson still possesses the tools to stretch defenses and operate as a downfield threat. If he can impress in camp and stay healthy, he’s a strong contender to carve out a WR3 or rotational deep-threat role, with an outside shot at WR2 if he performs well enough and people move down ahead of him.

Treylon Burks

The wildcard in this group is 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks. After three underwhelming and injury-plagued seasons, this could be Burks’ last real chance to prove he belongs in Tennessee’s long-term plans. At 6’3” and 225 pounds, Burks has the physical traits to be a dominant possession receiver, but inconsistency in route running and availability have held him back. If he stays healthy and finally puts it all together, Burks could push for the WR2 role,  but that’s a big “if.” He enters camp with something to prove.

Chimere Dike

A third-round pick out of Florida (via transfer from Wisconsin), Chimere Dike projects more as a special teams asset early on. Known for his return skills, quickness, and short-area burst, Dike could contribute as a gadget weapon or in the slot, but expecting him to take the WR2 job in Week 1 would be ambitious. Although his threat on deep routes is very much there, he’ll need time to develop as a true outside or possession threat.

Elic Ayomanor

Drafted in the fourth round out of Stanford, Elic Ayomanor was one of the more physically impressive receivers in college football last year. At 6’2” and over 200 pounds, he combines size with strong hands and underrated YAC ability. Ayomanor has a real chance to climb the depth chart quickly if he adapts to the pro game, but he’s still viewed more as a long-term project than an immediate WR2 solution. He’ll likely compete for WR3/4/5 reps early. However, A monster performance in 2023 could be an indication of what's to come. He racked up 13 catches for 295 yards (!) against now division rival DB Travis Hunter in a 2023 game against Colorado. 

Xavier Restrepo

Undrafted but certainly not unnoticed, Xavier Restrepo was Cam Ward’s top target at Miami and is coming off a highly productive final college season. A tough 40 time that he ran injured dropped him from teams boards, but this could only add fuel to the fire. While slightly undersized, he’s a tough, sure-handed slot receiver with a knack for finding soft spots in coverage. He profiles similarly to Mason Kinsey in style, but with more upside. A strong camp could land him on the 53-man roster, but it’s unlikely he pushes for WR2 out of the gate.

Mason Kinsey/Bryce Oliver/Tay Martin

Kinsey, Oliver, and Martin are all fighting for depth and special teams roles. Kinsey has been around the Titans’ system for years, bouncing between the practice squad and active roster, while Oliver and Martin flashed in limited action last season. None of the three are serious WR2 candidates, but one or more could make the roster as a WR6 or special teams contributor.

Final Verdict

I believe that Tyler Lockett’s veteran presence and pedigree will earn him the WR2 spot even barring a poor camp. There is nothing a Rookie quarterback needs more than a veteran presence in the huddle and Lockett could only add to Ridley’s mentoring. 

However, I believe Elic Ayomanor will earn that spot as 2025 goes on. Although he went after Chimere Dike, the Titans were thrilled to see him fall to them. I believe his raw talent will blossom this season and he’ll become a dominant receiver after the catch.