Elic Ayomanor

Ayomanor was plagued by drops in his rookie season, something he must clean up if he wants to earn a long-term role on the team. He could be less of a priority in the offense in 2026 if the Titans can make much-needed improvements to their wide receiver room.

The Tennessee Titans are expected to be among the teams most active in the free agent wide receiver market, with the Raiders and Titans drawing attention for free agent receivers. The Titans could draft one of two elite WRs for Cam Ward, as rookies Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor made respectable impact but neither gave Ward a set of 'go-to' hands, and in either Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson, the Titans could have their answer.

The Titans signed Wan'Dale Robinson to a 4-year, $78M deal in 2026 free agency — OC Brian Daboll's former WR1 from New York, coming off a 1,000-yard/WR14 PPR season. Robinson projects as the clear WR1, demoting Ayomanor from a de facto lead role at 2025 season's end to WR3 or worse.

Despite leading the Titans in targets in 2025 (89 targets), Ayomanor now competes for opportunities with Robinson, a restructured-and-retained Calvin Ridley, and Chimere Dike. Snapping into meaningful WR2 volume requires at least one veteran injury.

The Titans used the #4 overall pick on Carnell Tate, a polished X-receiver from Ohio State who immediately projects as the WR1 in Daboll's offense — directly displacing Ayomanor from the role he developed into as a rookie. This is not a developmental pick; Tate is expected to start from Week 1.

Despite leading the Titans in targets as a rookie (89), Ayomanor is now reportedly WR5 on the unofficial post-draft depth chart behind Tate, Robinson, Ridley, and Dike — a full reversal of his 2025 standing that negates the late-season usage momentum.

At 22.6 years old, Ayomanor is in peak value appreciation phase for a WR with significant runway for growth and role expansion over the next 3-5 seasons.

The Titans quarterback is expecting things to be different in 2026 with a new head coach (Robert Saleh) and offensive coordinator (Brian Daboll). Daboll previously served eight total seasons as an NFL offensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

At 22.6 years old, Ayomanor is a fourth-round 2025 rookie still establishing his role with significant runway for growth over the next 3-5 seasons before WR decline curves flatten the position.

At 22 years old with a clear late-2025 breakout signal (30% target share and 94% snaps in W18), Ayomanor sits in the classic Year 2 WR development window. Increased schematic comfort and route-running refinement under a pass-heavy coordinator could organically earn him a larger role.

Ridley turns 32 in 2026 and Robinson carries a durability history. A single meaningful injury above Ayomanor on the depth chart immediately restores him to a WR2-level target share in an offense designed to distribute passing volume.

At 22 with two years of production at Stanford (125 rec, 1,844 yds, 12 TDs) and a 6'2"/206-lb frame, Ayomanor has the traits and youth for a long dynasty runway. Receivers this young with legitimate NFL starter experience rarely stay this cheap in dynasty markets permanently.

Young WR (22) — still in value appreciation phase