Last week, the New York Jets made waves when they announced they were looking to either trade or release wide receiver Eric Decker. Decker has been with the Jets since 2014 and has been a key contributor to their offensive attack. Last year, he suffered a shoulder injury early in the season and ended up getting multiple surgeries on his shoulder and his hip. The New York Jets are clearing house of their veteran players this offseason, as noted by parting ways with Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, David Harris and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Eric Decker would be a viable fit on many other teams. He is a solid pass catcher and an efficient route runner.
According to multiple reports, Decker took a meeting and completed a physical examination for the Tennessee Titans. If signed by the Titans, Decker could be a potentially important asset in young quarterback Marcus Mariota’s arsenal. In the 2016 season, Mariota threw for 3,426 passing yards, including 26 touchdowns against only nine interceptions. Mariota also ran for 349 yards and two additional touchdowns. Mariota had a 61.2 completion percentage and a quarterback rating (QBR) of 64.9 over 15 games. The Titans currently have a receiving corps of Corey Davis, Tajae Sharpe, and Rishard Matthews. A veteran presence like Eric Decker on the Tennessee Titans could help improve the young Titans offense, and he could be a leader in the locker room.
Former NY Jets’ WR Eric Decker is meeting today with the Tennessee Titans, as @fhnixon said. Tennessee had appeal to Decker family.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 14, 2017
Over his career, Decker had amassed 385 receptions for 5,253 yards and 52 touchdowns over the course of seven seasons. Decker is currently a 30-year-old wide receiver coming off multiple surgeries, but his track record shows that he can still be a major player in the league. Reports also indicate that Decker left Tennessee without signing an official contract. However, this does not take him out of the running for a roster spot.
Another reason Decker could be strongly considering playing for Tennessee could be familial. Decker’s wife, Jessie James Decker, is a country music singer. Nashville, Tennessee is known as the country music capital of the world. Being down there may be very beneficial for her burgeoning career, as well as for reviving Decker’s viability at wide receiver.
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