The Tennessee Titans’ wide receiver competition has gotten crowded in a hurry, and one undrafted rookie is making sure his name stays in the conversation.
Hank Beatty, the former Illinois receiver, signed with Tennessee right after the NFL Draft and landed $247,000 in guaranteed money - more than nearly every other UDFA the team brought in. Since then, he’s backed that investment with a strong showing at OTAs and mandatory minicamp, enough to draw notice in a room that suddenly looks like a real battle.
Titans reporter Jim Wyatt put it plainly after one of the team’s practices: "Rookie Hank Beatty was one of the stars of the day."
Beatty’s college production helps explain why he’s getting a longer look. In his final season at Illinois, he put up 864 receiving yards on 70 catches with three touchdowns. Listed as a slot receiver, he fits the profile physically too, measuring 5'10" and roughly 180 pounds.
The tape shows why he’s made an impression. Beatty’s route running stands out right away, especially against man coverage.
He does a good job stemming routes to set up leverage before breaking, then adds a sharp head fake to help create separation. He also has a natural feel for finding space in zone coverage, a useful trait for any slot target.
That skill set makes sense in the context of Tennessee’s summer workouts, where his movement and timing have apparently given the Titans’ defense problems. He also added value as an above-average punt returner for Illinois in 2025, which only helps his case as he tries to carve out a role.
Still, the road to the 53-man roster is steep. The Titans’ receiver group is deeper than it has been in a long time, so Beatty’s best path may be on the practice squad. Even so, he’s done enough to force his way into the picture.
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