Drew Bennett did not have his best season in 2006. He recorded his lowest yardage and reception totals since 2003 and his lowest TD total since 2002. What is even worse is he put up these numbers in a contract year.
When Derrick Mason left after the 2004 season, Bennett was annointed as the #1 receiver. He seemed to be up to the challenge coming off a season where he had 80 catches for 1,247 yards and 11 TDs. Unfortunately he hasn't come close to those numbers since. His hands have always been a little suspect but during 2004 he seemed to have overcome those problems. 2005 and 2006 proved otherwise.
I hate to questions a player's effort ever but it really seemed like Bennett gave up on a lot of passes this season. It seemed like he didn't run routes all the way through at times and he didn't go up for balls that it looked like he might have had a play on. It doesn't make sense for an NFL player to do that ever considering how cut throat the NFL is but it especially doesn't make sense for a player who is in a contract year.
It will be interesting to see what the Titans do about Bennett considering he is an unrestricted free agent. It doesn't make sense for the Titans to give him anything more than #3 money considering they have Brandon Jones who I think will emerge as the #1 receiver in 2007, David Givens who is coming off an ACL injury but when healthy is a better receiver than Bennett and another free agent in Bobby Wade who gives the Titans depth as a returner on top of being a WR. It is also very likely the Titans will take a WR with one of their first couple of picks in the 2007 draft.
The only way the Titans should bring Bennett back is if he agrees to a contract with a low base, low signing bonus and a lot of incintives. If he gets a big offer from another team the Titans should let him walk. He is a nice player but not one that is worth breaking the bank for and hurting the cap down the road.