The Tennessee Titans have more questions than answers when it comes to their outside linebacker position going into the 2023 campaign.
Tennessee was riddled with injuries at the position last year. Harold Landry missed the entire season with a torn ACL, and Bud Dupree missed six games and exited multiple others early in what was another injury-plagued year for him.
The injuries to Dupree and Landry allowed 2021 fourth-round pick Rashad Weaver, who missed the entirety of his rookie campaign due to injury, to see extended playing time.
But after a hot start to the season with four sacks in four games, Weaver cooled off the rest of the way, tallying 1.5 sacks in the final 13 games.
In our latest offseason preview for the Titans, we take a look at the outside linebackers who are under contract, pending free agents, and then we’ll talk about what the team might do at the position in 2023.
Who's under contract?
Harold Landry: $18.8 million cap hit in 2023
Bud Dupree: $20.2 million cap hit in 2023
Rashad Weaver: $1.1 million cap hit in 2023
Zach McCloud (futures): $750,000 cap hit in 2023
OLB Sam Okuayinonu (futures): $870,000 cap hit in 2023
After signing a five-year, $87.5 million contract in 2022, Landry’s first year was marred by injury, with the Boston College product suffering a torn ACL prior to the start of the season. As a result, there’s no telling what to expect from Landry in his first season back.
Dupree has been considered one of the biggest cut candidates this offseason, as letting him go would save the team nearly $9.4 million, while incurring a dead-cap hit of $10.85 million.
However, the veteran has yet to be cut, but that might be more procedural than a hint the Titans will keep him. It’s also possible Tennessee is trying to find a trade partner to get at least something for Dupree.
The Kentucky product certainly hasn’t lived up to his contract, mostly thanks to injury, but cutting him would leave Tennessee with even more uncertainty than they currently have at the position.
We already mentioned the concern with Landry, but the jury is still very much out on Weaver, also.
Beyond those three, the Titans have camp bodies under contract. McCloud and Okuayinonu will compete for a roster spot, but chances are one or both will end up on the practice squad.
Who's a pending free agent?
The Titans don’t have any pending free agents at outside linebacker.
What the Titans will do
If the Titans keep Dupree, chances are there won’t be much of an investment in bringing in new outside linebackers, as the Titans would be paying a total of about $39 million to two outside linebackers in 2023.
Parting ways with Dupree leaves Tennessee with two question marks as starters at outside linebacker in Landry, who is coming off a torn ACL, and Weaver, who still has to prove himself a capable starter.
As much as the Titans could use Dupree in their current situation, he can’t be trusted to stay healthy and simply isn’t worth the money he’s going to be paid if Tennessee does nothing. I expect Dupree to either get cut or traded.
There is no way the Titans ignore this position this offseason, especially if Dupree is cut.
In that scenario Look for Tennessee to bring in a mid-tier pass-rusher in free agency, and/or to invest in one in the 2023 NFL draft at some point in the middle rounds. I could see an EDGE pick even if Dupree is kept, though.
Another way to help pick up the slack at the position is to keep deploying Denico Autry there when needed, something the Titans have done plenty of since signing the veteran defensive lineman in 2021.
Check out our other offseason previews!
