The Tennessee Titans were without their 2021 sacks leader during the 2022 campaign after outside linebacker Harold Landry tore his ACL before the start of the season.
While down at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, head coach Mike Vrabel gave a positive update on Landry, but wouldn’t go into specifics.
“Well, I’m never going to give you a timeline, a prognosis,” he said. “I know he’s working his tail off. He looks great from a physical standpoint.”
“He looks good, his attitude’s good,” Vrabel added. “I know he was frustrated when it happened, but I think the realization is that players can come back from this injury and be really, really good.”
Vrabel is right to be optimistic that Landry can return to form after such a serious injury, but when that happens remains to be seen. It’s very possible Landry isn’t himself in his first year back.
And that presents a potential issue for Tennessee, who will be very thin at the position if the team decides to part ways with outside linebacker Bud Dupree.
Doing so would leave the Titans with Landry and Rashad Weaver as the only notable outside linebackers on the roster. We already mentioned the concern over Landry, but Weaver isn’t a sure bet, either.
Recently, ESPN’s Turron Davenport said it’s “very possible” Dupree stays in Nashville, but the team will have to weigh how much they value what he brings to the table with a massive $20.2 million cap hit in 2023.
There’s no question Dupree isn’t worth that much given his injury issues and overall lack of production the last few years, but with the Titans’ uncertainty surrounding Landry and Weaver, desperation might force their hand to keep him.
Cutting Dupree would save $9.35 million, but Tennessee would also absorb a dead-cap hit of $10.85 million and leave itself even shorter at the position.
From there, Tennessee would then have to acquire outside linebacker help, either through free agency, the draft, or both. Depending on the approach, that could end up costing around the same or more as Dupree staying.
I tend to believe Dupree will ultimately be let go, either via cut or trade, but it wouldn’t be totally shocking to see him back in Nashville for one more year.
