Over two years ago, Titans outside linebacker Rashad Weaver was charged with assault. As Paul Kuharsky of PaulKukarsky.com reports, the charge against Weaver has been dropped, as the prosecution is unwilling to move forward. Although the NFL can impose discipline even in the absence of criminal charges, Kuharsky notes that Weaver is likely to avoid league sanctions.
Shortly before Tennessee selected Weaver in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, the Pittsburgh alum was accused of grabbing a woman by the throat and pushing her to the ground, causing her to hit her head. Original reporting suggested that Weaver had actually punched the woman in the head, and while there were no injuries consistent with that allegation, the player reportedly told an officer on the scene that he had no problem hitting a female if she needed it. The Titans were unaware of the incident when they drafted Weaver 13 days later.
Weaver, 25, sustained a broken fibula in the club’s third game of the 2021 campaign, which ended his rookie year prematurely. He bounced back with a solid showing in his second professional season, playing in 58% of the Titans’ defensive snaps and recording 5.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. With 2021 Pro Bowler Harold Landry missing all of last year with a torn ACL, Weaver’s performance was especially critical.
The Titans will welcome Landry back this year and also signed Arden Key away from the division-rival Jaguars in free agency. Weaver is expected to opeate behind those two as Tennessee’s third edge rusher, so he will still get plenty of action. As 2023 will be his third year in the league, he will be extension-eligible for the first time next offseason.
In a piece detailing the Titans’ overall outlook at outside linebacker, Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website says Weaver has helped himself in his pursuit of a second NFL contract, as he “has gotten noticeably stronger this offseason.” Wyatt also expresses his belief that Sam Okuayinonu, a 2022 undrafted free agent who appeared in six games with Tennessee last season, is currently in the lead for the fourth OLB spot on the depth chart.
Okuayinonu will be pushed by fellow 2022 UDFA Zach McCloud — who was originally signed by the Vikings after last year’s draft — and 2023 UDFAs Caleb Murphy and Thomas Rush.
