Three Young Titans Who Could Lose Jobs to a Rookie in 2023 NFL Draft

NASHVILLE — Competition is everything in the NFL and the Tennessee Titans will certainly be ready to add some players who can push the guys already on the roster. When the Titans add their new rookies to the mix, there could be some serious competition between those rookies and some of the incumbent players already on the roster. Three players who could fall into this category are Monty Rice, Rashad Weaver and Nicholas Petit-Frere.

Rashad Weaver, Edge

Weaver missed 15 games his rookie season with a broken leg, but was able to play 16 games in 2022 and be rather consistent for the Titans. Weaver missed a few too many tackles, but was generally a solid member of the pass rush rotation and put up 5.5 sacks on 34 total pressures.

However, the Titans will be getting Harold Landry back from injury and added edge rusher Arden Key in free agency. If they choose to add an edge rusher in the draft, and it is a very good edge group this year, Weaver could see his snaps fall from his 2022 average of 40 snaps to something in the twenties. If that happens, Weaver could be out of the role he had last year and into a smaller one.

Nicholas Petit-Frere

Petit-Frere may be the most controversial name on this list. The Titans are trying to rebuild their offensive line and Petit-Frere seem to be the one redeemable quality from the 2022 offensive line. Surely, he would be safe, but not so fast. While Petit-Frere had less help around him than most rookies would because of the lowly state of last season’s offensive line, he still struggled throughout the year.

Out of all rookie offensive tackles last season that played at least 300 snaps, NPF ranked 11th in pass blocking grade out of 12 qualified tackles, per Pro Football Focus. He gave up 5 sacks and was top 25(in a bad way) in pressures allowed in the NFL. It would be a bit of a surprise to see Petit-Frere lose a starting role all together, but there is a chance that NPF is moved inside to guard if the Titans draft a tackle they like better. If things really go the wrong way for him, there is also a chance he loses a starting spot entirely if a tackle and another interior offensive lineman are added early.

Monty Rice, LB

Rice will be heading into his third season in the NFL and is currently slated to be a starter next to free agent signing Azeez Al-Shaair. Rice shouldn’t get too comfortable in that spot though. For starters, Rice hasn’t really earned the spot through his play. While Rice has had solid moments, he has missed 11 games already in two seasons and he has struggled in pass coverage.

Rice can be a place holder, but one thing to keep in mind is new Titans’ general manager Ran Carthon came from San Francisco, where finding linebackers late in the draft who can contribute right away was a common accomplishment. If Carthon targets a linebacker in the draft, it is certainly possible that rookie beats out Rice for the starting role.