If the 2023 offseason is an indication of anything for the Tennessee Titans, it is that ownership is gearing up for a reset. Lacking cap space, the Titans purged their roster of a number of veterans this offseason, clearing tens of millions of dollars in cap space. In addition to the players who were released, free agents are also leaving Tennessee.
Guard Nate Davis signed with the Chicago Bears and linebacker David Long Jr. left for the Miami Dolphins. There are a lot of needs on this roster, and more could be created in the coming weeks, as their fall from grace has been swift.
Arguably the weakest spot on the roster was at linebacker. In addition to losing Long, the team also released Zach Cunningham. With a huge need at the position, the Titans came away with one of the best under-the-radar signings of the offseason, landing Azeez Al-Shaair from the San Francisco 49ers.
The Titans hired Ran Carthon away from the 49ers to be their general manager earlier this offseason. His connection to the franchise is already paying dividends as Al-Shaair was an excellent signing in free agency.
Al-Shaair will bring a lot of the same instinctive football ability to the field that the team lost with Long moving on. A well-rounded linebacker, Al-Shaair always finds himself around the ball whether it is in run support or dropping into pass coverage.
With a lack of playmakers on the defense, that kind of versatility will really help the Titans in 2023. There is a chance that Al-Shaair becomes the leader of the defensive unit and could wear the green dot for the upcoming season.
Al-Shaair saw his playing time scaled back last season, playing only 42 percent of the defensive snaps. He did struggle with injuries as well, playing in only 12 games.
But, in 2021, he was very impactful, racking up 102 total tackles with 2.0 sacks, five passes defended, nine tackles for loss and two quarterback hits in 13 games. Al-Shaair will have an opportunity to get back to that level as a locked-in, likely three-down player for the Titans in 2023.
