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22 hours ago
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The Tennessee Titans' decision to release veteran linebacker Harold Landry III in March took many by surprise. Landry led the team with nine sacks last season, making the move unexpected to some. However, the Titans had their sights set on a player in the 2025 NFL draft as part of a longer-term plan.
They selected edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo in the second round. Despite his designation as an edge rusher, Oladejo is expected to take on a multifaceted role as both a pass rusher on the outside and a defender who can drop into coverage when needed.
On Thursday, ESPN's Turron Davenport noted that the Titans view Oladejo as a key component in reinvigorating a pass rush that was one of the "most glaring deficiencies" on the team's defense last season.
According to Davenport, Oladejo is aiming to spark a turnaround in Tennessee's struggling pass rush by drawing inspiration from elite edge rushers.
"To help himself, Oladejo has studied some of the game's best -- T.J. Watt, Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons, Jonathan Greenard, Danielle Hunter and Aldon Smith," Davenport wrote. "Parsons is particularly interesting because he played middle linebacker at Penn State before switching to being primarily an edge rusher for the Dallas Cowboys."
Oladejo originally played middle linebacker at California and UCLA before transitioning to defensive end late in his college career.
"I went back to the basics and wanted to learn what a true edge player really is," Oladejo said. "The biggest thing playing on the edge is your get-off. If you have a good get-off and play with your hands, it can make up for anything."
The pressure is on Oladejo to improve a Titans pass rush that recorded only 32 sacks last season, tying for the third-fewest in the NFL.
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