Tennessee Titans have upside with Rashad Weaver if legal issues subside

There isn’t a Tennessee Titans fan anywhere that doesn’t have an opinion or thought on what’s going on with their fourth-round draft choice of the most recent NFL selection meeting, one Rashad Weaver.

One reason is this. Fans of the two-tone blue had a lot of hope about this class. That can be said about every draft class, but this is an NFL squad that can fill a couple of holes and put a real championship run together.

The second reason that Weaver is on the minds of Titans fans isn’t really a good one. He’s found his way into a little legal trouble and with everything that transpired with Isaiah Wilson, Tennessee’s first-round selection from a year ago, you can understand why some of this team’s supporters and the media that cover it would be worried.

Does a fourth-rounder really mean this much to the Tennessee Titans?

Now, for all intents and purposes, this must be stated. There’s a theory that dates back quite a while, and it’s this. Starters are found in rounds one and two of the draft, and every NFL franchise is just looking for guys that they hope work out in Round 4 and beyond.

As mentioned, Tennessee wanted to hit on all of their picks, and in Weaver’s case, there’s an interesting dynamic. Some say he should have been taken higher. Some graded him lower than being a fourth-rounder, but he can play both the run and the pass well. He can also play outside linebacker or defensive end in the Tennessee Titans’ 3-4 scheme. His versatility is invaluable. So is his potential.

It’s times like these that the opinions of experts are searched for, and when you check out what they’re saying, it’s hard not to start smiling. Check out what two well-known draft pundits had to say.

Draft experts weigh in on the Tennessee Titans’ rookie.

If you’re familiar with the work of NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, you should know that he’s definitely someone worth acknowledging. Recently, he gave Weaver a draft grade of 5.98 which means he should enter the league as a backup or special-teamer.

In terms of what Zierein believes Weaver provides from a talent standpoint, he compares the former Pitt Panther to Deatrich Wise. He also has this to say.

"A decade ago, Weaver would have been a lock to end up on a 3-4 unit as a standard five-technique thanks to his size, length, and strength. With fewer teams playing a base 3-4 and opting for hybrid players and varied fronts, he appears to be a bit of a niche prospect. A narrow playing base and tall pad level are likely to follow him no matter how much work teams do to correct it, but there’s no denying that he can be a handful despite balance and coordination issues. He bullies blockers around with his punch and discard game. He lacks twitch and short-area quickness, but his power and length could make up for it as a middle-round end with rotational value in an even or odd front."

Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network puts things this way in his recent profile of Mr. Weaver.

"Nice-sized defensive lineman who made a terrific return from injury last season. Plays with proper pad level, works his hands throughout the action, and gets off the snap with a quick first step. Can flatten off the edge or immediately change direction. Displays a variety of moves getting off blocks and flashes strength at the point of attack."

Sure, he’s a fourth-rounder. No, we typically don’t expect much from them, but in the case of this young man, Tennessee has a nice rotational piece that could develop into something much more important later.

No, he isn’t Jevon Kearse. Then again, who is? Here’s something to hang your hat on if you’re a Tennessee Titans fan though. If he can make it through what he has going on personally and do so successfully, he probably isn’t Isaiah Wilson either. keep your fingers crossed if you’re a fan.