Once the Tennessee Titans traded for inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV, the defense's biggest concern was the EDGE position.
No one on the roster has been with the Titans as long as Harold Landry, but historically, he hasn't been able to do it alone. Landry's best years were when he was playing on the other side of Bud Dupree or Denico Autry, and there was some concern that he wouldn't be able to put up good numbers without help on the opposite side.
However, Landry might have put that narrative to bed with his play over the last year and a half.
Dating back to Week 13 of the 2023 season, Landry has been one of the most productive pass rushers in the NFL.
Post-ACL Harold Landry has been eating pic.twitter.com/wVG2AWStkS
— Easton Freeze (@eastonfreeze) September 12, 2024
That was before Landry's two-sack performance against the New York Jets in Week 2, so he now has eight sacks in his last seven games.
Landry looks like a perfect fit in Dennard Wilson's defense and it is showing up in the box score. Wilson's aggressive mentality, the downhill nature of the Titans linebackers, and the pocket pushers in the middle of the defensive line have held offenses in check, allowing Landry time to win in different ways.
While the Titans defense waits on someone to start creating turnovers, it helps that they have a pass rusher who is thriving in the new scheme. If this defense can take the next step and start creating fumbles and interceptions, then Landry has a chance to get the attention that he deserves nationally.
Landry made the Pro Bowl in 2021 after a career-high 12 sacks, but suffered an ACL injury in practice before the first game of the 2022 season. With ACL injuries, you usually have to go through a season of recovery before you get back to 100%. Landry bounced back in 2023 with 10.5 sacks.
The Pro Bowl is a mix between a popularity contest and a meritocracy, but if he can keep producing at an elite level, he will have a chance to make his second appearance this year. That isn't the goal of the season, but it would be a nice reward for a 28-year-old veteran who is climbing up the franchise's pass-rushing leaderboard.
With 44.5 career sacks, he is now tied for 6th most in franchise history, and he did it in just 83 games. With seven more sacks, he will pass Jurrell Casey, with eight more he will pass Jevon Kearse, and with 15 more, he will move to second behind Ray Childress who racked up 75.5 before going up in the Titans Ring of Honor.
The Titans are still waiting for pass rushers to emerge opposite Landry, and the overall unit has struggled at times due to a lack of depth. Landry is controlling what he can control. He's been downright dominant.