Mike Vrabel explains why Tennessee Titans waived 2021 NFL draft pick Monty Rice

Monty Rice is the latest former Tennessee Titans draft pick who "just didn't work out" with the team.

The Titans waived Rice, the third-year linebacker out of Georgia who they selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, on Tuesday. Rice played in all 12 games this season, predominantly on special teams. Over his three years with the team had logged 10 starts and 128 tackles.

"I think it’s just a process," coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday when asked why the team moved on from Rice. "It just didn’t work out. I’m sure Monty will go on and have another opportunity. We’ll give other guys opportunities here."

Two of those "other guys" will be rookie Otis Reese and former Indianapolis Colts linebacker JoJo Domann. The Titans elevated Reese from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Wednesday and signed Domann to the practice squad. Azeez Al-Shaair, Jack Gibbens, Luke Gifford and Joe Jones fill out the rest of the linebacker room.

Rice is the fourth player from the Titans' 2021 draft class the team has moved on from. Cornerback Caleb Farley, the team's first-round pick that year, is still on roster but hasn't played this season. The three remaining picks from 2021 who are playing this year are starting right tackle Dillon Radunz, rotational defensive back Elijah Molden and rotational defensive end Rashad Weaver.

Counting Farley, just seven of the 20 players the Titans drafted between 2019-21 are still on the roster and just four are regular starters.

The Titans (4-8) visit the Miami Dolphins (9-3) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Monday (7:15 p.m., ESPN). Interestingly, the Dolphins' leading tackler is linebacker David Long Jr., a Titans draft pick from the class of 2019 who the franchise opted not to resign in free agency in the spring.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Mike Vrabel on why Tennessee Titans waived 2021 draft pick Monty Rice