NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans started the offseason $23 million over the salary cap, but have cut six veterans across the roster to not only get below the salary cap, but have one of the highest totals of cap space in the NFL.
Ben Jones was the sixth cut the Titans have made that would be categorized as a cost-saving move. Jones’ release saves the Titans $3.7 million on the cap. He joins Taylor Lewan, Robert Woods, Zach Cunningham, Randy Bullock and, expected to take place on March 15, Bud Dupree.
Lewan saved the Titans $14.8 million. Woods saved $12 million. Cunningham saved the Titans $8.9 million. Bullock saved $2 million. Dupree will save $9 million. When you take all of those together and add in Jones, the Titans have cleared out nearly $50 million in cap room. With them being $23 million over to start, that leaves the Titans with $27 million in salary cap space.
The Titans could choose to clear out even more room if they need it. The Titans have the ability to restructure a contract like Kevin Byard’s or Harold Landry’s and they could save another $16 million by doing both. They could also do an extension with a number of players like Ryan Tannehill or Derrick Henry to manipulate their salary cap hit in 2023. Though any extensions or restructures do come with a penalty of pushing money into future years.
The Titans could also decide to part ways with more players, whether by release or trade. Tannehill has been a buzzy name and Henry has popped up in some trade rumors. Moving either of those players would still be a shock to most though.
Now that the Titans have some money to play with when free agency kicks off next week, you can expect them to attack the offensive line and the wide receiver position. The Titans may also consider looking to add depth on defense at spots like edge rusher and inside linebacker.
What the Titans do in the coming weeks to the roster will be fascinating to see as it will tell us a lot about where new general manager Ran Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel see this team. Will the Titans try to revamp the team and continue competing in 2023 or will they look at the roster and decide they need to focus on the future? That will be a question a lot of folks will ask and be looking for an answer to.
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