The Titans' next step after releasing Rodger Saffold
The Tennessee Titans announced on Thursday that left guard Rodger Saffold has been released from the team. The 12-year veteran spent the past three seasons in Tennessee, where he started 46 of a possible 49 games for the Titans. The decision to cut Saffold is not a shocking one as the Titans save $10.4M in […]
The Tennessee Titans announced on Thursday that left guard Rodger Saffold has been released from the team. The 12-year veteran spent the past three seasons in Tennessee, where he started 46 of a possible 49 games for the Titans.
The decision to cut Saffold is not a shocking one as the Titans save $10.4M in cap space in doing so. The extra money provides the team with an extra cushion of cash to spend when free agency officially kicks off on March 16th.
Saffold follows Kendall Lamm as the first two cap casualties of the offseason for Tennessee. The Titans are yet to make a decision on a couple of players who also carry a big cap hit in 2022 like Jackrabbit Jenkins ($10.2M) and Taylor Lewan ($14.6M).
Saffold is set to turn 34 years old this offseason which is another factor that plays into the Titans’ decision. Despite being named to his first Pro Bowl last season, it was evident that injuries were becoming an issue. A recurring shoulder injury sidelined him in two games while forcing him to miss time in others, indicating that the time was right to move in a different direction.
During his time in Nashville, Saffold was instrumental in the team’s “Run Left” mantra established during Derrick Henry’s 2,000-yard season in 2020. Alongside Lewan, Saffold was one half of one of the best left-side offensive line duos in football.
Replacing Saffold will provide General Manager Jon Robinson with another challenge over the course of the offseason. In the 2021 NFL Draft, the Titans selected RT Dillon Radunz who is a potential option to fill the void at left guard in the upcoming season. In his rookie year, Radunz saw action in 12 games including one start.
Head coach Mike Vrabel noted that Radunz still has a way to go in order to become a starter for the Titans.
“He’s going to have every opportunity to start, but if you’re asking me that today, no,” Vrabel stated. “He stepped in [in Week 15], ready to go, [the] stage wasn’t too big for him. We’ve had conversations with Dillon, excited to work with him. it’s going to be a huge offseason for him developmentally. And I’m confident that he will take that coaching and teaching and improve.”
Featured image via Sarah E. Howell – USA TODAY Sports
