What the Titans cap space looks like after releasing four veterans
Tennessee Titans General Manager Ran Carthon did what needed to be done on Wednesday, releasing four veteran Titans players in order to get money off the books for 2023 and get under the NFL's salary cap. There's no doubting that this offseason will be challenging for Carthon and company. The Titans are in need of […]
Tennessee Titans General Manager Ran Carthon did what needed to be done on Wednesday, releasing four veteran Titans players in order to get money off the books for 2023 and get under the NFL's salary cap.
There's no doubting that this offseason will be challenging for Carthon and company. The Titans are in need of a major roster makeover, but former Titans GM Jon Robinson did not leave them much cap flexibility to make things happen with ease. It would certainly be nice to have the finances needed for signing multiple free agents at the top of the market, but that's not where the Titans are. Things are not nearly that simple.
No, instead, Carthon and the new regime need to sort through the mess that was left to them, clearing as much money as possible before filling roster needs. A new GM needs a blank canvas, and that's what the Titans are hoping to give Carthon.
With the Titans releasing LT Taylor Lewan, WR Robert Woods, K Randy Bullock, and LB Zach Cunningham on Wednesday, Tennessee is already creating some financial flexibility.
Wednesday morning, the Titans were towards the bottom of the NFL in salary cap space at approximately $25 million over the cap. Just four cuts and a few hours later, the Titans had generated almost $38 million in cap savings.
Tennessee currently sits with $12,408,843 in available cap space, according to OverTheCap.com. That's the 12th most in the NFL, and for comparison, more than both the Indianapolis Colts ($12,230,976) and Jacksonville Jaguars (-$22,753,686).
The Titans could continue to add to that total in the coming weeks depending on what the team decides to do about Bud Dupree and Ryan Tannehill. Dupree and Tannehill could net the Titans a combined total of $27.15 million in cap space should they both be released before June 1st.
If the Titans decided to designate Tannehill and Dupree as post-June 1st cuts, though, that number rises to $42.75 million available at the beginning of June.
This is just step one of the Titans' offseason plan. Clear money and obtain cap space to dole out cash where necessary. Step two will be the real test, as Carthon and the Titans must figure out what to do with this money in order to avoid having this situation occur again in the near future.
Image via Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
