Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon began putting his stamp on the team on Wednesday by making cuts, with the team parting ways with four players to clear some much-needed cap space.
The four players who got the ax included left tackle Taylor Lewan, kicker Randy Bullock, linebacker Zach Cunningham and wide receiver Robert Woods.
With those four moves, the Titans went from nearly $23 million over the cap to $12.4 million under it, per Over the Cap.
Back in January, Shaun Calderon listed the group of Titans he expected to possibly be on the chopping block this offseason, and so far all four of Tennessee’s cuts were on that list.
But three still remain from that group, with two of them accounting for massive cap hits for this coming season. Here’s a look at who they are and what might happen to them in the coming days, weeks, or even months.
OLB Bud Dupree
Dupree is set to make $20.2 million in 2023, but there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell the Titans are going to pay it, which is why it was a bit surprising to see Dupree not among Tennessee’s first cuts.
Jason Fitzgerald via Over the Cap has a possible explanation as to why.
Regarding Bud Dupree not being a part of the #titans cuts so far. He has a partial salary guarantee in 2023 which pretty much means the Titans have to wait until the start of the new league year to release him
— Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC) February 23, 2023
I wouldn’t rule out the Titans possibly trying to trade him, either.
That sounds crazy on the surface after two injury-plagued years from the veteran, but there has to be some teams out there interested in him for the $9.3 million they would have to pay upon trading for Dupree.
Now, the Titans likely won’t get much in return for him (I’d say a mid-Day 3 pick at best), but recouping anything for what was a failed signing would be a small victory for Tennessee and general manager Ran Carthon.
If the Titans do cut or trade Dupree, doing so with a post-June 1 designation would save a lot more money, and $15.7 million to be exact, as opposed to the $9.3 million the team would save pre-June 1.
The only issue with that approach is the Titans wouldn’t be able to use that money until June, which matters if the team is retooling as opposed to rebuilding.
OL Jamarco Jones
Jones signed a two-year deal last year but never made it out of the preseason, as he suffered an undisclosed injury that ended his 2022 campaign before it even started.
The 27-year-old accounts for $2.3 million against the cap in 2023, but the Titans can erase $900,000 of that by releasing him. Granted, not a lot of money, but the cash-strapped Titans could use every penny.
Jones has zero trade value, so keeping him or cutting him are the only options.
QB Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill is easily the biggest uncertainty on this list. While it’s feasible the Titans part ways, they also don’t have a locked-in solution to replace him, something that could lead to Tannehill sticking around.
Tannehill will account for a $36.6 million cap hit in 2023, but the Titans can save $17.8 million by cutting or trading him before June 1 while incurring a massive dead-cap charge of $18.8 million.
With a post-June 1 designation, the Titans can lower that dead-cap hit to $9.6 million and save a whopping $27 million. But again, that money can’t be used until June, well after free agency has calmed down.
If the Titans do decide to go in a different direction, I expect them to explore the trade market first. In fact, I think that’s the most likely avenue for the Titans to take if they part ways with Tannehill.
Should Tennessee hold on to him, Carthon must lower the veteran’s cap hit, something that can be done via restructure or extension.
Predictions for Dupree, Tannehill and Jones
While all three remain cut candidates, Jones is the only one who actually gets released. I do think the Titans eventually find a trade partner for Dupree, who nets them something along the lines of a fifth- or sixth-rounder.
Then, there’s Tannehill.
I wouldn’t begin to pretend I know what will happen here, but I’ve been of the (boring) opinion that Tannehill will stay for one more year and I’m sticking to it.
Tannehill returns, the Titans find a way to lower his massive cap hit without committing much to him beyond 2023, and then Carthon does what Jon Robinson failed to in 2022 and puts his quarterback in a position to succeed with the necessary help around him.
That would make for a much less exciting offseason and I hope I’m wrong, but this is the most realistic scenario if the Titans aren’t blowing it up.
