If the Tennessee Titans want to clear up more cap space for what should be a busy 2020 offseason, cutting players is one way to do it.
After signing tight end Anthony Firkser and wide receiver Cameron Batson, the Titans have 20 of their own free agents remaining, but also have to look to outside the organization to bring in help via free agency.
If general manager Jon Robinson wants more wiggle room than the roughly $50 million he has to spend now, he could look to cut some or all of the following players.
All contract figures are courtesy of Over the Cap.
Dion Lewis | RB
2020 savings: $4 million
Since the Titans signed him to a four-year, $19.8 million deal in 2018, Lewis has been nothing short of a disappointment. With Derrick Henry running wild in 2019, Lewis failed to be effective in his limited reps.
The Titans could part ways with the veteran and bring in a younger, cheaper option that can be an asset on third downs. That will most likely happen through the 2020 NFL Draft.
Delanie Walker | TE
2020 savings: $6.4 million
Walker has seen each of his past two seasons cut short due to injury, and his ankle was the cause both times. At 36 when the 2020 campaign begins, there might not be much left in the tank for him physically.
On top of that, the Titans already have two solid pass-catching tight ends under contract in Jonnu Smith and Firsker, so there might not be enough room for the veteran, unless he wants to be predominantly a blocker.
Malcolm Butler | CB
2020 savings: $7.3 million
Tennessee needs to figure out if Butler is really worth the $13 million or more annually he’s set to make in the final three years of his deal.
What’s working in Butler’s favor is that the Titans may lose Logan Ryan in free agency, so unless Robinson wants to completely rebuild the secondary, chances are he’s going to stick around.
One way or the other, the Titans need to be planning for the future at the position and look to add a corner this offseason.
Ryan Succop | K
2020 savings: $2 million
After he returned from Injured Reserve in Week 9, Succop was a disaster, missing five of the six field goals he attempted. He was a big reason why the Titans had a league-worst field goal unit in 2019, which is something this team can’t afford to go through again.
Tennessee has since signed kicker Greg Joseph but didn’t get much of a look at him, as he attempted (and made) just one field goal in his short time with the team. That simply isn’t enough to rely on for 2020.
Tennessee would be wise to bring in another kicker to compete with Joseph in camp.
Cameron Wake | EDGE
2020 savings: $5.5 million
Early on, Wake looked like he was going to be a real asset after he totaled 2.5 sacks in the season-opening win against the Cleveland Browns.
After that, Wake failed to notch another sack the rest of the way. His supporters will tell you he still got pressure on opposing quarterbacks without getting sacks, but is that enough to pay him again in 2020?
Adding to that, Wake just turned 38 in January and after an injury-shortened season that saw him play limited snaps over the course of nine games, the Titans might be better off spending his money elsewhere.
Potential total savings: $25.2 million
That’s a pretty nice chunk of change that could pay for a top-notch pass-rusher in free agency and help the Titans re-sign at least three of their big free agents.
Chances are the Titans will explore restructures first with some of these guys, but the amount those veterans are paid would have to be close or equal to their dead cap number or else it wouldn’t make much sense.
However, if all of these players end up getting cut, the Titans would have about $75 million to spend on their own free agents and those on the open market. Of course, some of that would have to go towards the team’s draft picks, also.
That amount of money for the general manager of a team that is ready to win now is the equivalent of a dream scenario.
