The Tennessee Titans are shelling out quite a few bucks for players who are not currently helping the team, whether it’s because they are on Injured Reserve or simply no longer on the roster.
The Titans have 18 players on IR, making up a grand total of $35.2 million. The good news is at least some of those players will return to contribute moving forward.
Before we turn our attention to the dead cap figure, here’s the definition of what dead money is, per CBS Sports analyst and former agent, Joel Corry:
Dead money is a salary cap charge for a player that is no longer on a team’s roster. It exists because of how salary cap accounting rules operate.
Signing bonuses, option bonuses and certain roster bonuses are prorated or spread out evenly over the life of a contract for a maximum of five years. When a player is released, traded or retires, the remaining proration of these salary components immediately accelerate onto his team’s current salary cap.
A few things we’d add in order to avoid confusion is players who are waived or released and then brought back can still carry dead money, as can players who were elevated or promoted from the practice squad.
Now, a look at the 71 players who make up the over $28.2 million the Titans are paying out in dead salary in 2021.
All data and numbers are courtesy of Spotrac.
