Titans Freeing Up Cap Space For Sherman?
By Chris Clark
With guys like Richard Sherman and Tyrann Mathieu up for grabs, the Titans seem to be suddenly making moves to free up cap space.
The Titans focus this week has been obvious: get rid of some aging veterans. Fair enough, right? They began by releasing DeMarco Murray (30 years old) on Thursday. Most of us saw this coming. The Titans are ready to give the starting job to former Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.
Murray had a steep contract. Retaining him would probably have made him the highest paid backup running back in the NFL. That’s not an official fact, but there’s no reason to pay that much for a guy to sit on the bench. By releasing him, the Titans saved $6.5M in cap space.
General Manager Jon Robinson wasn’t done yet. On Friday morning, Robinson released veterans Da’Norris Searcy, Matt Cassel, and Eric Weems. Searcy spent three years with the Titans. Searcy was entering the final year of his four-year, $23.75M contract, and was due $3.1 million base in 2018 with a $750k roster bonus.
Cassel spent time as backup for Marcus Mariota, and the Titans acquired Weems last offseason to help with special teams.
What Does It Mean Going Forward?
To start, for those who may not know, releasing Murray gives Derrick Henry the go at running back. The Titans drafted him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Henry impressed last season even when he wasn’t starting. He had three 100+ yard games and proved to be crucial in crunch time.
The Titans may look to grab another running back in free agency or the draft to compliment Henry. But they could go with guys on their roster already – like Khalfanni Muhammad or David Fluellen.
But, I’m noticing a trend in these roster moves: freeing up cap space. This could mean a few things when it comes to Jon Robinson. Robinson is a smart G.M., and he could very well be getting rid of guys who are just taking up money. This doesn’t necessarily mean he’s planning to make a splash in free agency…does it?
Guys like Richard Sherman and Tyrann Mathieu just became available. And, guys like Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry (via a trade only) could be acquired as well. It seems like the free agency market is full of talent this season, and the Titans could use some more talent on their roster.
Robinson freeing up cap space could likely mean he’s going to go after one of those guys. If I had to bet on who, it would be Mathieu. Mathieu is young and definitely better than Searcy. Sherman is aging, and although he is still a talented cornerback, I believe it is best for the Titans to go with a younger option.
I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of them trading for Landry, though. Although I believe it is unlikely, Robinson can surprise us with out-of-nowhere moves that no one really saw coming.
But wait, the Titans have some of their own guys on the market, right? The Titans should consider re-signing guys like Avery Williamson, DaQuan Jones, Quinton Spain, and Josh Kline. It’s been reported that the Titans and Kline are in talks of a new contract, but the two sides are far apart. So, that could be a factor in freeing up space.
The Titans have to keep the offensive line in tact, because protecting Mariota is vital for this franchise. They are planning on paying Taylor Lewan big bucks and keeping some of the low-key guys who can do some dirty work for us in big games.
I wouldn’t be shocked if the Titans made one splash move by signing a guy like Mathieu or even Sherman, and trade for a guy like Landry. However, I believe the reason they are freeing up cap space is to make sure they can retain some guys who are important to this team.