Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk knew her team. Short of a scandal, general managers of first-place teams don’t get fired, particularly midseason. Yet, that’s exactly what Strunk did to Jon Robinson in early December, even though the Titans were 7-5 and atop the AFC South.
Strunk knew the Titans were a flawed team — and the team’s December swoon proved her right. So what’s in store for the Titans this offseason? We break it all down, including a rundown of free agents, cut candidates, and team needs.
Tennessee Titans Offseason Preview: A New Direction
“Honestly, I had made the decision. It was time to move forward,” Strunk told the Associated Press in December about her decision to fire Robinson. “There was no reason to go six, seven, eight weeks, however long remained in the season. It was not fair to Jon, it was not fair to the team. It just seemed (like) the right time. It gives us plenty of time to find future candidates we’re going to interview, to watch the internal candidates.”
Whoever replaces Robinson — and the search is expected to be wide and include interim Ryan Cowden — will be inheriting a roster whose window has probably closed.
Derrick Henry is 29 years old. Ryan Tannehill will be 35 when the season begins. The Titans are otherwise talent-bereft on offense and have some big-time holes on defense, too.
Making matters worse: Tennessee has some cap concerns (see below) and just six draft picks — including four in the first five rounds. Whoever replaces Robinson will have his or her work cut out for them.
Titans’ 2023 Salary Cap Space
According to Spotrac, the Titans were over the 2023 salary cap by $16.6 million as of early January, giving them the fourth-worst cap situation in the NFL.
That figure reflects $8.7 million in dead cap and $1.5 million in rollover space. It is based on an estimated $225 million NFL salary cap in 2023.
The exact cap figure will not be known until the NFL announces it in early March.
Titans Free Agents 2023
The following Titans players are set to hit free agency. (Restricted free agents are noted with the abbreviation RFA, exclusive rights free agents by ERFA.)
- S Andrew Adams
- C Aaron Brewer (RFA)
- RB Trenton Cannon
- RT Le’Raven Clark
- LB Dylan Cole
- LS Morgan Fox
- OT Dennis Daley
- G Nate Davis
- DE Mario Edwards
- DE Da’Shawn Hand
- RB Dontrell Hilliard
- WR Cody Hollister (RFA)
- TE Austin Hooper
- CB Lonnie Johnson
- OLB Joe Jones
- DT Naquan Jones (ERFA)
- CB Joshua Kalu
- C Corey Levin
- LB David Long
- CB Terrance Mitchell
- S A.J. Moore
- TE Geoff Swaim
- DT Teair Tart (RFA)
- DE DeMarcus Walker
- WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (RFA)
Guard Nate Davis
Spotrac’s calculated market value: Three years, $22.4 million ($7.4 million AAV)
Overview: Absolutely nothing went right for the Titans in the second half of the season, and Davis’ health was not exempt. He went on injured reserve late in the year with an ankle injury. Prior to getting hurt, Davis again was one of the better interior offensive linemen in the AFC.
Tight End Austin Hooper
Spotrac’s calculated market value: Two years, $13.4 million ($6.7 million AAV)
Overview: Hooper probably didn’t have the season for which he had hoped when he signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Titans in free agency. His usage and targets were way down from his career highs.
Potential Cut Candidates
- QB Ryan Tannehill ($17.8 million in cap savings)
- OT Taylor Lewan ($14.8 million)
- WR Robert Woods ($12 million)
- LB Zach Cunningham ($9.8 million)
- TE Cameron Brate ($2 million)
Titans’ Team Needs Heading Into 2023 Offseason
- Tackle
- Center
- Wide Receiver
- Guard
- EDGE