Projected Cap Space (per Spotrac): $50.3 million
Top Potential Cap Casualties
1. LB Kenneth Murray - $10.2 million
Sometimes offseason cuts come down to a front office betting that they can get more production for a lower cost. As new Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi starts surveying his roster, he might look at linebacker as a spot where they can save some money. Former GM Ran Carthon signed Kenneth Murray in free agency, but they can get out of his contract to create $7.7 million in cap space.
Murray was ranked 80th out of the 83 linebackers that PFF graded last season. There are generally effective linebackers who are usually available in the later waves of free agency for much cheaper than it would cost to pay Murray in the second year of his contract.
2. EDGE Harold Landry III - $24.1 million
Harold Landry's nine sacks this season obscured the waning production that more advanced stats show. In his second full season back from a torn ACL, Landry actually registered a career-low 9.2 pressure rate, per Sports Info Solutions. His final pre-injury season saw him rack up 62 total pressures as opposed to the 33 he had this season. Those underlying numbers point toward a player who is slowing down.
Arden Key is the only other notable edge-rusher on the roster, so finding more pass-rushing heat is going to need to be a priority. At this point, the $11 million they could have in cap space might help them find a more productive player than Landry will be in his age-29 season.
3. OT Nicholas Petit-Frere - $3.6 million
Cutting Nicholas Petit-Frere wouldn't be purely motivated by cap space. The right tackle lost his starting job and still managed to give up 10 sacks while only starting in 10 games this season. The pass protection has to get better, and right tackle will be one of the team's biggest needs ahead of the season.
$3.6 million isn't a lot for a developmental tackle, but that role really belongs to Jaelyn Duncan. Based on what Petit-Frere has done so far, the Titans could cut him and pocket the $3.3 million in cap savings without worrying the move will come back to bite them.
