Cameron Wake
Original contract: Three years, $23 million (Two years remaining)
2020 cap hit: $8.2 million
Cameron Wake is another aging veteran the Titans could approach for a pay cut, or even cut entirely.
Wake started off the season strong with 2.5 sacks in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns but failed to record another sack the rest of the way, and his season ended early after battling injuries that led to him playing in just nine games.
The 38-year-old pass-rusher still holds some value because he was still putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks despite not getting sacks.
Wake’s salary will pay him $8.2 million in 2020, but he carries a dead cap number of just $2.6 million, which would be a significant savings should the Titans choose to cut him.
If there is still interest in keeping him on the Titans’ part, a restructuring of his deal to a pay cut is certainly plausible. Tennessee does have leverage here, as I can’t see any world in which a team would offer him upwards of $8 million on the open market after the season he just had.
In the end, I think cutting Wake is the best move. Still, don’t rule out this approach to keeping the veteran around for another season.