Five Tennessee Titans players who might be gone in free agency
By Will Lomas
Daquan Jones OR Jurrell Casey
Alright, I feel like this is a good time to remind you that I am NOT advocating for these moves. What I am saying is that something isn’t adding up over the last year and I think a move may be coming sooner rather than later.
For all of the struggles that Tennessee had getting an interior pass rush going, these two DTs combine for 2 of the Titans 7 largest contracts.
Right now, this is the cap hit of Casey and Jones:
Casey: $13.4 million in 2020 ($3.2 million in dead money), with more than $41 million left on his contract
Jones: $8.3 million in 2020 ($1.3 million in dead money), contract is finished after this year.
If that were all of it then fine, I can deal with paying those two that much money even though they don’t really help the pass rush as much as guys that cost that much typically do.
However, two things stand out to me.
First of all, even with those contracts the Titans decided to spend a first round draft pick on Jeffery Simmons in 2019. Now, is Simmons a great player? Yes. So I don’t think the pick was a waste, but they did pass up Montez Sweat who would have filled a need and could have played immediately.
Second of all, rumors are going around that the Titans are interested in D.J. Reader a defensive tackle with the Houston Texans who is set to make a lot in free agency.
Big payday awaits D.J. Reader, but will it be with Texans? Price tag keeps going up for Pro Bowl alternate defensive lineman League sources say Broncos, Titans among the interested teams: https://t.co/3maiBVjDyl
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 2, 2020
That article assumes that Reader will make more than $10.5 million per year and PFF agrees saying that they project him making $13.5 million per year.
If you look at this team and assume they are going to keep Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry, then how can you justify spending that much on defensive tackle on top of what you are already spending?
I mean, nearly 20% of your cap space and your 2019 1st round pick all at a non premium position? I just don’t buy it.
If the Titans really are interested in Reader, then fans need to get ready because I just don’t see any way that you can go into the 2020 season with Reader, Simmons, Casey and Jones all on your roster.