The Tennessee Titans have announced the release of left tackle Taylor Lewan, wide receiver Robert Woods, and kicker Randy Bullock. The move comes as the team aims to manage its salary cap in preparation for the upcoming season. Let’s take a closer look at the release and its implications for the Titans.
Taylor Lewan’s Release
The Titans have designated Lewan’s release as “failed physical,” as the player missed most of the 2022 season due to a torn ACL, marking his second in three seasons. Since the start of the 2020 campaign, Lewan has only played in 20 games, which likely contributed to the decision to release him.
Lewan is a three-time Pro Bowler who was a first-round pick (11th overall) in the 2014 NFL draft. He had a cap hit of $14.841 million for the 2023 season, the final year of his five-year, $80 million deal. With the Titans owning the No. 11 pick in the upcoming draft, they could be in the market for a replacement for the left tackle position.
Tennessee acquired Robert Woods in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams in March 2022. Woods caught 53 passes for 527 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games, including 15 starts, last season. Woods is a two-time 1,000-yard receiver, having caught 623 passes for 7,604 yards and 37 touchdowns in 142 games and 130 starts with the Buffalo Bills (2013-16), Rams (2017-21), and Titans.
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Kicker Randy Bullock made 17 of 20 field goals and all 28 of his extra-point attempts during his second season with the Titans in 2022. Bullock has converted 83.4 percent of his field goals (211 of 253) and 95.6 percent of his PATs (285 of 298) in 138 games with six teams since his 2013 NFL debut.
Taylor Lewan Salary Cap Management
According to ESPN, the Titans began the day over $25 million above the salary cap. The release of Lewan, Woods, and Bullock has helped the Titans bring their salary cap down to approximately $4.23 million under the cap. This should allow the team to maneuver better in free agency and make necessary additions to the roster.
Conclusion
The Titans’ decision to release Taylor Lewan, Robert Woods, and Randy Bullock is a move aimed at managing the team’s salary cap. While the release of these players leaves a void on the team’s roster, it also opens up opportunities for the Titans to make new additions in the upcoming draft and free agency. As always, time will tell how this move will impact the Titans’ fortunes in the upcoming season.