Titans Current Cap Space Situation As We Know It

There have been many questions about where the Tennessee Titans stand as to cap space after their first wave of signings. Here's what we've found.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE - If you have ever tried to understand the business behind an NFL contract, you might say the framework is intended to be vague and hard for us mortals to understand.  

I've been around it for a few years now and still need to read over some parts multiple times and look up information as I try to understand better what's behind some of the terms and how these contracts are often more than a bit team friendly.  

As for the salary cap itself, while simpler on its face, it has twists that take some understanding. The simple part is that a salary cap is a total number that every NFL team can not surpass in total dollars for their roster in a single season. 

Teams currently must be under the cap ceiling of $224,800,000 for 2023. After that, it can become tricky. 

However, thanks to the good folks at Over The Cap, and Sportrac, finding contract information and figuring out the numbers is a bit easier. 

That said, the current state of the Titans cap figure is murky, as we've still not seen all the details of some of the recent signees.     

Still, based on the best information available, the Titans sit with the No. 17 most cap space in the league, holding an estimated $15,474,887 million. 

That's the good side; now, the bad. 

The Titans currently have $36,814,287 million in dead money on their books. Only Tampa Bay ( over $70 mill), Philadelphia (over $54 mill), Los Angeles Rams (over $52 mill), and Carolina (over $50 mill) have more in dead money.    

Explaining dead money in depth would be time-consuming, and while most get it in the simplest sense, this is the best description for those who might not totally understand it.   

Dead money serves to give the system checks and balances to ensure that teams still have to deal with the ramifications of what the cap obligations would have been even if they move on from a player. 

So when the Titans cut Bud Dupree this week, they get some relief from his contract, but not all of it. That's why we paused in the media before it could be known and reported on those cap savings.  

Yes, it's a very convoluted and involved process that could be simplified and more straightforward if those in power wanted to make it that way. 

There you have it, clear as mud, a short tutorial on this whole cap thing. And to the point of the title of this article, the Titans have some money to spend, but there could be some tough moves that fans won't like ahead.  

Titans Officially Release Bud Dupree: A cap casualty, Dupree never fully lived up to the expectations; though he was a solid force, his presence on the field strengthened the defensive unit- CLICK HERE

Pass Rusher Arden Key Joining Titans: Another defensive weapon for the Titans in former Jags edge rusher: CLICK HERE

Could Titans Pass Rush Be One Of The Best In The NFL: The Titans have quietly bolstered their pass rush, which could become one of the best in the league. CLICK HERE

A Titans Offense With Derrick Henry And Lamar Jackson: One word, scary- CLICK HERE