The Titans are moving on from another of their starting offensive linemen. Not long after cutting Taylor Lewan, Tennessee is releasing veteran center Ben Jones, Buck Reising of AtoZsports.com reports.
Jones has been with the Titans for the past seven seasons. He joined Lewan and Nate Davis in ending the season on IR. Each player is now off the Titans’ roster or could be soon, with Davis set for free agency Wednesday. The trio had been with the Titans for a combined 20 seasons.
This news comes after Jones put retirement on the table earlier this offseason. Prior to missing five games last season, the 11-year veteran had been an iron man for the organization. Jones missed just one game in his first six Titans slates, becoming a central part of Derrick Henry‘s two rushing titles and the Titans’ Mike Vrabel-era resurgence. Jones’ 108 starts at center are the most in Titans history.
Jones, 33, signed a third contract with the Titans in 2022, agreeing to terms on a two-year, $14MM deal. The Titans will save $3.7MM by moving Jones off the roster. Jones’ release follows a collection of cuts by new GM Ran Carthon, who said goodbye to Lewan, Robert Woods, Zach Cunningham and Randy Bullock over the past two weeks.
As the Titans made three journeys to the playoffs from 2019-21, Pro Football Focus rated Jones as a top-10 center in each campaign. Jones and Davis were there for almost all of Henry’s performances during his 2019 and 2020 rushing crowns, with Lewan beginning to battle injuries during this span. Both Jones and Davis helped Tennessee to the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2021. Last season, PFF rated Jones as the league’s No. 9 center, though he suffered two concussions during the campaign. The nature of these absences point to uncertainty about his going through with a 12th NFL season.
Tennessee initially brought in Jones during Jon Robinson‘s first offseason as GM (2016). That four-year, $17.5MM agreement ended up being one of the best moves in Titans free agency history, with Jones becoming a set-it-and-forget-it blocker with his second NFL franchise. The Texans initially drafted Jones in the fourth round out of Georgia back in 2012.
As far as centers go, this free agency market houses a few starters. Connor McGovern, Bradley Bozeman, Garrett Bradbury, Ethan Pocic and Jake Brendel are set to hit the market soon. The Titans will have some options in replacing Jones, with Carthon having ties to Brandel due to their time with the 49ers. Teams can begin speaking with these snappers once the legal tampering period begins Monday afternoon. Jones, however, has a slight head-start due to this release. Being considered a street free agent, Jones can sign with another team immediately.
Smells like a rebuild. Allowing Ryan T to be the bridge QB for someone.
I think a rebuild means moving on from tannehill too. I think he’s a little better than a bridge though obviously not quite a great starter
Their roster falling apart, combined with Houston starting to try and Jacksonville starting to click, seems like maybe their opportunity to tank for Caleb Williams. I wonder how much losing Vrabel has in him.
Don’t know that it will matter. Since the Titans are cleaning house, how many games can they win anyway. As you say, the Jags should be the class of the division and Indy will be improved. Besides that, they have the AFC North, Chargers and Dolphins on the schedule. Hard to see them winning a lot of games
Yeah. Vrabel can make chicken salad out of chicken %#$& on defense, but the offensive side of the roster is mostly looking pretty bleak.
Well, the Bears should have plenty of options in finding a center this offseason.
Ben Jones can always go back to running the Hazzard County Garage. Now that (Jim Bob) Cooter got himself an NFL OC Coordinator Job.
You’re thinking of Mike Jones, Who, Mike Jones.