Titans To Release CB Malcolm Butler
The Titans will opt out of the final two years of Malcolm Butler‘s contract. They are releasing the veteran cornerback, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Cutting Butler will save the Titans $10.2MM. Ahead of this transaction, Tennessee held barely $1MM in cap space. The former Super Bowl hero spent three seasons with the Titans, signing a lucrative contract in 2018.
Tennessee added Butler on a five-year, $61.25MM deal in 2018. Although Butler turned 31 last week, the former UDFA will again generate interest as a free agent. He finished last season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 15 overall corner, playing 16 games after an injury-shortened 2019 slate. Butler intercepted four passes in 2020 and finished with the lowest yards-per-completion and yards-per-target figures of his Tennessee run.
A cornerback overhaul may be in the cards for the defending AFC South champions, who let Logan Ryan walk in free agency last year. They have Adoree’ Jackson going into a non-guaranteed $10.2MM fifth-year option season. After Jackson played in just three games last season, he could well be on track to join Butler in free agency soon. The Titans can only cut Jackson if he passes a physical, with the options for players drafted in the 2017 first round guaranteed for injury only.
The Titans also have two offensive free agents who should expected to be coveted next week. Funds from the Butler release could go to retaining either Jonnu Smith or Corey Davis. The Titans did not use their franchise tag this year.
Dolphins To Acquire Titans T Isaiah Wilson
The Titans are moving on from Isaiah Wilson after just one season. They will trade the 2020 first-round tackle to the Dolphins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Titans GM Jon Robinson issued an ultimatum of sorts to Wilson recently, but word soon emerged that the Titans were shopping the disappointing blocker. The Dolphins, who already drafted a first-round tackle in 2020, will acquire another Round 1 edge blocker from that class.
The Dolphins will send a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Titans in exchange for Wilson and a 2022 seventh-rounder, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.
Considering the price the Titans paid to land Wilson — the No. 29 overall pick last year — this marks a major discount for the Dolphins, who will be landing Wilson at a cheaper rate as well. The Titans will incur $9MM-plus in dead money by trading Wilson after his rookie year. Though, it remains to be seen if Wilson’s troublesome 2020 will void any guarantees in his rookie contract. The Dolphins were high on Wilson going into the 2020 draft, per Wolfe (on Twitter), and they are taking a flier on a player who is signed through 2023.
Wilson played just four snaps as a rookie, running into multifront trouble last year. He was issued a trespass warning for attending a party at Tennessee State University last summer. That preceded a September DUI arrest. The Titans suspended Wilson in December and ended his season by placing him on the reserve/NFI list days later. Wilson voiced a desire to leave the Titans, in a since-deleted tweet, earlier this year. The Dolphins, who selected Austin Jackson with the third of their three 2020 Round 1 picks, will give Wilson a second chance.
The former Georgia tackle’s stock has certainly nosedived from where it was at this point last year. The Titans selected him with the hope he would succeed Jack Conklin at right tackle. Former swing tackle Dennis Kelly ended up starting there instead. Kelly is under contract through 2022. The Dolphins drafted tackle Robert Hunt in the 2020 second round and still have guard/tackle Jesse Davis under contract.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/8/21
The restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decision deadline is a little more than a week away. Some teams are already making their calls in advance of March 17. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Titans: WR Kalif Raymond (story)
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Dolphins: LB Calvin Munson, CB Nik Needham, CB Jamal Perry
Non-tendered:
- Vikings: CB Chris Jones
Titans Won’t Tender Kalif Raymond
Kalif Raymond will be a free agent in a matter of days. The Titans have opted against tendering an offer to the wide receiver/kick returner, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Titans’ Clowney Expects To Be Cleared In April]
Raymond, 27 in August, could have been cuffed as a restricted free agent. He’s one of the league’s stronger punt returners, so most expected him to be back for 2021. The Titans didn’t want to tie up any funds on the verge of free agency, however, so they’ll let Raymond test the open waters.
Raymond returned 23 punts for 208 yards last year, good for a 9.0 yard average per attempt. He also returned 15 kickoffs for 275 yards. After previous stints with the Broncos, Jets, and Giants (twice), he’ll look for employment elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Titans are looking to remodel their offensive line, starting with a potential trade of 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Wilson. On the other side of the ball, they’ll weigh a new contract for Jadeveon Clowney, who says he would be open to staying in Nashville. Clowney is on the verge of being cleared and expects to get the green light in April.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/5/21
We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: K Zane Gonzalez
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: C J.C. Hassenauer
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: TE Ross Dwelley, S Marcell Harris
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: RB/FB Khari Blasingame
Titans’ Jadeveon Clowney Expects To Be Cleared In April
Jadeveon Clowney expects full medical clearance by April, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Clowney underwent surgery to repair his torn meniscus but already believes that he’s close to being ready. 
In other words, this is shaping up to be another extended free agency tilt for the Titans edge rusher. Last year, his knee kept him on the sidelines for half of the season. In eight games, Clowney notched 19 tackles, one forced fumble, and zero sacks.
Clowney has said that he wouldn’t mind staying with the Titans. Whether the Titans want him back is another question. The veteran did not live up to his one-year, $12MM deal, though the former No. 1 overall pick isn’t far removed from Pro Bowl days. From 2016 through 2018, Clowney averaged 8.2 sacks and two forced fumbles per season, solidifying him as one of the best edge rushers in the game. Of course, injuries have gotten in the way — he’s only turned in one full 16-game slate as a pro.
Despite the weak platform year, it’s worth noting that the advanced metrics were still fond of his work. At the time of his season-ending injury, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 16th-best edge player in the league. PFF also gave him above-average marks in both run defense and pass coverage.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/1/21
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: LB Ukeme Eligwe, DB D.J. Killings, DE Jeremiah Valoaga; each player was a COVID-19 opt-out in 2020
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: CB Breon Borders
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/25/21
We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:
Houston Texans
- Released: DT Eddie Vanderdoes
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DL Jullian Taylor
- Waived: CB Breon Borders, DB Chris Milton
Titans Shopping T Isaiah Wilson
Isaiah Wilson‘s rookie-year no-show preceded Jon Robinson issuing an ultimatum of sorts. Shortly after the GM’s comments about the 2020 first-round pick, the Titans appear prepared to cut bait.
The Titans are shopping the once-sought-after tackle prospect, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Three years remain on Wilson’s rookie contract. However, nothing went right for Wilson last season. He may already be on thin ice with his initial NFL team.
“He is going to have to make a determination on if he wants to do everything necessary to play pro football,” Robinson said last week, admitting he has not spoken with the team’s would-be Jack Conklin right tackle heir apparent since placing him on the NFI list late last season. Wilson’s trade value certainly has plummeted, to the point the Titans may have to waive him and eat nearly $10MM in dead money. In a since-deleted tweet, the embattled blocker declared he was “done with football.”
One of two Georgia tackles to be chosen in the 2020 first round, along with the Giants’ Andrew Thomas, Wilson saw his NFL career careen off course quickly. He was issued a trespass warning for attending a party at Tennessee State University last summer. That preceded a September DUI arrest. The Titans suspended Wilson in December and ended his season by placing him on the reserve/NFI list days later. The latter move led to Wilson being docked $180K in salary, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (video link). Wilson played four snaps as a rookie, dressing for only one game.
The Titans did not pick up Conklin’s fifth-year option in 2019 and let the high-end right tackle defect to the Browns in free agency last year. They used former swingman Dennis Kelly as their starting right tackle last season. Kelly, 31, is signed through the 2022 season.
Titans To Release WR Adam Humphries
After two seasons, the Titans will move on from Adam Humphries. Tennessee will release its slot receiver, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
The Titans will save $4.75MM by making this move. Signing with the Titans after four seasons with the Buccaneers, Humphries ended up being a non-factor with his new team. The Titans will add some funds during an offseason that features Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith as free agents-to-be.
Coming off an 800-yard season with the 2018 Bucs, Humphries did not top 400 in either of his two Titans seasons. Tennessee leaned on wideouts Davis and A.J. Brown, while keeping its run-oriented offense in place. Humphries battled injuries in both his Titans seasons. His first Tennessee slate involved a late-season ankle injury; his second was capped at seven games.
A concussion ended Humphries’ 2020 season, marking obvious concern about the former UDFA’s NFL future. However, he could receive interest from teams that were in on him in 2019. The Titans outbid the Patriots for the slot target, signing him to a four-year deal worth $36MM. Releasing Humphries will also tag the Titans with $5MM in dead money.