A Look Ahead At the Titans 2013 Salary Cap

Ladies and Gents, meet your list of Titans players who will be free agents at the end of the 2012 season:

Xavier Adibi, LB

Dave Ball, DE

Rob Bironas, PK

Jared Cook, TE

Keyunta Dawson, DE

Kyle DeVan, OG

Zac Diles, LB

Leger Douzable, DT/DE

Leroy Harris, OG

Quinn Johnson, FB

Deuce Lutui, OG

Sen’Derrick Marks, DT

Kevin Matthews (RFA), OG/OT

Gerald McRath, LB

Ryan Mouton, DB

Darius Reynaud, KR, RB/WR

Javon Ringer, RB

Fernando Verlasco, C

Will Witherspoon, LB

Jarius Wynn, DE

Now meet some of the highest paid Titans for 2013:

Eugene Amano

2/15/2010: Signed a five-year, $26.247 million contract. The deal contains $10.337 million guaranteed, including a $7.25 million signing bonus and $3.087 million of his first-year salary. 2012: $3,182,500, 2013: $3.685 million, 2014: $4,187,500, 2015: Free Agent

Matt Hasselbeck

7/29/2011: Signed a three-year, $20 million contract. The deal included a $6 million signing bonus. Another $1 million is available through incentives. 2012-2013: $5.5 million, 2014: Free Agent

Steve Hutchinson

3/15/2012: Signed a three-year, $16 million contract. The deal contains $6 million guaranteed, including a $4.5 million signing bonus. 2012: $2 million, 2013: $4.75 million (+ $500,000 roster bonus), 2014: $5 million, 2015: Free Agent

Chris Johnson

9/1/2011: Signed a six-year, $55.26 million contract. The deal contains $30 million guaranteed, including a $20 million signing bonus. 2012: $8 million, 2013: $10 million, 2014-2015: $8 million, 2016: $7 million (+ $2 million roster bonus), 2017: Free Agent

Jason McCourty

8/23/2012: Signed a six-year, $44.26 million contract. The deal contains $17 million guaranteed -- a $9 million signing bonus and all of McCourty's first two base salaries. 2012: $3 million, 2013: $5 million, 2014: $3.5 million (+ $3 million roster bonus), 2015: $6.8 million, 2016-2017: $7 million, 2018: Free Agent

Mike Roos

4/25/2008: Signed a six-year, $43 million contract. The deal contains $15 million guaranteed, including a $9 million signing bonus and a second-year roster bonus of $4 million. Another $1.5 million is available through escalators. 2012: $5.5 million, 2013: $6 million, 2014: $6.625 million (Voidable Year), 2015: Free Agent

Dave Stewart

6/27/2008: Signed a six-year, $38.9 million contract. The deal contains $10 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus and a first-year roster bonus of $2 million. 2012: $5 million, 2013: $5 million (+ $1 million roster bonus), 2014: $6.4 million (Voidable Year), 2015: Free Agent

Nate Washington

3/2/2009: Signed a six-year, $26.8 million contract. The deal includes $9 million guaranteed. 2012: $3.4 million, 2013: $4.2 million, 2014: $4.8 million, 2015: Free Agent

Kam Wimbley

3/20/2012: Signed a five-year, $35 million contract. The deal contains $13.5 million guaranteed, including a $9 million signing bonus and all of Wimbley's first-year base salary. 2012: $2.5 million, 2013: $4 million, 2014: $6 million, 2015: $6.5 million, 2016: $7 million, 2017: Free Agent

**credit to RotoWorld for all the contract numbers. Great site if you aren't familiar check it out.

Now meet a list of Titans who will go into the 2013 season underpaid in my opinion and who are possible candidates for new contracts:

Jurrell Casey 
7/29/2011: Signed a four-year, $2.732 million contract. The deal included a $617,436 signing bonus. 2012: $490,000, 2013: $580,000, 2014: $670,000, 2015: Free Agent

Brett Kern
2/24/2010: Signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract. The deal contains $2.1 million guaranteed. 2012: $706,000, 2013: $821,500, 2014: $937,500, 2015: Free Agent

Colin McCarthy

7/28/2011: Signed a four-year, $2,495,400 contract. The deal included a $455,400 signing bonus. 2012: $465,000, 2013: $555,000, 2014: $645,000, 2015: Free Agent

Alterraun Verner

6/15/2010: Signed a four-year, $2,317,140 contract. The deal included a $527,140 signing bonus. 2012: $540,000, 2013: $575,000, 2014: Free Agent

NFL Salary Cap Information under the new 

CBA:

For the record, the NFL salary cap numbers have not been released but the cap is expected to be at approximately $120.6 million. A team may "carry over" room from one League Year to the following League Year by submitting notice to the NFL prior to 4:00 p.m. ET on the day before the team's final regular-season game indicating the maximum amount of room that the club wishes to carry over. A team may carry over one hundred percent of its remaining room from the prior year.
 

The Titans went into 2012 with an estimated $90 million to spend since there was no spending floor. In 2013 and beyond, collectively the teams must spend 95% of the cap and the salary floor for each team individually is 89%. Teams can also "borrow" 3 million from future years that they must pay back but the Titans aren't expected to need that since they are at the top of the league in available spending money.

Also, the new CBA retains franchise tags and there are two possible kinds available: exclusive and non exclusive. Teams can use the tags on either unrestricted or restricted free agents. With the exclusive tag designation, the team has to offer that player a one year "deal" based on the average salary of the top five players at that position as of April 16, or 120% of the player's previous salary. Also, teams can only use one type of tag per player. Teams get one franchise tag designation and two transition tags (if they don't use a franchise tag) per year.

With the non exclusive tag, the player is only offered a one year "deal" at the average salary of the top five players at that position, based on the previous season, or 120% of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater. The player is free to negotiate with other teams, but their current team can match any offer that is made. If they do not match the offer the team gets compensated with two first round draft picks. 

The NFL also retained the little used transition tag. This tag works much like the franchise tag except the "offer" a one year deal at the average salary of the top ten players at that position, based on the previous season, or 120% of the player's previous salary, whichever is greater. Players with the transition tag are free to negotiate with other teams but their current team gets first right of refusal since they are given the opportunity to match any offer. There is no compensation if the the player's current team decides not to match that offer.

Although not a concern with the Titans as the franchised player of 2012, Michael Griffin, was signed to a new deal, continuing to franchise tag a player can cost a team. A player tagged a second time gets 120 percent of his tag figure from the previous year. A third straight tag will cost the team 144 percent of the previous tag number. 

Here are the franchise tag values from 2012 taken from NFL.com

Quarterback: $14.4 million (down from $16.1 million in 2011, $16.4 million in 2010); Drew Brees

Running back: $7.7 million (down from $9.6 million in 2011, $8.2 million in 2010); Matt Forte, Ray Rice

Wide receiver: $9.4 million (down from 11.4 million in 2011, $9.5 million in 2010); DeSean Jackson, Vincent Jackson*, Steve Johnson, Wes Welker

Tight end: $5.4 million (down from $7.3 million in 2011, $5.9 million in 2010); Fred Davis, Jermichael Finley

Offensive line: $9.4 million (down from $10.1 million in 2011, $10.7 million in 2010); Ben Grubbs, Carl Nicks

Defensive end: $10.6 million (down from $13 million in 2011, $12.4 million in 2010); Jason Jones, Mario Williams*

Defensive tackle: $7.9 million (down from $12.5 million in 2011; it was $7 million in 2010); Paul Soliai*

Linebacker: $8.8 million (down from $10.1 million in 2011, $9.7 million in 2010); Stephen Tulloch

Cornerback: $10.6 million (down from $13.5 million in 2011; tag was $9.6 million in 2010); Cortland Finnegan, Brent Grimes

Safety: $6.2 million (down from $8.8 million in 2011, $6.5 million in 2010); LaRon Landry

Sharona's Shots from Titans vs Dolphins - Defense

The theme of my look at the Titans offense versus the Dolphins was the return of Jake Locker, and a similar theme carries into my look at the Titans defense. It's no secret Colin McCarthy is the leader of the defense and that his presence makes a huge difference. Since McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain, he hasn't been the same and neither frankly  has the Titans defense. This was McCarthy's best game of the season, and the best game the Titans' defense has played all year. McCarthy played 41 of 60 snaps, had a beautiful pick six, 3 tackles, 2 stops, 1 pass defended and 1 tackle for a loss.

The defense set a tone early on in the game, and it was clear the unit was determined to redeem itself from what happened at home versus the Chicago Bears.Having lost the takeaway battle miserably against the Bears, the Titans came out of this game with 4 takeaways. It also had 4 3 and outs and generally made life miserable for Ryan Tannehill who threw 3 interceptions. Miami manages to score only 3 points.

That stop on 3rd and 1 on the first drive by Sen'Derrick Marks and company set the tone for the game.

The defensive line has been gradually coming on and I thought Sen'Derrick Marks had one of his best games of the season. He registered his first sack of the year and was around the ball all game. He played 43 of 60 snaps and was credited with 2 tackles (1 for no gain) and 1 tackle for a loss. He also had 1 quarterback hurry and 1 stop.

The sack was really nice to watch. Marks gets set and the center takes a peak at the formation and then looks back down. Marks then takes a peak at the offensive line and gets set again.

The ball is snapped and Marks gets off the ball quickly, blows past his block, and gets to Tannehill.

So pretty.

After struggling for a few games Mike Martin was active as well and had 1 quarterback hurry, 1 tackle for no gain, and 1 stop. This stop of Lamar Miller was really nice.

The defensive ends have played well for the past several games and that didn't change significantly. Derrick Morgan and Kam Wimbley got consistently good pressure on Tannehill. Newly acquired defensive end Jarius Wynn recorded his first sack of the year, and generally the ends played very well. Morgan lead the bunch with 3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, a pass defended and 1 quarterback hurry. 

In addition to the sack, Wynn recorded 2 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.

I have already mentioned Colin McCarthy but I have to give some love to all 3 starting linebackers who had excellent games. Not to let McCarthy outdo them, Akeem Ayers and Zach Brown had interceptions of their own albeit not for a pick six. As a group they were simply outstanding and I cannot say enough how impressed I am with how well Zach Brown plays in coverage. I also want to give credit to the defensive coaching staff for starting to be creative with Ayers and Brown and allowing them to play to their strengths.

Ayers actually tips the pass that McCarty returns for a touchdown in addition to the interception of his own. He only plays 23 snaps but records a tackle and 2 passes defended.

Brown added an interception of his own that he returned for 47 yards. Tannehill saved a pick six by making the tackle on the play. Brown plays 51 of 60 snaps and is credited with 4 tackles, 1 pass defended

Derrick Morgan gets credited with this tackle for a loss but it is Zach Brown who makes this play on Reggie Bush on 2nd and 10 with 9:19 to go in the first quarter. To be fair, ProFootballFocus grades this as a missed tackle but if he doesn't trip Bush and slow him Morgan likely doesn't have a shot at the tackle.

Brown and McCarthy kept the middle pretty much locked down the entire game. Tight end Anthony Fasano recorded 1 reception for 4 yards which was well defended by Brown and was only targeted 3 times.

In my opinion the defensive backs are generally playing much tighter coverage and I think this makes a huge difference. Cornerback Jason McCourty returns to his playmaking ways by forcing a fumble on Miami's second offensive series of the game. He lead the team in tackles with a total of 9, and also had 1 pass defended.

McCourty did a very good job with Brian Hartline who is an excellent receiver.

Alterraun Verner is so quietly good I know he wanted badly to make this interception. He played 55 of 60 snaps and was credited with 3 tackles and 1 pass defended.

Rookie cornerback Coty Sensabaugh is going to be a playmaker for this Titans defense. In fact, he already is making plays and if he hasn't opened eyes he soon will. He has gradually assumed the nickelback position and is a mainstay in the Titans dime package. He played 27 of 60 snaps against the Dolphins, and quarterback Tannehill wasted no time in challenging him with very little success. Tannehill did manage to draw a pass interference on a call that I think was ticky tacky and could have gone either way. Sensabaugh plays tight coverage and isn't afraid to challenge the receiver.

He recorded 3 tackes and 2 passes defended. Keep an eye on the rookie from Kingsport, Tennessee as he continues to be a playmaker for the Titans.

The win against the Dolphins was a great team effort by the Titans and hopefully the momentum will continue when the team returns from its bye week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.