Tag: Ben Jones

The NFL’s best available free agents as training camps begin

As training camps begin, and the preseason is nearly upon us, here are the best free agent players left in the NFL.

Rookies and veterans are reporting to training camps around the NFL, which means that our long national nightmare of life without professional football is nearly over. Yay, but for a lot of veterans in the league, there’s still an element of waiting by the phone to hear from their agents regarding interests from NFL teams.

Not every veteran — even veterans who are still playing at a high level — have homes when training camps start. A lot of the players listed below will find those homes before preseason games begin in early August, and some will have to wait longer. (Yes, there are veterans who would prefer to eschew training camp entirely, and that has something to do with it).

So, as we head into the pre-preseason, here are the best players who, at this point, are still looking for their new NFL destinations.

Where Titans rank in dead money and who it’s going to

The 10 players who make up the Titans’ sizeable dead-money total going into 2023.

The Tennessee Titans entered the offseason in bad shape financially, and as a result the franchise has made moves that hint at a transition year of sorts as the Titans look to get their house in order.

As bad as things look now, they will be much better in 2024, as the Titans are slated to have $93.8 million in cap space next offseason before making any moves, according to Over the Cap.

Part of the reason the Titans are currently in a tough spot financially is because of all the dead cap they have.

In fact, Tennessee ranks seventh in the NFL in that category, with $36.8 million of their cap space going to players no longer playing for the team, also per Over the Cap.

While Tennessee already had several players in their dead-money column going into this offseason, they added to it with the releases of Bud Dupree, Robert Woods, Ben Jones, Zach Cunningham and Randy Bullock.

Here’s a look at who else joins those players on the list of Tennessee’s 2023 dead-cap hits, along with how much each one accounts for.

Titans free agents still available on the open market

A look at the Titans free agents who remain unsigned going into OTAs.

The Tennessee Titans began the offseason with over 30 free agents to make decisions on, and that list grew when the team parted ways with a handful of veterans in moves that were fully expected.

While the majority of Tennessee’s free agents have been signed, there remains over a dozen former Titans still available on the open market.

Among them is defensive back Joshua Kalu, who I’ve suggested the team re-sign after going through a 53-man roster projection and seeing just how thin Tennessee is at safety behind Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker, which is a problem considering Hooker’s injury history.

Another player I’d obviously love to see the Titans bring back is Ben Jones, but I think that ship has sailed and is less realistic than a reunion with Kalu.

But that’s another story for another day. For now, here’s a look at the list of former Titans who remain unsigned and available in free agency.

Ben Jones is veteran center to watch for Cardinals

Jones started for the Titans for the last sevens seasons and was a Pro Bowler last season.

The Arizona Cardinals will begin voluntary OTAs (organized team activities) after next week. Since we are now in May, free agents that teams sign no longer count against the compensatory pick formula.

Players at certain positions make sense for the Cardinals to target.

One player is veteran center Ben Jones.

Jones was released by the Tennessee Titans earlier in the offseason with a failed physical designation.

So far, the Cardinals have only Hjalte Froholdt with any NFL experience at center — four games — and a few young players who coudl play the position.

Jones has been in the league since 2012 and was the Titans’ starting center for the last seven seasons.

He missed five games last season, but before 2022, he missed only one game in 10 seasons.

Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort worked for the Titans before this year so he would know Jones’ play.

Jones was a Pro Bowler last season.

If he is healthy again this offseason, it should not be a surprise if the Cardinals being him in and sign him.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

After NFL draft, Broncos should consider these 12 free agents

With the NFL draft now complete, should the Broncos sign any of these free agents who remain available?

The Denver Broncos improved their roster over the weekend by selecting five players in the 2023 NFL draft and adding a tight end via trade.

While the new arrivals should help, the Broncos did overlook a few positions during the draft, most notably including running back and the defensive line. Denver could also still use more depth at guard and tackle, and a Week 1 starting-caliber center wouldn’t hurt.

After signing their draft class, the Broncos are expected to still have around $7 million worth of salary cap space available. That’s not much — and Denver will want to carry some of it into the season — but it is enough to make another budget signing or two.

With the above positions (and a few others) in mind, here’s a quick list of 12 free agents who are still available and could provide more depth for the Broncos as the team prepares to go into organized team activities in May.

Report: Jets ‘hope to sign’ ex-Titans C Ben Jones

The Jets are reportedly still hoping they can ink ex-Titans center Ben Jones in free agency.

Former Tennessee Titans center Ben Jones remains available in free agency, but the New York Jets are reportedly interested in signing the veteran offensive lineman.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets “hope to sign” Jones, who is apparently their primary target for their vacant center role ahead of 2022 starter, Connor McGovern.

They still hope to sign former Tennessee Titans center Ben Jones. If that falls through, they could turn back to Connor McGovern on a one-year deal. Free agency hasn’t worked out as planned for McGovern, who started 48 games for the Jets from 2020 to 2022. He wanted a long-term deal, but the market has dried up.

This is the second time Jones has been linked to the Jets this offseason after the New York Post’s Brian Costello reported last month that there was interest between the two sides.

Jones remains the best center on the open market and would provide an upgrade for the Jets, who are looking to beef up their offensive line with Aaron Rodgers expected to land in the Big Apple at some point.

Jones played at a high level once again in 2022, but the concern with the 33-year-old is the pair of concussions he suffered, which led many to believe he might retire.

Wherever Jones lands, I hope it’s with a team that has a chance at a Super Bowl ring. With Rodgers and an elite defense, the Jets are one of those teams.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[stnvideo key=”sOCsqsLw6Z-2648810-7621″ type=”single”]

Available free agents for Cardinals that make sense, have some connection

These five players fill needs and have connections to either the Cardinals’ coaching staff or front office.

The Arizona Cardinals have not been super active in free agency so far. Thus far, the moves have been slow and deliberate, without much flash.

Many free agents who both have some connection to the coaching staff or front office are still available and fill a need the team still has.

Check them out below.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

Ex-Titans C Ben Jones linked to Jets in free agency

According to a report, former Titans center Ben Jones is a name to watch for the Jets in free agency.

For the first time since the Tennessee Titans released him earlier this month, former center Ben Jones is being linked to a team — the New York Jets — in free agency.

According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, Jones is a name to watch for the Jets, as he’s hearing there is “interest in a possible reunion” between Jones and his former offensive line coach, Keith Carter.

Carter isn’t the only coach Jones is familiar with in New York. Former Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing is the passing-game coordinator for Gang Green, also.

Jones was a surprise cut by the Titans earlier this month after serving as one of the more underrated centers in the NFL and a stalwart upfront for the Titans over his seven years in Nashville.

It was originally thought he’d be back if he didn’t retire after a season in which he suffered two concussions that ended his campaign early. Instead, the Titans gave Jones the option to retire or be released.

There are a few possible reasons why Tennessee did that.

For one, the team likely views Aaron Brewer as a viable replacement who is both younger and cheaper. It’s also possible Tennessee had concerns about Jones’ long-term viability after the pair of concussions.

Prior to his missing five games last season, Jones had missed just one in his previous 10 seasons in the NFL.

When on the field in 2022, the 33-year-old was still playing at a high level and was the team’s best offensive lineman, a title he held for multiple years. There’s no reason to believe he won’t return to that form in 2023.

Assuming the Jets can close the deal with the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers, New York would be a good landing spot for the veteran center, as the Jets will have a legit chance to contend in 2023.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ben Jones named ‘player to watch’ in free agency by New York Post

Could the Jets eye a former Titan to fill the void at center short term?

With the first wave of free agency winding down, teams may be able to find some value on players with not as much movement, especially as we get closer to the draft.

The Jets may still be in the market for a center. They did just sign Wes Schweitzer from the Washington Commanders, but he’s ideally more of a guard for the Jets rather than a center. There is another veteran center on the market that could be of interest to the Jets, as noted by Brian Costello of the New York Post. That player is former Titans’ center Ben Jones.

The 33-year-old was cut about a week ago by the Titans after seven seasons, the last five with new Jets’ offensive line coach Keith Carter, as Costello noted. He spent his first four seasons in the league with the Houston Texans.

Jones was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career in 2022. He was selected as a roster replacement for Chiefs’ center Creed Humphrey after Kansas City advanced to the Super Bowl.

Jones has started 151 games and played in another 21. He played in 12 games for the Titans in 2022, missing five games due to concussions.

Jones would add a short-term veteran presence and keep open the possibility of the Jets drafting a center and letting him develop behind Jones.

Titans post tribute video for Ben Jones after release

The Titans posted a video to honor Ben Jones after releasing him.

In what has been the most surprising move of the offseason thus far, the Tennessee Titans decided to release long-time center Ben Jones last week.

Granted, nothing is shocking with the Titans apparently trying to get younger while also clearing cap space, but it was thought the most likely scenario was Jones would return to Nashville if he didn’t retire.

Instead, the Titans gave him the options of retire or be released, meaning his staying on for another year wasn’t on the table. Of course, Jones chose the latter, making him free to sign with any team he desires.

So far, we haven’t heard of any interest in Jones from other teams, but one would assume there is plenty, as the 33-year-old is arguably the best center available in free agency at the moment.

After announcing his release, the Titans posted this tribute video, which is a bit short but good nonetheless. Check it out.

Jones was the true embodiment of the Mike Vrabel-led Titans and one of the few constants the team had with all the offensive line issues over the last handful of years. He will no doubt be missed.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]