The Tennessee Titans parted ways with their former 2014 first-ound pick and franchise left tackle recently, with the team deciding to cut Taylor Lewan after nine seasons in Nashville.
The move was expected. Lewan was set to make nearly $15 million in 2023 after suffering a pair of torn ACLs the past three seasons. Tennessee saved every bit of that money by releasing the veteran, which is especially huge during an offseason in which the Titans are strapped for cash.
But as has been the thought all along, the Titans aren’t ruling out Lewan staying, something head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned while at the 2023 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
“I wish him the best,” Vrabel said, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “Like I told him: We’ll see where you’re at (later), and if you still want to play. If it sounds like he does, we could always revisit that. But those are not conversations we’re having right now.”
Lewan, who is still recovering from last year’s knee injury, has said that retirement is a possibility, but he’s also expressed the desire to remain in Nashville if he does play.
Two things would have to happen for the two sides to stay together. First, the Titans would have to absolutely strike out at left tackle this offseason to find themselves in a position to depend on Lewan, who is injury-prone.
Then, the two sides would have to meet at a lower price than the one Lewan stood to make before getting cut. Lewan and the Titans might have very different definitions of what that is, though.
Ultimately, I think Lewan is done in Nashville. If he doesn’t retire, which I think is the most likely outcome, he’ll play someplace else in 2023.
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