To facilitate the completion of the trade of former #Falcons WR Julio Jones, the #Titans are doing a simple restructure of QB Ryan Tannehill’s contract for 2021 to create more than $15M in cap space, source said. Jones will make $15.3M guaranteed this season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 8, 2021
After completing a trade with the Atlanta Falcons for star wide receiver Julio Jones, the Tennessee Titans needed to do one more thing, which was to free up money in order to fit him in under the salary cap.
Well, that has indeed happened, and the Titans took the avenue we all expected them to.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans will restructure the contract of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, opening up over $15 million in cap space, which is enough to cover Jones’ $15.3 million 2021 salary.
This move will convert Tannehill’s base salary into signing bonus money and will spread it out over the next few years. It’s a small price to pay when you consider it allows Tennessee to add a stud like Jones.
Ryan Tannehill’s cap hits & dead cap figures w/ the #Titans after the recent restructure:
2021: $13.8M ($68.5M)
2022: $41.8M ($54.6M)
2023: $39.8M ($12.8M)https://t.co/4iASV3jjZu— Spotrac (@spotrac) June 8, 2021
The Titans didn’t need Tannehill’s approval to take this step, but even if that were the case the signal-caller likely would have been more than amenable, as a restructure not only gave Tannehill an added weapon, he also won’t be making a penny less.
As far as the rest of his contract is concerned, Jones will make $11.5 million for each of the next two seasons after 2021, although the Titans do have an out in 2022, as releasing Jones would incur just a $2 million cap hit. The veteran doesn’t have any guaranteed money coming his way in 2023.
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