Predicting which Tennessee Titans free agents will re-sign, who'll be out of price range

The Tennessee Titans finally have money to spend. Now they have to decided how much of that money should go to keeping their free agents in Nashville.

After releasing Taylor Lewan, Robert Woods, Zach Cunningham and Randy Bullock, the Titans freed up enough money to be $12.41 million under the salary cap heading into the new league year, which begins March 15. The Titans intend to release outside linebacker Bud Dupree as well but haven't indicated whether his release will take effect on March 15 or June 1, a decision that could give the Titans another $9 million to play with when free agency opens up with the new league year.

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The Titans have 38 players set to hit free agency, including the recent roster cuts. It's plausible that two-thirds of those free agents will be playing elsewhere next season, as general manager Ran Carthon rebuilds the roster in his image and many players the Titans added as injury replacements last fall head back to the waiver wire.

Here's a breakdown of every Titans free agent for 2023 and which ones are likeliest to land back with the team.

Offensive skill players

• QB Joshua Dobbs: Yes

• RB Dontrell Hilliard: No

• RB Trenton Cannon: No

• WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (restricted): Yes

• WR Robert Woods: No

• WR Chris Conley: No

• WR Cody Hollister: No

• WR C.J. Board: Yes

• TE Austin Hooper: No

• TE Geoff Swaim: Maybe

MY TAKE: Bringing back Dobbs as a second- or third-string option at quarterback feels warranted. Westbrook-Ikhine is a valuable piece to hold onto as long as the Titans don't need him to be their WR2 again. Board's special teams acumen lands him back on the roster, and Swaim's presence as an in-line blocker serves a purpose so long as he's used situationally instead of making the offense predictable any time he's on the field.

Hilliard walks as the Titans invest more in running back Hassan Haskins. Hooper can find more money on the open market. Woods, Conley and Hollister don't fit the mold of "faster and more versatile" coach Mike Vrabel is aiming for.

Offensive linemen

• OG Nate Davis: No

• OG Aaron Brewer (restricted): Maybe

• OT Taylor Lewan: No

• OG/C Corey Levin: Yes

• OT Dennis Daley: No

• OT Le'Raven Clark: No

• OL Daniel Munyer (exclusive rights): No

MY TAKE: It makes sense for the Titans to hold onto Levin as a locker room guy and rotational piece who can play multiple positions. And don't rule out Lewan coming back on a restructured deal. But beyond that, expect the Titans to rebuild the offensive line through free agency and the draft. That includes not paying top dollar for Davis and only bringing back Brewer if the offer sheet is right.

Defensive linemen

• DE Mario Edwards Jr.: Yes

• DT Da'Shawn Hand: No

• DE Demarcus Walker: Yes

• DT Kevin Strong: No

• DE Tarell Basham: No

• DT Naquan Jones (exclusive rights): Maybe

• DT Teair Tart (restricted): Yes

MY TAKE: Tart, Walker and Edwards are all productive rotational pieces, thought it may be redundant to hold onto both Walker and Edwards. Jones is another player who could return depending on how much the Titans value him, since all they'd need to offer him to keep in Nashville would be a one-year minimum contract.

Linebackers

• ILB David Long: No

• ILB Dylan Cole: Yes

• ILB Joe Jones: Yes

• ILB Andre Smith: No

• ILB Zach Cunningham: No

• OLB Bud Dupree: No

MY TAKE: Long might be a little outside the Titans' price range given the money they'll have to spend on more pressing positions of need like receiver and offensive line. Cole played well while Long and Cunningham were hurt last season and can return on a cheaper deal. Jones makes a lot of sense to keep for his special teams contributions; he played 342 special teams snaps last year.

Defensive backs

• S Joshua Kalu: Yes

• CB Lonnie Johnson Jr: Yes

• CB Devontae Harris: No

• S Andrew Adams: Yes

• S A.J. Moore: No

• CB Greg Mabin: No

MY TAKE: Adams was a revelation for the Titans last season and deserves a shot at being a starter for a full season. Johnson and Kalu help fill out the back half of the secondary, a position with a surplus of free agents because of last season's injuries.

Special teams

• K Randy Bullock: No

• LS Morgan Cox: Yes

MY TAKE: Without Bullock, expect the Titans to let 2022 rookie Caleb Shudak compete for the starting job. Cox should be afforded the option to stay with the Titans as long as he keeps playing.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predicting which Tennessee Titans free agents will re-sign, walk