Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan announces he is being released

After nine seasons, three Pro Bowl appearances and four playoff berths with the Tennessee Titans, offensive tackle Taylor Lewan is moving on.

The Titans announced they'll be releasing Lewan, as well as wide receiver Robert Woods and kicker Randy Bullock, on Wednesday. Lewan announced in a Twitter post the Titans will be releasing him after nearly a decade in Nashville. The Titans' first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Lewan made three Pro Bowls from 2016-18 and anchored a Titans offensive line that paved the way for the Titans to finish top five in the NFL in rushing four times in his career.

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This news didn't come as much of a shock to Lewan, who outright said he expected to be cut multiple times on his podcast and in media appearances throughout the fall and winter. By cutting Lewan, who had one year remaining on his contract, the Titans will save $14,841,000 against the salary cap with no dead cap penalty. At the time Lewan signed his $80 million deal with the Titans in 2018, it was the largest contract ever given to an offensive lineman.

"I hope I did enough to create something all the Titan fans can be proud of," Lewan said in a tweet. "I love you all."

Lewan struggled to stay on the field in the second half of his Titans tenure, missing most of the 2020 and 2022 seasons because of ACL tears and missing four games in 2019 because of a failed drug test.

Lewan is one of the most decorated Titans in recent memory. Since 2010, Lewan is one of just four Titans to make three or more Pro Bowls, along with running back Derrick Henry, tight end Delanie Walker and punter Brett Kern. Lewan appeared in the NFL's offseason rankings of its top 100 players three times; since those rankings began in 2011, the only Titans who have appeared more than Lewan are Henry and defensive tackle Jurrell Casey.

With Lewan injured in 2022, the Titans offensive line regressed to one of the league's worst units. The Titans allowed the highest pressure rate in the league, and Lewan's replacement at left tackle, Dennis Daley, surrendered the most sacks and fourth-most pressures in the league despite being on the field for 100 fewer pass blocking snaps than anyone else in the top five.

The Titans own the No. 11 pick in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the same pick they used to select Lewan in 2014.

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: Tennessee Titans cut Taylor Lewan after 9 seasons with franchise