Report: Julio Jones to be Released by Titans; Landon Collins Let Go; O.J. Howard Signs with Bills

Fallout from the Carson Wentz trade begins for the Commanders, leaving the former Crimson Tide safety looking for a new home.

Christopher Walsh | Mar 16, 2022

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Alabama Crimson Tide

According to reports, the Tennessee Titans are set to release former Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.

Dianna Russini of ESPN broke the initial story. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated's MMQB confirmed that Jones carries a post-June 1 designation, per source.

Jones is scheduled to count $14.3 million against the salary cap next season. But with a post-June 1 cut, the team would clear $11.5 million of cap room.

Jones turned 33 years old earlier this month. He was plagued by a hamstring injury for most of last season.

He missed seven regular-season games for the second year in a row, and almost all of his statistics, including 31 catches for 434 yards, one touchdown and 19 first downs, were career lows.

Per the FanNation site All Titans, the list of NFL wide receivers 33 or older who made any kind of impact during the 2021 season is a mighty short one:

• Arizona’s A.J. Green caught 54 passes for 848 yards and three touchdowns.

• Buffalo’s Emmanuel Sanders caught 42 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns.

• Tampa Bay’s Antonio Brown caught 42 passes for 545 yards and four touchdowns.

A year ago, the Titans sent a 2022 second-round pick to the Falcons in exchange for Jones.

The veteran receiver came with a $23 million cap hit, so Tennessee had to rework some of their contracts to fit Jones in under the salary cap. They had just about $5.4 million in space before trading for Jones

Landon Collins Released

In a move that was completely expected, safety Landon Collins was released by the Washington Commanders on Wednesday.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection had been asked to restructure his deal, to which Collins had agreed. However, when the team asked him to do so again this offseason following the trade for Carson Wentz — which ate up nearly all of Washington's remaining space under the salary cap for this season — he balked.

Collins signed a six-year, $84 million contract with Washington in 2019.

The move saves Washington $6.482 million on the salary cap with $9.6 million in dead money.

Collins confirmed to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports that the breakup was over a contract dispute.

"They asked me to take a pay cut," Collins said. "The first one was fine. Then they asked me to take another one. The money changed after they signed Carson Wentz. I'll just take my chances in free agency."

A big part in signing with a new team figures to be how it plans to use him.

In 2021, Washington moved Collins to a hybrid linebacker role, viewing him as someone who could make more plays closer to the line of scrimmage. Although it was a role he didn't covet, he made 81 tackles and three sacks in 13 games this season.

In 94 games, he had 11 interceptions, 39 passes defended, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 10 sacks and 676 tackles.

Collins, 28, also missed 14 games over the last three seasons, including having suffered a torn Achilles.

Per the FanNation Washington site: The Dallas Cowboys may be a team to watch for Collins as they need safety help. He's obviously familiar with the NFC East having previously played for the New York Giants.

Other teams in need at the position include the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, and Denver Broncos.

Bills Sign O.J. Howard

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Bills that could escalate to $5 million.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported the signing of the 19th overall selection of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Raiders sign Anthony Averett

Anthony Averett is headed to Las Vegas. According to a report from Pro Football Network's Aaron Wilson, the former Alabama cornerback will be joining the Raiders on a one-year deal with $4.5 million.

Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who played with Averett at Alabama, shared his excitement of the news over social media, posting flame emojis over a report of the signing.

Now this 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/KoLelqiMqf
— Josh Jacobs (@iAM_JoshJacobs) March 17, 2022

Averett is coming off a career year in which he started 14 games, recording three interceptions and 11 pass deflections to go with 54 tackles for the Baltimore Ravens. Next season will be Averett's fifth in the NFL after being selected by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2018 draft.

Cam Sims to Stay in Washington

Per the Washington Post: The Washington Commanders are re-signing wide receiver Cam Sims on a one-year, $3 million deal with $2 million guaranteed, per source.

Former Alabama Players in Free Agency

Anthony Averett

CB, Baltimore Ravens

Landed one-year deal for $4.5 million with Raiders

Bradley Bozeman

G/C Baltimore Ravens

Landon Collins

S, Washington Commanders

Rashaan Evans

LB, Tennessee Titans

Shaun Dion Hamilton

LB, Detroit Lions

Staying with Lions, one-year deal for $1.03 million.

Ronnie Harrison

S, Cleveland Browns

J.C. Hassenauer

OL, Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers extended one-year, exclusive-rights tender for $895,000.

Dont'a Hightower

LB, New England Patriots

O.J. Howard

TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed one-year, $3.5 million deal with Bills

Kareem Jackson

S, Denver Broncos

AJ McCarron

QB, Atlanta Falcons

Reggie Ragland

LB, New York Giants

Jarran Reed

DL, Kansas City Chiefs

Cam Sims

WR, Washington Commanders

Agreed to one-year, $3 million deal to stay with Washington

Levi Wallace

CB, Buffalo Bills

Signed with Steelers, two-year deal for $8 million

Published Mar 16, 2022

CHRISTOPHER WALSH

Christopher Walsh is the founder and publisher of BamaCentral, which first published in 2018. He's covered the Crimson Tide since 2004, and is the author of 26 books including Decade of Dominance, 100 Things Crimson Tide Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Nick Saban vs. College Football, and Bama Dynasty: The Crimson Tide's Road to College Football Immortality. He's an eight-time honoree of Football Writers Association of America awards and three-time winner of the Herby Kirby Memorial Award, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s highest writing honor for story of the year. In 2022, he was named one of the 50 Legends of the ASWA. Previous beats include the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Originally from Minnesota and a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he currently resides in Tuscaloosa.