Titans Allow NFL Deadline to Pass, Don't Extend Contracts of 4 Pending Free Agents

Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, Azeez Al-Shaair, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and the Tennessee Titans 18 other pending free agents can sign with the Titans or other NFL teams as of March 13.

NASHVILLE — The NFL's deadline for Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon and leadership to extend the contracts of Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, Azeez Al-Shaair, and Sean Murphy-Bunting has passed.

Since the contracts were not extended and the franchise tag was not used, the void year of each player's contract will now be accelerated into 2024.

The NFL uses a strategy called "void years" to distribute evenly the salary cap hits associated with signing bonuses. Suppose a player signs a three-year contract with a $30 million signing bonus. In that case, the cap hit would be divided into three equal parts of $10 million each year. To add dummy years to the contract's end, void years are used, and this can be done for a maximum of five seasons.

Tannehill's dead money number is $9.2 million, according to overthecap.com. Dead money is a salary cap charge for a player who is no longer on the team's roster. It's likely that Tannehill won't be back with the Titans. 

Al-Shaair's number is $2.5 million. He was a force last season, posting 164 tackles, including 84 solo. He was a vital figure in the team's defense and the Titans might consider keeping him in the hopes of renegotiating with him in March when free agency opens.

Murphy-Bunting had 57 total tackles, eight passes defended (including two interceptions), and two forced fumbles across 14 games last season. His number is $1.6 million, and the Titans could bring him back as well. 

Henry's number is $4.7 million, and his case will be the most interesting. The star running back said he wants to explore options in free agency. Callahan and Carthon have both said they will welcome Henry back, and Henry has repeatedly expressed a desire to finish his career with the Titans.

According to overthecap.com, the Titans lead the NFL with $31,850,988 in dead money, which includes nearly $13.5 million to Kevin Byard, who traded during the season to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

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