Cameron Wolfe, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Breaking down Malcolm Butler, Dion Lewis deals and a salary cap update

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- We're a week into free agency, and the Titans have made their first wave of moves, including the signing of cornerback Malcolm Butler and running back Dion Lewis. Now, the team will seek adding value signings or players who have been released over the past week.

To prep for what's coming next, let's take a look at how the Butler and Lewis contracts impact their salary caps and how much these players will truly make. We do the same for Josh Kline, DaQuan Jones and David King, three players the Titans re-signed last week. Finally, we'll take a look at where the Titans salary cap is moving forward and how much room they have left to chase a player like Ndamukong Suh, if they want to:

Malcolm Butler -- five-year, $61.25 million, $24 million fully guaranteed, $30 million in total guarantees, $10 million signing bonus.

2018 salary: $3.5 million (guaranteed); $500K ($31,250 per game) in active roster bonuses

2019: $10.5 million (guaranteed); $500K (31,250 per game) in active roster bonuses, $100K workout bonus

2020: $11 million ($6 million injury guarantee, fully guaranteed if on the roster on fifth day of 2020 league year); $500K (31,250 per game) in active roster bonuses, $100K workout bonus

2021: $11.1 million; $500K in roster bonus due on fifth day of league year; $500K ($31,250 per game) in active roster bonuses, $100K workout bonus

2022: $11.25 million; $500K in roster bonus due on fifth day of league year; $500K ($31,250 per game) in active roster bonuses, $100K workout bonus

Analysis: Butler's deal essentially translates to a two-year, $24 million guaranteed deal with a potential to make another $1.1 million based on games active and workout bonuses. If healthy, Butler's last three seasons are year-by-year team options worth $11 million, $11.1 million and $11.25 million, respectively. Strong deal for Butler getting good guarantees after a rough last six weeks and team also has flexibility.

Dion Lewis -- four-year, $19.8 million, $5.75 million fully guaranteed, $8.25 million in total guarantees, $2.25 million signing bonus, $1.5 million roster bonus paid next week.

2018 salary: $2 million (guaranteed); $250K ($15,625 per game) in active roster bonuses

2019: $4 million ($2.5 million injury guarantee, fully guaranteed on fifth day of league year); $300K ($18,750 in per game active bonuses); up to $600K in rushing/receiving yards escalators

2020: $4.3 million; $300K ($18,750 in per game active bonuses); $600K in rushing/receiving yards escalators

2021: $4.6 million; $300K ($18,750 in per game active bonuses); $600K in rushing/receiving yards escalators; $600K in rushing/receiving incentives

Analysis: Lewis' deal only guarantees him $5.75 million for the first year (with potential to rise to $6 million based on how many games he's on the active 46-man roster). If Lewis is healthy going into the 2019 offseason, the Titans have until the fifth day of the league year to decide if they want to keep him on the roster and fully guarantee $2.5 million of his $4 million 2019 base salary. Decent money for a back with his injury history, but the Titans hold the keys here.

DaQuan Jones -- three-year, $21 million deal with $14 million fully guaranteed ($4 million and $6 million salaries plus $4 million signing bonus). His 2020 salary is essentially a $7 million non-guaranteed team option. He has another $1.5 million in sack incentives. Strong deal for Jones.

Josh Kline -- four-year, $26 million deal with $12 million in guarantees. He'll likely receive at least the $13.5 million due in the first two years based on the way it breaks down. He sees $7.25 million in 2018. In 2019, $2 million of Kline's $6.25 million due was guaranteed at signing, another $2.75 million of it is guaranteed for injury with that amount plus a $500K roster bonus becoming fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year. Last two years are essentially $5.75 million and $6.25 million team options. Kline can make another $1 million in Pro Bowl incentives and $500K in per game roster bonuses. Win-win deal.

David King -- one-year, $790K, no guarantees.

2018 salary cap hits of players signed last week

Malcolm Butler 2018 cap hit -- $6 million

Dion Lewis 2018 cap hit -- $4.31 million

Josh Kline 2018 cap hit -- $5.75 million

DaQuan Jones 2018 cap hit -- $5.33 million

David King 2018 cap hit -- 790K

Titans 2018 salary cap space (as of March 20): $43.28 million, per ESPN's roster management

Salary cap hasn't been much an issue for the Titans all offseason. They came in with plenty of money, made up more by releasing several veterans and still have a good bit after making some free-agent splashes. There will likely be more free agency moves coming, whether it's Suh who visited over the weekend or other players, but don't expect the Titans to spend all of this capital.

Big extensions for in-house players are coming. Taylor Lewan could become the highest-paid left tackle with a contract extension sometime this offseason. A long-term deal for Marcus Mariota may not come until next offseason, but it will likely be representative of what recent quarterbacks have been paid. Other veterans like Rishard Matthews, Delanie Walker or Brian Orakpo could also be due extensions soon. Tennessee will also have to allot a little over $5 million in cap space to their draft pool.

The Titans traditionally likes to carry over significant amount of space into the next league year. They carried over $30.3 million from 2017 into 2018, a strategy that put it in strong position this offseason.

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