NFL teams
Cameron Wolfe, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

Titans backup QB Matt Cassel is a cap casualty

NFL, Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are releasing a trio of veteran backups, quarterback Matt Cassel, safety Da'Norris Searcy and receiver Eric Weems, the team informed the group Friday.

The moves save the Titans $7.7 million in salary cap space. Tennessee now has well over $60 million in space.

In his two seasons with the Titans, Cassel played six games (two starts), completing 55-of-93 for 446 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Releasing Cassel, who signed a two-year deal with the Titans last March, saves the Titans $2.5 million in cap space.

He's seen the roller coaster of a career that had him as a long-time backup for Tom Brady in New England to being a big-money starter in Kansas City to his current role as a journeyman backup. Cassel was actually traded with now-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel from the Patriots to the Chiefs in 2009.

Searcy, 29, spent the last three seasons with the Titans after signing a four-year, $24 million deal in March 2015. He was a starter in Tennessee during his first two seasons before being moved to a role as a third safety last season after the team signed Johnathan Cyprien in free agency. Releasing Searcy, who took a pay cut last offseason to stay on the team, saves the Titans $3.85 million in salary cap space.

The Titans still have all-pro safety Kevin Byard and Cyprien, but they'll likely seek competition and depth in free agency and/or the draft. The team had struggles covering running backs and tight ends in the passing game last season.

Weems, 32, was primarily a special teams player.

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