Tennessee Titans release beloved veteran center Ben Jones to create cap space

The Tennessee Titans have released Pro Bowl center Ben Jones, according to a report from Buck Reising of AtoZSports. The decision opens up $3.7 million in cap space.

The move also comes seven years to the day that Jones originally signed a contract with the Titans as a free agent.

Jones, 33, was first drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. He started 10 games as a rookie before taking a backup role in 2013. But for the past nine seasons, he has been an everyday start in the NFL.

That includes the past seven seasons with the Titans as their starting center. He made his first Pro Bowl this past year as a replacement for Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey.

This was also the first season Jones missed multiple games with an injury after he had missed only one game in his career prior to 2022. He missed five games due to concussions.

Ben Jones attended Georgia, where he played from 2008-2011.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially run out, making those players free agents.

Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7. Beginning March 13 through March 15 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who are will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.