NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Seemingly set at the tight end position, the Titans released veteran Daniel Graham on Tuesday before their latest OTA.
The Titans liked the 10-year veteran's run blocking ability when they signed him last year. Graham wound up catching two passes for 25 yards on the season, including the winning touchdown against his former team in a 17-14 Week 3 victory over the Denver Broncos at LP Field.
The Titans have solid depth at the position with veterans Craig Stevens and Jared Cook established atop the depth chart. In addition, the team selected tight end in Taylor Thompson in the fifth round of April's NFL Draft, return second-year pro Cameron Graham and signed Brandon Barden as a free agent.
Munchak said they wanted to give the veteran Graham a chance to move on to another team.
"We got to that point where it seemed like it was in the best interest of Daniel and the best interest of the team to kind of give him the opportunity to move on for what we need to do as an offense going forward and for Daniel knowing the chance for him getting a lot of reps was going to be limited," Munchak said. "… We loved his time here and I wish it could have gone on a little differently. He has obviously had a very good career and I'm sure he can go on and play and help someone still this year."
Munchak called Graham a great teammate who led by example.
"He was great in the tight end room and really for the whole team, I thought," Munchak said. "Unfortunately, as we all know the way the season went we didn't run the ball as much as we liked to and he didn't get the reps he thought he would be able to get originally because obviously we thought we would run the ball much more often than we did last year...he didn't get an opportunity to play like we hoped he would when we signed him."
Prior to joining the Titans, Graham spent the previous four seasons (2007-10) as a team captain with the Broncos. Graham started his career in New England, where he helped the Patriots to victories in Super Bowl XXXVIII (2003 season) and Super Bowl XXXIX (2004 season).
