Delanie Walker released after 7 years, 3 Pro Bowls: 'He will forever be a Titan great'

Consider it the end of an era.

The Titans have released Delanie Walker, the team announced on Friday. The tight end was a fan favorite and important cog in helping to turn the franchise around after he first arrived in Nashville in 2013.

Walker was among the most reliable and consistent players for the Titans during his seven years with the team. He had four straight seasons of at least 60 catches and 800 receiving yards from 2014-17, and made three Pro Bowls over that stretch.

But wear and tear caught up with Walker, who will be 36 by the start of the 2020 season. Injuries have allowed him to play in only eight games over the past two seasons combined.

Walker, who initially signed with the Titans on a four-year deal in 2013, has a strong case for being the team's best free-agent acquisition since it moved to Nashville.

"In my time here with Delanie, he has been an absolute pro on the field, in the locker room, and his production speaks for itself," Titans general manager Jon Robinson said in a team release. "He was a leader, a captain, and a highly respected member of this team.  His toughness, competitiveness, attitude and professionalism are what we expect from our players. I want to wish him all of the best moving forward and he will forever be a Titan great.”

By cutting ties with Walker, Robinson saves $6.4 million in cap space, per overthecap.com. It also costs them about $1.7 million in dead money.

Tennessee has also cut kicker Ryan Succop, running back Dion Lewis and outside linebacker Cameron Wake, carving out about $18 million in cap space this week. That brings the Titans to about $67 million in cap room heading into free agency, which is set to open with the start of the new league year on Wednesday.

The move means more opportunity for 24-year-old Jonnu Smith, whom the Titans drafted in the third round in 2017. Smith had 35 catches for 439 yards and three touchdowns in 2019 while proving he could step into Walker's role.

Reach Erik Bacharach at ebacharach@tennessean.com and on Twitter @ErikBacharach.