The Tennessee Titans are in a bit of an awkward spot heading into the summer. After the collapse they endured during the 2022 season, losing the last seven games of the season to lose the division and miss out on the postseason, they made some changes to their front office.
Ran Carthon was brought over from the San Francisco 49ers to become the general manager and he immediately began purging the roster of veterans to save money. Some do remain, such as quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry, but they have been involved in plenty of rumors this offseason as well.
Carthon is currently toeing the line of remaining competitive but needs a rebuild. The Titans have been excellent under Mike Vrabel as head coach but if they all get on the same page about a reset, that is likely the best route to take.
Tennessee selected quarterback Will Levis in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, so they could have their franchise quarterback of the future. But, one player who may not be long for the Titans is safety Kevin Byard.
Looking to save some money, Byard was approached about taking a pay cut earlier this offseason. It was something he rebuffed, as he remains productive. That has put the franchise in a tough spot, as Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated believes Byard is one player that could still change teams this offseason.
“Back in April, Byard reportedly wanted to be traded without a new deal in place.
In the weeks since, general manager Ran Carthon hasn’t made a move in either direction, leaving Byard’s future up in the air. For the reloading Titans, the 30-year-old safety could be a nice trade piece to acquire draft capital while shaving off future salary.
Should Carthon move Byard, the Titans would recoup $28.2 million over the next two years. However, the star safety won’t come cheap to the team getting him, with base salaries of $13.6 million in 2023 and ’24.”
Byard remains one of the best safeties in the NFL and with a few prime years remaining, won’t be cheap to acquire. The Titans should be able to get at the very least an early Day 2 pick for him, if not a first-round pick.
He has been durable throughout his career, not missing a game in seven seasons after being a third-round pick by the Titans in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Middle Tennessee State. There are several franchises that could use a player of Byard’s caliber as he would instantly improve any secondary he joins.
In his career, Byard has 27 interceptions, 63 passes defended, 4.0 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits. He is a versatile player that can fill any role you need at the safety position while providing some slot coverage skills as well.
