Titans fire sale? Kevin Byard deal could signal more trade-deadline action for Tennessee
A fire sale may have just started in Nashville and, if so, it could threaten to turn up the heat all around the NFL.
Monday, the Tennessee Titans agreed to send two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles for the modest price of safety Terrell Edmunds plus a fifth- and sixth-round selection in next year's draft. Given Byard's production – 27 interceptions and 59 pass break-ups since 2017 – as one of the league's more decorated and cerebral center fielders, plus the fact he's under contract through the end of the 2024 season, that seems like a pretty modest return.
Yet if the NFC East leaders seem to be getting a steal, this might also be the Titans' way of signaling they're open for business ahead of Halloween's trade deadline. And if they are, the rest of the league could be in store for a shakeup.
Three more names to monitor?
QB Ryan Tannehill
He's been dealing with an ankle injury, and his 188 passing yards per game and 71.9 QB rating are career lows since he came to Tennessee in 2019. But, when right, he's an efficient, athletic, respected veteran. Tannehill, 35, is also in the final year of his contract. He could be a valuable insurance policy – or perhaps more – somewhere else.
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Keep an eye on – Atlanta Falcons: They're atop the NFC South with a 4-3 mark, but QB Desmond Ridder leads the NFL with 11 turnovers and is near the top in questionable decisions. Tannehill was a Pro Bowler in Tennessee, when current Falcons coach Arthur Smith was his offensive coordinator.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
Like Byard, his deal runs through 2024. The 31-year-old Hopkins may no longer be a top-10 target in the league, but he still runs velvety routes and has Velcro hands. Whether as a WR1, WR2 or WR3, he could be a difference maker for any number of teams.
Keep an eye on – Los Angeles Chargers: The Bolts' attack hasn't been the same since WR Mike Williams was lost to a season-ending knee injury. Hopkins could quickly rectify that and do significant damage opposite fellow vet Keenan Allen for a team that seems to need a jolt.
RB Derrick Henry
Under contract with Tennessee for 11 more games, he could be the crown jewel of the deadline. The two-time rushing king's production is down – about 71 rushing yards per game – but so are his touches in light of the emergence of 22-year-old RB Tyjae Spears. Henry, 29, continues to show progress as a receiver, a skill he's rarely been given credit for, and his 4.3 yards per carry are in line with what he's done since 2021. He's not a fit for every offense, but the explosive plays and intimidation factor are still there.
Keep an eye on – Cleveland Browns: A guy who likes to line up deep on base downs, similar to injured Nick Chubb, Henry could stabilize and probably elevate an offense that seems to have a question at quarterback every week as Deshaun Watson continues to battle injuries. And given the quality of Cleveland's top-ranked defense, even a passable run game could be enough to help carry this club to postseason.
And unloading contracts set to expire after this season or next makes sense for the Titans. They've been in a spiral ever since the unfortunate – and apparently unrecoverable for former general manager Jon Robinson – decision to trade Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Brown during the 2022 draft. The AFC's top-seeded team in the 2021 playoffs, Tennessee is 9-14 since jettisoning Brown and is already mired in last place in the AFC South, 2½ games behind the Jacksonville Jaguars. And given the overall quality of the conference, a division crown may be the Titans' only viable path to the playoffs.
Probably wiser for rookie GM Ran Carthon and coach Mike Vrabel to get a long look at youngsters like Spears, receiver Treylon Burks and quarterbacks Malik Willis and/or Will Levis in order to chart a proper course for 2024 and beyond – while loading up on needed draft capital to restore this squad to contending status sooner than later.
***Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter @ByNateDavis.