Kevin Byard trade shocks Titans into harsh reality of the NFL
NASHVILLE — Safety Kevin Byard is being traded by the Tennessee Titans (2-4), according to multiple reports. The two-time All-Pro selection heads to the Philadelphia Eagles (6-1) for a 2024 fifth and sixth round pick as well as safety Terrell Edmunds. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first with the news. Tennessee is facing the harsh […]
NASHVILLE — Safety Kevin Byard is being traded by the Tennessee Titans (2-4), according to multiple reports. The two-time All-Pro selection heads to the Philadelphia Eagles (6-1) for a 2024 fifth and sixth round pick as well as safety Terrell Edmunds.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first with the news.
Tennessee is facing the harsh reality of its circumstances in the modern day NFL. Coming out of a Week 7 bye, the Titans are at the bottom of their division and will be without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the foreseeable future. Tannehill exited his team's London loss to the Baltimore Ravens, dealing with a high ankle sprain.
"I think we would always consider trying to strengthen the team," coach Mike Vrabel said of potential trades prior to the NFL's Oct. 31 deadline. "Whether that's right now, this week or in the future. Absolutely."
Dealing Byard makes the most sense for both parties. Tennessee's defense is solid this season, but not elite. An offense that averages 17.3 points per game (25th) requires the rest of the team surrounding it to play near-perfect football. Vrabel acknowledged after Baltimore that his team's issues "probably, maybe," were not correctable.
"Not going to stop trying. Not going to stop trying to prepare (the players) and teach them fundamentals and execution. There will be some good plays in there and there will be some in there that we have to eliminate that are getting us beat."
The Titans roster is the thing most consistently undermining them, and moving Byard helps works towards a rebuild.
With the draft capital added in the Byard deal, Tennessee general manager Ran Carthon now holds seven total selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team has needs everywhere and Byard can only do so much to hold things together. Ironic, given that his last statement as a member of the Titans was his plan to do just that.
"To be honest, I don't even really want to go into a bye right now," said Byard after the Ravens loss. "I want to be able to get back into the building and get back to work but that's the way the schedule is.
"We'll take some time off. We have guys that are injured that need some rest but I'm going to try to stay in it and try to see what I can do to try to help this team out and make some more plays, honestly. That's kind of something I've been thinking about the entire game. Just want to be able to go out there and make more plays and try to help this team get some wins."
Byard will help lead a team to victory, it just won't be in Tennessee.
Addressing trade interest in Titans RB Derrick Henry
NASHVILLE — As the NFL’s trade deadline approaches on October 31, the Tennessee Titans (2-4) are looking more and more like sellers. The idea of moving star players for draft capital is not something that Tennessee is above. The question is: do the titans have anything actually worth buying? Former All-Pro running back Derrick Henry has […]
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