Multiple reports add context to Kevin Byard’s situation with Titans
Multiple reports confirm that Kevin Byard was asked to take a pay cut by the Tennessee Titans, but he has no intention of doing so.
Tennessee Titans All-Pro safety Kevin Byard was asked to take a pay cut by the Titans, and Byard's unwillingness to do so could lead to the end of his Titans tenure.
Byard, a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl safety, who has played in Tennessee for seven seasons, is the Titans' all-time leader in interceptions (27). He is also top ten in solo tackles and to five in passes defended on the all-time franchise leaderboard.
But after seven highly memorable seasons, Byard's time in two-tone blue may be coming to a bitter end.
While running back Derrick Henry has been the face of the franchise over the last seven years, Byard has been the heart of the franchise. He played his college ball in Murfreesboro and ingratiated himself with the Titans' fanbase since day one.
In Byard's own words, Tennessee is his legacy, and given his consistent exceptional play on the field, finishing his career as a Titan always felt right.
"This is my legacy. I played my college ball here in Tennessee. I just finished my seventh year here in Tennessee. I would love to be able to retire as a Titan," Byard told the media on locker room clean-out day in January. "This team, this city, this organization, the fans, the community…means a lot to me and means a lot to my family. I really wouldn't want to pay any other place, any other city, and any other organization other than the Tennessee Titans."
But just two months after those comments, Byard and the Titans are not seeing eye-to-eye due to Tennessee's cap concerns. Byard carries a cap hit of $19.623 million in 2023 and $17.823 million in 2024. There is still over $13 million of dead cap remaining on the final two years of his deal, which he signed back in 2019.
On a recent episode of The GM Shuffle Podcast, Michael Lombardi suggested that the Titans had asked Byard to take a pay cut and mentioned that his release was a possibility if Byard was unwilling to do so.
Despite other reports suggesting that Byard asked the Titans for a release after Tennessee "would not entertain an extension" with him, Turron Davenport of ESPN has reported that to not be accurate.
Both Jordan Schultz and Cameron Wolfe were on the initial reports with more details about the Titans' request of their defensive captain.
If Byard is designated as a Post-June 1st release, Tennessee can save $14.1 million against the cap in 2023 and just under $10 million against the 2024 cap. If Byard is released immediately, the Titans would save just under $6 million in 2023, but nearly $18 million next season by avoiding the long-term consequences that come with a post-June 1 designation.
Either one would be a mistake by the Titans. Byard is always healthy, consistently productive, and an integral part of Tennessee’s locker room. He’s worth every dollar left on his contract. He has no reason to take a pay cut, and parting ways with a player of his caliber over his refusal to do so would be a serious misstep on the part of this front office.
Image via Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
