Titans Are Sellers As Trade Deadline Nears, Sending Kevin Byard To Eagles -- A Team That Cleaned Their Clock On A Previous Trade
Maybe the Tennessee Titans enjoy being the farm system for the Philadelphia Eagles, supplying the defending NFC Champions with talent to keep them in contention.
At least it seems that way because Monday the clubs reached agreement on a trade that will send former All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to the Eagles in exchange for a fifth- and sixth-round draft pick in the 2024 draft and reserve safety Terrell Edmunds, a source confirmed for OutKick.
NFL Media was first to report the transaction.
And with that the 30-year-old Byard who has been a two-time Pro Bowl player, a two-time All Pro and has a team leader the entirety of his eight-year career, is headed to the Eagles.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 26: Jonathan Taylor #28 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball against Kevin Byard #31 of the Tennessee Titans in the third quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
Kevin Byard Goes From Last Place To First
Byard is a native of Philadelphia. And he's going from worst to first in a swap by the teams because the Eagles lead the NFC East.
The Eagles have been searching for help in the secondary while Reed Blankenship and Bradley Roby have been nursing injuries. Byard is not only going to provide help, he's potentially an upgrade with playoff experience and a history for not missing a game in eight years.
So Eagles general manager Howie Rosen does it again.
He improves his team via trade because, well, Howie's going to Howie.
And the Titans apparently seem content helping.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a touchdown on a pass play during the second half of a game against the Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field on October 22, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Titans Comfortable Helping Eagles
You'll recall there's history between these two teams: The Eagles acquired receiver A.J. Brown from the Titans last year and that move, one made by the Titans because they didn't wish to meet Brown's contract demands, helped the Eagles get to the Super Bowl.
That move made the Eagles better. And so far has diminished the Titans regardless of the fact they drafted Treylon Burks to replace Brown.
Burks, very talented, has not produced anywhere near to the level Brown produced in Tennessee and has continued to produce for the Eagles.
So why are the Titans doing this seemingly curious move?
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 16: Jawill Davis #80 of the New York Giants is tackled by Will Compton #51 and Kevin Byard #31 of the Tennessee Titans on a punt return during the first half at MetLife Stadium on December 16, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Titans And Eagles Set Different Values For Byard
Well, their value for Byard has been on the decline for a while. They requested Byard take a pay cut prior to the start of the season and although he resisted for a while, Byard eventually agreed to cut his salary by about $2.5 million in July. He got a large guaranteed bonus at the time in exchange for taking the cut.
That move by Byard was done with the idea he could remain with the team for which he is a captain and had high hopes. Those hopes, however, have faded.
The Titans have a 2-4 record, have lost two consecutive games, and are in last place in the AFC South. The team is frankly a shadow of the club that was the AFC's top playoff seed in the 2021-22 season.
So now the Titans are sellers as the Oct. 31 trade deadline nears. And that possibly speaks to a wider shift away from this season and toward the future.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 24: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans signals to his teammates during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 24, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Titans 27-3. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Are Titans Now Focused On The Future?
That move may include putting other players on the trade block and possibly making a move at quarterback away from veteran Ryan Tannehill.
The Titans have two young quarterbacks waiting behind Tannehill. Malik Willis is in his second season and Will Levis is a rookie.
It just might make sense to the Titans to see those two youngsters perform in more games so the club could determine exactly what it has for the future. Yes, that would probably cost the team wins this season.
But after trading a cornerstone defensive player, that concern doesn't seem to be at the forefront of the Titans' thinking.