The Tennessee Titans made headlines on Monday by trading All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to the Philadephia Eagles. With the NFL trade deadline approaching and the team seemingly tipping its hands, NFL clubs are reportedly now keeping an eye on the possibility of a firesale.
Led by head coach Mike Vrabel, few around the league expected Tennessee to be active sellers at the NFL trade deadline. Even if they wanted to move the likes of Byard, Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins, the belief was there wouldn’t be much of a return for the veterans via trade.
Related: NFL insider addresses likelihood of Tennessee Titans making a Derrick Henry trade
In Byard’s case, that has already proven to be true. Tennessee traded its All-Pro defensive back and a leader on the field to Philadelphia for fifth-and sixth-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft order. If that’s the return Byard receives, it suggests there also wouldn’t be strong offers for Hopkins and Henry.
That’s part of the reason why the early buzz before the trade deadline was that the Titans would likely be quiet. Vrabel has always been an intense competitor and selling off veterans would be viewed as waving the white flag. Now, that appears to be the case.
Related: Latest on trade value of Tennessee Titans star DeAndre Hopkins
Following Monday’s trade, though, NFL teams indicated to Jeff Howe of The Athletic that they are now wondering if the Titans will be having a fire sale in the days to come. It’s now put general managers in a position where they’ll be actively calling Tennessee, inquiring about specific players.
With a new general manager, the Titans’ organization always seemed like a prime candidate for the roster to be shaken up with aging veterans moved out in exchange for draft picks. If the Byard trade is any indication, more deals could be on the horizon.
Projecting three possible Tennessee Titans trades
Tennessee could certainly attempt to trade Derrick Henry, but it’s difficult to find any NFL team willing to take on his contract without the Titans covering a significant portion of the salary. If that’s off the table, then Tennessee could still pursue a few other deals.
Denico Autry traded to the Baltimore Ravens
- Tennessee Titans receive: 2025 fifth-round pick
- Baltimore Ravens receive: Denico Autry
There’s no such thing as too much defensive line depth and Denico Autry would be another excellent addition for the Baltimore Ravens. Autry is on pace for his seventh consecutive season with at least 30 pressures and for a Ravens’ defense that ranks 25th in pressure rate (18.6%), that depth could make a huge impact. As for Tennessee, it moves off a player who will likely depart in free agency.
Kansas City Chiefs swing DeAndre Hopkins trade
- Tennessee Titans acquire: 2025 fourth-round pick
- Kansas City Cheifs acquire: DeAndre Hopkins, 2025 sixth-round pick
DeAndre Hopkins clearly isn’t happy with his situation in Tennessee, especially now that Ryan Tannehill is sidelined. While his trade value might be low, a team like the Kansas City Chiefs could see sacrificing a little bit in the future for a No. 1 receiver as a worthwhile move. Hopkins would be a nice complement to an offense that so often rotates its receivers and routinely throws short. If you put Hopkins in Kansas City, the Chiefs become the best team in the NFL by a notable margin.
Related: 2023 NFL power rankings
Pittsburgh Steelers add Sean Murphy-Bunting to secondary
- Pittsburgh Steelers trade: 2024 sixth-round pick
- Tennessee Titans trade: Sean Murphy-Bunting
The Titans’ secondary has been a disaster this season with free-agent signee Sean Murphy-Bunting not proving to be the best fit for them. While he might not be a high-end starting cornerback, Murphy-Bunting has only allowed an 80.9 QB rating when targeted this season (Pro Football Focus). A boundary corner of that caliber would be huge for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, which has been reliant on its pass rush to cover up for struggling defensive backs. Murphy-Bunting would see immediate snaps in Pittsburgh, while Tennessee gets another pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
