Ranking the Tennessee Titans Most Likely to be Traded Next
The Tennessee Titans seem to finally facing the reality that this version of the team has met it's end. Trading star safety Kevin Byard in the middle of the season while sitting at 2-4 is as big of an admission as possible that the team will be sellers or considers themselves that coming out of the bye.
The NFL's trade deadline is October 31 and with a week remaining to make moves, the Titans could continue to be in a seller's position with multiple veterans on expiring contracts. Here are the players who make the most sense to be traded next, ranked.
DL Denico Autry
Autry is 33 years old and on the final year of his contract with the Titans. Autry has been one of the most successful free agent signings in team history, so a trade would not be due to underperformance. Autry even has four sacks on the season already.
The truth is though, Autry, like Byard, doesn't make a lot of sense for a team in the Titans' position. The Titans are not likely to bring Autry back next season and would lose him for nothing if he left in free agency.
Autry, as demonstrated by his sack total, is still a great pass rusher with inside and outside ability. He may not be an every-down player and a run stopper at this point, but he won't need to be on a competitive team with a deep roster. A Super Bowl contender could flip a Day 3 pick for Autry.
RB Derrick Henry
This one would likely not sit well with the fanbase and therefore it isn't likely Henry is moved, but if you wanted players on the Titans worth trading for, Henry is at the top of the list. Henry may not have the explosion he did a few years ago, but he has showcased consistently that when given a lane he can make a big play.
The problem here is, Henry would be very expensive for a team to acquire at this stage. Henry would cost the acquiring team $5.8 million according to cap expert Michael Ginnitti from Spotrac.com. That is more than most teams want to pay for a running back for a full season, let alone half a year.
The other issue is while Henry is a good player, he only fits in a certain system. Henry isn't versatile enough to be a true three-down running back that fits in any scheme. A team who values what Henry brings will only make sense and that limits the pool of suitors.
Henry would be brought on to a contender to fill a role, not be the engine of the team like he is in Tennessee. That diminishes his value, making it tougher for the organization to get adequate return for a move that will certainly send the fanbase into outrage.
WR DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins was brought in just a few months ago with the idea the Titans would be able to win games, but despite Hopkins still playing good football, it isn't enough for the Titans to fulfill that promise.
There is theory to support the idea that Hopkins should remain so the Titans can get a valid look at the young quarterbacks, but at the same time, you could alienate a respected player in the league by holding him for that purpose late in his career. It could sully your reputation more than a trade would.
The question is, could the Titans get a worthy return for the veteran receiver? The Cardinals, Hopkins' former team, tried to trade him multiple times in the past year with no success. This led to Hopkins' eventual release that allowed him to sign in Tennessee.
Hopkins would be cheaper now for teams. salary wise, than he was when the Cardinals had him on the block, but if the Cardinals couldn't get anything worthwhile in return, it is hard to see the Titans doing so either.
CB Kristian Fulton
Fulton has underperformed in the last year of his rookie contract with Titans and has been benched at times by head coach Mike Vrabel in favor of second-year cornerback Tre Avery. He has been repeatedly called out by Vrabel over the past year for different things including his injury rehabilitation and selfishness in coverage.
Odds are Fulton isn't back after the season in a mutual move from both sides, but the Titans could accelerate that process and give Fulton a chance on another team while securing a pick for a player they benched voluntarily anyways and doesn't factor into the future.
Fulton is still a better corner than Avery though and when he is playing his best, he is a starting-level corner in the NFL. A team needing help in the secondary could take a chance on the former second-round pick with the thought he could help them on a playoff run and potentially be a find going forward.
Related Titans stories
- MOLDEN REPLACING BYARD: The Tennessee Titans were smart to trade Kevin Byard for draft picks, but now they have an open hole at safety that will need to be filled by third-year player Elijah Molden. CLICK HERE
- BYARD TRADE TOUGH & SMART: The Tennessee Titans made the first step in their rebuild on Monday, trading popular veteran safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles. It's hard to say goodbye to such a popular player, but rebuilds are hard and personal. CLICK HERE
- BYARD SAYS GOODBYE: The Tennessee Titans parted ways with a franchise legend when they traded Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. Byard took to social media to give a heartfelt goodbye to the organization and the fans. CLICK HERE
- BYARD TRADED TO EAGLES: The Tennessee Titans have made a move ahead of the trade deadline, sending star safety Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles for multiple draft picks and veteran safety Terrell Edmunds. CLICK HERE
