One of the most productive safeties of the past decade could end up on the open market.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the Titans approached Kevin Byard about taking a pay cut. The team signed him to a five-year extension worth $70.5 million in 2019.
Byard, a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, doesn’t believe his recent play warrants a pay cut. He finished the 2022 season with 108 total tackles, six passes defended and four interceptions.
With that said, Byard and the Titans are at a crossroads.
The Titans approached Kevin Byard about a pay cut, but the Pro Bowl safety does not believe his play warrants a decrease in salary.
Byard has wanted to play for one organization and ultimately retire as a Titan, but the two sides are at a crossroads, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2023
Once the 2022 regular season came to an end, Byard spoke fondly of the Titans. He even expressed his desire to only play for them.
“I would love to be able to retire as a Titan,” Byard said, via ESPN. “This team, this city, the organization, the fans and the community means a lot to me and my family. I definitely really wouldn’t want to play any other place, any other city, any other organization other than the Titans.”
If the Titans were to release Byard, they would save roughly $6 million in cap space and take on a $13.6 million dead cap charge.