Among the many rumors surrounding key Tennessee Titans players this offseason was one that suggested safety Kevin Byard had requested his release after declining to take a pay cut.
According to Titans general manager Ran Carthon, that never happened, and he called the rumor, “blatantly false,” per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“I will say this — K.B., nor his representatives, ever asked us for a release,” he said. “So, that was blatantly false. That’s what I’ll say about that.”
Carthon added he has a “ton of respect for K.B. and we’d love for him to continue his career as a Titan.”
Of course, the Titans GM doesn’t confirm if the team asked Byard to take a pay cut in the first place. Adding to that, it’s doubtful he would confirm a release request even if it did happen.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported back on March 17 that the Titans did indeed approach Byard and asked him to take a pay cut, while also noting the two sides were “at a crossroads” after the veteran declined, so there’s at least some smoke to the fire of a possible split.
Byard accounts for a $19.5 million cap hit, which is no doubt a big figure for a team like the Titans that has a tight budget in 2023. But that’s not on Byard, who has had his contract restructured twice to bring us to this point. Adding to that, his play doesn’t warrant a pay cut.
Trading or releasing Byard pre-June 1 would only save $5.9 million while incurring a whopping $13.6 million dead-cap hit. Post-June 1 would save $14.1 million and create only $5.5 million in dead money.
Letting a fan-favorite and one of the franchise’s great players go would not go over well with the majority of the fan base, but it’s a scenario that looks possible in an offseason full of uncertainty.
