Titans’ Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard declines team’s request to take a pay cut on his $13.6m salary, putting his future in question only months after he said he wished to retire with Tennessee one day
The Tennessee Titans and two-time Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard have reached an impasse after Byrd has refused to take a pay cut according to multiple reports.
Byard has two years and $28.2m remaining on the five-year $70.5m contract extension he signed in 2019 and has no guaranteed money still owed to him from the deal.
He is currently set to earn a base salary of $13.6m with a roster bonus of $500,000, and carries a cap hit of $19,623,000 with a dead cap penalty of $13.6m if released.
Byard had previously indicated that he wished to remain in Tennessee for the remainder of his career however, that now seems like it will be decided by the Titans front office more so than ever before due to this new crossroads.
‘I just finished my seventh year here in Tennessee,’ Byard said during locker clean-out day. ‘I would love to be able to retire as a Titan.’
Star safety Kevin Byard has rejected the Tennessee Titans request to take a pay cut this season
Byard had six passes defended last season and has had four or more ints in five of six years
The 29-year-old is set to have a $19.6 million in salary cap hit this season and $13.6m salary
‘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.’
The 29-year-old Byard is coming off of his fifth season with at least four interceptions in the last six years, and clearly does not feel that his play warrants a pay cut.
On top of his strong interception numbers which have results in him picking off 27-total passes over the course of his career, Byard has also recorded 627 total tackles, four sacks, and three fumble recoveries since being taken in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Last season alone he recorded 108 tackles, four interceptions and six passes defensed. It also amounted to the second season with 100-plus tackles of his career.
Tennessee has been in salary dumping mode this season after already having released star offensive tackle Taylor Lewan and talented edge rusher Bud Dupree.
It was also reported that the Titans were listening to offers for superstar running back Derrick Henry during the NFL Combine, although they were not actively shopping their most talented player.
The team also let starting middle linebacker David Long Jr. leave in free agency after apparently growing tired of his nagging injury history.
After undergoing such a large exodus of proven talent combined with the rumors of a Henry trade and now Byard’s uncertain future with the team, it appears the Titans could be headed for a rebuilding year which will certainly worry fans.
The veteran is also one of the teams defensive leaders, as he is seen leading a pregame huddle