Titans, Kevin Byard at crossroads over proposed pay lower

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans approached Kevin Byard about taking a pay lower, however the Professional Bowl security doesn’t consider his play warrants a lower in wage, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.

Byard’s plan has at all times been to play for one group and finally retire as a Titan, however the two sides are at a crossroads, in keeping with sources.

Byard signed a five-year extension value $70.5 million, with $31 million assured, in 2019. The 2-time, first-team All-Professional has a $19.6 million cap quantity this yr. If the Titans have been to launch him, they might save round $6 million in cap house however retain $13.6 million in useless cap house.

Byard is coming off a 2022 season by which he recorded 108 tackles and 4 interceptions. Titans gamers voted him a group captain for a fourth consecutive yr.

“I simply completed my seventh yr right here in Tennessee,” Byard stated throughout locker clean-out day. “I’d love to have the ability to retire as a Titan. This group, this metropolis, the group, the followers and the group means loads to me and my household. I undoubtedly actually would not need to play some other place, some other metropolis, some other group aside from the Titans.”