NASHVILLE – The NFL trade deadline is upon us, and the Tennessee Titans (2-6) could be one of the league’s more active teams.
The Titans are sellers. After spending big in free agency and having competitive expectations for the first year under head coach Brin Callahan, the Titans’ 2-6 start to the 2024 season has been frustrating to all and given them no choice but to answer calls on veteran talent.
GM Ran Carthon already sent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs and inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks. The Titans are trying to acquire as much draft capital as possible and a few more expendable expiring contracts to unload.
Here’s a look at three players I believe the Titans should try to move before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, November 5th.
1. OLB Arden Key
Outside linebacker Arden Key is still under contract with Tennessee through the 2025 season, but he’s due for a large pay increase that the Titans might have no interest in dishing out.
Key’s base salary will increase by over $5 million, to a total of $6.5 million in 2025. But because none of that money is guaranteed, the Titans could cut Key in the offseason and avoid it altogether by making him a free agent.
It feels more likely that not that Key will end up as a cap casualty this offseason. That essentially makes him a cost-effective rental for any buyer looking to add a pass rusher at the NFL trade deadline.
After consulting with outside coaching and making some changes to his weekly preparation and drill-work, Key is playing the best football of his NFL career. He has four sacks, six tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits in the Titans’ last three games. He also tied a career-high with six tackles against the Detroit Lions.
Key’s trade value has skyrocketed over the last few weeks. I’m not sure his stock has ever been higher. It creates a perfect opportunity for Tennessee to capitalize in a trade.
2. WR Tyler Boyd
Veteran wide receiver Tyler Boyd is another player on an expiring contract that the Titans would be better off moving. Boyd signed a one-year deal with Tennessee in the offseason and has 21 catches for 184 yards this year.
While Brian Callahan values Boyd for his experience in this offense (from his time with the Bengals), his role feels…replaceable.
If there’s a contending team looking for veteran leadership and playoff experience in the receiving room, the Titans should get what they can for Boyd. I wouldn’t hate to see Tennessee role with Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine out wide while getting more opportunities for Bryce Oliver or Jha’Quan Jackson in the slot.
The big question here: Is there a buyer with any interest?
3. OLB Harold Landry III
To be clear, I don’t think you can trade both Arden Key and Harold Landry III at the same deadline. The Titans are already thin at outside linebacker and I can’t foresee them playing out the rest of the regular season with Jaylen Harrell and Ali Gaye as the starting edges.
But if the right offer comes along, I think Ran Carthon should absolutely jump at the opportunity to move Landry. He might be the most valuable asset that the Titans would consider trading and therefore bring back a substantial draft pick in return.
I think the Titans could, at the very least, get a Top 100 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for Landry in a trade. He has contract control through the 2026 season with a cap hit sitting around $24 million every year.
There’s an argument to be made that as long as Tennessee can afford his contract, they should keep Landry in the fold. He’s a good player. But are the Titans realistically in a position to contend for a Super Bowl in 2025? I think not. Therefore, Landry doesn’t do you much good recording 10 sacks and making big money for a bad football team.
