5 Predictions for the Tennessee Titans on NFL trade deadline day
By Will Lomas
The Tennessee Titans got a feel-good win against the New England Patriots on Sunday, and everyone in the building can enjoy a victory in the middle of a difficult season.
Despite the win, there is no doubt that the Titans are sellers at the NFL trade deadline. Some players should only be moved for a premium, including Harold Landry and Jeffery Simmons, but the Titans should be actively shopping others, after admitting as such by trading DeAndre Hopkins and Ernest Jones.
When you look at the rumors and players who make sense on the trade market, five names seem to come up the most often: Landry, Arden Key, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Tyler Boyd, and Nick Folk.
We've compiled five predictions for the Titans on NFL trade deadline day.
Landry: Stays
The only reason why Landry's name should even be in consideration is because every team should possess interest in acquiring impactful pass rushers. Super Bowl contenders should be calling the Titans trying to convince them why they should move off a 10-sack per season player. Rebuilding teams with high second-round picks should be calling to replicate the offer the Chicago Bears put together for Montez Sweat last season.
Key: Traded to the Detroit Lions for a conditional 5th-round pick
Key has found his form after a slow start, recording four sacks in his last three outings. Pass rushers are a hot commodity, and Key is doing a lot of great things at the opportune time. Combine that burst of production with his cheap and malleable contract, and you can see why teams may be intrigued by acquiring him.
The Detroit Lions sit atop the NFC despite losing superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson to a season-ending injury. The Lions truly believe they could win the Super Bowl. Key would be their best healthy EDGE defender.
Joseph-Day: Traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a 5th-round pick
The San Francisco 49ers are competing in a tight-knit NFC West. Every team in the division has at least four wins and at least four losses. It represents quite the logjam heading into Week 10, and predicting a winner is difficult given the parity.
The 49ers should get Christian McCaffrey back soon and that should help propel the team to more wins, but they really need more help in the trenches. Joseph-Day has been very good for the Titans this year, and he played with the 49ers last season during their Super Bowl run. There's a sense of familiarity.
Since the 49ers have nine picks in the upcoming draft (including two in the third round), they have the extra draft capital to make a move like this as they push for another NFC West crown.
Boyd: Stays
Boyd has been somewhat productive for the Titans, but there doesn't seem to be a market for slot receivers. It's difficult to envision a team parting with a pick for Boyd, even though the Titans would likely be willing to move him. The passing offense has revolved around Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in recent weeks, and that's the expectation for the rest of the season.
Folk: Stays
Teams should be lining up to acquire Folk, but his age and contract may prevent interest from arriving. We will know which teams made a mistake when they lose a playoff game because of a poor kicking performance. Folk has been incredible since the Titans traded for him last year, but there doesn't seem to be anybody sniffing around the veteran kicker.