Titans' $58M CB tabbed as sleeper trade target after surprise Week 6 benching originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tennessee Titans got their first win of the season in Week 6 over the Indianapolis Colts, and they did it without one of their top offseason signings.
But this player, $58 million cornerback Alontae Taylor, wasn't out due to injury. He was a surprise healthy inactive for the Titans, indicating a coaching decision by Robert Saleh to bench the expensive CB six weeks into his Tennessee tenure.
After that surprise decision, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler revealed that Taylor is a sleeper trade target at the trade deadline. Just six weeks into his $58M contract with the Titans, Taylor might be on the move to a new team this Fall.
Titans' Alontae Taylor tabbed as sleeper trade target after surprise benching
Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor. He was widely considered the top corner in free agency, signing a three-year, $58 million deal with the Titans in March," Fowler writes. "His Week 6 benching has placed him on the radar of teams that might look to bolster the position in the next few weeks."
The 1-5 Titans are going to be sellers at the NFL trade deadline, and while they don't have a lot that will draw interest from teams, Taylor is one name to watch now.
It would be a surprise to see Taylor traded so early into his three-year, $58 million deal with the Titans. But considering his Week 6 benching, it seems just about anything is on the table.
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If he joins a defense more suited to his strengths as a slot cornerback, then maybe he could turn things around this season. But with his struggles with the Titans through five weeks, Saleh benched him and opened the door to a trade in the process.
A trade will be tricky for financial reasons, with a lot of money still owed to Taylor, which could make interested teams less willing to part with meaningful capital to get him.
But if there's a team okay with the financial situation and willing to give up something decent in the form of draft capital, then a Taylor trade might be on the table for the Titans.
Tennessee does not have to trade Taylor, as they have plenty of reason to keep him and hope he can turn things around. Offers might still come in, and the Titans, if they like a deal, might not be afraid to pull the trigger on a surprise trade this Fall.
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