While rumors and speculation have surrounded the Tennessee Titans in terms of being sellers at the trade deadline, the team is reportedly set to hold on to at least two of their key players on offense.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Derrick Henry aren’t expected to be traded at the deadline, which falls on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
Russini notes that teams have called the Titans about “a number of players” but she has been told general manager Ran Carthon is not “moving on any offer unless it’s exceptional.”
She adds that a source with the Dallas Cowboys has said the team did not make a call inquiring about Henry.
6. DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Henry look to be staying in Tennessee. Teams have called GM Ran Carthon on a number of players, and I was told Carthon is not moving on any offer unless it’s exceptional. (A source with the Cowboys also shared they never called about acquiring Henry.)
Of course, it’s possible this is a smokescreen put out by the Titans in order to aid in getting better offers for their players, but if we take this report at face value, it suggests the Titans aren’t likely to do anything.
The Titans are currently sitting at 2-4 and look to be going nowhere this year, so the team would be wise to set itself up for the future by trading whatever it can for draft capital.
It looked like that was the approach Tennessee would take after dealing Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles, but perhaps we were wrong.
The positive of keeping Henry and Hopkins is they will aid in the development of rookie quarterback Will Levis, who would otherwise have lackluster weapons to work with if one or both are dealt.
But Henry is also in the final year of his contract, so the Titans are running the risk of him leaving for nothing. Hopkins, on the other hand, has another year on his deal with Tennessee.
Perhaps things will change if the Titans fall to 2-5 following Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, but right now it appears as if Tennessee will stay the course.
