Tennessee Titans stock up, stock down

As the Tennessee Titans begin new GM Ran Carthon's era, the team is without question in a time of transition. The 2023 season will likely reveal whether Tennessee is rebuilding or simply reloading. Here are four Titans players whose stock is trending either up or down: 

Stock Up

Treylon Burks, WR: Injuries limited Burks to just 11 games as a rookie, but he showed flashes of why the Titans were at peace with trading A.J. Brown to the Eagles last year. Spending the offseason in Nashville adjusting to the weather and getting his asthma under control, Burks showed up for OTAs in better shape than he did last year, stating he can run faster because he can breathe better.

Per NextGen Stats, Burks was among the best receivers last season at separating himself from defenders. His 7.1 average yards of cushion was tied for sixth best. Burks also adds a big-play dynamic that the team desperately needs with Brown no longer in the equation. 

Burks’ 13.5 yards per reception was second-best among Titans receivers with 20 or more receptions last year and his three receptions of 40 yards or more tied him for 16th in the league. The fact that the Titans are content with Kyle Philips, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Racey McMath and Mason Kinsey as the receivers behind Burks likely shows their belief that Burks will have a breakout year.

Elijah Molden, DB: A third-round pick in 2021, Molden missed 15 games last season while battling a groin injury. But now he’s healthy and the Titans could be grooming him to move to a new position. At the start of OTAs, Molden, a natural cornerback who primarily played in nickel packages, was taking snaps at safety.

It could be to bolster the team’s depth at the position, which has been lackluster the past few years. But the optics of it appear to point to a potential parting of ways with All-Pro Kevin Byard. Either way, Molden, wherever he may line up, should be a key part of the secondary in 2023.

Stock Down

Kevin Byard, safety: Make no mistake, Byard is still one of the NFL’s elite safeties. His inclusion here is not performance-related at all. But something just doesn’t sit right about Byard — a player who is all about doing the right thing — no-showing OTAs. And the Titans are now getting a look at Molden, a natural cornerback, at safety? 

The Titans asked Byard to take a pay cut in March, a request that was not met with understanding on his part, and rightfully so. He’s a two-time first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler, he’s had four or more interceptions in five of the past six years and his play isn’t declining. But after asking one of its best players to not be paid like one, Tennessee could be bracing itself to trade Byard.

Malik Willis, QB: Willis failed to make a good impression during his rookie season in which he seemed to struggle with reading defenses and never really advanced much in his development. He was even benched near the end of the year with a playoff spot on the line for Joshua Dobbs, who was signed from the Lions practice squad.

Now with Will Levis the clear future at QB, one has to wonder where Willis’ future will be because it’s likely not in Tennessee. Perhaps he'd be a fit on a team with a declining veteran and in need of a young gunslinger to develop. The Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints or Seattle Seahawks could take a flyer on Willis.