Music City Miracles
The Tennessee Titans are stuck with Will Levis and Treylon Burks for another season
If the Tennessee Titans had two player-related situations to resolve this offseason, they were Will Levis and Treylon Burks. New general manager Mike Borgonzi inherited Levis from the previous GM (Ran Carthon), and Burks from two GMs (Jon Robinson!) ago. Neither player was projected to make the Titans’ 53-man roster in August.
Both Levis and Burks entered training camp as potential trade bargaining chips. Neither player had a ton of value, but Borgonzi and Chad Brinker are overseeing a “draft and develop” strategy. The more selections, the merrier, and surely both Levis and Burks would have fetched something (draft picks) on the market.
Unfortunately for the Titans, neither Levis or Burks will be traded this offseason. Right before training camp began, Levis allegedly went against team advice and opted for season-ending shoulder surgery. Levis has already been placed on IR. He’ll return to the Titans next offseason in a contract year.
Meanwhile Burks suffered a serious collarbone injury at Saturday’s “Back Together” practice at Nissan Stadium. Burks will be placed on IR this week. The Titans have reportedly already signed his roster replacement, Ramel Keyton, a former Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver.
The timing is awful for Burks. Head coach Brian Callahan had recently praised his work ethic and approach, essentially admitting he was still tempted to see if Burks could reach his first-round potential. The former Arkansas Razorbacks standout was competing for a roster spot with back-end receivers like Bryce Oliver and Xavier Restrepo.
Burks’ injury isn’t season-ending, but it’s likely a multi-month setback. After the Titans place him on IR, they’ll have to utilize one of their “designated to return” spots on the fourth-year wideout if they want to use him at all this campaign. Even if Burks returns to health by the NFL trade deadline, it’s difficult to envision a team offering anything of note for him.
Unlike Levis, Burks is in a contract year. The Titans rightfully declined his fifth-year option earlier this offseason. When Burks departs the Titans in free agency next offseason, perhaps the Titans will gain a compensatory pick, which would make up for losing the opportunity to trade for the disappointing receiver.
