The Chicago Bears signed safety Kevin Byard to a two-year deal on Sunday. Byard, a former All-Pro safety with the Tennessee Titans, was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles last week. The 30-year-old didn't have to wait very long to find a new team as the Bears will bolster their up-and-coming defense. Byard will help to replace Eddie Jackson, who the team released back in February. Byard logged 122 total tackles and an interception across 16 games in 2023.
Free agent safety Kevin Byard visited with the Chicago Bears on Saturday, and he is expected to visit with another organization on Sunday. Byard, a former first-team All-Pro selection, was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for safety Terrell Edmunds and two late-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. He played in 10 games for Philly, totaling 75 tackles, one interception, and three passes defended. However, the Eagles released him ahead of free agency, meaning he has a head start on the crowded safety market that includes Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, Jamal Adams, and more. Byard's 28 interceptions since entering the NFL in 2016 is the third-most among all players.
The Philadelphia Eagles released safety Kevin Byard on Friday, according to a source. The Eagles acquired Byard from the Tennessee Titans last October in exchange for a fifth- and sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft along with safety Terrell Edmunds. The move to release Byard will free up over $13 million in salary cap space for the 2024 season. In his time with Philadelphia last season, the 30-year-old veteran defensive back had 75 tackles (50 solo), an interception and three passes defensed in 10 regular-season starts. In 16 total games, Byard has a career-high 122 combined tackles. The two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro should be scooped up quickly off the free-agent market this offseason and could be in play in IDP fantasy leagues in 2024.
Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard has been traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The two-time All-Pro has been one of the best defenders on the Titans since he was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. The Eagles will be sending safety Terrell Edmunds plus a fifth- and sixth-round pick in return. The team is currently in a middling state between trying to compete and tanking for some better picks, so this may be the first move to start re-tooling and looking ahead to the future. This reinforces a weakness for the Eagles, as the secondary has been both vulnerable and banged up.
Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard has reportedly refused to take a pay cut. The 29-year-old, who has played his entire career in Tennessee, has amassed 626 total tackles, 27 interceptions, and four sacks (114 games). He's also a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro. Byard is due to make $13.6 million this season. However, with the latest update, his future with the Titans could be in jeopardy. If that's the case, plenty of teams around the NFL would love to add him to the roster.
The Tennessee Titans activated safety Kevin Byard from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday. The timing couldn't have been better for Byard and the Titans, as he was placed on the COVID-19 list at the start of the bye week and didn't have to miss any games. Byard has 64 tackles, five interceptions, a sack, 12 passes defensed, two QB pressures and a forced fumble in 12 games played this season. The 28-year-old will be able to return for a good matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars and rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence this Sunday. Lawrence has thrown 10 interceptions in 12 games and has been sacked 22 times. Coming off their bye, the Titans defense is a top-five fantasy unit in Week 14.
