Tag: Kevin Byard

Jaquan Brisker organizing offseason workout with Bears secondary

Matt Eberflus says Jaquan Brisker is orchestrating a workout with the Bears defense in California.

It’s common practice for NFL players to enjoy the extended time off following yet another physically taxing season.

They’ll often make sure they stay in shape by participating in individual workouts before reporting to their team’s headquarters for the start of the offseason program in April and voluntary OTAs in May, taking their first step toward getting ready for the next season.

Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker didn’t want to wait that long. Brisker invited the entire secondary to work out with him in California, with head coach Matt Eberflus saying the safety is getting everyone together “as we speak.”

Eberflus also noted that he’s excited for longtime Titans safety Kevin Byard to join the defense this year — a unit that many project to be one of the NFL’s more formidable squads next season.

The players, coaches and front office are saying and doing all the right things this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles had made several smart and integral offseason signing and brought a decisive end to the Justin Fields-Caleb Williams debate, sending him to Pittsburgh; Eberflus is beginning to win the favor of the fans by being so involved in several pivotal moves in the last couple of months, and locker room leaders like Brisker are making the extra effort to build chemistry and allow new guys, like Byard, to get extra time with his new teammates.

It’s been a productive offseason so far, with even more firepower coming in the NFL draft in just under a month.

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Bears signing former All-Pro S Kevin Byard to 2-year deal

According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, the Bears are signing former All-Pro safety Kevin Byard.

The Chicago Bears are signing former All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to a 2-year deal, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, after visiting the team a day earlier. The deal is worth $15 million.

Byard is a nine-year veteran who burst onto the scene with the Tennessee Titans and became one of the league’s best safeties during the end of the 2010s and early 2020s.

Byard was drafted by the Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft and exploded during his second season when he had eight interceptions, which led to him earning All-Pro honors. He continued to be one of the better safeties in the game, totaling 27 interceptions in eight seasons. Last year, Byard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in hopes of boosting their injury-depleted secondary. He combined for just one interception and three pass breakups to go along with 122 total tackles in 2023.

Now, Byard joins the Bears and takes over for Eddie Jackson, who was released last month. He is set to play next to Jaquan Brisker, giving Chicago another veteran defensive back to round out their secondary.

Bears signing ex-Titans S Kevin Byard to 2-year deal

The Bears are reportedly signing former Titans safety Kevin Byard to a two-year deal.

Former Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard has reportedly found a new home with the Chicago Bears in free agency.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Byard is signing a two-year deal with the Bears that is worth a base of $15 million.

Byard was originally drafted by the Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft and became one of the better players in the league at his position over seven-plus seasons in Tennessee.

But Byard struggled mightily in 2023, especially after being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, which led to his being released by Philly earlier this month.

The Middle Tennessee State product surrendered a completion rate of 74.6% and a passer rating of 102.1 over 16 games. The completion rate was the worst of his career and the passer rating was second-worst.

While he may not be what he once was, I do think Byard still has something left in the tank and can be an asset to an emerging Bears defense that will benefit from his veteran savvy and strong leadership.

And, Chicago is going to be getting a player who will have a massive chip on his shoulder after what was an ugly tenure in Philly.

The Titans will now see Byard this coming season, as Tennessee is scheduled to travel to Chicago for a game in 2024.

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Bears sign former Eagles safety Kevin Byard to a 2-year, $15 million deal

The hunt for compensatory picks has begin, and Philadelphia is up one after Kevin Byard agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with the Chicago Bears.

The hunt for compensatory picks has begun, and Philadelphia is up one after Kevin Byard agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with the Chicago Bears.

The Bears moved on from Eddie Jackson, and with new defensive coordinator Eric Washington wanting to play a specific style, the team hosted Byard on a two-day visit.

According to PFF, Byard was the 23rd highest-graded safety in the NFL and finished the year with career highs in tackles (122) and solo tackles (80) in 16 regular-season games.

Byard began the year with the Titans before being traded to the Eagles.

Despite playing only ten games for Philadelphia, Byard finished fourth in tackles, recording 75 after the move.

Philadelphia could have negotiated a restructured or reworked deal, but the $14 million cap hit was too high for a player who made no game-changing plays during his stint.

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Bears hosted former Eagles DB Kevin Byard on a visit ahead of NFL free agency

The Chicago Bears hosted Philadelphia Eagles free agent safety Kevin Byard on a visit

The Bears moved on from Eddie Jackson, and with new defensive coordinator Eric Washington wanting to play a certain style, the team is hosting Kevin Byard on a visit.

Byard was the 23rd highest graded safety in the NFL according to PFF, and finished the year with career highs in tackles (122) and solo tackles (80) in 16 regular-season games.

Byard began the year with the Titans before being traded to the Eagles.

Despite playing only ten games for Philadelphia, Byard finished fourth in tackles, recording 75 after the move.

Philadelphia could have negotiated a restructured or reworked deal, but the $14 million cap hit was too high for a player who made no game-changing plays during his stint.

Bears hosted ex-Titans S Kevin Byard for free-agent visit

The Bears reportedly hosted ex-Titans safety Kevin Byard for a free-agent visit.

Former Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard is looking for a new home after the Philadelphia Eagles cut him recently, but it appears at least one suitor has emerged for his services.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chicago Bears hosted Byard on a free-agent visit on Friday. This is the first known visit for Byard since he hit the open market.

The Titans traded Byard to the Eagles prior to last year’s deadline and received two draft picks plus fellow safety Terrell Edmunds in a trade Tennessee no doubt won.

Byard was having a rough season to begin with while with the Titans, but things only got worse for him in Philly. After that, it was a foregone conclusion that Byard and his hefty salary would get cut.

The Titans will definitely be sticking their toe in the safety market, but how much they do at the position remains to be seen.

We know Tennessee has one locked-in starter with Amani Hooker, but it isn’t clear if the team views 2021 third-round pick Elijah Molden as the other.

If not, the Titans will have a plethora of options to choose from in what is a robust free-agent market at the position. Byard is among those options, but I wouldn’t count on him returning to Nashville.

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Available free agent safeties for the Broncos in 2024

Here is a list of 15 free agent safeties the Broncos should consider this offseason.

After listing notable free-agent defensive linemen yesterday, we’re looking at free-agent safety options for the Denver Broncos today.

Justin Simmons is one of the best safeties in the league, but his former partner, Kareem Jackson, is no longer on the team. Caden Sterns might be a candidate to start across from Simmons in 2024, but Sterns has missed 28 games due to injury over the last two seasons.

In case Sterns is not able to stay on the field, Denver needs another starting-caliber safety on the roster.

One big name to keep an eye on is C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who drew interest from the Broncos during free agency last year. Denver also has a notable in-house free agent safety in P.J. Locke who is scheduled to hit the open market if the Broncos do not re-sign him before March 13.

So, with free agency about a week away, here’s a quick list of 15 free-agent safeties that Denver should consider signing this spring.

Titans Twitter reacts to Kevin Byard being released by Eagles

How Titans Twitter reacted to the news that the Eagles are releasing safety Kevin Byard.

The Kevin Byard era with the Philadelphia Eagles will reportedly be short-lived, as the team is releasing the veteran safety ahead of free agency.

The news comes from ESPN’s Adam Schefter and comes as zero surprise considering Byard’s 2024 cap hit and his lackluster play over 11 games (including playoffs) with Philly.

Byard was dealt to the Eagles right before last year’s trade deadline, which netted the Titans a fifth- and sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, plus fellow safety Terrell Edmunds.

Byard was already having a rough year in coverage in Tennessee, but things got worse with the Eagles, with Byard giving up a completion rate of 75.6% and a passer rating of 103.3.

While the Titans were criticized for the return they got for the franchise great, I think it’s now safe to say Tennessee won the trade. However, nobody should be bragging after Philly fleeced the Titans far more in the A.J. Brown deal.

The Titans could use another safety in 2024, with Amani Hooker being the only surefire starter at the position, but a reunion would heavily depend on what Byard will be looking for in a new contract.

I would guess that Byard doesn’t end up back in Nashville, but never say never. Now, a look at how Titans Twitter reacted.

Eagles release Kevin Byard ahead of NFL free agency

Philadelphia Eagles to release Kevin Byard at start of NFL Free Agency

In a move that has been expected and will save Philadelphia millions, the Eagles are releasing safety Kevin Byard.

Byard had a 2024 salary cap hit of $14,417,088, and the cost cutting measure will save Philadelphia $14,070,588, with a dead cap hit of $346,500.

Byard was the 23rd highest graded safety in the NFL according to PFF, and finished the year with career highs in tackles (122) and solo tackles (80) in 16 regular-season games.

Byard began the year with the Titans before being traded to the Eagles.

Despite playing only 10 games for Philadelphia, Byard finished fourth on the team in tackles, recording 75 after the move.

Philadelphia could have negotiated a restructure or reworked deal, but the $14 million cap hit was to high for a player that made no game changing plays during his stint.

With the Eagles moving on from Byard, that’ll leave just two safeties on the looming 90 man roster.

Eagles’ biggest draft needs as the NFL Combine gets underway

We’re looking at the Philadelphia Eagles biggest draft needs with the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine underway from Indianapolis

The Eagles are set for wholesale changes.

GM Howie Roseman retools the roster following Philadelphia’s historic collapse, finishing the season 1-6 after a 10-1 start.

The first domino to fall is All-Pro center Jason Kelce’s decision on his future, 36, who reportedly told his teammates he is retiring after 13 seasons with the Eagles but may now be having a change of heart.

Brandon Graham, who turns 36 in April, says he wants to return to the Eagles for one more final season, his 15th, and he’s one of the few guys on the roster deserving of writing his final script.

We’re looking at Philadelphia’s most significant needs with the scouting combine off and running.