Kevin Byard isn’t regarded as the best safety in the NFL for no reason.
Byard was a key part of the defense when the Tennessee Titans made a run for the Super Bowl this past year, and has been a consistent factor over the past three seasons.
So it’s no surprise he landed a place as one of Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded safeties since 2017, posting an overall grade of 90.9.
That put him at fourth on the list behind the Minnesota Vikings’ Harrison Smith (92.2) and Anthony Harris (92.1), and Earl Thomas of the Baltimore Ravens (91.1).
Here’s a complete look.
Highest graded safeties 2017-2019
1. Harrison Smith – 92.2
2. Anthony Harris – 92.1
3. Earl Thomas III – 91.1
4. Kevin Byard – 90.9 pic.twitter.com/L6p5XmrrVw— PFF (@PFF) March 13, 2020
In 2019, Byard posted 84 tackles, nine passes defensed and five interceptions.
Over four years with the Titans, Byard has racked up 319 tackles, three sacks, 37 passes defensed and 17 interceptions.
Things may be a bit different with Tennessee’s defense with the departure of Dean Pees and the team naming no defensive coordinator in his place, but we can bet one thing that will remain the same is Byard’s level of dominance within the secondary.