After getting cut by the Eagles last week, Kevin Byard is considering sticking in the NFC. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears hosted the safety on a visit yesterday.
[RELATED: Eagles To Release S Kevin Byard]
The former Titans star was traded to the Eagles back in October, with Philly sending safety Terrell Edmunds plus a fifth- and sixth-round pick to Tennessee. Byard started all 10 of his appearances for his new squad, compiling 75 tackles and one interception. He also started the Eagles’ lone playoff game, compiling five stops. Pro Football Focus ended up grading Byard 23rd among 95 qualifying safeties last season, including one of the top positional grades for his run defense.
Despite the production, Byard was cut by the Eagles earlier this month. The safety was set to earn $14.1MM in 2024, and his release ended up saving the Eagles $13MM against the cap.
The Middle Tennessee product made a name for himself with the Titans, evolving from a third-round pick into an All-Pro safety. Byard earned a number of accolades during his time with the organization, and he even led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2017. When his Titans career came to an end last season, the 30-year-old ranked top-five on the franchise’s tackles and interceptions leader board.
The Bears are looking for a replacement for their star safety Eddie Jackson, who was released by the organization in February. The team started adding some depth at the position this week, adding Tarvarius Moore to the mix in the secondary.
Wonder if they’ll sign a young and upcoming FS like Stone from the Ravens or just a short contract for a mercenary vet? Jaylon is now the elder statesman of the secondary now with Eddie gone and he’s only 24!
Safety is the last thing we need to be spending big on. Spend on the trenches and a slot WR. We’re ridiculously thin at WR and whoever we have at QB next year they need a few competent WRs and there’s no guarantee that a rookie WR will work out. Add a center and tackle. Then our big dollar move should be Hunter or Wilkins to firm up the Dline.
After the disaster that was Kevin White the Bears are probably a bit gun shy about using a 1st round pick on a WR.
IIRC, Kevin White was injured before the draft and the Bears ignored it, that is why they failed on that one.
I concur though, a new QB for this Bears team does not make them winners next year, if anything they take a step back (massively, if the QB they pick busts).
I think its far more productive for Poles to move the pick, get a crapload in return and then finish the rest of the team with Quality and depth, after seeing that eye watering contract for that DT Jones, the Bears should not be trying to spend their way into competition yet, they still have a LOT of holes, particularly in the trenches on both sides of the ball, however, I dont think the Bears should move much farther so they can get a guy like MHJ (who rates higher than Williams on some draft boards). However if they decide on best package and move to mid top ten they should be able to get a stud LT, WR or Edge in the first, and hopefully a second rounder this year (in trade) to get either a center or Edge rusher.Then if the team they trade with is just as bad as Carolina was last season then they likely have another high 1st rounder next season as well.
It’s very unlike Poles to consider any player at his age. Maybe it’s a 2 year offer and they draft one to develop…
With a glut of safeties available I’m sure Poles has a $ cap space in mind and is inquiring as to who will bite first.
Byaud checks the most boxes of the many veteran safeties looking for new homes. He’s a high character player that would pair well with Brisker at about half the cost (projected 2yr/$14M) of BoJack. He would be a scheme fit whose been very productive every year of his career. Byaud is also an Ironman, rarely if ever missing a game with injury.
Importantly to their FA plans, Byaud can be signed before the FA period starts, not part of compensatory formula. That adds cost certainty at their barest position (FS) before they prepare a huge offer to their big fish target (Wilkins?). Poles might even try to play the comp pick game, saving their cap space for next year by holding off signing anyone of note until after the draft, acquiring instead through trade (eg, Keenan Allen) and hoping Mooney, Iggy, and their FAs sign elsewhere.