One of the premier safeties on the market, Kevin Byard, has secured a new team. The Chicago Bears have signed Byard to a two-year deal, as reported by our insider. The contract is valued at up to $15 million, according to NFL Media.
Byard was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on March 1, shortly after being acquired by Philadelphia via a trade. The Eagles opted for this move as a cost-cutting measure, creating an additional $13 million in cap space.
Chicago gains a highly skilled player in Byard, boasting a resume that includes two All-Pro selections, 28 career interceptions, 33 passes defensed, and 749 tackles. In 2017, he led the NFL with eight interceptions, marking his first All-Pro season.
Byard’s arrival helps fill the void left by former All-Pro Eddie Jackson, who was released on Feb. 15. Jackson is part of a notable group of available safeties, including Jamal Adams, Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and Jordan Whitehead, among others.
The Bears have been generating headlines recently, with rumors circulating about the potential trade of Justin Fields, their 2021 first-round pick. The team is widely expected to select former USC quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.
However, there’s speculation that the Bears might trade the pick to another quarterback-needy team, such as the New England Patriots (holding the No. 3 overall pick), and potentially use the acquired pick to select Marvin Harrison Jr., the top receiver prospect in the draft.
