NFL rankings may have just justified one of the Bears’ most questioned offseason decisions
The Chicago Bears took a big risk when they let All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III walk in free agency, but the team is excited about what new safety Coby Bryant can bring in his place.
The Chicago Bears made a head-scratching move earlier this offseason when the team allowed All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III to walk out of the door in free agency and replaced him with former Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his position rankings at safety on Thursday after polling coaches, executives, and scouts around the league and it added some slight justification to that decision.
While Bryant didn’t make the cut in the Top-10, he was still recognized as an honorable mention. Byard was mentioned as well, but lower on the list than Bryant among the players who also received votes. Fowler admitted that Byard deserved more love coming off a season in which he led the NFL in interceptions, but age played a major factor in knocking Byard down the list. Which is also one of the biggest reasons the Bears decided to move on and bring in Bryant.
Replacing Byard with Bryant was a big gamble for the Bears but it will become a worthwhile investment
Don’t get me wrong, Byard is an incredible player and an outstanding leader. He was easily my favorite player on the entire team over the last two years. But, the Bears had an opportunity to get potentially an even better player with a lot more miles on the tire in Bryant.
After four years in Seattle, Bryant is still tapping into his potential at the safety position and was an underrated piece of the team’s Super Bowl-winning defense from last season.
“I love him,” one NFL defensive coordinator said of Bryant. “He’s a corner by trade, so he has good feet and ball skills, but he will hit, too, now.”
On field traits was never a question when weighing the argument between Bryant and Byard. Bryant is a versatile player who better fits what Dennis Allen ideally wants out of the position and his enforcing play-style is already proving to be infectious. The question is whether or not he could replace Byard’s leadership traits. So far, he’s living up to it.
“He’s one of those guys, he knows what good football and bad football looks like,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said. “He just came from a Super Bowl winning team. There’s a premium on that experience. I think that easily resonates with all the guys in the locker room. I think there’s an instant amount of respect that he’s garnered because of that. When you watch him on the practice field, he really comes to life.”
Bryant understands it’s big shoes to fill replacing a guy like Byard in this secondary. The big thing though, is that Bryant isn’t trying to be Byard, he’s just being himself and going about his business the right way. Something that’s already earned respect inside the building after just a few months in Chicago.
“Not to, you know, blow smoke up on myself, but a lot of guys respect me and how I go about myself and how I practice,” Bryant said. “DA, Ben, a lot of guys have commended me on that as well, and I just go out and be the example.”