Chicago Bears agree to a 2-year deal with former All-Pro Kevin Byard ahead of free agency
The Chicago Bears have made another splash signing before the free agency period officially begins this coming week. According to Josina Anderson, the Bears have signed free agent safety and former All-Pro Kevin Byard to a 2-year deal. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Byard's deal will be worth a base of $15 million. The Bears officially […]
The Chicago Bears have made another splash signing before the free agency period officially begins this coming week.
According to Josina Anderson, the Bears have signed free agent safety and former All-Pro Kevin Byard to a 2-year deal. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Byard's deal will be worth a base of $15 million.
The Bears officially met with Byard at the start of the weekend and swiftly moved to snatch him off the market before the start of free agency.
Byard spent the end of the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Eagles after being traded from the Tennessee Titans prior to the trade deadline. The Eagles released Byard from his contract following the end of the season.
The former All-Pro set a career-high 122 tackles in 2023 while playing with the Eagles and Titans. Byard will bring a veteran presence back to the Bears' secondary after the team moved on from former All-Pro Eddie Jackson a few weeks back.
Bears' head coach Matt Eberflus stated he was looking for a veteran safety to pair with Jaquan Brisker at the position while offering experience to the younger players in the secondary. Eberflus also wanted a player with strong ball skills who could create turnovers down the field.
Byard checks all of those boxes by having the second-most interceptions and most pass deflections since 2017. He will also be 31-years-old at the start of the 2024 season and his experience as a former All-Pro will be more than beneficial to the unit.
This is now the third signing the Bears have made to the secondary this offseason after working out an extension with Pro Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson and adding defensive back Tarvarius Moore a few days ago. The unit was clearly a major point of emphasis for the Bears' front office and now the unit that was tied for the most interceptions in 2023 gets even more pieces for the future.
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