The possibility for Kevin Byard to return to the Titans after getting released by the Eagles
Two-time Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. The veteran was a victim of salary cap cuts. Byard was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Eagles during the 2023 season. The Eagles' decision to cut Byard was hardly surprising. Byard, who will turn 31 before the 2024 season […]
Two-time Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. The veteran was a victim of salary cap cuts.
Byard was traded from the Tennessee Titans to the Eagles during the 2023 season.
The Eagles' decision to cut Byard was hardly surprising. Byard, who will turn 31 before the 2024 season starts, carried a cap hit of $14.4 million for next season. Releasing Byard saves the Eagles $13.7 million in cap space while facing just a $711,000 dead cap hit.
As soon as the news broke, Titans fans started pondering if a return to Nashville could be possible for Byard.
I wouldn't call a return to the Titans "likely" for Byard, but it does make some sense.
The Titans have a need at safety as Elijah Molden doesn't appear to be the answer opposite Amani Hooker (Hooker, by the way, has missed 12 games over the last two seasons). Molden is more of a rotational player.
Bringing Byard back would give the Titans a veteran presence in the secondary that could split some time with Molden.
There's also the fact that Steve Jackson is serving as the Titans' secondary/safeties coach in 2024 under new head coach Brian Callahan. Jackson was the Titans' assistant defensive backs coach in 2016 and 2017 — Byard's first two years in the NFL. Despite the regime change in Nashville, Byard would have familiarity with his position coach if he returned to Tennessee.
Byard wasn't the same dynamic player in Philadelphia last season that he was in the past with the Titans. Some of that can obviously be attributed to age. Some of it, however, can be attributed to the Eagles' defensive struggles in general and lack of continuity with the defensive coaching staff (the Eagles changed defensive play callers in December).
If Byard wants to return to Nashville on a team-friendly contract, a reunion with the Titans could be a realistic possibility. But if Byard wants to test the free agent market to maximize his earnings, he probably won't be donning a Titans uniform in 2024.
ESPN says Tennessee Titans should sign 2023 Pro Bowler in free agency
Solid player that would be a great addition in Nashville
