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 on Friday.
The former Titans star was traded to the Eagles in October, with Philly sending safety Terrell Edmunds plus a fifth- and a 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, the Eagles cut Byard earlier this month. The safety was set to earn $14.1M in 2024, and his release saved the Eagles $13M 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 many accolades during his time with the organization and even led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2017. When his Titans career ended last season, the 30-year-old ranked in the top five on the franchise’s tackles and interceptions leaderboard.
The Bears are looking for a replacement for their star safety, Eddie Jackson, who the organization released in February. The team added some depth at the position this week, adding Tarvarius Moore to the mix in the secondary.
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