Safety could be a need for the Houston Texans in free agency, but one of the top names is already off the market.
Former Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard and the Chicago Bears agreed to terms on a two-year, $15 million deal, according to reports. He's expected will replace longtime starter Eddie Jackson, whom the team released this offseason.
Byard, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles midseason, used to terrorize the Texans as one of the league's top roaming safeties for eight seasons in Nashville. His 28 interceptions are the fourth-most among active safeties, trailing only Harrison Smith, Tyrann Mathieu, and Justin Simmons.
Chicago was looking to upgrade off the Alabama defensive back following a solid season from Jaquan Brisker. Drafted out of Penn State, Brisker has been known for his "hammer" style of play, meaning Matt Eberflus was in the market for someone who could play sideline to sideline with a low missed tackle rate.
That seems to fit for Byard, who's coming off a career-high 122 tackle season between Nashville and Philadelphia. The 30-year-old did not face Houston last season given the schedule, but in 14 career games, he recorded two interceptions and seven pass breakups.
Scouts believe that while there's talent in the upcoming safety class, free agency might be a better path if looking for a starter. No safety has a first-round grade by any draft analyst, with Minnesota's Tyler Nubin being the consensus top name as a mid-second-round pick.
Even with Byard off the market, the Texans have options across the board. Simmons recently was released by the Denver Broncos due to cap concerns. Xavier McKinney and Kamer Curl are younger options with versatility. Quandre Diggs, a native of Houston was released by the Seattle Seahawks but still provides value as an interception machine.
Jimmie Ward was stable on the back end in his first season with Houston while healthy, but he also missed seven games and ended the year on the injured reserve. Jalen Pitre recorded five interceptions as a rookie, but was inconsistent in coverage under DeMeco Ryans' defense, leading to an eventual benching in Week 15.
Ryans, who helped Houston win its first AFC South title in four years, mentioned during the NFL Scouting Combine that the safety position needed more consistency in Year 2.
"We've just got to find a way to stay healthy at the safety spot and just find a way to stay consistent so no matter who's back there it's just being consistent," Ryans said.
Pitre, who played STAR under Dave Aranda's defense at Baylor, could move down to play a bigger nickel role while rotating in at strong safety. Ward also has experience in the slot and could be asked to move closer to the line of scrimmage if looking to expand his role.
Other potential safety options include Seattle's Jamal Adams, Jacksonville's Rayshawn Jenkins, New York's Jordan Whitehead and Buffalo's Jordan Poyer, among others.
More must-reads: