The Kevin Byard Question
March 2nd, 2024
Veteran safety Kevin Byard.
So yesterday Joe got hit with questions on social media about a veteran safety who is now on the streets.
Joe was finishing up in Indianapolis and then flying back to Tampa Bay (Joe hopes he’s had his last taste of winter until next February in Indianapolis) so Joe wasn’t able to pound out a story or answer many questions.
Of course, the name “Kevin Byard” makes Joe smile. But when a playoff team waves goodbye to a veteran on the first day of March, that’s a red flag.
Byard is on the wrong side of 30 now. He once was excellent, an All-Pro safety as recently as 2021. But last year Byard was traded for a throwaway fifth-round pick (!) and some four months later he’s out of work.
To his credit, Byard is dependable as hell. He’s missed one start in the last seven years. That’s just incredible endurance, RondĂ© Barber-like.
Also, last year Byard had his fewest passes defensed of his career (three). That’s sort of a tipoff that Father Time either has caught up with him or is tapping on his shoulder.
Joe gets the sense from talking to Bucs people the past few days (ahem) that the Bucs just may go internal to fill Ryan Neal’s position. It seems like the Bucs may give Christian Izien or Kaevon Merriweather a spin there.
But would Joe be upset if the Bucs got Byard to sign on the cheap? No. Maybe there is some juice left to squeeze. The fact Byard rarely misses a game is enough for Joe to give the veteran a look-see.
(Joe would take a flier on Byard before Todd Bowles draft pick Marcus Maye, who the slimy Saints released yesterday. Maye will be 31 next week and he’s missed as many games as he has played the past two seasons.)
March 2nd, 2024 at 8:22 am
Sure, create a mini-combine between Neal and Byard. 🙂 Whoever runs the faster 40 wins the job! I wonder what their 40 times would be?
March 2nd, 2024 at 8:24 am
I’d prefer to stay younger/faster…..
March 2nd, 2024 at 8:50 am
Nice find Joe. Byard played 8 years with Tennessee, and was All-Pro twice (2017 & 2021). The only game he missed looks like it was in the move from Tennessee to Philly. Had 2 years that really stand out: (1) 2017 when he had 8 INTs & 16 PDs; and (2) 2021 when he had 5 INTs & 13 PDs. THAT’S impressive.
Looks like Eagles released him because of his salary. He was making about $12.5 mil, but by releasing him the Eagles cleared $13.7 mil of salary CAP space. New guy lost out.
Kinda doubt though that the Bucs would be able to ‘sign him on the cheap’. After his initial contract, Titans signed him to a 5-year $70 mil contract, then to a 2-year $25 mil contract. Doesn’t sound like the kind of player who works for pennies.
March 2nd, 2024 at 8:54 am
No way.
Just go back to Mike Edwards or Jordan Whitehead, or even Ryan Neal before them too to be honest because he definitely improved as the year went on.
March 2nd, 2024 at 9:17 am
I didn’t notice any improvement in Neal. It seemed like he was always chasing guys into the end zone.
March 2nd, 2024 at 9:25 am
I would rather have Jordan Whitehead back on a cheap 2-3 year deal.
March 2nd, 2024 at 9:32 am
I think Whitehead is the best option for us. Would love to have a solid performer that’s familiar with the defense.
March 2nd, 2024 at 9:49 am
No.
March 2nd, 2024 at 10:09 am
Whitehead or Edwards seems like a step in the right direction.
Then add a rookie
March 2nd, 2024 at 10:32 am
Bring back whitehead use izien and merriweather as rotational players!
March 2nd, 2024 at 11:20 am
Want Byard part of the eagles secondary that had no interest in tackling down the stretch this year? Wasn’t it about the time Philly picked him up when their defense went to crap? Hard pass
March 2nd, 2024 at 2:22 pm
I was pleased, when last year players were picked who didn’t (unlike the year before) have an injury history. It seemed to work out for the most part. I would also love to see Whitehead and Edwards back, but I consider that unrealistic.
March 2nd, 2024 at 2:41 pm
Izien would seem like a natural fit at safety, but it would stink to lose depth at corner, in particular as people seem eager to get rid of one of the starters.
March 2nd, 2024 at 5:10 pm
They’re looking for an upgrade, not a warm body.
March 2nd, 2024 at 5:13 pm
Rod Munch Says:
March 2nd, 2024 at 2:41 pm
Izien is a safety who plays nickel. He was a safety at Rutgers and he’s a safety on our roster (buccaneers.com). He doesn’t line up outside, so he’s never been a part of our CB depth anyway.
March 2nd, 2024 at 5:50 pm
Pass, Philly saw he was washed up.
March 2nd, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Trey Palmer made him look like a fool in the playoff game with very little effort…he’s done.
March 2nd, 2024 at 11:32 pm
No!! Dude is cooked