It?s out with one former Pro Bowl safety and in with another for the Chicago Bears. Just days after hosting former Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans free safety Kevin Byard for a visit to Halas Hall, the Bears have inked the 30-year-old veteran to a new deal.
?Source: The #Bears are signing All-Pro S Kevin Byard to a 2-year deal worth $15M base,? NFL Network?s Ian Rapoport reported in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on March 10.
Byard, not losing sight of the moment, responded with a fitting message: Bear and down emojis.
Kevin Byard Sends Message After Signing With Bears Ahead of Free Agency
Bears Going from Pro Bowler to Pro Bowler
???
— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) March 10, 2024
The Bears had $63.5 million in cap space before this deal, per Spotrac.
Byard recorded a career-high 122 total tackles last season, adding three deflections, one interception, and one fumble recovery. He has logged 100-plus tackles in three of the past four seasons. He’s also had a missed tackle rate below 4% in four of the past five, per Pro Football Reference.
Former teammate and current Bears defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker certainly approved, posting a picture of himself and Byard asking for an updated version.
? ?? i need this in Bears uniform https://t.co/Nw1GZsioTM pic.twitter.com/pTbRfp8v3u
— DeMarcus Walker (@livinglegend_44) March 10, 2024
The Titans selected the 5-foot-11 defensive back in the third-round pick (No. 64 overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Byard is a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection, last earning both honors in 2021.
He will now look to replace Eddie Jackson, 30, whom the Bears drafted in the fourth round with the No. 112 overall pick in 2017. Jackson was a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro. But the Bears saved $12.5 million against the cap by cutting him.
Jackson ? the 2023 Jeff Dickerson Good Guy Award recipient ? was set to count for north of $18 million against the cap in 2024. Pro Football Reference credits the former Bear with better pass coverage over their careers.
He?s also posted double-digit missed tackle rates in all but one of his six NFL seasons.
Jackson has also battled injuries throughout his career, including this past season. He has appeared in 12 games in each of the last two seasons and has not played a full slate of games since 2020 with just two such seasons in his career.
Byard, by comparison, has yet to miss a game in his career, though he did not become a full-time starter until his second season.
Jackson has been a starter from Day 1, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors as a rookie.
Bears? Offseason Plan Gaining Clarity
Byard?s addition takes one need off the board for the Bears. They still have 2022 draft pick Elijah Hicks on the roster. 2023 rookie cornerback Terell Smith also has the skill set to transition to safety. Combined with the current trends around the decision at quarterback, the Bears? offseason plan is becoming clearer.
The idea that the Bears could keep Fields and whomever they draft at No. 1 overall ? presumably Caleb Williams ? was broached internally earlier in the offseason.
It may have seemed far-fetched. But the Bears could be forced into that reality if the market for Fields continues to underwhelm. Their patience could always pay off, though.
Especially when one or more teams inevitably miss out on their top targets this offseason.