The Chicago Bears made a lot of excellent moves during the 2024 NFL offseason. General manager Ryan Poles did a great job of bolstering the supporting cast around quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, if there is one move they will soon come to regret, it was the signing of safety Kevin Byard.
Adding a veteran to what was a much-improved defense in the second half of 2023 makes sense. The Chicago Bears are looking to continue their climb out of the rebuild and adding veterans to the mix will help.
Alas, Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report believes that signing Kevin Byard is a move they will have buyer’s remorse about. His performance has fallen off, as he allowed an opposing passer rating of 102.1 last season in coverage.
“…Therefore, signing safety Kevin Byard to a two-year, $15 million deal just didn’t make a lot of sense. Byard, who will turn 31 in August, isn’t the same player he once was and would be far better suited as a depth player on a roster ready to contend right away,” Knox wrote.
That certainly isn’t a bargain bin number that the Chicago Bears signed Kevin Byard at. With that kind of salary, it would be safe to say that Byard will slide right into the starting lineup, likely in place of Eddie Jackson.
Chicago released Jackson, who was a pricey veteran and replaced him with another. It is certainly a questionable decision, as the Bears could have been better off keeping Jackson, who had been with the franchise for the last seven seasons.
With a boatload of cap space, the Chicago Bears could have made a splash at safety, pursuing someone such as Xavier McKinney. They opted to go in a different direction, as McKinney landed with their NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers.
If there is one thing they can count on from Kevin Byard at least it is durability. He will be in the lineup every week, as he has not missed a game in his NFL career since being selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Do you want the latest news, updates, and rumors surrounding all sports? Click here. Make sure to check out our sister sites as well: NFL Analysis Network, NBA Analysis Network, Packers Coverage.
