Pats Pulpit
Equipped with lesser resources, the New England Patriots did not go on a free agency spending spree in 2026 quite like the one they embarked upon in 2025. That being said, they were still able to make some splash signings that should have an immediate impact on the team and its outlook for the upcoming season.
Kevin Byard certainly qualifies for that status. The NFL’s interceptions leader in 2025 and a first-team All-Pro, Byard is one of the most experienced and productive safeties in football. New England signing him to a one-year, $7 million deal to reunite him with head coach Mike Vrabel was therefore no surprise — even though it effectively disqualified fellow free agent and former starting safety Jaylinn Hawkins from returning for a third season.
As for Byard, he should become a core piece of the Patriots defense both on and off the field right out of the gate.
Name: Kevin Byard III
Position: Safety
Jersey number: 31
Opening day age: 33 (8/17/1993)
Measurements: 5’11 1/4”, 218 lbs, 33 1/2” arm length, 9 7/8” hand size, 4.46s 40-yard dash, 4.15s short shuttle, 6.73s 3-cone drill, 38” vertical jump, 9’0” broad jump, 22 bench press reps, 7.84 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: Tennessee Titans (2016-23), Philadelphia Eagles (2023), Chicago Bears (2024-25), New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Middle Tennessee State (2011-15)
A three-phase standout at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Lithonia, GA, Byard entered the college ranks as a two-star recruit. He eventually ended up at Middle Tennessee State, where he appeared in 49 career games and had a hand in 25 turnovers. He ended up leaving the Blue Raiders in 2016 as the school’s all-time leader in multiple categories, including career interceptions (19) and interception return touchdowns (4), and a two-time first-team All-C-USA selection (2014, 2015).
His success at the college level put Byard on the NFL’s radar and he became the fifth safety of the board in the 2016 NFL Draft. Selected 64th overall in the third round by the Titans, he became a critical part of Tennessee’s defense for several years. In total, he spent seven and a half seasons in Nashville, and earned multiple accolades as well as, presumably, a future spot in the organization’s Ring of Honor.
And yet, Byard was traded to Philadelphia during the 2023 season. He picked up right where he left off but after the end of the year was released by the Eagles — a move that set the stage for a career renaissance of sorts in Chicago: over two seasons with the Bears, Byard continued to show why he is one of the premier players his position has to offer in the NFL.
In total, Byard has played in 164 regular season games and 10 playoff contests. The three-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler has reeled in a total of 37 interceptions — he led the league in picks in 2017 and 2025 — and forced four fumbles with six...
