Grading the Bears' Signing of Safety Kevin Byard

The Chicago Bears have made the first big splash of 2024 NFL Free Agency with the signing of former two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to a two-year, $15 million deal.

Byard visited with the Bears on Saturday, leading to speculation that Chicago had identified him as their preferred replacement for Eddie Jackson. One day later, Byard is a Chicago Bear.

The 2024 free-agent safety market is a saturated one, headlined by Xavier McKinney, the younger and likely more expensive New York Giants star. Byard was expected to choose his next team quickly and ahead of the race to a big contract, and that's exactly what he did.

Byard, 31, brings a history of elite ball production at a team-friendly cost. He led the NFL in interceptions in 2017 with eight and has had at least four or more interceptions in five of his eight seasons in the league. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Tennessee Titans before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. The Eagles released him earlier this month.

Kevin Byard is an obvious fit for Matt Eberflus's style of defense, which prioritizes turnovers and ball production. Few safeties have as many interceptions on their resumes as Byard does (28 career INTs), and his veteran leadership will pay dividends for the Bears' young defensive backfield.

It's difficult not to love this signing. Sure, there's a part of me that would've preferred a younger player who could conceivably be around for four or five years, but safety is becoming something of the new running back position; it's an interchangeable spot that can be filled by a mix of veterans on reasonable contracts and players selected in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft.

Kevin Byard is a logical choice for this Chicago Bears team, one that's on the cusp of having a top-tier defense in 2024. He'll take advantage of the rushed pass attempts caused by Montez Sweat, and he'll be a great mentor for Jaquan Brisker.

I won't give the signing a straight A, because, again, I would've preferred more youth. But the history of production combined with a contract that is half the annual average salary Eddie Jackson was being paid results in a fantastic move by general manager Ryan Poles.

GRADE: A-