The first free agent addition by the Bears was former Titans and Eagles safety Kevin Byard.
The Bears and Byard agreed to a 2-year, $15 million deal to land the former All-Pro safety in the Windy City.
Byard has played eight NFL seasons since being a third-round selection by the Titans in 2016.
His first seven-and-a-helf seasons were spent with the Titans, where he earned All-Pro honors after the 2017 and 2021 seasons. Byard was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during November’s trade deadline. Byard played in 10 games for Philadelphia before they released him in a way to address their salary cap, saving the Eagles $13 million heading into 2024.
Between the two teams, Byard totaled 122 tackles, three passes defended, and one interception during the 2023 regular and postseason. 75 of those tackles came in his 10 games with Philadelphia, but the Eagles' defense crumbled down the stretch, leading to a Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Byard will project to be a starter in Chicago, providing an upgrade in an already good secondary with the Bears looking to make more additions to both the offense and defense with their $60 million of effective salary cap.
Chicago created a hole in safety following their release of Eddie Jackson weeks prior.
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