Why Patriots Should Sign Pro Bowl Defender With Ties To Mike Vrabel

Why Patriots Should Sign Pro Bowl Defender With Ties To Mike Vrabel originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NFL's new league year will kick off on March 11, and the Patriots could be considering adding a new safety to their roster.

Safety Jaylinn Hawkins is about to become a free agent, and if the Patriots don’t re-sign him, they should definitely consider bringing in Kevin Byard.

Byard wrapped up this past season with the Chicago Bears, and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 15th-best safety overall. He earned a 20th-place finish in coverage grade and ranked 24th in run defense.

The 32-year-old safety has been in the NFL since 2016, spending his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans before moving on to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Bears.

Byard is a three-time Pro Bowler, with his latest appearance occurring this past season. He also has a connection to Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Byard played under Vrabel with the Titans from 2018 to 2023.

The Patriots should seriously consider bringing in Byard, though he might be a bit pricey. Spotrac recently listed his market value at $7.8 million per season, which could be quite a bit for a player who will turn 33 this year.

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