Player Signing Safety Kevin Byard signs 1 year deal

[hornetfb85]

I have been hearing good things about this year’s safeties in the draft.

Draft Byard’s replacement and season him for a year.

CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Jones
S: Woodson, Byard

Backup to everyone: Treydan Stukes

 

[n1997y]

Look who is interested in coming back..

Two-time Super Bowl champion openly interested in surprising Patriots reunion

Kyle Van Noy didn't shy away from sharing his interest in making a third return to the Patriots this offseason.

musketfire.com

If he has enough left in the tank it’d be nice to have him back, but he would have to be better than the younger alternatives ro make it worth the opportunity cost of not playing younger developmental players.

 

[mayoclinic]

CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Jones
S: Woodson, Byard

Backup to everyone: Treydan Stukes

I predict Stukes would be the second bedt player in that group (after Gonzalez) by 2027.

 

[slash83]

Prob my fav acquisition so far.

 

[Wozzy]

Exactly. Like Bradbury and Moses last year this is a band aid signing. Get a good veteran player to plug a hole while you draft and develop their replacement. And unlike corners safeties can play well in their early 30's. Corners and wide receivers tend to drop off when they hit 30 because they are so reliant on their speed and quickness.

The devil you know...

Byard is a Vrabel guy, he can operate as the QB of the defensive backfield, which was sorely lacking last season. He knows Vrabel's system, he understands where to line everyone else up. Just as important, he can teach all this to Woodson, who has the brains to learn it.

It was very clear last year the defense struggled with knowing assignments in zone coverage, Mike Vrabel actually made a self deprecating joke about it on the radio. Vrabel doesn't know Nick Cross, he knows Byard, and he already knows Jaylin Hawkins is just a quality backup. They can draft a guy for the future to take over after Byard is gone, either in this draft or the next one.

 

[The Gr8est]

I predict Stukes would be the second bedt player in that group (after Gonzalez) by 2027.

How high is he projected to go?

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[Zuma]

That tackle would have made the "Jacked Up" football show that Chris Ethel Merman Berman had.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I would love a LB in the first 3 rds.
Rodriguez, Golday, Louis…..

Wouldn't we all. We have thumpers in Britt and Spillane. Need a sideline to sideline guy. Rodriguez or Louis?

 

[Real fan 02]

If he has enough left in the tank it’d be nice to have him back, but he would have to be better than the younger alternatives ro make it worth the opportunity cost of not playing younger developmental players.

Absolutely.. I don't know if he got some Alex Guerrero or the TB12 plan but he's like our all pro safety in Byard.. those guys got Benjamin Button syndrome and got better with age.. like to have him as a veteran rotational player who's played ball at a high level and has championship pedigree... I do though believe Vrabel is looking for his younger guys in Ponder and Swinson to be in the mix as well.

 

[Real fan 02]

That tackle would have made the "Jacked Up" football show that Chris Ethel Merman Berman had.

Absolutely love this pick up... this feels so much like when we signed Hot rod in 03.. having that All pro at Safety does wonders for the entire defense... can we say we have the best secondary in the league?

 

[Real fan 02]

One year deal. He’s old.

That's an old ALL PRO... to you Mr..

 

[BTTA]

1 out of 3 isn't bad

If he plays 90% as well as he did last year, this is both cheap and a lot better. And he may be better than last year on this defense, and with this coaching staff.

 

[TommyD4207]

That's an old ALL PRO... to you Mr..

This, and it wasn't 'well, he was just an all-pro back in his 20s'

He was an all-pro *last year*.

 

[Betterthanmost]

One of our safeties had a similar shot at the Super Bowl to bring Darnold down and just whiffed. Don’t remember if Hawkins or not.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

I've loved this FA so far... defensive rush. O line. Now the scariest combo in the secondary out there.

All the people who want the splash at the fantasy football positions might/might not get something to root for... I feel like we're building a team to WIN

 

[FCB02062]

great signing if he has a full tank left

 

[Real fan 02]

One of our safeties had a similar shot at the Super Bowl to bring Darnold down and just whiffed. Don’t remember if Hawkins or not.

It was Hawkins.. I have to give props to @Zuma @TommyD4207 as they were both right on us needing to upgrade over Hawkins...

 

[Real fan 02]

This, and it wasn't 'well, he was just an all-pro back in his 20s'

He was an all-pro *last year*.

Absolutely Tommy!!! The more I see his highlights the more I like the player.. having that ball hawk in the second makes the defense so much better..

QBs beware...

 

[TommyD4207]

Absolutely Tommy!!! The more I see his highlights the more I like the player.. having that ball hawk in the second makes the defense so much better..

QBs beware...

Byard was a Vrabel draftee back in the day, started off showing flashes, worked his way into one of the best safeties in the game.

I'm starting to think Vrabel knows how to scout safeties...I dunno...