Bears Rumors: Kevin Byard Visits with Team in NFL Free Agency After Eagles Release

The Chicago Bears hosted veteran safety Kevin Byard on a free-agent visit on Friday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Byard, 30, spent parts of his first eight NFL seasons with the Tennessee Titans before getting traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in October.

After appearing in 10 regular-season games for the Eagles in 2023, Philadelphia released him last week for salary cap relief.

After starring collegiately at Middle Tennessee State, Byard was a third-round pick by the Titans in the 2016 NFL draft.

During his time in Tennessee, Byard established himself as one of the most productive safeties in the NFL, earning to Pro Bowl nods and two First Team All-Pro selections.

From 2017 through 2022, Byard finished with four or more interceptions in a season five times and 80 or more tackles in a season six times.

Arguably his best campaign came in 2017 when he had a career-high eight interceptions and 16 passes defended to go along with 87 tackles and two fumble recoveries.

Byard was nearly as good in 2021, which was his second Pro Bowl and All-Pro season. He finished with 88 tackles, five picks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two touchdowns on the year.

With the Titans struggling last season, they traded him to his hometown team in the Eagles after six games.

Byard went on to appear in 16 games split between the Titans and Eagles in 2023, recording a career-high 122 tackles to go along with one interception, three pass deflections and one fumble recovery.

The Bears have already been hard at work this offseason when it comes to addressing the secondary.

They signed cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a four-year, $76 million contract extension, locking in their corner trio of Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon for the foreseeable future.

Chicago also released veteran safety Eddie Jackson, who was a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time First Team All-Pro during his seven-year run with the Bears.

That leaves the Bears with a huge hole at safety across from 2022 second-round pick Jaquan Brisker, and it is one Byard could fill.

Chicago has one of the youngest and most talented secondaries in the league, but adding a veteran like Byard would bring in some much-needed experience.