Kevin Byard, Titans Agree to Historic 5-Year Contract Worth Reported $70.5M

Kevin Byard and the Tennessee Titans agreed to a multiyear contract extension Wednesday, the team announced. 

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $70.5 million over five years and makes Byard the highest-paid safety in NFL history.

Though Landon Collins' six-year, $84 million deal with Washington features the most total money among safeties, Byard's average annual value of $14.1 million tops his position. Both Collins and the Kansas City Chiefs' Tyrann Mathieu follow closely behind at $14 million.

Since being drafted in the third round in 2016, Byard has quickly turned himself into one of the NFL's rising stars. He announced his presence in 2017 while piling up 87 tackles and eight interceptions, the latter of which tied for the most in the league. 

Not only did he earn himself a Pro Bowl nod with that performance, but he was selected first-team All-Pro as well.

Last year, he recorded career highs in tackles (90) and sacks (two) while also managing four interceptions and eight passes defensed. According to Pro Football Focus, Byard held opposing quarterbacks to a 55.8 passer rating into his coverage in 2018.

As a result, the 25-year-old continues to be on an upward trajectory:

And just as importantly as his play, he has yet to miss a game through the first three years of his career. He has played in all 50 of Tennessee's games since the start of the 2016 season, playoffs included.

Field Yates of ESPN noted that it has been quite the rise to stardom for the Titans star.

Byard's rookie deal was set to expire following the 2019 season, with a salary of $2 million next season. 

---

On the latest episode of The Lefkoe Show, Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel says he'd easily win a Head Coach Royal Rumble. He brought it 33%! Lefkoe is also joined by Chicago Bears CB Kyle Fuller who is not running from teammate Eddie Jackson's comments that they want to challenge the 1985 Bears defense. In addition to the interviews, Lefkoe talked about the surprise release of Mike Daniels, the top jersey sales in the NFL as well as a story about Bill Belichick.