Kevin Byard restructured his contract with the Tennessee Titans and is back prior training camp, despite trade rumors earlier this offseason with the two-time All-Pro free safety.
Back in March, the Titans asked the 29-year-old to take a pay cut, and once he declined that led to speculation that he would possibly get traded or cut due to cap space. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he reported that the veteran was at “a crossroads” with the organization.
However late last month, the two-time Pro Bowler said during a podcast appearance that he and the Titans were “in a good place,” leading to a renegotiation of his current deal. But some movement came through once star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins signed with the team last week, most likely helping the negotiations with incentives.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Byard has agreed to terms on a restructured deal. He’ll now make $11 million in base salary with incentives that can get him back to the $14 million he was originally owed.
The former third-round pick from Middle Tennessee State back in 2016 has been a revelation for the Titans, as he is acknowledged by many as a top-ten, even top-five safety overall in the NFL. Back in July 2019, Byard signed a five-year, $70.5 million deal to make him the highest-paid safety at the time.
According to Spotrac, Byard is still the top-paid free safety, but the fourth-highest-paid safety overall. Per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, he still has two years and $28.2 million left on his contract, but his $31 million in guarantees had run out, leading to the reworked deal.
Spending his whole seven-year career so far with Tennessee, Byard has started every game and played nearly every snap for the team’s defense since 2017.
In 2022, the Titan’s star safety had 108 tackles, six passes defensed, and four interceptions while playing 98 percent of Tennessee’s defensive snaps. With 27 career interceptions, the 2017 interceptions co-leader is tied for fourth on the all-time franchise list for the team.
Now looking to get back to the playoffs, Byard and the Titan’s defense will look to get back to form under head coach Mike Vrabel and compete in an interesting AFC South, as Tennessee won seven games last year and ranked second in their division.
