The Eagles are hoping their trade with the Tennessee Titans for safety Kevin Byard, revealed Monday but made official Tuesday by the club, helps shore up what had become a desperate need on defense.
The Eagles sent safety Terrell Edmunds and fifth and sixth-round picks in the 2024 draft to the Titans. The 30-year-old Byard (5-11, 212), a Philadelphia native, has 27 interceptions over eight seasons with the freefalling Titans, who selected him in the third round of the 2016 draft.
“He’s obviously a great veteran,” Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai said Tuesday. “He has had a lot of success in this league. Has played in a lot of different defenses. Really smart, great leader. I’ve gotten great reports on him. I’m really excited to get him into the room and get him going.”
Byard reacted to the news on social media, posting “With that being said, it’s up!!” That was followed by the obligatory “Fly Eagles Fly.” Byard also dropped a lengthy post thanking Titans ownership, management, his coaches, teammates, and fans for embracing him and in the case of the latter, making him and his family “feel welcome from day one.”
Byard was coaxed into taking a pay cut to $2.44 million to remain with the Titans this season and has a deal in 2024 with zero guarantees. He’s also in decline, although it’s hard to discern how much of that has to do with the collapse of the Titans, who have undergone changes in the front office, to the coaching staff and throughout the roster.
“I think he’s still a really good safety,” Desai said. “I don’t know what was … I still think he’s a really good safety in this league and he’s going to be a really good addition for us.”
The Titans traded Brown to the Eagles rather than pay him a salary that now looks like a bargain considering he’s one of the league’s top receivers.
Byard was All-Pro after intercepting eight passes to spark a solid Titans defense in 2017 and in 2021, when he picked off five passes and helped the club earn the top seed in the AFC. In the latter year the Titans were bounced from the playoffs in their first round by Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, who reached the Super Bowl.
Despite the 6-1 start the Eagles are a troubling minus-2 in turnover ratio. No team has intercepted fewer passes than the Eagles, who have three picks. That’s been compounded by Jalen Hurts, who is tied with Jimmy Garoppolo for the league lead with eight interceptions.
Eagles safety Reed Blankenship, who has one interception, has been nursing an injury to his ribs since the opener. He was scratched for the Eagles’ 31-17 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Rookie safety Sydney Brown is back in action after a hamstring injury but remains a work in progress. He has played a season-high 46 snaps, contributing three tackles. He also played nine snaps on special teams with one tackle.
The Eagles oppose the Washington Commanders (3-4) Sunday at FedEx Field. The Birds are seven-point favorites.
Source: Berkshire mont
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