Kevin Byard

Kevin Byard

32-Year-Old SafetyS
New England Patriots
2025 Defense Stats
TCKL
93
SACKS
0.0
INT
7
FF
0
TD
0
2026 Projections
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SACKS
INT
FF
TD
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2026 Fantasy Outlook
Byard was in his second season with the Bears in 2025, though his usage changed fairly significantly with the new coaching staff. He played 720 snaps in coverage, the fifth-highest number in the league. It should come as little surprise that his opportunity for tackles fell as a result, though he also contributed to his own down statistical season with an 11.0 percent missed-tackle rate paired with allowing 11.8 yards per reception. It wasn't all bad news for Byard, however, as he logged a career-high seven interceptions. That mark is almost certainly due for regression based on his eight passes defensed, and it also remains to be seen how his usage will change after he signed with the Patriots this offseason. There will be a floor because Byard's role is safe, but if he remains in a similar role to 2025, his potential will be limited. Read Past Outlooks
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RANKS
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
Bye Week 11
Height 5'11"
Weight 218
DOB 8/17/1993
College Middle Tennessee
Drafted 3rd Rd 2016 #64 Overall
Signed a one-year, $9 million contract with the Patriots in March of 2026.
Safety help for New England
SNew England Patriots
March 11, 2026
The Patriots have agreed to a one-year deal with Byard, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Byard is set to make $9 million in 2026 as he moves on to help a Patriots defense fresh off the Super Bowl LX loss. The former Bears safety ended 2025 with 93 tackles (61 solo) and eight passes defensed for seven interceptions over 17 regular-season games. The ball hawk will help offset free agency losses for a Patriots defense that is looking to maintain control of the AFC East and string together deep playoff runs.
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
New England PatriotsPatriots 2025 S Snap Distribution
See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
C.Craig Woodson
J.Jaylinn Hawkins
K.Kyle Dugger
D.Dell Pettus
B.Brenden Schooler
#% of Team Snaps
120189%
110081%
18414%
14211%
433%
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#1 FS
New England PatriotsPatriots
  1. Kevin Byard
  2. Julian Ashby
  3. John Saunders
2025 Kevin Byard Split Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2016
Byard totaled 130 tackles, including 2.0 sacks, in 2024, continuing his run as one of the league's most productive and durable safeties. He's reached 108 or more tackles in four of the last five seasons and hasn't missed a game in his nine-year career. Though his interception numbers have dipped since his All-Pro 2021 campaign, he still plays every down and racks up stats. Entering the final year of his contract, Byard remains a high-floor IDP with top-10 fantasy potential, especially in tackle-heavy formats.
Byard served as the anchor of the Titans' secondary for the last six seasons, serving both as one of their most productive players as well as a leader of the team. After a somewhat tumultuous half-season with the Eagles, Byard signed a two-year deal with the Bears this offseason and will look to help the young defense take a step forward. He should return to his role as the center fielder of the defense and will form a formidable pairing with Jaquan Brisker on the back end of the secondary. Byard has topped 100 tackles in three of the last four seasons and has a history of causing turnovers. He should have at least a couple more years of elite production in the tank as he heads into his age-30 season.
Byard might be the most reliable defender in the league from a fantasy perspective. Since being drafted in the third round in 2016, he has yet to miss a game, and the last six seasons he's played more than 1,000 snaps every year while recording 84 to 111 tackles and snagging at least four interceptions five times. At some point that workload might catch up to him, but as yet there's been no signs that the foundation of the Titans' secondary is beginning to crack. As long as he's healthy, his role in Mike Vrabel's defense won't change.
Byard probably can’t match the tackle production of the top defensive back IDPs, but he’s no slouch in that regard and is otherwise one of the league’s best safeties. Last year, Byard logged his second five-interception season in three years, giving him 23 interceptions over his last five years. He also has 53 passes defended in the last five years.
Rank Byard higher than this in leagues that reward well for interceptions, just realize that his 111 tackles from last year — a career high by 21 — don't appear likely to repeat. The Titans defense fell apart and Byard had to clean up more messes than usual, but he normally plays more of a center-field role than a tackle machine up front. By the same token it must be noted that Byard normally does much more in coverage than he did last year — his one interception from 2020 is a stark outlier considering his 17 interceptions in the three prior seasons.
It'd normally be reckless to target a defensive back IDP who projects for fewer than 90 tackles, but Byard poses an exception, especially in leagues that award extra points for interceptions. He has 17 interceptions in his last 3,244 snaps, which is consistent with the production he showed at Middle Tennessee State, where he intercepted 19 passes in 49 games. As much as he's still vulnerable to regression, this seems to be who he is. He's probably due for a higher tackle rate than what he showed in 2019, when he averaged 0.0754 tackles per snap last year, as opposed to 0.0831 over the two years prior. It's a difference that would amount to about nine more tackles on last year's 1,114-snap workload.
In an era with many emerging standout safeties, Byard may be the unchallenged leader of them all when it comes to coverage ability. He's perhaps the most feared ballhawk in the league after picking off 12 passes the last two years. His tackle production could regress despite its initial modesty (177 in the last two years), but Byard is a rare case where the interception production appears bankable. It's the same thing he did in college at Middle Tennessee, where he intercepted an absurd 19 passes, including four returned for touchdowns.
No safety in the NFL pounces on the ball like Byard, whose eight interceptions and 16 passes defensed last year were forewarned by his superb college production at Middle Tennessee, where he snatched 19 interceptions in four years, returning four for touchdowns. His IDP utility isn't interception-dependent, however, as his 87 tackles from last year play in mainstream IDP scenarios, too. Eight interceptions a year is too much to ask, but Byard should rank at or near the top in the category most years going forward.
The 2016 third-rounder joins a deep group of safeties that includes presumed starters Da’Norris Searcy and Rashad Johnson, as well as Daimion Stafford, Marqueston Huff and Josh Aubrey. Byard’s 19 interceptions at Middle Tennessee State indicate that he possesses elite ball skills, but the Titans have the resources to bring him along slowly as he makes the adjustment from Conference USA to the NFL. While he’ll make the roster, expectations should be tempered for the rookie.
More Fantasy News
Strong season at safety
SChicago Bears
January 5, 2026
Byard recorded eight tackles (two solo) and an interception in the Bears' 19-16 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Ready to rock
SChicago Bears
December 26, 2025
Byard (ankle) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the 49ers.
ANALYSIS
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Listed as limited again
SChicago Bears
Ankle
December 25, 2025
Byard (ankle) is listed as limited on Thursday's estimated injury report.
ANALYSIS
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Limited with ankle issue
SChicago Bears
Ankle
December 24, 2025
Byard (ankle ) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
ANALYSIS
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Posts season-high tackles
SChicago Bears
December 21, 2025
Byard recorded nine tackles, including five solo, in the Bears' 22-16 overtime win over the Packers on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Hoping to stick with Bears
SChicago Bears
January 20, 2026
There is mutual interest between Byard and the Bears to agree to a new contract this offseason, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
ANALYSIS
Byard has had a successful two-year tenure with the Bears, picking off eight passes while totaling 223 tackles across 34 regular-season games. Heading into his age-32 season, he expressed that he wants to play for a winning team while also maximizing the value on what could be his final big contract. The Bears look to be in a good position to contend in the NFC North, though the team has several other free agents to potentially re-sign, including fellow safety Jaquan Brisker.
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