Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – The Philadelphia Eagles have made a significant move in their secondary, parting ways with safety Kevin Byard, as announced by the team on Friday. Byard, who was acquired from the Tennessee Titans mid-season in 2023, failed to meet expectations during his stint with the Eagles, prompting the team to release him.
Acquiring Byard involved a trade that saw the Eagles giving up draft picks and safety Terrell Edmunds. Despite Byard’s stat line of 75 tackles, one interception, and three passes defended in 10 games for the Eagles, the team’s pass defense continued to struggle in the latter part of the season. Byard’s performance did not live up to his Pro Bowl-level play from previous seasons, contributing to the team’s defensive woes.
By releasing Byard, the Eagles will free up significant cap space, reducing his $14.4 million charge to only $1.4 million, allowing the team an extra $13 million in spending flexibility. This additional cap room positions the Eagles to make key roster moves during the offseason to address their defensive shortcomings.
Looking ahead, the Eagles are expected to focus on revamping their defensive backfield, particularly after a challenging season. With veteran cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry aging and Byard no longer in the picture, the team’s safety positions will need to be addressed. As of now, only Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown are under contract for the upcoming season, with uncertainty surrounding their readiness for starting roles.
Despite drafting promising talents like Sydney Brown and Kelee Ringo in the previous year and signing Eli Ricks as an undrafted free agent, the Eagles’ secondary still lacks surefire starting-caliber players. General manager Howie Roseman, known for emphasizing the defensive front, may shift focus to strengthening the team’s back end given the struggles faced in the past season, hinting at potential resource allocation towards improving the secondary in the upcoming offseason.