Kevin Byard. Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports

Bears agree to sign former Pro Bowl safety

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 3/10/24

The Chicago Bears are hard at work bolstering their secondary for the 2024 season.

The Bears agreed to a two-year contract with safety Kevin Byard on Sunday, according to multiple reports. Byard split last season between the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Byard’s two-year deal will be worth a base $15 million.

Source: The #Bears are signing All-Pro S Kevin Byard to a 2-year deal worth $15M base.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2024

The move does not come as a total shock, as Byard took an official visit to Chicago earlier in the week.

A two-time All-Pro with the Titans, Byard figures to be a key part of the Chicago secondary. The Eagles chose to move on from him last week in a salary-cap move after trading for him during the season last year. He tallied 122 total tackles with Tennessee and Philadelphia last season.

The Bears have already agreed to a long-term contract extension with cornerback Jaylon Johnson this offseason, so they are prioritizing strength in the secondary.

Byard should only help in that mission and will be penciled in as a starter alongside Jaquan Brisker.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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