Jets Interested In Recently Cut All-Pro Safety?
The New York Jets have plenty of needs on their roster on the offensive side of the ball.
That doesn't mean they don't have some holes to fill on the defensive side, either.
With some needs at safety and defensive tackle, New York could very well be looking to upgrade some high-value defensive positions in free agency. With Jordan Whitehead, Chuck Clark, and Ahstyn Davis all set to hit the open market, there's even more incentive for Gang Green to upgrade the safety room as soon as possible.
Luckily for them, one of the top modern safeties has just hit the open market early.
Two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard was released by the Philadelphia Eagles Friday afternoon after being traded from the Tennessee Titans in October of 2023. Byard struggled down the stretch with the Eagles but still managed to record over 120 total tackles, one interception, and three passes defended.
Byard will be 31 years old by the time the 2024 season rolls around and is coming off two years where his Pro Football Focus grade has lowered from his prime run of dominance with the Titans.
That doesn't mean the Jets shouldn't be interested in a veteran like him.
The former Middle Tennessee State product has plenty of experience in the kind of physical zone defense that New York likes to play. He's also a tremendous leader in the locker room that would fit nicely with the group already established as a strong-culture-based system.
As with any major free-agent acquisition, especially when it comes to an older veteran like Byard, cost becomes a major part of the conversation.
Younger free agents like Baltimore's Geno Stone, New York's Xavier McKinney, and New England's Kyle Dugger are valued on Spotrac to have contracts over or close to $10 million a year annually. 33-year-old Micah Hyde of the Buffalo Bills, though is valued at an annual contract of around $3.5 million.
Byard is certainly a younger player than Hyde, which could increase his annual value. Is he, at 31 years old, going to get nearly $10 million annually like the younger class will? Certainly not.
That's what makes Byard the kind of player the Jets could target. New York won't have the kind of cap space to give a safety over $10 million a year, but could certainly be in the conversation for a deal below that total. Add in the potential new deal to a player like Davis, and the Jets could keep their salary at safety on the low side, but can still improve the talent at the position group.
New York will be addressing the safety room significantly during the 2024 offseason. Grabbing a quality veteran like Kevin Byard might be exactly what the Jets could be looking for.
