Titans Trade All Pro Safety Kevin Byard to Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have traded for two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to strengthen their secondary after beating the NFL's best offense.

The Philadelphia Eagles, the defending NFC champions, have made a significant trade to bolster their banged-up secondary. After their victory over the NFL's best offense, the Eagles acquired two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans. In exchange, the Eagles are sending safety Terrell Edmunds and fifth and sixth-round draft picks in 2024 to the Titans. This trade is pending the passing of physicals for both players.

The trade was confirmed by both the Eagles and the Titans, with Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk expressing gratitude to Byard and his wife for their contributions on and off the field. Byard, a five-time defensive captain for the Titans, has been recognized for his exceptional play and charitable efforts. Strunk emphasized that Byard will always be considered a Titan and wished him success in his future endeavors.

The Eagles, now with a record of 6-1, have tied the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs for the best record in the NFL. Their recent victory over the Miami Dolphins showcased their defensive prowess, as they held Miami to season lows in various offensive categories. This trade for Byard addresses a need for the Eagles, who have dealt with injuries in their secondary and lost safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to free agency.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni refrained from commenting on the trade reports, stating that he wanted to discuss the matter with the team first. Byard, on the other hand, expressed his gratitude to the Titans organization, coaches, teammates, and fans on social media. He described being a Titan as a "dream come true" and expressed his excitement to join the Eagles, accompanied by eagle emojis and the hashtag "FlyEaglesFly."

Byard has established himself as one of the top safeties in the NFL since becoming a starter in 2017, with 27 interceptions to his name. In comparison, Edmunds, a first-round pick in 2018, has five interceptions and has started two of the seven games he has played for the Eagles this season.

This trade also reunites Byard with his former Titans teammate, wide receiver A.J. Brown, who was traded to the Eagles during the 2022 draft. Brown shared the news of the trade on social media, along with a photo of himself with his finger to his lips.

Byard, who was born in Philadelphia, has been a key player for the Titans since being selected in the third round of the 2016 draft. He has started 111 of his 120 regular-season games and has not missed a game due to injury. Additionally, he has started seven playoff games.

For the Titans, this trade marks a significant step in their rebuilding process. They have struggled in recent seasons, losing 11 of their last 13 games. New general manager Ran Carthon had previously asked Byard to take a pay cut, despite his contributions as the team's leading tackler and interceptor in the past two seasons. Byard and the Titans restructured his contract in July, just before training camp.

Carthon praised Byard as the "definition of a pro's pro," while coach Mike Vrabel thanked him for his leadership in the locker room and his role in establishing the team's approach. The Titans will now have a dead cap hit of $8.82 million for this season and $13.36 million for 2024 as a result of the trade.

In conclusion, the Eagles' acquisition of Kevin Byard is a significant move to strengthen their secondary. Byard's exceptional play and leadership qualities have made him a respected figure in the NFL, and his addition to the Eagles' roster will undoubtedly enhance their defense. Meanwhile, the Titans will look to rebuild and move forward with the resources acquired in this trade.