July 17, 2026, 7:56 p.m. ET
New England Patriots safety Kevin Byard was named the 61st overall player on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 rankings.
Byard figures to be a key addition to the Patriots‘ defensive backfield this season. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors with the Chicago Bears last season, where he led the entire NFL with seven interceptions on the year.
The pairing of the standout veteran defensive back with a promising, emerging young safety in Craig Woodson should make the Patriots’ secondary even better in 2026. There is also a link between Byard and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel from their time together with the Tennessee Titans.
There’s hope that familiarity will help Byard hit the ground running in training camp.
Byard is no one-trick pony.
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The veteran defender is a three-time First-Team All-Pro player with a long history of stellar defensive play. His addition, along with Woodson, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and Carlton Davis, should give the Patriots one of the best secondary units in the NFL.
