Longtime NFL veteran wide receiver Damiere Byrd signed a one-year, contract with the Chicago Bears. Byrd spent the 2020 season with the New England Patriots.
The #Bears are signing WR Damiere Byrd to a one-year deal, source says. Coming off career highs with 47 catches and 604 yards with the #Patriots this past season.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 4, 2021
Damiere Byrd, Chicago Bears, Agree to Contract
Damiere Byrd performed above his pay grade with the New England Patriots after joining the franchise in March last year for a base salary of $1 million. The 27-year-old was a bright light in the frustrating Week 11 27-20 loss to the Houston Texans, with a career-high 132 yards, a 42-yard touchdown catch and a decent 11-yard run to top it off.
Byrd demonstrated his ability to get open and made some serious plays on second and third efforts to make sure he got first downs. In total, he put up 604 yards across 15 games behind only Jakobi Meyers – another career high – with one receiving touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
He showed an impressive ability to grasp the New England Patriots’ offense in a relatively short space of time and his speed and reliability should continue to make him a valuable asset.
The 5-foot-9 180 pound back got his NFL start with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2016 – one reason why he was able to find some chemistry with Cam Newton in New England – and spent three seasons with the NFC South franchise before heading to the Arizona Cardinals.
The receiver had what was a career-high season prior to New England showing that, while his numbers weren’t outstanding in Foxborough, the 27-year-old is certainly trending in the right direction.
Prior to his professional career, Byrd played college football at the University of South Carolina where he was considered one of the fastest players on the roster and amassed 1,265 yards on 68 receptions with 10 touchdowns by the time he graduated.
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