The Eagles just keep giving fans reasons to be happy. After a disappointing first loss to the New York Jets in Week 6, the Eagles bounced back with an impressive win against the Miami Dolphins, 31-17. It was quite possibly the best complete game the Eagles have played so far this season. They were able to forcefully put their will into the game through the run game, pass game, and even through running with Jalen Hurts. However, Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman is always looking for ways to improve the team and he did some magic once again to get a player as talented as Kevin Byard for pennies on the dollar.
How Kevin Byard Fits the Philadelphia Eagles Defense
The Trade and The Player
Monday afternoon, fans found out that Kevin Byard would be going to Philadelphia, in exchange for safety Terrell Edmunds and two late-round picks. There might have been some speculation about whether Byard would re-sign with the Titans after the 2024 season. Or, maybe with two years left on his deal and him just turning 30 years old this year, the Titans may have wanted to cut ties too early rather than too late. Either way, the Eagles not only upgraded in their biggest position of need but also got an upgrade at a discount by trading their struggling starter.
Byard is a two-time First Team All-Pro selection in 2014 and 2021. During his first All-Pro campaign, he led the league with eight interceptions. Byard has been a consistent, and arguably underrated player, who has not really had a down season since coming onto the scene. Only two seasons has Byard been under four interceptions for the season, showing his ball-hawking prowess and ability to cover in both man coverage with tight ends, and zone coverage down the field. He is not just a coverage safety, but sturdy in the run game as well.
The Outlook and The Fit
As it stands, it’s hard to disagree or not get excited about the Kevin Byard trade for the Eagles. Philadelphia traded one of their struggling starters for a big upgrade at the same position by only adding a few late-round draft picks to the deal. This should be a massive pickup for the struggling Eagles secondary and while he may not be at his peak performance anymore, his skillset fits this team very well. The Eagles love jack-of-all-trade types of safeties who can go from covering a slot receiver or tight end man to man to sitting by the line of scrimmage helping in the run game, to sitting in the deep third of cover 3 coverage. He does everything well and will give the Eagles a very reliable and experienced option in the middle of the field.
Nobody quite knows when he’ll exactly be ready to start for the defense but expect to see him on the field at least a little for their next game against the Washington Commanders. There’s no need to rush him at all as the Eagles sit at 5-1 tied with the top teams in the NFL. The Eagles were already dangerous before, but this addition just gives opposing offenses, even more, to worry about besides corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry, not to mention the monstrous defensive line.
Main Photo: Christopher Hannewinc – USA Today Sports
