The Chicago Bears wanted to keep veteran safety Kevin Byard III in town. General manager Ryan Poles went on the record to say that he'd do whatever it takes to re-sign him, but to no avail. Ultimately, he left town to join the New England Patriots on a two-year, $15.6 million deal.
However, that doesn't mean he didn't enjoy his time in the Windy City. It was just business, and it had nothing to do with the Bears. At least, that's what one can assume after hearing him shower Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson with praise:
"I think when you talk about quarterbacks coming from college, the game is so different, most of these guys have never taken a snap under center, Ben Johnson came in and reconstructed everything," Byard told CBS Sports.
The Bears Will Miss Kevin Byard III After Successful Run in Chicago
It was painfully evident that the Bears' secondary needed a bit of an overhaul. Nevertheless, Byard was a pillar to that unit, and he was the only player they should've gone the distance to make sure he wouldn't leave.
Byard led the league with seven interceptions, the second-most of his career and his most since his second year in the league. On top of that, he had 93 total tackles (61 solo), four tackles for loss, and eight passes defensed.
He thrived under Al Harris' tutelage, picking off more passes in one season than he did in the past two years combined. Truth be told, it's hard to believe he will be able to replicate that type of success in Foxborough, as good a defense as the Patriots may have.
That said, Byard did give up seven touchdown catches, and while it wasn't entirely on him, that's the only aspect of his game that definitely won't be missed in Chicago. That's also a point of emphasis for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen heading into year two, as the Bears got exposed and burned with way too many big plays and completions down the middle of the field.
The Bears will now probably target his replacement with the No. 25 pick in the draft. They've shown an interest in Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a do-it-all, hard-hitting safety who can shut down the running game in the box or lock down wide receivers in the open field. That said, he'll have some big shoes to fill and will be held to a high standard after what his predecessor did last season.
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