The Patriots brought Kevin Byard to New England for a very specific reason: they needed veteran help in the secondary, and they bet on the league’s interception leader to supply it. Coming off a career year, Byard looked like the kind of addition that fit the roster on paper.
But the early returns have been far quieter than the Patriots probably imagined.
After three underwhelming performances, the 33-year-old safety has yet to make the kind of impact that justified the buzz around his arrival. He has not intercepted a pass or forced a fumble, and his stat line so far reads 14 tackles, including seven solo stops, one pressure and one run stop. He has allowed only two catches, but he still hasn’t separated himself in coverage or against the run.
That’s where the concern starts to creep in. Byard’s big season came under DB coach Al Harris, and that has fueled a familiar question around players who thrive in Harris’ system: what happens after they leave?
NFL fans have already seen versions of this story with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland on the Dallas Cowboys, both of whom dipped after All-Pro-caliber stretches as ballhawks under Harris. Harris also helped Ben Johnson’s team lead the league in interceptions last season, with Nahshon Wright adding five picks of his own.
Byard’s resume is still the reason the Patriots made the move. Last season was the second time in his career he led the league in interceptions, and it marked the second time he reached at least seven picks.
It was also his fourth season with at least five interceptions. That kind of production is exactly what New England was buying.
The price tag reflected that gamble. The Patriots gave him a one-year deal worth up to $9 million, a move that makes sense if he rebounds quickly and less appealing if the decline keeps showing up. At least the team won’t be tied to him long-term if the production never arrives.
New England’s defense has been better than the team’s 1-2 record suggests, so Byard isn’t the reason the unit has stumbled out of the gate. Still, as one of the most notable offseason additions, he hasn’t delivered much yet. And with Mike Vrabel’s team looking for a spark, the standard is going to stay high for everyone - especially the newcomers.
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