Kevin Byard III

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		164	36	81	971
2025		17	7	8	93
2024		17	1	7	130
2023		16

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

New England's one-year, $10M commitment to Kevin Byard III represents a shrewd value play that earns an A- CVI grade. The Patriots landed an above-average starting safety at a price point that reflects smart opportunistic shopping rather than premium market spending, capitalizing on Byard's disappointing 2023 season in Philadelphia to secure proven talent at a discount. At 31, Byard is still within his productive window for a safety, and his track record as a former All-Pro ball hawk suggests last year's struggles were more about scheme fit than declining ability. The one-year structure is brilliant risk management — New England gets to evaluate whether Byard can return to form without long-term financial exposure, while Byard gets a prove-it opportunity to rebuild his market value. This signing addresses a clear need in the Patriots' secondary with a player whose ceiling remains considerably higher than his current contract suggests, making it exactly the type of calculated gamble that can pay dividends for a rebuilding team.

Performance Analysis

Kevin Byard III grades as a solid starter among NFL safeties — an above-average player at the position. His strongest area is interceptions at 0.41 (well above the NFL average of 0.16), ranking as elite for the position. Tackling, at 5.47 compared to an NFL average of 3.85, is where he falls short relative to the position. With 164 career games, there is a large sample size backing this grade.

Fan Sentiment

Elite All-Pro safety acquisition on a reasonable one-year deal represents a major upgrade for the Patriots secondary. Key signals: "all-pro" (+7), "steal" (+5).