Eagles obtaining safety Trade of Kevin Byard to the Titans

 Eagles obtaining safety Trade of Kevin Byard to the Titans

 

    The scheming and haggling Star safety Kevin Byard will be acquired by Philadelphia Eagles general manager in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, according to a source familiar with the transaction,according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
In return for Byard, the Eagles will give the Tennessee Titans safety Terrell Edmunds, a former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick, as well as picks in the 2024 fifth and sixth rounds, according to Rapoport. Following that, on Monday night, the Titans made the deal public.
It's a victory for the Eagles, who have had injuries in the secondary this year and needed assistance at safety. A defense that defeated the high-flying Miami Dolphins on Sunday night was strengthened by Philly's swift addition of a two-time first-team All-Pro and former leader in interceptions.
Byard, who issued a statement expressing his gratitude to the Titans organization and fans, hasn't played at his peak level in Tennessee thus far this season, but he's the kind of versatile safety who can finish off the Eagles' secondary. The native of Philadelphia is excellent in run defense and a ball hawk in coverage. Byard has produced 27 interceptions, 63 passes defensed, and 674 tackles in 120 games during eight seasons with the Titans.

According to NFL Research, the 30-year-old safety is one of only two players in the NFL (the other being Jordan Poyer) to have 600 or more tackles and 20 or more interception since 2017, and his 27 picks are second-most in the league (behind Xavien Howard). With 59 passes intercepted since 2017, Byard has the most among safeties. The Middle Tennessee State safety tandem on the back end of Sean Desai's defense will be made up of Byard and the injured Reed Blankenship.

The Eagles' safety group was lacking in versatility and playmaking after Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was lost to free agency this offseason. In order to fill the hole, Roseman went out and acquired a potential game-changer. In a draft day deal in 2022, Philadelphia acquired great receiver A.J. Brown from Tennessee.
The deal indicates that the 2-4 Titans are ready to sell before the deadline on October 31. Only three of the six draft picks Tennessee had at the start of the day (first, second, fourth, and three sevenths) came before the seventh round.