Byard had two visits with the Bears over a short period and is now set to join them on a two-year deal. The former Titan was a trade deadline acquisition by the Eagles last season and wound up totaling 122 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups in 16 games. A former two-time All-Pro, Byard, will be 31 before the start of next season. While he may have lost a slight step, Byard still graded well amongst safeties per PFF, earning a grade of 74.0 while excelling as a run-stopper.

The Eagles let Byard go at the beginning of the month in a move that saved the team $13 million in cap space. The two-time All-Pro was acquired by the Eagles at last year’s trade deadline and racked up 75 tackles and one interception in 10 games with the Birds. Byard earned a PFF coverage grade of 68.0 for his efforts last season and still proved to be a force in the run game. Needing an upgrade opposite Jaquan Brisker, Byard could provide a one to two-year stopgap for a Bears defense that finished in 20th in points allowed per game.

The move will save the Eagles around $13 million in salary cap space for 2024. Philadelphia acquired Byard in a trade with the Titans in October. The two-time All Pro was quiet throughout his two months as a starter in the struggling Eagles secondary, graded by PFF as the NFL’s eighth worst coverage unit in 2023. Byard, entering his age-31 season, should be in line for a short-term contract with another team this offseason.

Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the restructuring of Byard’s deal creates $711K in cap space for the Eagles this season. It’s a small move to offer the team more flexibility, which may be needed ahead of the league’s trade deadline. Byard is under contract through the 2024 season and totaled 10 tackles in his Week 8 debut with the Eagles.