The NFL's new league year will kick off on March 11, and the [Patriots](https://nesn.com/new-england-patriots) could be considering adding a new safety to their roster.
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins is about to become a free agent, and if the Patriots don’t re-sign him, they should definitely consider bringing in Kevin Byard.
Byard wrapped up this past season with the Chicago Bears, and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 15th-best safety overall. He earned a 20th-place finish in coverage grade and ranked 24th in run defense.
The 32-year-old safety has been in the NFL since 2016, spending his first eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans before moving on to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Bears.
Byard is a three-time Pro Bowler, with his latest appearance occurring this past season. He also has a connection to Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. Byard played under Vrabel with the Titans from 2018 to 2023.
The Patriots should seriously consider bringing in Byard, though he might be a bit pricey. Spotrac recently listed his market value at $7.8 million per season, which could be quite a bit for a player who will turn 33 this year.
**_More NFL: [Seahawks Head Coach Mike Macdonald Received Tom Brady Text After Super Bowl LX](https://nesn.com/new-england-patriots/news/seahawks-head-coach-mike-macdonald-received-tom-brady-text-after-super-bowl-lx/de4dd1a39ba5e28f599b9a03)_**