The New England Patriots made a few notable signings in free agency this offseason, [including inking](https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/03/11/mike-vrabel-reunites-with-three-time-all-pro-to-fill-patriots-biggest-need/) safety Kevin Byard III to a one-year, $9 million deal.
It sure feels like an upgrade for the Patriots over Jaylinn Hawks, especially given how Byard’s peers from around the league view him.
Byard came in at No. 61 on the annual NFL Top 100 list, a ranking voted on by NFL players. Byard’s ranking was higher than fellow safety and Baltimore Ravens standout Kyle Hamilton (No. 63) along with Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (No. 62), New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (No. 64) and Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith (No. 65).
“Definitely a great player in both coverage and the run game,” Packers wide receiver Christian Watson said of Byard in the [video highlighting Byard’s ranking](https://twitter.com/NFL/status/2078132620991373707). “Playing physical, playing with a lot of vision.”
Byard, 32, returned to his All-Pro ways last season with the Chicago Bears as he led the NFL with seven interceptions while recording 93 tackles. It was a strong turnaround after Byard combined for just two interceptions in 2023 and 2024.
The Patriots sure hope Byard’s career resurgence continues as he reunites with head coach Mike Vrabel. The two were together with the Tennessee Titans for five-plus seasons from 2018-2023, which included one of Byard’s three Pro Bowl seasons. The Titans traded Byard, who has 36 career interceptions, to the Philadelphia Eagles midway through the 2023 campaign.
“When he was on the Titans, he got a lot of respect and then it fall off,” Rams safety Quentin Lake said. “But then he had this year, and you’re like, ‘Well, there he is again.’ But he’s been doing this his whole career. He’s been a ball hawk.”
Byard, with 10 seasons of NFL experience under his belt, should be one of the leaders this coming season in the Patriots defense, especially in the secondary. He is expected to start next to fellow safety Craig Woodson, who had a breakout rookie season after the Patriots selected him in the fourth round in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The other safeties in that positional group who could learn from Byard are Dell Pettus, John Saunders Jr., Mike Brown and Peter Manuma.
“If everybody knew how to do it, everybody would do it,” Saints safety Jonas Sanker said. “Having all those interceptions he did speaks on his ball skills and ability to process plays fast.”
The only other current Patriots player on the NFL 100 rankings is A.J. Brown, who came in at No. 80, but there should at least be a couple more Patriots on the list as it works its way to the top spot.