Kevin Byard III
S · New England Patriots
1 transaction this offseason
All-Pro 1st Team '25
PlaymakerIron Man
Height
5'11"
Weight
218 lbs
Age
32
College
Middle Tennessee
Draft
2016, Rd 3, #64
Experience
10 yrs
S Rank
#8 / 196
B
A+
A
N/A
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The Verdict on Kevin, in One Read
On the field, Kevin Byard III grades out as an excellent S for New England Patriots (A Performance). That places him 8th of 196 graded safeties. The contract is harder to defend: the Contract Value Index calls it good value (B), with the cost outrunning the output. The public read is very positive (A+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal rather than the box score. With 10+ seasons of track record, these grades rest on a deep sample.
Career StatsA
| 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
Length
1 year
Total Value
$10.0M
Guaranteed
$10.0M
AAV
$10.0M/yr
Guaranteed %100%
Contract Value Index (CVI)
B
Good Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Kevin Byard III's Contract Value Index lands at B, putting the deal in a defined slice of comparable signings. The deal—a one-year, $10M AAV commitment—reflects New England's confidence in an established veteran who delivered elite production in 2025, posting 93 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 17 games played en route to an All-Pro First Team selection. At 32 years old and a decade into his career, Byard remains a franchise-caliber safety operating at the peak of his powers, and a one-year structure minimizes long-term risk while allowing the Patriots to preserve cap flexibility. The salary sits appropriately for a proven, ball-hawking safety with recent All-Pro credentials and no injury red flags—neither a bargain nor an overpay, but rather fair market value for a player of his tier and durability. Media framing positions this as a strategic upgrade for New England's secondary, with former teammates validating his fit and the league-leading interception total from 2025 serving as proof of concept. The short contract length works in the Patriots' favor, as it allows them to evaluate Byard's fit within the scheme over a single season without creating future dead-cap complications, making this a pragmatic acquisition for a team hunting secondary reinforcement.
Contracts in the Same Value Band
Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Kevin's contract sits relative to comparable money.
Performance Analysis
A
#8 of 196 Ss
FCA+
Kevin Byard III enters his 10th NFL season as one of the league's most accomplished safeties, bringing elite ball-hawking instincts to New England's rebuilt secondary. Graded an A overall, Byard remains a legitimate difference-maker at 32, with a career résumé that rivals Ed Reed-era production in terms of sustained impact. His body of work places him firmly among the top tier at his position, even as this season represents a recalibration year. The numbers tell a compelling story. His interception rate of 0.41 per game obliterates the NFL average of 0.12 and surpasses the elite threshold of 0.30 — a truly rare production level that defines his value. His 5.47 tackles per game sits comfortably above the league average of 3.41, demonstrating his range and reliability against the run. Pass breakups at 0.47 per game exceed the NFL average of 0.29, though he hasn't yet reached the elite benchmark of 0.68, suggesting room to tighten his coverage consistency. Byard's season trend shows meaningful improvement — climbing from a C in 2023 to a C+ in 2024, and now projecting at a B in 2025. That upward arc is encouraging for a veteran entering what many assumed would be a declining phase. Watch whether New England leverages his football IQ in more complex zone schemes, which could push his grade toward an A- and cement a strong final chapter to an outstanding career.
Performance vs. NFL Position Average
Tackles/Game5.47
Above AvgNFL Avg: 3.41 · Elite: 7.78
How Kevin Compares at the Position
Kevin Byard III ranks 8th of 196 graded safeties by performance. That slots Kevin between Kerby Joseph (A) just ahead and Jalen Pitre (A) just behind.
Graded higher
Kerby JosephDetroit LionsAKyle HamiltonBaltimore RavensAJulian LoveSeattle SeahawksAKevin Byard IIIA
Graded lower
Jalen PitreHouston TexansFan Sentiment
A+
Very Positive
NegativeNeutralPositive
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).
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About this player
Kevin Byard III is a veteran in his 10th NFL season listed at S for the New England Patriots. FanVerdicts covers every NFL player, team, GM, and transaction — and puts your verdict on all of it. Sign in to cast your Fan Verdict on Kevin Byard III, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts also brings its own read — performance, sentiment, and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index B, Performance A, Sentiment A+.
The crowd's Fan Verdict moves in real time as fans vote on this profile. FanVerdicts' own read updates as new data lands — performance recalculates when NFL game stats post, sentiment shifts with media coverage and fan discussion, and the Contract Value Index recomputes when contract terms change. Contract details below show the structure (years, total value, average annual value, guarantees) behind the Contract Value Index read.
For league-wide context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, the transactions feed, and live scoreboards. The NFL player rankings page sorts every active player by performance and contract value within their position.