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Tennessee Titans looking at local sleeper safety

By Will Lomas

Jul 3, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders linebacker Cavellis Luckett (24) celebrate with safety Kevin Byard (20) after recovering a fumble by Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Caleb Scott (not pictured) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 3, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders linebacker Cavellis Luckett (24) celebrate with safety Kevin Byard (20) after recovering a fumble by Vanderbilt Commodores wide receiver Caleb Scott (not pictured) during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 NFL Draft is coming up and there is a lot of speculation that the Tennessee Titans are looking at Jalen Ramsey the defensive back from Florida State. While many argue that the only way you can justify this is by putting him at outside corner (a dumb idea for a different time) many people believe that his best position in the NFL will be as a rangy in the box safety that can cover anyone.

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So, if you want to call him a free safety/nickel cornerback hybrid you probably wouldn’t be wrong and the only real player we have to compare him to in the NFL now is Tyrann Mathieu. So, while you are imagining that it makes a lot of sense to draft a chess piece like that high and I am not saying the Titans won’t. However, there is another safety that makes a lot of sense for the Titans in the mid rounds: Kevin Byard.

Byard is a safety at MTSU and people have him anywhere from a 4th to a 6th round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. While many people will scoff at the school and doubt his potential, Ian Wharton would make a strong case against that.

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    • In his post for Bleacher Report this morning where he made some predictions about the 2016 NFL Draft, one of his prediction stated that Byard could be the first NFL combine snub to be drafted. The quote that should catch the eyes of Tennessee Titans fans is this:

    “Safeties who can drop into single-high coverage and make up ground quickly to close on the ball are rare and valuable. Entire secondary schemes can revolve around these game-changers. While Middle Tennessee State safety Kevin Byard may not be the next Earl Thomas, his resume should have earned him a place on the NFL Scouting Combine roster.”

    So quick overview:

    1. Can play single high.

    2. Is a guy that the Tennessee Titans can bring in on a visit without it counting against their 30 allotted visits.

    3. Closer that can cover a lot of area.

    4. Productive and should be a good value.

    How is this not going to be a guy that Jon Robinson has every opportunity to like?

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    An article on Byard from The Tennessean says that CBS Sports only had one major knock on Byard and that was his speed, until his Pro Day. After hitting 22 reps on the bench press, a 38 inch vertical jump and clocking in at 4.49 (a time that would have made him the third fastest safety at the 2016 NFL Draft Combine) there should be less questions about his physical ability now.

    This is probably the biggest feather in his cap, he says he wants to be a part of the Tennessee Titans. Now, I know it is draft time and kids will say anything to get drafted, but this makes sense given how close he grew up to the team. Here is the quote that really jumped out:

    "“He spoke with several teams in attendance, including the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans.Byard chatted with Titans scouting assistant Patrick Callaway, who played linebacker with Byard at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Lithona, Ga.He added that he’d love to play for the Titans.‘I know they need a safety,” Byard said. “(Callaway) tole me I did a great job and it was a great feeling to see him.’"

    So not only does he have a man on the inside, but he is saying all the right things. If he can be had in the middle rounds, he is a name that you might need to familiarize yourself with if the Titans take Laremy Tunsil first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft.

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