Tennessee Titans Kevin Byard extension: NFL world reacts to record deal
The NFL world reacted to the historic contract extension safety Kevin Byard received from the Tennessee Titans.
When you get signed to a record-setting contract extension like Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard did, you’re bound to get some great reactions.
That was the case on Wednesday night, as several players, including teammates and foes, were happy to see Byard get the contract he deserved.
Byard was signed to a five-year, $70.5 million contract extension by the Titans, which will make him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. It was a well-deserved deal for a player who has been the best at his position for two years now.
First off, the Titans made it official on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Titans/status/1154198924548280320
Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is trying to get his own extension prior to the 2019 season, gave props and was happy for Byard:
Haven’t meet anyone as deserving as my brudda @KB31_Era #Congrats #bagsecured .. you still the 🐐 too @DavidMulugheta https://t.co/0Rur5OwHTS
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) July 25, 2019
We couldn’t agree more that nobody deserved a record-setting deal more than Byard, as we previously wrote.
The man whose contract he surpassed, Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu, congratulated Byard:
Congrats bro. You deserve it man. @KB31_Era https://t.co/Re45HkQo1X
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) July 25, 2019
Safeties Jamal Adams of the New York Jets and Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers both reacted:
— Jamal Adams (@Prez) July 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/DerwinJames/status/1154198462319091713
Here was linebacker Wesley Woodyard:
Happy to see a real one get what’s earned and deserved! @KB31_Era 🏦💰💰
— Wesley Woodyard (@WoodDro52) July 25, 2019
Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey not only congratulated his teammate, he also asked Ramsey to let him use the armored truck he arrived in for Jags training camp:
@KB31_Era get paid my guy tell that boy @jalenramsey let you use that brinks truck!!!!! https://t.co/fT3BZCnNgp
— Jurrell Casey (@Jurrellc) July 25, 2019
Former Titans defensive back Bernard Pollard, who once called the Titans cheap and said left tackle Taylor Lewan was a liar when he said he didn’t knowingly take a banned substance, ate his words:
They broke him off!!!! I was wrong brotha.
— Bernard Pollard Jr (@Crushboy31) July 25, 2019
ESPN’s Field Yates points out how far Byard has come:
In 2016, Kevin Byard did not receive an invitation to the NFL Combine.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 25, 2019
Since then:
* Played in all 48 games for the Titans
* Leads the NFL with 12 INT over the past 2 seasons
* Played in 2,130 of 2,136 (99.7%) defensive snaps since 2017
* 2017 first team All Pro
Well earned 💰.
To think this man didn’t even receive a combine invite!
Fellow safety Kenny Vaccaro is happy for his teammate, but also knows it’s time to get to work:
No one more deserving! @KB31_Era now let’s get to work tomorrow
— G1 Savage @ DREAMHACK SAN DIEGO RLCS (@kennyvaccaro) July 25, 2019
Former Titans linebacker Will Compton was pumped for Byard:
LFG!!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats brother @KB31_Era
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) July 25, 2019
Well deserved!!
Another former Titan, Brian Orakpo, gave Byard a shoutout:
Congrats to @KB31_Era we all witnessed the transformation to a Great One! https://t.co/jdmBvOefLA
— Brian Orakpo (@rak98) July 25, 2019
If Los Angeles Rams safety Eric Weddle says it was well deserved, you know it’s right:
Not sure there is anything better than seeing a SAFETY GET PAIDDDDDDDDDDDDDD. Congrats @KB31_Era . So happy and proud of u. Amazing day for you and the fam. Earned every cent of that deal. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeee
— Eric Weddle (@weddlesbeard) July 25, 2019
The consensus seems to be that Byard earned this deal, huh?
Related Story. How Kevin Byard earned every penny of record-setting deal. light
With the new contract now behind him, Byard will work on helping the Titans get to the playoffs in 2019.