Why Tennessee Titans fans could see Kevin Byard in a Pro Bowl
If you’re one of those Tennessee Titans fans that hang out on Titan Sized from time to time, you’ve heard this before, but it still bears repeating. Kevin Byard is one of the best safeties in the game. He isn’t as recognizable as, say, a Troy Polamalu. He doesn’t carry that effortless swagger of, say, an Ed Reed. He may not be as talented as either one of them, but who is right?
Kevin Byard simply throws his hard hat on, both figuratively and literally. He goes to work, and he goes home. In all honesty, some of the more casual Titans fans probably wouldn’t recognize him if they saw him out somewhere, but after notching 471 total tackles, three sacks, 19 interceptions, and 46 pass breakups in his first five seasons (those numbers include six postseason games), you can see why Tennessee loves him and why execs, coaches, and teammates agree.
Here’s why the Tennessee Titans star could return to the Pro Bowl this season.
Recently, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler spoke with more than 50 league executives, pro scouts, coaches, and some of the game’s best players to compile a list ranking the top 10 players at 11 different positions. Byard cracked his safety ranking at number seven. That’s two spots down from where he finished in 2020, and it places him behind Minkah Fitzpatrick, Justin Simmons, Budda Baker, Jamal Adams, Harrison Smith, and Tyrann Mathieu. John Johnson III, Derwin James Jr., and Jessie Bates III round out the rest of the top ten.
Fowler states that one NFL exec stated “He’s shown over time that the on-ball production will be there”. Byard was someone that the Tennessee Titans could hang their hats on in 2020 even though they never got to the quarterback or covered anyone with any regularity.
Don’t be surprised if Kevin Byard is right back in the Pro Bowl at the end of the 2020-2021 season after being snubbed for the past three seasons, and Tennessee’s three primetime games, the fans familiarity with Byard, and of course, winning season by the Titanssgould, no doubt fuel the push.
Trending. Roster projections as we approach camp. light
You know fans rely on name recognition with these Pro Bowl ballots. We often see multiple players from the NFL’s best teams on the roster when their squads have had some on-field success. This should be a great year for the Tennessee Titans as a unit and for a lot of these guys individually, Kevin Byard included. Buckle up if you’re a fan. This should be fun.