With Jaylinn Hawkins an unrestricted free agent and no lock to return, the New England Patriots had a need at the safety position entering free agency. They addressed it by signing one of the best player the position had to offer on the open market: Kevin Byard, the NLF’s reigning interception lead and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2025.
Byard joined the Patriots on a one-year deal, a reflection of the fact that he will turn 33 in August. And yet, the contract has the potential to be a major steal
for New England: at a base value of $7 million with a $9 million cap impact — one that, as we will see shortly, is heavy on contract incentives — he is only the 17th most-expensive safety in the league this year.
If Byard continues to play at the level he showed in Chicago (and, frankly, throughout his career), he certainly will be more impactful than his contract would suggest.
S Kevin Byard: Contract details
Base value: $7,000,000
Maximum value: $9,000,000
Guarantees: $6,170,000
Signing bonus: $3,500,000
Salary (2026): $2,670,000
2026 (age 33):
Base salary: $2,670,000
Signing bonus: $3,500,000
Roster bonus: $680,000
Workout bonus: $150,000
Incentives: $2,000,000
Salary cap hit: $9,000,000
The structure of Byard’s deal with the Patriots is pretty straight-forward, with his base salary and signing bonus both fully guaranteed and $40,000 in per-game roster bonuses — totaling $680,000 — as well as a workout bonus added to the mix as well. Adding those numbers up, you get the contract’s $7 million base value.
So, why is Byard then counting $9 million against the Patriots’ cap? Because those aforementioned contract incentives are all classified as likely to be earned.
We do not know the exact escalators used as the basis for those incentives yet. However, given that Byard played 100% of defensive snaps for the Bears in 2025 and was both named to the Pro Bowl and voted first-team All-Pro it is not surprising to see them categorized as LTBE; a combination of those accomplishments can safely be presumed as part the incentive package.
Should he fail to meet any of the benchmarks contractually agreed upon, be they related to playing time or performance, the Patriots will get an appropriate credit on their 2027 salary cap.
