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Tennessee Titans: Kevin Byard gets some respect in rankings

By Colton Pickard

NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Kevin Byard #31 of the Tennessee Titans gets the crowd cheering during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Chargers 23-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Kevin Byard #31 of the Tennessee Titans gets the crowd cheering during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Chargers 23-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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After years of being underrated, Tennessee Titans’ safety Kevin Byard is finally starting to get some respect for his dominance on the gridiron.

If you ask me, I think that Tennessee Titans’ safety Kevin Byard is the best safety in the league. Maybe top-two. But I can’t expect people outside of Tennessee to see Byard the same way that Titans fans see him.

He’s an elite safety that has had a breakout career since joining the Titans after a very successful college career a few miles south of Nashville at Middle Tennessee State University. Byard thrived in Rick Stockstill’s program and earned an opportunity to play for the Titans. Since then, he hasn’t looked back.

In his four years in the NFL, Byard has racked up 17 interceptions and 320 tackles. He’s been named to the Pro Bowl, and he was a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2017.

Outside of his individual stats, he’s been the glue that has kept the secondary from falling apart. He’s been a key part of the Titans’ defense since he made his presence in 2016.

After four successful years in the NFL, Byard is finally starting to get the respect that he deserves. Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey ranked the best safeties in the NFL, and Byard was ranked in the top-five.

"“Byard has a claim to being the NFL’s premier ball-hawking safety heading into 2020,” Linsey said. “Over the last three seasons, his 30 combined pass breakups and interceptions are the most at the safety position. It’s not just coverage where he brings it, either. Byard’s 92.6 run-defense grade since 2017 is the best mark at the safety position, narrowly beating out Harrison Smith. Few safeties impact the game at that level in both facets — not too shabby for a fan.”"

Even Linsey still recognized Deion Sanders’ absurd comment about Byard when Sanders called Byard “just a fan” in 2018.

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Byard slid into the No. 5 spot in Linsey’s ranking, which, in fact, isn’t too shabby for a fan. I don’t expect anything to change for Byard going into the 2020 season. He’s going to continue to be an elite defender in the NFL and a leader on the Titans.

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