Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - ALERT: Mike Vrabel-Kevin Byard Reunite | Dangerous Patriots Secondary

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Pats have added a first team, all pro and free agency while putting together an absolutely loaded secondary. This is Lockdown Patriots. You are Locked on Patriots. Your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. All right. Before we get started, I know my voice does not sound great. I don't know if it's allergies.

Starting point is 00:00:33 I don't know if I'm catching something. I have no idea. But we've got to battle through. This is Free Agency Week. We don't take shows off. We don't take days off. So I am here to ask you, what's happening? I am Nick Cattels.

Starting point is 00:00:47 I've been covering the Pats for the past 16 years. Welcome to Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network, your team every day. On today's show, the Pats add a linebacker, but they're up against it in the tight end market. In the second segment, the Pats, Pats have an incomplete puzzle at a premier position after two moves earlier on Wednesday. But first, the Pats at a bona fide, legit all pro. Today's episode is brought to by Fandul.

Starting point is 00:01:20 Fandul is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a college basketball parley profit boost. Head to Fandul.com to get started. The Patriots have signed safety, Kevin Byard, to a one. one year, $9 million deal. Now, I know people will look at his age. Kevin Byer turns 33 in August and they will say, what are they doing signing a guy who's creeping towards his mid-30s?

Starting point is 00:01:50 My response to that would be, yeah, he's going to be 33 in August, but he was a first team all-pro this past season with the Chicago Bears. And as a matter of fact, Kevin Byard is a three-time all-pire. pro in his NFL career. And when you think about adding buyer, we'll talk about what he brings to the table, but just from 30,000 feet looking at this and this secondary, I've got to tell you, this secondary is arguably the best secondary in the NFL. When you think about the different components that they put together, the idea of having

Starting point is 00:02:30 Christian Gonzalez, a top five or six cornerback in football with the potential to be a top two or three guy. Carlton Davis, a legitimate number two outside corner. Marcus Jones in what he did throughout this past season. On a new extension, he had his best year in the NFL. He gets to roam around. And then you look now at the safety spot. Craig Woodson, who got better and better and better as the year went on throughout his rookie season, was tremendous in the post season.

Starting point is 00:03:03 and now you have Kevin Byard to go along with Craig Woodson on the back end. This secondary is loaded with talent. This secondary, I would put against any secondary in the league. That's how good they are. Their ceiling is ridiculous. A nice mix and match of young and old, right? Craig Woodson to go along with Kevin Byard at safety. Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones to go along with Carlton Davis,

Starting point is 00:03:31 bridging the gap from generation to generation, but supremely talented. I don't know a quarterback in football that would be excited to go against this secondary. And I love Kevin Byard, I do. He's an absolute, no doubt, ball hawk. NFL researcher on Twitter posted. Bayard led the NFL with seven interceptions last season,

Starting point is 00:03:53 but that's not just a one-year thing. That's not the anomaly with Byard. Bayard also leads the NFL, the entire league, with 36 interceptions since being drafted in 2016. He will create turnovers. He will create big plays. Taylor Kyle's posted that Byard was involved in more turnover-worthy plays than any safety in the league last season. Ballhawk, but he's not just a ballhawk. He's not just a guy who's going to create turnovers for your defense.

Starting point is 00:04:26 He's also really freaking good against the run. His pro football focus run grade was 82.6, which was 10th best at the position. So you look at safeties, two safeties, some teams play three safeties. Bayard was 10th defending the run. And let me go back to Taylor Kyle's who posted, Telenoa Hufongo was the only safety with more tackles for loss or no gain versus the run than Bayard last season. And I really like Jalen Hawkins.

Starting point is 00:04:59 I would have had no problem with the Patriots bringing Jalen Hawkins back. I thought he had a good, solid, steady season in 2025. But one of the weaknesses of Jalen Hawkins was coming downhill and trying to stop the run game. He missed tackles. And sometimes those missed tackles would come in bunches. So now you replace

Starting point is 00:05:24 Hawkins with Byard and those missed tackles and Byard shooting downhill like a missile to stop the run game, he is going to make that tackle. He is going to finish the play. And so I think that is an upgrade without a shadow of a doubt. The other thing about Bayard, and again, he's going to be 33 years old in August, but he was a first team all pro this past season,

Starting point is 00:05:50 showing all of us he has enough left in the gas tank. The other thing about Byrd is his ridiculous durability. We talked about Elijah Vera Tucker and the risk that you took by signing AVT. And the risk was the durability. The three season ending injuries, two tricep tears and of course the Achilles. When you look at Byrd, this is kind of crazy. I had to double, triple check today. Guess how many games?

Starting point is 00:06:19 I want you to throw it into the comments. Guess how many games Bayard has. has missed over his last nine seasons. I want you to guess how many games Kevin Byard has missed over the last nine years in the NFL. Throw your comments in. We know Mike Vrable. He talks about soft tissue injuries. He gets upset when guys have soft tissue injuries.

Starting point is 00:06:44 Nightshay jumps in and says 15 games missed. Zell Slayer says 10 games missed. How many games do you think Kevin Bayard has missed over his? his prior nine seasons in the NFL. Anita says zero. Richard Boucher says three. Gregory says 11. What if I told you that Kevin Bayard has missed one game in the last nine seasons?

Starting point is 00:07:14 What if I told you that Bayard has missed one game? One. One. Over a nine-year period. It's crazy, right? it's absolutely crazy. This past season started 17 games. 2024 started 17 games.

Starting point is 00:07:34 2023. He missed the game. He played for Tennessee and Philadelphia. He played 16 games. He missed the game. 2022, 17 out of 17. 2021, 17 out of 17. 2020, 16 out of 16.

Starting point is 00:07:48 2019, 16 out of 16. 2018, 16 out of 16. 2017. 16 out of 16. He's missed one game and it happened in 2020. He's an all-pro. First team, all-pro, ball hawk, great against the run, durable. He's familiar with this system playing for Mike Grable in Tennessee.

Starting point is 00:08:13 Obviously, he knows what this defense is all about. Being familiar with the system means effortless, effortless transition should easily slide right in. He is a tremendous communicator. he knows how to communicate with his teammates, with his coaches. He knows how to set defenses on the back end. And he is no doubt going to be a Craig Woodson mentor. Again, now you have Woodson on the back end with Byard. And Byard is going to be able to mentor the young man.

Starting point is 00:08:50 This is great stuff. He is an impeccable leader. Teams rave about him. teammates rave about him. Albert Breer tweeted out about the Patriots signing Kevin Byard. Patriots land a battleship commander for their secondary. And you go back to Mike Vrable speaking about Kevin Byrd in October of 2023. Terran Davenport had this.

Starting point is 00:09:19 Here's what Vrable said in 23. I want to thank Kevin for what he means to me personally and to this team. When I arrived, he helped carry a new message. into the locker room and established the mindset and work ethic we were trying to instill throughout the team. His play on the field speaks for itself, an intelligent and athletic player. He has led the secondary and helped us win a lot of games. Kevin and Clark and the kids mean a great deal to me, and I wish them success in all that is in front of them. Meanwhile, Jalen Hawkins signed a two-year, $10 million deal with Baltimore. Good for Jalen Hawkins.

Starting point is 00:09:57 congratulations on that deal. But I love this. It's a one year, $9 million deal. You're not handcuffed long term. And it is an immediate upgrade. Again, first team all pro last season. We're not talking four years ago. And so now you have this short term deal with Kevin Byard.

Starting point is 00:10:19 He helps Craig Woodson. You have an absolutely ridiculously stacked secondary. And I think you look towards the draft as well. this position. But I really like, I'd say I even love the move. Kevin Byard, the newest New England Patriot. Man, that's secondary. All right, we got a lot more for you.

Starting point is 00:10:42 The Pats officially lose two more edges and they need help there. We'll talk about that next. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. College basketball is nonstop. Big games, tight spreads, momentum swings every single night. early tip-offs to late-night West Coast shootouts, there's always action on the board. And now Fandul is giving you a way to turn that energy into even bigger potential wins with a college basketball parley profit boost.

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Starting point is 00:11:50 Of course, you know that website, but I'll tell you it one more time. It's Fandul.com. FanDul, play your game. Again, apologies for the voice, a little raspy. I know I sound like I smoked a carton of cigarettes before the show today. I did not. Trust me, I do not smoke. Going through something, don't know if it's allergies, don't know if I'm about to come down with something.

Starting point is 00:12:16 But you fight through. It's free agency, no excuses. This is what we do. I appreciate every single one of you here watching live or if you're catching us on demand. I appreciate every single one of you. Don't forget that. Free agency, of course, is here. And so are we.

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Starting point is 00:12:50 Every single like that we get means the world to me and helps us defeat that algorithm. So don't forget to click the like button. Don't forget to throw a comment in your thoughts on Kevin Byer, the newest edition, first team all pro this past season with the Chicago Bears. And don't forget to subscribe as we look for 10,000 subscribers. That's our next goal. Let's jump to a couple of comments here first.

Starting point is 00:13:11 Before I get to Edge, Corey D underscore X85, we have a solid roster building depth now. When you look at this roster now, you could feel the team. Like the Patriots are ready to feel the team. Now, do you want to add more? Yes. And we'll get into that. Are there some spots that you need more? I absolutely, absolutely believe that to be the case.

Starting point is 00:13:36 I really do. But, you know, when you look at this, you've got your roster filled and you could put a team out there tomorrow. And so that makes you feel comfortable as you continue in free agency and as you get ready for the draft. The Bruce Connection wants to talk about some of those spots I just mentioned about where you need help. where is our top tier edge rusher and blocking tight end? Get to that. I want to talk about the edge this segment. Patriots now subtracted two edge rushers from the team last year.

Starting point is 00:14:08 Officially today, they are gone. We'll get to that. And I'll also get to the blocking tight end as well. Bruce, I'll get there. Gregory talking about Kevin Byard would have given him a two-year deal. I'm fine with a one-year deal. Again, he's 33. That might have been a Kevin Bayer decision.

Starting point is 00:14:24 he might want to go year to year. And frankly, if he plays good football, I think he'll stay anyway because of the connection he has with Mike Vrable. I mean, Diana Rucini reached out to Kevin Byer today, and he said, we're putting the band back together. So I think he's a big fan of Vrable. Vrable's a big fan of Byrd.

Starting point is 00:14:43 So if he's going to keep playing, I don't think they'll have that much of an issue. As long as the Patriots want to sign him, I don't think that'll be a big issue. Elizabeth, 96, 74. I'm fine with 33. year old Byard, everyone else is under 26. Well, not Carlton Davis, but I get the point. You do have a pretty young secondary game with Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones and

Starting point is 00:15:06 Craig Woodson. You feel pretty good about that collection of young and older in the secondary. I think it's a nice mix. It's a nice mix of young and old back there. And I said it at the beginning of this podcast, and I'll keep saying it. I would argue the Patriots have the best secondary in football. The best secondary in football when you put the pieces together. All right, let's get to Edge. Edge remains a top need, folks. It remains a top need.

Starting point is 00:15:36 There's this battle, and I feel like the battle's been going back and forth since the season ended. Wide receiver, Edge, Edge, Wide Receiver. I think those are your two top priorities, and they continue to be your top priorities, even though you signed Romeo Dobbs, which we talked about yesterday. Caleb on Chase on, no longer a Patriot, one year, 12, million deal with Washington. I'm not surprised.

Starting point is 00:15:58 Not surprised whatsoever. Anthony Jennings has been released. Not surprised. Jennings was not really the best fit for this team. So you now have Caleb-on-Cheson gone.

Starting point is 00:16:14 Anthony Jennings gone. Dremont Jones in. So Jones to me replaces Chase-on. And it's pretty clear the Patriots chose Draymont Jones over Kalevon Chase-on because they gave Jones three years, $39 million, and Chase-on signs a one-year, $12 million deal. Now, maybe the Patriots wanted to sign a long-term deal at $12 or $13 million with Chase-on. And Chase-on said, no, if I'm going to sign for that kind of money,

Starting point is 00:16:42 I want a short-term deal. That's also a possibility here. But you look at this now, and right now you've got Draymont Jones and Harold Landry as you're starting edges. You're set in the middle with Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, but you've got Harold Landry and Draymont Jones on each edge. And there is a difference between Draymont Jones and Calebon Chaseon. When I say that Jones replaces Chaseon, I don't mean they're similar players because there is a difference between those two guys, as we have discussed. Jones can actually move inside. Chason does not have that versatility. So Jones is a different type of tool for the Patriots defensive coaches to use in 2026. I think the Patriots still need two or three edges added to this team.

Starting point is 00:17:30 I thought they needed two to three edges before the offseason began. And now you look at it and you're minus one because you lost Jennings, lost quote unquote. You lost Chase on, maybe say you subtracted Chase on and Jennings and you've only brought in. You've only added Jones. So you're minus one at the edge position. And so I would love for the Patriots to sign another veteran edge. Bradley Chubb right as we started this live stream. Apparently he is going to the Buffalo Bills.

Starting point is 00:18:04 You got a pretty good contract. It was a three-year deal, I believe, like $30 million guaranteed. So I would like the Patriots to add another veteran at edge. My number one option at this point, I think, would be Arnold Ebikati, who, you know, if you look at, Arnold Ebakati, he's 27 years old. He's 6-2-250. That's the perfect size for a Mike Grable defense.

Starting point is 00:18:33 Harold Landry is 6-2-252. So Evacati, if you bring him in, again, 27, he fits the timeline with some of the other guys you've signed like Romeo Dobbs and Elijah Verit Tucker. If you bring in Evacati, he's the same size as Landry, 6-2-250. maybe a couple of pounds larger or smaller. Now, other older, bigger options, you've got Joey Bosa, you've got Cameron Jordan, you've got Jadavian Clowny, those guys are a little bit bigger than what Vrable usually likes at defensive end, what he usually likes at his, you know, as his pass rushers.

Starting point is 00:19:16 So that's why I look at Epicati and I think, again, age, size. he's a better fit for the Patriots defense. I know some will say Max Crosby. Maybe we'll talk about that later on, but I don't think Max Crosby is going to be part of this conversation. If the Patriots are going to make a trade, I still think it would be for a receiver and not for Max Crosby. Another name you could throw out there is Jonathan Grenard.

Starting point is 00:19:44 Interesting to see what happens with Grinard and where he goes. The reports are that you can get him for a, you know, a second day pick. So if you can get him for a day, day two pick or day three pick, that's another guy. The thing is, he wants a new contract. So what's the money you're looking at? And no matter what, you got to go into the draft and draft an edge. If you sign one of the guys I just mentioned, I'd still go into the draft and take at least

Starting point is 00:20:17 one edge. If you don't sign any vets beyond Draymond Jones, I think you go into the draft and you take two defensive edges. That would be my plan. I've said that ever since they signed Draymond Jones. You either sign another veteran in draft one edge or you just go into the draft and you draft two edges and you've got to draft an edge, I think, in the top two or three rounds.

Starting point is 00:20:41 You look at number 31. Maybe you look at that second round pick. But that's what I think the direction you take at edge. And by the way, shout out to Anthony Jennings, the ultimate professional last year. I talked about it a lot on this podcast throughout the season. And when Landry went down, he was the ultimate professional. He gave you some good football and never complained, never cried. So shout out to Anthony Jennings, who handled the situation as professionally as you can.

Starting point is 00:21:14 And, you know, he just wasn't the best fit. the Bruce connection brings up. We have Braden Swinson. Yeah, you've got Braden Swinson, Elijah Ponder. I don't know if you want to, you know, bet on those guys. If they pop, great. But I would still want more insurance at that position. Coming up, the Patriots add a linebacker while the tight end market gets very thin. Oh, and Mike Vrable and company made a surprise decision today.

Starting point is 00:21:42 Talk about all that. This is Lockdown Patriots, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. day. It's tax time, but for a lot of us, the old way of doing taxes is, well, it's a lot. Trying to book an appointment that's not the most convenient, sitting in a waiting room with stack of papers, emailing back and forth and wondering if they really get your situation. But this year, you're getting a major upgrade. Intuit TurboTax now has in-person locations nationwide. You can meet face-to-face with a real tax expert, and your documents get uploaded

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Starting point is 00:22:45 Turbotax.com slash local to find a store near you and book your appointment. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe again. Apologies for the voice, the allergies, the sickness, whatever's happening here with me. I appreciate y'all hanging out and helping a brother out and continue to support this podcast and build the lockdown Patriots community. Like, comment, and subscribe. Let's jump to another couple of comments before I talk about. the Patriots adding a linebacker and making a surprise decision on one player today.

Starting point is 00:23:22 It surprised me. Corey D jumps in, draft an edge rusher at 31 and what is it, Jennings Dunker at 63, the mullet man. I don't know if you're going to go line that early. Maybe you do. Maybe you do. JC Starhawks 7536. I think Marvin Harrison Jr. needs a change of scenery. I wouldn't disagree with that.

Starting point is 00:23:47 I just don't know if the Cardinals feel that way. And I don't know if Marvin feels that way. But, you know, he's kind of been thrown out there as a possibility by people. Until we hear something that's, you know, substantial or legitimate. I mean, you just invested a big time pick into him a couple of years ago. And I don't think you're going to get great value. So I'm not so sure that Arizona. is going to be in any rush to trade Marvin Harrison Jr.

Starting point is 00:24:20 All right. Let's look at some other things here. The Patriot signed linebacker KJ Britt, KJ Britt earlier today to a one-year deal. He's a depth linebacker. We're talking, you know, a guy who had, according to Mark Daniels, 72 tackles in 2024 with Tampa. He made 35 tackles last season in Miami.

Starting point is 00:24:40 He's mostly a core special teams guy. Taylor Kyle's mentioned that on Twitter. Britt led the Dolphins with 10 special teams tackles. He was on five units. He also led the defense with an 11.5% run stop rate. Mike Reese pointed out that KJ. Britt played 77% of the snaps on special teams last season. So special teams guy mostly. The surprise decision for me was Jack Gibbons. Now, the Patriots, you know, they can go back and they can, they can still sign Dr. Gibby, as they call them. but the Patriots decided as a restricted free agent to not tender Jack Gibbons.

Starting point is 00:25:22 So again, that doesn't mean that he's completely out. It was just a little bit of a surprise because he is a favorite of Mike Rable that the Patriots decided to not tender him. So currently you're looking at linebacker. Really, you got Robert Spillane, Christian Ellis, KJ Britt. The Patriots, they need to draft a linebacker. I thought that beforehand. I thought that before today.

Starting point is 00:25:50 I feel even stronger about that now after seeing what happened. Jalani Tavai released. Gibbons not tendered. I feel like you need a young linebacker that you can feel really, really good about. You also have Chad Muma on the roster. I guess you can say you've got Marte Mapu. I don't know how long Mapu. is for New England.

Starting point is 00:26:18 So, you know, we'll see how they, they put the rest of this together. You got Lakita as well, who was signed a week or two ago. But I think they need linebacker help, or at least somebody who's going to develop to help you. Robert Spillane's 30. I think Christian Ellis is best as like a number two guy.

Starting point is 00:26:35 So I think drafting a linebacker, drafting an off-the-ball linebacker is pretty critical for the Patriots, especially if they don't bring back Gibbons. If they find a way to bring back Gibbons, then it's not as critical. It's not as urgent. But I still, I still, even with Jack Gibbons, I still wanted the Patriots to look at linebacker in the draft. So I think that would make a lot of sense.

Starting point is 00:27:02 The tight end market. The tight end market is thinning out. Somebody who was a favorite name of Patriots fans, Chigakancoe. Chigakanco is going to Washington. He agreed with the command. Sanders three years up to $30 million. So Chigacanquo is out. Cade Aten is out.

Starting point is 00:27:20 Charlie Kohler is out. One name that remains, David and Joku. Would the Patriots be interested in David and Joku? He's more of a move tight end, so to speak, right? He's not that Y tight end, the blocking tight end, the big inline blocker. He's also 30 years old in July, so you're not getting much younger. He's talented, though. Very, very athletic.

Starting point is 00:27:43 9.32 relative athletic score. He has tons of yards after the catch capability. David and Joku also very good at attacking down the seam with his athleticism. And we know how much Josh McDaniels loves throwing seam balls down to tight ends. So, you know, if you went out and you signed a David and Joku, you'd have Injoku and Hunter Henry, you'd have the move tight end. you'd have Henry who, you know, you can move around a little bit, he can block a little bit. And then you would, I think, go into the draft and draft your Y tight end.

Starting point is 00:28:20 That's what I would think. But, you know, the only guy really out there that, I mean, you got Mo Ali Cox who could be a big kind of blocking tight end. But David and Joku and a Y tight end if you draft, I don't think is the worst thing in the world, right? David and Joku, again, he's a talented guy. He's a talent. he's just more of a receiver, a more receiving tight end than, you know, big blocking tight end. The defense for me is almost fully set, right? After signing Kevin Byard, I think you sign a veteran defensive end, as we talked about a few minutes ago.

Starting point is 00:28:53 And then I would, you've got 11 picks in the draft. I'd use four or five picks on defense. I'd look at edge. I'd look at linebacker. I'd look at a young developmental cornerback because Carlton Davis is, you know, closer to 30. every single day. I think he's 29 currently. Yes, he's 29.

Starting point is 00:29:13 He turns 30 on New Year's Eve. So you want to make a decision within the next year or two on Carlton Davis. So I think drafting a young developmental cornerback makes sense. And I would also look at drafting a young developmental safety. You've got Dell Pettis, but it feels like the Patriots are making a statement here

Starting point is 00:29:31 that Pettus is not going to be a starter, right? So you've got Kevin Byard, one-year deal. now you can draft a younger safety. And it's a pretty good draft for safeties, by the way. And you have that layer. And I wouldn't be shocked if you spent a pick on a run-stuffing defensive tackle now that Kyrie's Tonga's gone. So I look at four or five picks,

Starting point is 00:29:56 edge, linebacker, cornerback, safety, maybe run-stuffing, defensive tackle. And then you're set. You're set to go for 2026. And by the way, do you remember? remember when people were upset about this free agency five hours into it. And I told all of you on Monday that I wasn't going to lose my mind, that we should be patient. We should trust Mike Vrable in this front office after what they did last year.

Starting point is 00:30:21 Take a deep breath. I think if you look at this free agency right now, you should feel pretty happy about what they've done so far. They're not done, but you should feel pretty good. That wraps up this edition of Lockdown Patriots. Thank you for making us your first listen and for being an everydayer. reach out to me on Twitter at Nick C. Radio. And don't forget to throw a comment in on the YouTube channel. Hit that like button.

Starting point is 00:30:41 Give us a thumbs up and subscribe. And you can get one month free of the Everydayer Club, by the way, with code free agency. No spaces now through March 15th. Join the club at lockdownpatriots.com. Have a great day and we will see you tomorrow.

Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - ALERT: Mike Vrabel-Kevin Byard Reunite | Dangerous Patriots Secondary

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