Tennessee Titans security Kevin Byard returned to his elite kind in 2021 and even garnered some consideration for Defensive Participant of the 12 months over the course of the marketing campaign.
Byard notched 5 interceptions, 13 passes defended, one sack and a pair of defensive touchdowns, one off a decide and one off a fumble restoration.
He additionally noticed a significant enchancment in his cross protection after permitting a completion fee in opposition to of 57.7 p.c and a passer score allowed of 68.7.
Byard completed with the highest overall Pro Football Focus grade amongst safeties, and he notched a Professional Bowl look an obtained an All-Professional nod.
In an article making 100 daring predictions for the 2022 marketing campaign, Sports activities Illustrated’s Conor Orr predicted that Byard would need to win the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award.
Orr says “deserve” as a result of he isn’t certain Byard will really get it because of the standard weight excessive sack numbers carry relating to the award. Nonetheless, it’s a pleasant little bit of recognition for the Titans security.
29. Kevin Byard will deserve the NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months award
We don’t know what the Titans will appear like in 2022. Coach Mike Vrabel can have them aggressive it doesn’t matter what. A giant cause can be Byard, the do-everything, playmaking security who might have been the most effective participant at his place final yr. Discover we stated “deserve” within the headline. Will voters look previous sack totals and provides the person his due?
Byard wasn’t the one Titans security to shine in 2021, as fellow security Amani Hooker took that subsequent step and completed with the third-highest PFF grade on the place.
The Titans may need a whole lot of query marks at completely different positions going into 2022 — particularly on the offensive facet of the ball — however the security place isn’t considered one of them.