The Tennessee Titans and safety Kevin Byard have reached an agreement on a five-year, $70.5 million deal that includes $31 million in guarantees, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Byard, who has the same agent as Landon Collins and Earl Thomas, is now the highest-paid safety in NFL history.
Byard is entering his fourth season after being drafted in the third round (64th overall) in 2016. He started every game for the Titans in each of the last two seasons after making seven starts as a rookie.
Byard has 124 solo tackles and 12 interceptions over the last two years, including a career-high eight interceptions in 2017. He made his only Pro Bowl that season and was named to the All-Pro first team.
Before the deal, Collins and the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Tyrann Mathieu were the highest-paid safeties, signing deals in March for an average of $14 million a year.
Collins, 25, signed a six-year, $84 million deal with $44.5 million guaranteed with the Washington Redskins. Mathieu, 27, signed a three-year, $42 million deal with $26.8 million guaranteed.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter contributed to this report.