
Patriots gain draft leverage after Byard signing
The Patriots closed three days of free agency by adding safety Kevin Byard on a one-year, $9 million deal, boosting to 11 starting-caliber players and giving them flexibility around the No. 31 pick. While WR, TE, and edge depth remain needs, the veteran presence and depth make trades or additional signings more viable without forcing an immediate starter, with continued emphasis on edge/corner depth and offensive-line insurance for Morgan Moses and the future.













