The feeling amongst Patriots fans through free agency so far is mixed, since the team hasn't made any big-time splashes with the players they have signed. For the most part, there aren't many complaints about the new faces joining the roster, as it's more about who they haven't signed.
But there was some increased excitement when news broke that veteran safety Kevin Byard had reached an agreement with New England, as he led the league in interceptions during the 2025 season.
The news came just minutes before it was announced that Jaylinn Hawkins signed a deal with the Ravens, making his loss sting a bit less. Even better was seeing Byard's contract details, one year worth $9 million, and Bears fans' reactions to losing the Pro Bowler.
Although they knew he likely wasn't returning, seeing the deal he signed made them feel a little differently.
Bears fans are not overly thrilled that the Patriots stole Kevin Byard in free agency
Byard spent two seasons in Chicago, but last year was his best by far, earning him just his third Pro Bowl nod since entering the league in 2016. He was absolutely dominant for their defense and kept them in several games, so it was clear it would be a significant loss to see him walk in free agency.
The feeling amongst Bears fans was that they knew he likely wasn't returning, as the coaching staff wanted to build a younger, speedier roster. But once they saw the cheap contract he signed with the Patriots, several fans took to social media to express their disappointment that the Bears did not match the Patriots' offer.
That's a big sign of what the Patriots are getting, as if Byard's career wasn't a solid enough indication that the Patriots are about to get a ball hawking safety.
Seeing fans of a former team mourn the loss of a free agent is always good news when your team is on the receiving end, and that appears to be the case with Byard. If there were any doubts about what kind of player they were getting, mainly because of his age, then Chicago's reaction to losing him puts a lot of that at ease.