If Byard wasn’t going to stay with the Bears, joining the Patriots always made the most sense. The reason is that their coach, Mike Vrabel, was Byard’s coach with the Titans in 2018-23 and remained close with him.

The New England Patriots are signing veteran safety Kevin Byard III to a one-year, $9 million contract, according to The Athletic and NFL Network. Byard, 32, is coming off his third first-team All-Pro honor last season with the Chicago Bears.

The Bears landed Coby Bryant. What does that mean for the future of Kevin Byard III?

Offensively, he’s also a fun addition to the receiving corps, a tone-setting worker who should be a positive influence on younger teammates Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. Raymond played for both head coach Ben Johnson and receivers coach Anwtaan Randle El in Detroit. Both coaches remain big fans.

It’s telling that some of the 49ers’ free agents, like Jauan Jennings and Brian Robinson Jr., haven’t inked deals yet. Those are the kinds of players that usually sign on Wednesday or Thursday after the first initial wave has passed.