Philadelphia Eagles Trade for Kevin Byard Could Pay Dividends vs. Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce

New Philadelphia Eagles safety Kevin Byard has had some success against Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce in the past.

PHILADELPHIA - Kevin Byard, you’re up.

The veteran safety will be playing just his third game as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead in a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, but Byard is expected to have a major impact when it comes to dealing with the Chiefs’ top threat in the passing game, All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce.

A two-time All-Pro himself in Tennessee, Byard became known as the safety who could best handle tight ends in Nashville, and Kelce, the younger brother of Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce, is perhaps the best pass-catching tight end of the generation.

Both Kelces seemingly have the GPS set for Canton, and Byard is one of the few defensive backs who has been able to give Travis the occasional problem over the years.

"I watched a couple of their battles a couple times, just because they played each other a good bit in the playoffs," Eagles Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay said. "Great matchup. Two smart players going head to head. That’s a great matchup. 

"I’m just thankful, really, that I can be a front row seat, and I mean really front row. I’m not just sitting out just watching. I’m actually with it, so it’s going to be a great show."

Byard puts to his meticulous preparation in the offseason when asked how he's been able to hold up against some of the better tight ends in the NFL.

“I think the work I put in year in and year out,” Byard said when asked about his history with Kelce and having the ability to slow the eight-time Pro Bowl selection down at times “I do feel like playing man-to-man is one of my strengths for real. Not just playing close to the line of scrimmage. But at the same time, I’ve had experience with him. 

"I’ve played against him a lot.”

Eagles S Kevin Byard will have a tall task against Kansas City's Travis Kelce :: John McMullen/Eagles Today

Experience is life’s best teacher, something Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson just happened to mention on Friday.

“I won’t say I know how he runs his routes or understands because he doesn’t really run routes based on the Xs and Os, or the lines on a piece of paper,” said Byard. “He and Patrick Mahomes have a great rapport.”

Byard noted the relentlessness of Patrick Mahomes’ ability to extend plays and explained that the off-schedule nature of the relationship between the Kansas City quarterback and Kelce is the danger zone.

“He’s going to be a safety valve,” Byard said of Kelce. “He’s going to look for him in zone, and you don’t want to leave a lot of space. So I just try to be more aggressive with him because I know he’s going to run double routes.

“The first route isn’t going to be the one that beats you. It's when Mahomes starts scrambling. He does the scramble drill, and he gets open, and he’s really good with the ball in his hands.”

Slay agreed when relayed Byard's sentiments.

"Hell yes! Hell yes!" Slay said. "Because Mahomes is terrific at extending plays. He’s an all-time quarterback. So he can do whatever he wants to do. So a guy like that, that’s what makes it tough.

Perhaps Byard’s best attribute for handling such a tough task is a healthy respect for what he’s up against.

“I just love those battles with him,” Byard said of Kelce. “We’re obviously talking about a Hall of Fame tight end, so there’s a lot of respect there.”

Kevin Byard Arrives to Settle Down Eagles' Biggest Concern