Philadelphia Eagles Trade Reaction: 'We Just Got Better' With Kevin Byard - Darius Slay

Philadelphia Eagles Trade Reaction: 'We Just Got Better' With Kevin Byard - Darius Slay

The Philadelphia Eagles locker room wasted no time in reacting to the news that the defending NFC champs are acquiring veteran safety Kevin Byard from the Tennessee Titans via a deal a week ahead of the NFL's Oct. 31 trade deadline.

And yes, the reaction - keyed by a leading voice in that locker room new teammate Darius Slay - is a positive one.

Slay ran to social media to share his view on being able to team up with the two-time Pro Bowler Byard.

Howie and Byard

Slay noted the Eagles “just got better” and sent a quick message to Byard in the process: "Let's work!''

👀 Just got better let’s work @KevinByard yes sir!!!

— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) October 23, 2023

The Eagles are presently atop the NFC standings after coming off of a Super Bowl appearance last season, and of course, under GM Howie Roseman are famously assertive when it comes to exploring trade moves.

Eagles Trade for Titans S Kevin Byard: Details

In this case, the Philly secondary is banged up, with Justin Evans currently on injured reserve with a knee injury and Reed Blankenship having missed the team's win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night with an injury to his ribs.

Slay, who notched his second interception of the season in Sunday's 31-17 win over the Miami Dolphins and 28th of his career, has also missed some time along the way to building to the Eagles' present 6-1 record.

It can be argued that in this deal, which saw Philadelphia send safety Terrell Edmunds and 2024 fifth- and sixth-round draft picks back to the trade-dumping Titans, the Eagles got "incrementally'' better. But the price is not excessive, the need is there, and the locker room seems happy ... and so now, it's "let's get to work'' time for Slay and Byard and the locker room.