K Major

I'm not so sure about that on JP. Sean and Dennis often talk about consistency and keeping guys together/not adjusting scheme. You already know what happens when we remove guys from the back end to insert new players (see year 2014).

Wk 9 - highest grade on team (according to PFF)
Wk 12 - JB was rated 5th on team (with Kenny V)
Wk 13 - JB was rated 3rd best on team
Wk 14 - JB was rated 4th best on team

As you can see, he has been solid since the mid mark of the season. DA has figured out something (3 safety sets). It's more beneficial to keep him (work out a restructure), and keep him another year. Under the circumstances I think DA has done a good job of putting players in position to make plays. Maybe this off season the FO adds another corner back so only another player is having to learn the system, then double down on the three safety set & also add a top tier pass rusher.

It's pretty clear he was injured and was playing on a bad ... historically bad defense ever a year or so ago. Now that we are decent, so is Byrd. I don't think this is coincidence. Cutting him in 2017 doesn't make sense but 2018 does.

No way I'd let Byrd walk over 3.5M or so. Hindsight is 20/20 but I hate the contract ... not the player.