Although the Bills let Tremaine Edmunds walk earlier this week, they are planning to retain their other priority free agent. Jordan Poyer is expected to re-sign with the team, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This will be Poyer’s third Bills contract. The veteran safety signed with the team in 2017 and later reached an extension agreement. The Bills are now keeping the 11th-year defender around for at least a seventh season with the team.
Poyer sought a second Bills extension last year, but nothing materialized. Consequently, he spoke with other teams this week. The market did not produce what he wanted, with Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com noting Poyer felt his age affected his value. The longtime Buffalo safety is 32, so he is probably right. But he earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and made the Pro Bowl last season. The Bills will bet on Poyer continuing to be productive in his early 30s.
The Bills have obtained considerable value from Poyer, who has been instrumental in the team’s rise during Sean McDermott’s tenure. Months after being hired, McDermott signed off on a four-year, $13M deal for Poyer, whose profile at the time was nowhere near where it is today. Following two playoff trips with Poyer and safety tandem partner Micah Hyde, the Bills extended both. Poyer signed a two-year, $19M extension in 2020. Given his view of an age-limited market this year, it should not be expected his third Bills pact will exceed his second by much.
The Raiders looked into Poyer but ended up signing ex-Eagle Marcus Epps on a two-year, $12M accord.
Hyde is already attached to a two-year, $19.25M pact. The Bills have managed to keep their top-flight safety duo together on middle-class contracts.
Last season, Pro Football Focus slotted Poyer 48th overall among safeties. But the former Eagles draftee has been in McDermott’s system for six seasons. With the Bills set to have a new defensive coordinator in 2023, he and Hyde stand to benefit the new McDermott lieutenant after Edmunds’ departure.
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