The Buffalo Bills have many decisions to make during free agency. The ones near the top are always the answers most sought after.
Right in those crosshairs is Jordan Poyer. The veteran safety is set to be 32 next season. But he’s still talented and going to command a good chunk of change in free agency.
However, there are other free agents to consider. Names such as linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and running back Devin Singletary are near the top of the list as well.
But if Pro Football Focus has their pick, the selection is Poyer.
The football analytics outlet named one pending free agent that each team in the NFL “can’t afford” to lose. For Buffalo, Poyer was the choice
Here’s how PFF explains why Poyer is so important to keep:
The Bills came up short once again in 2022 and have several tough decisions ahead of them. But, fortunately, they don’t have a ton of key free agents hitting the market. Poyer had been the consistent presence on the backend of this Bills defense prior to an injury-derailed 2022 campaign, logging 5,018 snaps from 2017-21 — fifth most among safeties — with a 93.9 coverage grade over the span that also ranked fifth.
Poyer was not himself to close out the 2022 campaign, battling through injury to be out there. Perhaps he can be convinced to return for one or two final runs at a price tag lower than the one he presumably wanted on an extension before the season began.
If money was no obstacle, the Bills would keep Poyer. But that is a challenge. Buffalo is approximately $20 million over the projected salary cap for next year. Beane would have to do some incredible work to get Poyer signed.
At this time, it appears other and younger options might outweigh bringing back Poyer. Edmunds (25) and Singletary (25) among them.
But Beane has been known to surprise. Stay tuned ahead of free agency’s start in March.