Buffalo Bills Star Player Absent From OTA’s Due To Contract Dispute
Organized Team Activities run throughout the entire summer and, in some cases, are often not mandatory for players to attend. Although not mandatory, most players will show up to get some non-contact football work in with their teammates. Notable absences always raise concerns since they usually are because a player is disgruntled with his situation with the team.
All-Pro Absence
The Buffalo Bills All-Pro Safety Jordan Poyer is the notable absence at training camp, and it comes as no surprise. When the Buffalo Bills held their voluntary minicamps, Poyer was also not in attendance. As a matter of fact, the only Bills-related events he had been to this summer were his safety partner Micah Hyde’s charity softball game.
During his press conference at OTA’s Head Coach, Sean McDermott, said that he was able to speak to Poyer during the charity game. Although McDermott said it went well, he also stated that “Business is Business.”
Although Sean McDermott would love to have his All-Pro Safety on the field, the business side of things is Brandon Beane’s job. Beane has not been afraid to make the moves he feels are suitable for the team, making this Jordan Poyer situation very interesting.
Contract Challenges
This offseason Jordan Poyer changed his representation to Drew Rosenhaus of Rosenhaus Sports. Shortly after Poyer changed representation, Rosenhaus released this statement via. Tim Graham of the Athletic.
Jordan Poyer’s new agent, Drew Rosenhaus, tells me: “We have approached the Bills about a contract extension for Jordan, and he would very much like to finish his career in Buffalo.” — Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) April 8, 2022
Jordan Poyer wants a new contract with the Bills, and after finishing as an All-Pro this past season, he likely wants more years and more money. Poyer rightfully wants the extension because of his play and value for the Bills. He is about to play the final year of his current deal, in which he had an average salary of just over nine million per year.
Per Over The Cap, Jordan Poyer is the 12th highest-paid safety in the NFL. A number that is a little low for someone who was just named an All-Pro and is annually one of the best safeties in the entire NFL. He likely has his eyes on becoming a top 10 paid player at his position, if not higher. Poyer also is expected to look for guaranteed money in his contract. His current contract has the 18th most in guaranteed money of all the safety contracts in the league.
A little twist to the situation is that Poyer states he wants to finish his career in Buffalo in the statement released by his agent Rosenhaus. However many years he wants to continue playing for is a mystery, and Brandon Beane may not want to hand out anything long-term or significant.
End Of An Era?
Although it seemed like something that would never happen just one season ago, could Jordan Poyer play his last season as a Buffalo Bill this year. Well, I would argue as time goes on and on without a new contract, the less and less likely it is Poyer gets one. There are a couple reasons why Brandon Beane may be hesitant to give Poyer such a big deal.
Poyer is 31 years old.
The Bills are extremely tight on cap space and have several young players that need to be extended.
Poyer’s age is definitely a concern; he would play the first year of his new contract at 32 years old. Brandon Beane has shown no evidence as Bills general manager that he is willing to give big contracts to players in their 30s. The only comparable situation is Stefon Diggs this offseason. Diggs got a four-year extension with Buffalo, keeping him until his age 34 season. However, even that deal has a pretty solid cap saving out for the Bills in the final year.
Dawson Knox, Tremaine Edmunds, Rodger Saffold, Jamison Crowder, OJ Howard, Dane Jackson, and Reggie Gilliam are all free agents next summer, followed by Ed Oliver and Gabriel Davis as players who could demand big money the following summer.
While some of those players are veterans Knox, Edmunds, Oliver, and Davis are all highly talented players in their position. With continued growth, they could demand even more money than anticipated. Brandon Beane would extend a younger player ten times before someone in their 30s. This does not bode well for what Poyer would like this offseason.
Poyer wants money and the security of a long-term deal to finish his career. This is likely his last attempt at any large contract with a contending team. He has some leverage considering that he is coming off an All-Pro season and has been one of the best safeties in the league for almost half a decade now.
However, Beane and Poyer’s agent know that getting a 31-year-old safety either a long-term deal or a lot of money is rare in today’s NFL. Beane does not make emotional decisions either. Poyer made his name as a top player in the league as a Bills and is also a fan favorite. That will not deter Beane from doing what he believes will get the Bills closer to a championship.
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