When NFL free agency opens up just days from now, the Buffalo Bills will have a big decision to make with one of their defensive leaders.
Veteran safety Jordan Poyer is set to enter free agency, and the Bills have to decide whether or not he is worth bringing back. Of course, the salary cap is an issue for Buffalo at the moment. But, that’s nothing that cannot be manipulated by general manager Brandon Beane.
If Poyer leaves for another team, though, the Bills are going to have to find a replacement, and that player will have some big shoes to fill.
Via free agency, the Bills have three excellent options, all of which they’ll also have to pay up for, but maybe not as much as Poyer would command.
Free agent replacements for Buffalo Bills S Jordan Poyer: Jimmie Ward
One of the first options for the Bills is current San Francisco 49ers safety Jimmie Ward. Like Poyer, Ward is also over 30 years old and will turn 32 in July. He would be more of a short-term solution to replace Poyer, but a viable option.
Ward has been consistently good, but not elite. He’s never made a Pro Bowl, but he’s played in a phenomenal defensive system in San Francisco and it would be an easy transition coming to another solid defense under Sean McDermott.
While Poyer’s annual estimated value is over $11 million, Ward’s sits at $7.6 million according to Spotrac. That would be a savings of nearly $4 million, which the Bills could opt to use toward a Tremaine Edmunds contract or an offensive lineman.