The Buffalo Bills could just let Jordan Poyer go. Maybe the Bills should just let Jordan Poyer go. That is not an easy statement to make about one of the most dynamic and exciting players the Bills have seen in recent memory and one who has endeared himself to Buffalo fans in unique ways (like taking a bus over 950 miles to play against the Chiefs in Week 6). However, for a multitude of reasons, it may be in the Buffalo Bills best interests to move on.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room that everyone seems to be talking about, including Poyer himself. Jordan Poyer himself does not seem to want to stay in Buffalo. He recently said as much on “The Jordan Poyer Show” podcast:
"“I would love to go to a state that doesn’t take half my money. It’s crazy to me how taxes work. Some people will say, ‘You’re already making x-amount of money.’ Taxes play a big part in all of our lives.”"
If that weren’t enough of a dagger to Bills fans, he added this gem:
"“If it wasn’t Buffalo, it’d be nice to see the sun.”"
As a resident of upstate New York, I certainly understand the sentiment. New York had the highest tax burden in the United States in 2022 at 12.75% and several NFL teams would provide the benefit of no state income tax. These include warmer and sunnier destinations such as Miami, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Houston, Dallas, and Washington. As much as his statements make logical sense, they still sting like a dagger for any Bills fan who can see the clear writing on the wall.
Beyond Poyer’s own statements, there are several reasons that it makes sense for the Bills to move on.