The Bills are reuniting with veteran safety Jordan Poyer, according to FOX Sports Jordan Schultz.
Poyer, 34, played in Buffalo from 2017 to 2023, starting 107 games with only eight games missed due to injury. He also earned recognition as a first-team All Pro (2021) ands Pro Bowler (2022).
Poyer was released last March as part of the Bills’ 2024 cap moves that set up their flurry of offseason extensions this year. The 12-year veteran then signed with the division rival Dolphins for $2MM and outplayed that value with 16 starts and 98 tackles. The latter ranked second on a Miami defense that quietly finished as a top-10 unit last season.
Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp led the Bills’ safety room in 2024, with Cole Bishop and Cam Lewis both adding versatile depth. Bishop, a 2024 second-round pick, started four games as a rookie and was expected to take over a full-time role next to Rapp.
Poyer’s return to Buffalo may interfere with those plans. He’ll start on the practice squad, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, but he could retake his starting role in a familiar Sean McDermott defense. Despite his age, Poyer still played 96% of the available snaps in Miami last year. The Bills can elevate him from the practice squad three times; to play him beyond that, they must sign him to the active roster.
Originally drafted by the Eagles as a cornerback in 2013, Poyer appeared in three of the team’s first four games as a rookie. The former seventh-round pick quickly fell out of Philadelphia’s plans and was waived in October. He landed in Cleveland and converted to safety, carving out a core special teams role before rotational defensive snaps in 2015 and his first starting job in 2016. His tenure as a starter ended early due to a season-ending blindside block, and he was targeted by the Bills the following offseason to pair with fellow free agent signing Micah Hyde.
That partnership flourished over the next seven seasons, but both were cap casualties last year. Hyde returned to Buffalo in 2024 via the practice squad and retired as a Bill at the end of the season. Poyer has taken the first steps towards the same potential outcome, though he will be hoping to help the franchise finally bring home their first Super Bowl this season.
Practice squad. If he is on 53 idk what is happening.
Hopefully like Hyde last year – mentor Bishop from practice squad.
Just make sure he brings his wife with him….wow…..
This feels very different than Hyde, especially given the timing. Right after final cuts?!?! Hyde was a mid season luxury signing. This feels like a panic move. The secondary is an enormous problem. Beane gets no pass for neglecting the position. Fingers crossed Hancock turns into a diamond in the rough.
The issue with the safeties is THERE WASNT ANYTHING available as a major upgrade this offseason. Sure a trade but at what cost somewhere else to make thin. Glaring holes at cb and dline also they had to address with limited cap space. So idk what people expected tbh. Bringing in Poyer this late means yeah they’re trying to help that position and it’s with someone who knows the in’s and outs of the defense already so less time to coach up and plug in and play. Bring in someone different and they have to learn everything on the fly with a team that’s contending right now. Sure I’d love a major upgrade like the rest of everyone but at the same time too there isn’t one available on the cheap so this is the best thing the limited money can buy.