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Jordan Poyer, Mitch Morse Released by Bills Ahead of 2024 NFL Free Agency

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVMarch 6, 2024

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 07: Jordan Poyer #21 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after a 21-14 victory against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)
Rich Storry/Getty Images

Jordan Poyer's time with the Buffalo Bills has come to an end.

Poyer was among the players released by the team on Wednesday:

Buffalo Bills PR @BuffaloBillsPR

Bills roster moves ⬇️<br><br>- Signed OL David Edwards to a two-year contract.<br><br>- Signed P Matt Haack to a one-year contract. <br><br>- Released: S Jordan Poyer, DB Siran Neal, C Mitch Morse, WR Deonte Harty &amp; RB Nyheim Hines <a href="https://t.co/7NK8qbRxNf">pic.twitter.com/7NK8qbRxNf</a>

ESPN's Adam Schefter—who initially broke the news of Poyer's release—also reported that the Bills will release cornerback Tre'Davious White:

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter

More departures on Buffalo's defense: Bills are releasing two-time Pro-Bowl CB Tre'Davious White, per source.<br><br>Buffalo will designate him as a post-June 1 cut, which will save them $10.2 million in salary cap space, with $6.2M in dead money. His contract will remain on Buffalo's… <a href="https://t.co/akMrfC36px">pic.twitter.com/akMrfC36px</a>

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter

The Bills' cuts of S Jordan Poyer, C Mitch Morse, CB Siran Neal, WR Deonte Harty, and RB Nyheim Hines will create approximately $25.96M in salary cap space.<br><br>Buffalo entered the day $40M over the cap.<br><br>The release of Tre'Davious White will open up another $10.2M, but only after… <a href="https://t.co/XappVwclC0">https://t.co/XappVwclC0</a>

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo also reported the Bills plan to release receiver and return specialist Deonte Harty.

Rapoport reported Buffalo is "working to get under the cap" at this stage of the offseason.

Buffalo cleared cap space by releasing defensive back Siran Neal, who Rapoport noted was set to make approximately $3 million in base salary in 2024. Schefter noted the Bills will also save approximately an additional $2.5 million against the cap by restructuring cornerback Rasul Douglas' deal as well.

Center Mitch Morse, meanwhile, was set to make $8.5 million in salary in 2024.

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bills?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bills</a> plan to move Connor McGovern to center this upcoming season. Meanwhile, David Edwards, who just signed a contract extension, is in line to start at guard. <a href="https://t.co/koDeRbGjUf">https://t.co/koDeRbGjUf</a>

The decision to release Poyer, which creates $5.7 million in cap space, marks something of an end of a safety era for the Bills, as Micah Hyde is also a free agent. They made up one of the league's best one-two punches in the defensive backfield for years in Buffalo but could both sign elsewhere this offseason.

Jordan Poyer, Mitch Morse Released by Bills Ahead of 2024 NFL Free Agency
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Poyer played for the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles prior to joining the Bills ahead of the 2017 campaign. Yet he turned the corner as a game-changing presence during his seven years in Buffalo that included back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in 2021 and 2022 and four seasons of 100 or more tackles.

One of those campaigns was last year when he posted 100 tackles, four passes defended, one forced fumble and one sack in 16 games. He also helped lead the team to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive campaign.

It remains to be seen how much interest Poyer generates in free agency considering he will be 33 years old throughout the 2024 season.

However, he was still productive in 2023 and would add veteran leadership and playoff experience to the back end of any defense he joined.

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