Is This The End for Buffalo’s Safety Duo?

The Buffalo Bills‘ Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer have been a top five Safety duo in the league since they came to Buffalo in 2017. We’ve seen some pretty remarkable numbers from the duo. But seven years into their Buffalo tenure, it may be coming to an unfortunate end.

Jordan Poyer

Poyer is 32 years old and has dealt with a number of injuries in the past couple of seasons. The Bills just signed Poyer to a two-year extension to remain with the team last off-season, but he’s fallen short of what Bills fans had hoped and come to know. Poyer suffered a minor shin injury this year that kept him out for just one practice. Albeit, a healthier season from Poyer this year, but his production has dipped compared to last season, when he was playing with a handful of injuries. Poyer has an out in his contract after this season, which saves the Bills $5.5M in cap space. Although, a release in the off-season would carry a $2M dead cap hit, per Spotrac. The move makes complete sense from a financial standpoint for Buffalo. They’ve released proven veterans before to save money (Cole Beasley), and Poyer could be the next. In an off-season that won’t be pretty for the Bills, Poyer could be the toughest move they have to make.

Season stats: 69 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, three passes defended.

Micah Hyde

Hyde, like Jordan Poyer, is 32 years old and has dealt with some injuries. However, his injuries have been more severe and career shortening than Poyer’s. Last season, Hyde suffered a season-ending neck injury that required surgery, and this year a neck stinger that has been nagging him for the past few weeks. Hyde’s pre-existing neck injuries are worrisome; he’s had at least four known neck injuries going back to 2015. After undergoing a procedure last season, which included a neck fusion, a stinger isn’t good for Micah Hyde’s season/career going forward. You always hope Hyde comes out of every game healthy, but there’s always a concern that his stinger will become worse when he suits up.

Hyde is a free agent after the season, and 2023 may be his last time suiting up for Buffalo. Hyde is going down the same career trajectory that Aaron Williams (a fellow #23) did after suffering his neck injuries. From being carted off, to playing again the following season, and being carted off again against the Miami Dolphins.

Season stats: 44 tackles, two INTs, five passes defended, one QB hit.

With VERY limited cap space in 2024, the Bills will likely have to look to the draft to replace one of their Safeties, while (hopefully) re-signing Taylor Rapp to man the other spot. One Safety prospect they could look at is Miami Hurricanes junior Kamren Kinchens (6’0”, 205 lbs), who has totaled five INTs this season, including one TD, five passes defended, and one sack.

2024 could look like a totally new Buffalo Bills team with a multitude of free agents coming up. They could end up relying heavily on the draft to build their team.

Featured Image Credit: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images