The Buffalo Bills will reportedly use their franchise tag on the 26-year-old free saftey Jarius Byrd. ESPN first reported the news and the Buffalo Bills have confirmed the designation. Byrd would receive $6.9 million for at least one year and the tag is non-exclusive meaning another team could still sign Byrd, but then they would have to reimburse the Bills two first round draft picks which is highly unlikely.
Following the release of fellow safety George Wilson last month, the Bills weren’t going to allow Byrd to slip away considering his ball hawking skills and the condition of the secondary. Jarius Byrd was a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2009 and was named as an injury replacement in 2012.
This is an ascending player. Byrd was targeted 21 times last season and pulled down five interceptions without allowing a touchdown. He closed out the year as the NFL’s second-ranked safety, per ProFootballFocus, after counting just $1.1 million against the salary cap last season.
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Tagged with: All Sports WNY, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sports, franchise player, Jarius Byrd, NFL, Russ Brandon
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