Buffalo Bills free safety Jairus Byrd (31) celebrates his first half interception against the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Buffalo Bills impending free agent free safety Jairus Byrd is the best impending free agent on the open market, and he will likely command at least $9 million per year on what should be a four of five-year contract. Byrd is an elite free safety who can lock things down in coverage, and he’s also a sure-handed tackler. There’s a high demand out there for free safeties, and there aren’t many legitimate options on the free agent market; Byrd wishes to be the highest-paid safety in the NFL and will likely get his wish.
The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that he would be “really surprised” to see the Washington Redskins “in on” the Jairus Byrd sweepstakes, and this contradicts a few reports over the past couple of days. Honestly, Redskins fans should be glad that this is the case, because Byrd is simply too expensive for them to sign. They would obviously love to have a guy as talented as him, and he would be a massive upgrade. However, it would make more sense for the Redskins to sign multiple “solid” free agents instead of splurging for one, as I think it would make more sense for them to go after Carolina Panthers DB duo Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Mitchell instead. Byrd-Redskins talk shouldn’t be ruled out, but it might not be a likelihood. Stay tuned for other reports, especially conflicting ones.
Since the weekend before the franchise tag deadline, Rapoport has been adamant that the door hasn’t been slammed shut on the chances of Byrd re-signing with the Buffalo Bills. While this has never seemed likely, he once again reports that it’s “still possible” for Byrd to return to the Bills. I don’t see this happening, but nobody should write off a return just yet.