Podcast Summary: "Bills Decisions on Defense: Poyer, Edmonds & Other Free Agents"

Podcast: Buffalo Plus: A Buffalo Bills Podcast
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes
Date: February 7, 2023
Episode Focus: In-depth discussion of key defensive free agent decisions the Buffalo Bills must make, with a special look at Jordan Poyer, Tremaine Edmonds, and several other contributors. Includes insights on cap management, roster strategy, and the team’s balance between retaining talent and getting younger.

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off a series on the Buffalo Bills’ crucial free agent decisions, focusing first on the defense. The hosts dig into the cases of core veterans Jordan Poyer and Tremaine Edmonds, exploring their value, contract expectations, and the business realities facing the team. The group also touches on other defensive free agents—like Shaq Lawson, Jordan Phillips, and cornerback Dane Jackson—and discuss how the Bills might approach filling holes at key positions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Salary Cap and Roster Philosophy

• “The salary cap’s not real. ...you can manipulate it, you can work around it. One way is to not overspend on players of a certain age. You have to constantly get younger in this league.”
  —Mike Catalana (01:17)
• The panel reiterates their often-shared belief that the cap can be managed, but tough decisions come when players age or command premium contracts.

2. Jordan Poyer – The End of an Era? (01:04–05:56)

• Impact & Legacy: Praised for his leadership, playing through injury, and being the “safety blanket.”
• Contract Reality:
  • Poyer is 32, played well, and "did everything right," but is expected to leave due to age and market value.
  • “They’re going to let him go. ...It’s a shame because he’s a heck of a player. ...But there’s another team out there that’s going to say ‘We’re close, we need a guy, we need the veteran presence.’” —Mike (01:17–03:57)
• Projected Market Value: 3 years, $33M ($11M/year), seen as untenable for Buffalo’s roster construction (04:40)
• Replacement Options:
  • Potential internal moves (shifting Benford to safety, evaluating Demar Hamlin’s health).
  • Drafting a safety in rounds 1–3 is discussed, but there's debate about spending high picks on defense vs. offense.
  • “If Poyer wasn’t so good, it would make this decision easier.” —Dan (05:56)

3. Secondary Outlook Beyond Poyer (05:56–11:05)

• Dean Marlowe: Also a free agent, his future is uncertain.
• Demar Hamlin: Health and readiness are big questions.
• Christian Benford: Potential to move to safety, has prior experience there (06:48–07:38)
• Draft Philosophy: Mike argues for investing draft capital to get a young, ready-to-play safety, noting the Chiefs’ success with rookie DBs in the playoffs (09:28–10:19). Dan is skeptical, wanting offensive needs prioritized:
  • “My skin just crawls thinking they need to give Josh Allen weapons in these first few rounds.” —Dan (10:36)
• General Tone: The hosts debate balancing youth infusion on defense with maintaining enough talent to contend now.

4. Tremaine Edmonds – Stay or Go? (13:34–23:08)

• Profile: Only 25, productive, key to defense, projected at 4 years, $44M ($11M/year).
• Host Positions:
  • Dan: Thinks Edmonds “played himself out of Buffalo” and expects he’ll get a high offer elsewhere. Cites lack of an extension as a clear indicator he’ll leave (14:27–15:08).
  • Mike: Says the Bills might want him back "at the right price," and points out he’s a rare young, experienced free agent (15:08–15:34). Suggests the Bills will let the market dictate and try to keep him if possible.
  • Jenna: Feels Edmonds wants to stay and that money “doesn’t have to be the most, but close” for a deal to get done (17:51–18:14).
• Debate on Motivation: Dan hypothesizes Edmonds might want “to be the biggest name linebacker on a team,” which Jenna and Mike dispute, believing he’s comfortable in his role (18:14–19:11).
  • “He seems very comfortable in who he is and the way he plays. ...They look at him still as that constant on the defense.” —Mike (18:56–19:11)
• Likelihood: Mike and Jenna see a real chance he stays, but Dan is adamant:
  • “Out of all these free agents...I'm the most confident that Tremaine Edmonds will not be a Buffalo Bill next year.” —Dan (22:48–22:56)

5. Other Key Defensive Free Agents

Jordan Phillips & Shaq Lawson (24:05–28:56)

• Jordan Phillips:
  • Coming off $5M, injury-plagued season, likely too expensive for a return. Would have to accept a lower pay to come back.
• Shaq Lawson:
  • More impactful at a cheaper price ($1.2M), likely to command a raise.
  • “He gave him enough production, especially with Von [Miller] not probably ready for the beginning of the year. I think he’s coming back with more money, and I think Jordan Phillips is gone.” —Mike (25:08–26:18)
• Host consensus: They prefer keeping Lawson if money is shifted, but acknowledge both bring unique value if the price is right.

Dane Jackson (29:31–31:11)

• Restricted free agent, played ~80% of snaps, could be retained as affordable depth.
• “He’s the new Levi Wallace.” —Dan (29:43)
• Lauded as an example of late-round value (seventh round pick, solid play).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If Poyer wasn’t so good, it would make this decision easier.” —Dan (05:56)
• “The salary cap’s not real.” —Mike (01:17)
• “I'm the most confident that Tremaine Edmonds will not be a Buffalo Bill next year.” —Dan (22:48)
• “Hit on those draft picks... that'd be great.” —Mike & Dan, on the risk of shifting to rookie contributors in the secondary (10:25)
• Lighter Moment: Mike jests that Christian Benford might play everywhere in the secondary next season (31:11), and the hosts rib Dan about his infamous Terrell Bernard prediction.

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:15–01:04 — Introductions and Super Bowl context
• 01:04–05:56 — Jordan Poyer discussion: impact, contract status, and anticipated departure
• 05:56–11:05 — Options for replacing Poyer; depth and draft arguments for safety help
• 13:34–23:08 — Tremaine Edmonds: his value, contract debate, team fit, and host predictions
• 24:05–28:56 — Defensive line breakdown: Jordan Phillips, Shaq Lawson
• 29:31–31:11 — Dane Jackson’s restricted free agency status
• 31:22–32:15 — Closing thoughts: Offense prioritized in future episodes, meme talk, and Bills’ path forward

Host Tone & Language

• Friendly, direct, sometimes jokey—especially in side tangents (e.g., discussion of soup and vegetables between serious points).
• Deeply knowledgeable, with four decades of combined Bills coverage.
• Don’t pull punches about hard decisions, but express genuine appreciation for departed/likely-to-depart veterans.

Summary Takeaways

• The hosts feel strongly that Jordan Poyer has likely played his last down as a Bill, simply a victim of age and cap realities.
• Tremaine Edmonds is a true toss-up, with financial, positional, and motivational factors at play.
• They anticipate more defensive turnover, with calls for the team to get younger and reallocate money toward the offense, recognizing that replacing key veterans with cheaper, younger talent carries serious risks—particularly given the Bills’ Super Bowl window.
• Look for the Bills to make significant decisions in free agency and the draft, especially in the secondary and on the defensive line, while prioritizing weapons and blockers for Josh Allen moving forward.

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