Tampa Bay a potential landing spot for free agent FS Jairus Byrd?
By Mike Dyce
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly “unlikely” to keep free agent safety Jairus Byrd. According to Jeremy White of WGR550-AM Buffalo, the Bills aren’t close to a deal with their franchise safety and despite reports that said they were willing and able to use the franchise tag on Byrd, the Bills won’t.
That means he’ll hit free agency and Sports Illustrated’s Peter King speculated that if he becomes a free agent he could wind up in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers.
"I think if I’m guessing where Jairus Byrd lands—assuming he’s not tagged by the Bills—I’m guessing Tampa Bay. His dad, Gil Byrd, is an assistant coach in the secondary for the Bucs. Not many instances of father coaching son in NFL history."
That father-son combination would be a nice story, but the Bucs already have Dashon Goldson playing Byrd’s free safety position and Goldson just signed a contract with the Bucs last year for five years, $41.25 million with $22 million guaranteed. They also have a No. 7 overall draft pick in Mark Barron playing strong safety.