The New York Jets likely won’t be the chosen destination for this free agent
Following the New York Jets‘ unsuccessful pursuit of Tyreek Hill last offseason, it became clear that a big part of Hill’s choice was about the money.
It wasn’t just the money in the contract, but the fact that Florida has no state income tax, while New York’s income tax rate is one of the highest in the nation.
This is generally an underrated aspect of free agency, but the New York teams operate at a significant disadvantage in wooing free-agent targets due to this disparity.
It appears that this may come back to bite the Jets in the 2023 offseason, as well. New York has a well-known need at safety, the lone part of the free-agent market that actually has decent depth.
At the top of the market is Bills safety Jordan Poyer, who has been part of an elite duo with Micah Hyde for the last number of seasons (minus Hyde’s lost 2022 year).
Despite the Jets’ thin cap situation and need for a quarterback, there are some who projected Poyer as a possible target for the Jets. However, after his comments on his podcast, that doesn’t seem all that likely.
“I would love to go to a state that doesn’t take half my money… It would be nice to see the sun, maybe, every week or so.”
– Jordan Poyer on some things he’s looking for in his next team in Free Agency.
Doesn’t rule out a return to Buffalo. https://t.co/W5W79Wehnv
— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) February 25, 2023
A state that doesn’t take half his money? Not New York/New Jersey. Sunshine once a week? Well, probably more so than in Buffalo, where heaps of snow are the norm, but definitely not known as a haven of sunshine in the winter.
There are certainly other free-agent strong safeties available that would make sense for the Jets, including Julian Love, Adrian Amos, and Taylor Rapp.
Just move Poyer to the bottom of that list.
