The Buffalo Bills announced the release of the following players Wednesday: safety Jordan Poyer, center Mitch Morse, defensive back Siran Neal, wide receiver Deonte Harty and running back Nyheim Hines.
Poyer, Morse and Neal have been integral part of the Bills roster over the last several seasons, contributing to five consecutive playoff berths.
Here's how each player has impacted the Bills during their tenure:
Jordan Poyer
After a seven-year stint in which he recorded 682 tackles, 22 interceptions, 35 tackles for a loss, 48 pass breakups and 11 sacks, the Buffalo Bills are releasing longtime safety Jordan Poyer.
Poyer, 32, has been a team captain each of the last four seasons and ends his time with Buffalo as one of the most decorated Bills defensive players of his era. His 22 INTs rank tied for 10th-most all-time in Buffalo history and his 35 tackles for a loss during his time with the Bills are the most by a defensive back in franchise history.
Coming to Buffalo in 2017, Poyer — along with Micah Hyde — demonstrated excellence on and off the field to help the Bills break their playoff drought with a postseason appearance in his first season with the team. The two brought valuable leadership to the locker room and transformed the culture in Buffalo alongside head coach Sean McDermott.
Poyer set career marks in INTs (5) and tackles (94) in his first season with the Bills. From 2017 on, Poyer and Hyde were one of the NFL's best safety tandems.
In 2018, the Bills allowed the second-fewest passing yards in the NFL and Poyer recorded his first 100-tackle season as a pro. Poyer went on to have a career-high 124 tackles in 2020, the same season in which the Bills reached the AFC Championship Game.
A year later, Poyer was named 2021 First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career and was voted as the 45th-best player by his peers in the NFL Top 100. He was the only player that season with at least five interceptions and three sacks.
Poyer's 2022 performance will be remembered for his perseverance. In 12 games, Poyer recorded four interceptions, a forced fumble, and eight passes defended. In addition, he made 63 combined tackles and 44 solo tackles. Poyer allowed a first down or touchdown on just 22.7% of his targets faced, good for the second-best mark among qualifying safeties.
While playing through injury most of the year, Poyer remained a key part of Buffalo's defense. Dealing with a rib injury that prevented him from flying in Week 6, Poyer showed his commitment to his teammates by taking a van 15 hours from Buffalo to Kansas City for the Bills' game against the Chiefs. Buffalo won 24-20 and Poyer played 100% of the team's defensive snaps.
Poyer re-signed with the Bills ahead of the 2023 season where played in 16 games and reached 100 tackles for the first time since the 2020 season.
During his tenure in Buffalo, Poyer also played a significant role in the Bills' community work. Poyer opened up about his battle with alcoholism in 2021 and wrote a story in The Players’ Tribune detailing his struggles. Since then, he has devoted time in the Buffalo community to speaking to others about his recovery.
Additionally, Poyer received the 2023 Advocacy Award by the Mental Health Advocates of Western New York for his outstanding dedication to promoting mental health awareness.
Mitch Morse
The Bills have also released center Mitch Morse. The former Pro Bowler spent the last five seasons playing in Buffalo.
Morse was a dependable teammate for QB Josh Allen as he started and played in 77 games during his five years with the Bills.
The center was voted a team captain by his teammates in 2022 and 2023. Morse played an integral role on the offensive line in 2023 as the group led the league in fewest sacks allowed with 24.
Morse has started and played in 126 total games over his nine-year career which began with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Siran Neal
Buffalo released Neal after the defensive back spent the last six years with the team. He played in 97 games since 2018 and was an important part of the Bills' special team unit as a gunner.
Deonte Harty
Harty is being released after he played in 16 games and started in one during his one season in Buffalo. He totaled 15 catches, 150 receiving yards and one touchdown in 2023. In the return game, the five-year player had 26 punt returns for 323 yards and one touchdown.
Nyheim Hines
The Bills will also release running back Nyheim Hines. Hines did not see the field during the 2023 season due to a leg injury that occurred during the offseason. The RB is set to enter his sixth NFL season.
