Mike Edwards contract details: Buffalo Bills paying safety more than Jordan Poyer

The Buffalo Bills added Mike Edwards and paid him enough money to matter

Earlier this offseason, the Buffalo Bills added safety Mike Edwards from the Kansas City Chiefs. The numbers are in and it’s clear that Edwards is going to be in the mix to start.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane has often said he likes to plug holes to the point where he can select the best player available in the NFL Draft and not be forced into taking a position. Beane is probably falling short of that goal this year, but at safety, Edwards provides enough stability to be a placeholder with 28 career starts.

The Bills paid him $2.8 million, which should keep him out of the compensatory pick formula according to Over the Cap. So let’s break down the actual numbers.

Edwards received a $1 million signing bonus as part of the deal, likely ensuring he’s in the plans for 2024 in some way, shape, or form.

While $600,000 of his $1.24 million base salary is fully guaranteed, with offset language, as long as he’s on another team, the Bills wouldn’t be on the hook for that.

Like most Beane contracts, Edwards has a workout bonus ($50,000) and a per-game roster bonus ($30,000 per game up to $510,000). Because he played in 17 games last year, all of that roster bonus will count on the cap this year.

As the 51st-highest paid safety in the NFL, Edwards is on the edge of starter-level pay when you factor in rookie deals and 64 starting safeties. Like I said earlier, even if he doesn’t end up starting, he’ll be in the mix as the top reserve.

For reference, Taylor Rapp is averaging $3.5 million per season in his deal and making $4.2 million this season. Jordan Poyer signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Miami Dolphins but was scheduled to make $4.74 million in base salary with Buffalo plus incentives.

2024
Signing bonus: $1 million
Workout bonus: $50,000
Per-game active bonus: $30,000 per game up to $510,000 ($510,000 LTBE)
Base salary: $1.24 million ($600,000 guaranteed)

Total cash: $2.8 million

Dead cap if cut: $1 million (if he’s signed by another team)