Dolphins S Jordan Poyer speaks on the importance of OTAs: I want to know the guy I’m playing with

Jordan Poyer aims to anchor Miami’s secondary after spending seven seasons with the Buffalo Bills.

Jordan Poyer spent seven seasons with the Buffalo Bills and played a crucial role in four straight AFC East titles. A team captain in each of the last four years, the 2021 first-team All-Pro safety aims to hit the ground running with the Miami Dolphins.

Brandon Jones signed a three-year deal with the Denver Broncos and DeShon Elliot joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on a two-year contract, leaving Poyer to start next to Jevon Holland.

“Jevon is a great player,” Poyer said Wednesday. “Talented as heck, smart as heck. Any way that I can to help him be the best player that he can be, that’s what I’m coming here for. To help this team win essentially football games.”

Poyer, 33, started each of the last seven seasons next to Micah Hyde but the Bills released him and a handful of other players in early March due to salary cap concerns. Nik Needham is cross-training at safety, but all signs point to Poyer and Holland headlining the unit with Elijah Campbell (two career starts) and a trio of rookies, Patrick McMorris, Mark Perry, and Jordan Colbert, under contract.

“I think a lot of success comes from just the communication part, especially on the back end,” Poyer said when discussing the importance of attending voluntary practices. “If you want to be successful you got to know who you’re playing with essentially. You’ve got to know the guys on and off the field.

“In the fourth quarter, I want to know the guy I’m playing with. I want to know about his family. You learn to trust each other that way. That’s essentially why I’m here. I don’t necessarily have to be, but I want to be. I’m excited about this opportunity, and it’s been a good OTA so far.”

A 2013 seventh-round draft pick, Poyer felt he had more left in the tank after spending the last 12 seasons with the Bills, Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles. He agreed to a deal with the Dolphins on March 12 — six days after being released by Buffalo.

“I know I can still play at a high level, I know I can still help teams win football games,” Poyer said. “I essentially watched Miami for the last seven years and I live 20 minutes away in the offseason out here so it was the perfect fit, and I’m excited to be here. Extremely excited to be here.”