Miami Dolphins starting safety Jordan Poyer earned All-Pro honors in 2021 and a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 while with the Buffalo Bills. His play in 2024 likely won’t earn him any accolades, though.
In nine games with the Dolphins, the 12th-year safety hasn’t recorded any interceptions, tackles for loss, forced fumbles, or sacks. He’s notched only one pass defense and opposing quarterbacks have a 144.5 passer rating targeting him in coverage, per Pro Football Focus. His 55.7 grade from PFF is the lowest of his career.
“There’s some absolute plays that he could be better at — I will say I’m very happy with his play overall and what he brings to our defense,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of Poyer on Wednesday.
“I would imagine Jevón Holland would say he plays his absolute best when he’s alongside Jordan Poyer. … He’s making plays for us from a physical standpoint each and every week and he’ll improve on the stuff because there’s a reason he’s been in the NFL so long.”
The Dolphins have kept Poyer in the starting lineup, despite strong play off the bench from Marcus Maye, a former starter with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, who has made three starts in relief of Poyer and Holland.
Miami hasn’t been shy about benching struggling veterans, but defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver also thinks Poyer’s impact is more than it seems.
“Each and every week, whether it’s players or coaches, we’re all earning the right to be where we’re at,” Weaver told reporters Thursday. “I don’t know exactly what [Poyer’s] numbers are or where in the narrative that he’s failing in terms of coverage because there’s so many other things that he does in terms of just getting people in the right positions that he doesn’t get credited for. So there is a cerebral part of the game particularly at that position which is incredibly important and he has graduate level honors in that.”
Through 11 weeks, the Dolphins rank ninth in the NFL in total defense and 15th in points allowed.
