The Buffalo Bills confirmed Monday that contract negotiations with safety Jairus Byrd did not produce a deal, but the team will not use the franchise tag on him.
Byrd will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on March 11 if the two sides do not reach an agreement before then.
“We have negotiated with representation for Jairus Byrd for more than a year, but have yet to reach an agreement on a contract extension,” general manager Doug Whaley said in a statement. “We remain open to getting a deal done with Jairus, but we have chosen not to use the franchise tag on any of our impending unrestricted free agents.”
The Associated Press reported Sunday the Bills made a multiyear offer to Byrd that would have paid him $30 million in the first three years of the deal. However, the talks stalled and no further discussions were scheduled.
The Bills franchised Byrd last year and he played under a one-year, $6.9 million tag. This year’s franchise designation is $8.4 million for safeties.
Byrd made his third Pro Bowl last season after tying for the team lead with four interceptions. He also had a sack and a forced fumble despite missing the entire offseason and the first five games of the regular season with plantar fasciitis in both feet.
In 73 NFL games, Byrd has 22 interceptions and 11 forced fumbles.