Former Bills safety Jairus Byrd wanted $9 million per year. And he got it. Exactly.
According to multiple reports, the Saints have given Byrd a six-year deal with a total value of $54 million. Of the amount, $28 million is guaranteed.
Unknown (for now) is the amount that’s fully guaranteed at the time of signing, and the amount that is guaranteed for injury only.
The structure also will say much about the expected duration of the deal. High salaries and cap numbers in future years make it less likely that all six years of the deal will be completed.
Given the Saints’ current cap crunch, it’s likely that the contract has been loaded up with bigger dollars later in the deal.
Byrd has no connection to any member of the New Orleans coaching staff. However, it’s possible that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan knows what former Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine thinks of Byrd, via Jets coach (and Rob’s twin brother) Rex Ryan, who employed Pettine before he went to Buffalo.