Green Bay Packers: Micah Hyde headed to the Buffalo Bills
The Green Bay Packers watched once again as one of their most prized free agents hit the road – this time it is defensive back Micah Hyde.
He has reportedly signed a five-year, $30 million deal with the Buffalo Bills.
"Mike Rodak ESPN Staff WriterBills announce they’ve signed a pair of safeties: Micah Hyde (Packers) and Jordan Poyer (Browns). They’ve also made official their signings of OL Vladimir Ducasse (Ravens), FB Patrick DiMarco and K Steven Hauschka. Both Hyde and Poyer will be options to fill the void at safety left by the release of Aaron Williams earlier Thursday."
With the Packers’ defensive backfield in disarray throughout the 2016 season, especially at the conclusion of the year, many thought the Packers would go out of their way to re-sign Hyde, who was one of their most consistent and versatile of players.
Since being drafted in the fifth round (159th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft, Hyde has done just about everything for the Packers, including moving around the defensive backfield, depending on schemes, fielded and returned kickoffs and punts and even had three punts that he returned for touchdowns – the longest being 93 yards.
Hyde was one of the pure talents the Packers had on the roster. He wasn’t fast or flashy – he simply got the job done … he was a football player.
It was his consistency, playing in 63 of a possible 64 games, Hyde could always be counted on to be there and to make a difference.
Beginning with his rookie season, he contributed. In 2013, he started three games for Green Bay, defensed three passes, forced two fumbles and had a fumble recovery.
In 2014, he had two interceptions, seven passes defensed, one fumble recovery, 48 tackles and one sack; in 2015, he had three interceptions, defensed six passes, had two fumble recoveries and a sack, along with 51 tackles; last season, Hyde defensed nine passes, had two fumble recoveries, one sack and 45 tackles.
In his career in Green Bay Hyde had eight interceptions, returned them 56 yards, defensed 25 passes, recovered six fumbles, had four sacks and 189 tackles – along with 45 assists.
And who could possibly forget that one-handed interception he made on that left-handed duck that Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater threw a couple of seasons ago at Lambeau Field? That was a thing of beauty and only illustrated his soft hands and ball skills.
Those skills will be missed in Green Bay.
But truth be told, the $30 million deal he signed in Buffalo was surely not going to be matched by the Packers. No doubt Packers GM Ted Thompson has other ideas on how best to spend his money and it’s become pretty clear that his intent was not to open the checkbook for Hyde.
Micah Hyde’s career statistics, per profootballreference.com …
Micah Hyde’s career statistics, per profootballreference.com …