Forget a great quarterback, decent weather, or a proven coach. There’s something else that a lot of NFL free agents are looking for when they search for a new team, and it has nothing to do with football — a team that plays in a state that will not take half of their money in taxes.
That differentiator can make a big difference. State taxes vary so much that players seriously look into it before signing with a new team.
Jordan Poyer of the Buffalo Bills is one of those players. Back in 2017, he signed a four-year contract worth $13 million. He signed a two-year extension for $19.5 million when the contract ended. He’s done well, making over $32 million, and now he controls his future as a free agent and can entertain offers from other teams.
On his podcast last week, he talked about what he’s looking at for criteria, and according to a Fox Business story, state taxes are one thing he’s taking a deep dive into.
“I would love to go to a state that doesn’t take half my money. It’s crazy to me how taxes work. Some people will say, ‘You’re already making X amount of money.’ Taxes play a big part in all of our lives.”
Sorry, Rams, Chargers, 49ers, Bills, Bears, Vikings, and others. He’s talking about you.
Poyer knows all about paying big state income tax bills since he’s lived and played in the State of New York for the past six years. He’s in the tax bracket in New York that requires him to pay $450,500 plus 10.3% of what he makes over $5 million. That is just his state tax obligation. Fox compared those numbers with what he would have paid in Florida, which does not have a state income tax.
That’s great news for teams like the Dolphins, Bucs, and Jaguars in Florida. Texas has no state income tax, which could benefit the Cowboys and Texans. Same story in Tennessee, where the Titans call home. Another state that doesn’t charge income tax is Washington.
He could be a new trendsetter in the NFL.
”I know how to play this game. I know how to prepare for this game. This offseason already has started off great, getting my body right. I feel really good right now. Not really sure what to expect. I do know I’m a ball player, so whatever team does get J-Po, I believe they’re going to be better.”
Whoa, he does the thing where he talks about himself in the third person. That’s annoying. There should be a significant tax on that.
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