“$70 Million? Keep It.” Just 2 Hours After Paying $5 Million to Leave the Jets, Star Wide Receiver Turns Down the Eagles and Patriots to Set His Sights on the Buffalo Bills — Willing to Sign for Life to Play With MVP Josh Allen
BUFFALO, NEW YORK — In a league where leverage is measured in millions and timing dictates everything, Allen Lazard moved with rare conviction. Just two hours after paying $5 million to secure his release from the New York Jets, the veteran wide receiver stunned decision-makers across the NFL by declining aggressive offers from the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots — proposals that sources say could have totaled close to $70 million — and instead locking his focus on one destination: the Buffalo Bills.
This was not about market value. Lazard understood it clearly. Philadelphia pitched opportunity within a championship-ready roster. New England offered money and a prominent role in a reshaped offense. Both had reasons to believe they could close the deal. Lazard listened, thanked them, and walked away.
Buffalo was different. Not because of guarantees or years, but because of alignment. Around the league, the Bills are viewed as a team built around belief — belief in its quarterback, belief in its locker room, and belief that the window is still wide open. For Lazard, that belief starts and ends with Josh Allen.
“I’ve played this game long enough to know when a quarterback elevates everyone around him, and if there’s even a chance to line up next to Josh Allen for the rest of my career, I don’t need another pitch, another number, or another promise.”
The reaction was immediate. Executives around the league described the decision as “old-school” — a player choosing purpose over payout. Buffalo didn’t outbid anyone. They didn’t have to. Lazard made it clear this wasn’t a negotiation driven by leverage, but by desire.
On the field, Lazard offers exactly what Buffalo values. He’s physical at the line, disciplined in his routes, and unselfish in his work. He blocks like a tight end, wins contested catches, and understands spacing in high-pressure moments. He’s not a headline receiver — he’s a trust receiver. And quarterbacks like Allen thrive with players they can rely on without hesitation.
For the Bills, the interest is strategic. Adding Lazard would be about reinforcing identity rather than reshaping it. His presence would bring professionalism, postseason experience, and a steady influence to a receiver room chasing consistency on the game’s biggest stages.
For Lazard, the choice was simple. He paid to control his future, turned down massive offers, and chose the quarterback he believes gives him the best chance to win. In an NFL driven by dollars, Allen Lazard made a different statement — some opportunities are worth more than money, especially when they come with Josh Allen under center.
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