With a plethora of new faces in the secondary and new depth among the defensive line, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have some interesting decisions to make heading in the 2024-2025 regular season.
As we enter the emotional and strategical journey that is training camp and preseason, you must know all players on the Bills roster to truly enjoy the ride. Today, we dive into the defense with statistical tidbits and early predictions below!
Enjoy.
Defensive Ends
Von Miller: Perhaps one of the most polarizing names on the Bills’ roster, Von Miller is an X-Factor for the Bills this upcoming season. Miller, one of the league’s greatest edge defenders over the past decade had an underwhelming 2023-2024 season after tearing his ACL in 2022. A tough rebound season for the veteran, Miller began looking like himself again towards the end of last season, finishing the Bills’ two-game playoff stretch with four quarterback hurries. An optimist would say this is likely Miller’s last season as a Buffalo Bill, as the team will likely exercise the out in his contract for massive cap relief next offseason. A pessimist would note that if Miller does not play to his $15.1M cap hit, then his time in Buffalo was wasted rehabbing from his ACL tear and his best contributions came in the regular season of 2022. Regardless of where you stand as a fan, 2024-2025 is a massive season for how Von will be remembered in Buffalo.
Greg Rousseau: Groot enters his fourth NFL season in good standing. The Miami Hurricane has been a force in both run defense and pass rushing since joining the Bills in 2021. Rousseau’s basic statistics looked underwhelming in 2023-2024 but underlying metrics support Groot’s case as a starting-caliber defensive end in the league. Pro Football Focus’ “Pass Rush Productivity” metric combines a defender’s sacks, hits and hurries relative to how many times they rushed the passer. Rousseau ranked 13th in the NFL in PRP (8.8) among defenders who had 50% of the league-leading 718 pass rush snaps, falling in among the league’s biggest names: Micah Parsons (12.4), Trey Hendrickson (11.2), Josh Hines-Allen (11.1), Myles Garrett (10.7), Khalil Mack (10.4), T.J. Watt (10.3), Aidan Hutchinson (10.0). Rousseau is primed to take another step in 2024-2025, following another offseason of development.
AJ Epenesa: Fresh off a breakout-esque campaign, Epenesa has a new deal and is looking to build off his impressive 2023-2024 season. Outside of Buffalo, the Iowa product has had a seemingly quiet career, but the Mafia knows what Epenesa brought to the team last season. With 6.5 sacks and two interceptions, the edge defender was an impact player for the Bills on the outside. Epenesa’s six batted passes also ranked second across the league among all pass rushers, only falling behind DeForest Buckner (7). Heading into 2024-2025 the expectation in Buffalo is that Epenesa takes yet another step in his fifth season, on a fresh new deal, and cements himself as a player that opposing offenses need to be aware of. With the departure of Leonard Floyd and Von Miller’s impact in question, the Bills need to get all they can from the Iowa product.
Javon Solomon: A rookie out of Troy, Solomon is an interesting addition to the Bills’ edge room. The 23-year-old ranked second across division-one college football last season in sacks (17.0), 23rd in quarterback hits (10) and 52nd in run stops. Although that production was at the Mid-Major level, Solomon’s dominance bodes well for his jump to the NFL. The Troy product also boasts the ideal arm length to be successful at the next level, with 90th percentile arm measurement (33" 7/8ths). Solomon projects to be a depth piece in the Bills’ edge room, but he’ll have to earn his spot among many veteran edge rushers.
Dawuane Smoot: Smoot was a productive edge rusher from Jacksonville from 2019-2022, accumulating 22.5 sacks over four seasons, 52 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles. The veteran's production took a tumble following a right Achilles tear at the tail-end of the 2022-2023 season and the following season his numbers suffered. Just one sack, four quarterback hits and ten tackles was a disappointing season for Smoot, but returning from a major injury can be difficult for any player. The veteran comes to Buffalo looking to carve out a roster role.
There is one thing to note with Smoot though; his run defense is subpar. The veteran had the highest missed tackle percentage (33%) among all edge and interior defensive linemen in 2023-2024 who played 20% of the league-leading 427 run defense snaps. Smoot also ranked in the bottom ten in 2022 in the same category (30%). The veteran surely has a path to the roster by being a solid rusher off the edge, but the Bills have valued strong run defense among their edge depth in the past. Shaq Lawson carved out a roster spot for two consecutive seasons, eating up run downs, allowing Von Miller and Greg Rousseau to stay fresh and get after the passer.
The last spots in this defensive end room will be a tough decision for Brandon Beane and we’ll ultimately learn a lot about the Bills’ management and what they value in their defensive ends. Smoot also played only one percent of the Jaguars' special teams snaps, a notable statistic as Beane and McDermott often value their special teams contributors.
Casey Toohill: Toohill enters his fifth season in the league following the most productive season of his career. Toohill ended the 2023-2024 season with five sacks, seven quarterback hits and 26 tackles while playing 34% of the Commanders’ special teams snaps. Toohill is by no means a productive run stopper, ranking 96th of 122 edge defenders in run stop percentage, but between his special teams contributions and flashes of pass rusher production, he seems like a strong candidate to carve out a role on the Bills’ roster.
Kingsley Jonathan: Would it shock you if I told you that Kingsley Jonathan played in 13 games for the Bills last season? Jonathan carved out a role on the roster playing 40% of Buffalo’s special teams’ snaps, checking in for just 8% of the team’s defensive snaps. Despite his lack of defensive snap share, the Bills truly value Jonathan. The Syracuse product impressed many during his rookie preseason campaign, so much so that the Bears claimed Jonathan when the Bills attempted to hide him on their practice squad. By November of his rookie season, Jonathan was back in Buffalo, being signed to the team’s practice squad. Since then, Jonathan has remained in town and it’s clear the team likes the now third-year player. Jonathan will look to carve out a role again in Buffalo and we’ll truly see how much the Bills value him.
Kameron Cline: After three seasons with the Colts, Cline signed with the Bills last offseason. Following training camp, the veteran defensive end was signed to the team’s practice squad but failed to be promoted to the Bills’ active roster, later being put on injured reserve and being signed to a reserve/future contract. Cline joins the team again in Rochester for training camp looking to turn some heads in a defensive end room that has spots up for grabs.
Defensive Tackle
Ed Oliver: Perhaps the best defensive player on the team last season, Oliver finally had a breakout season on the stat sheet that turned heads around the league, cementing himself among the NFL’s best interior defensive linemen. The fifth-year player earned every penny of the extension that he signed before the 2023-2024 season and looks to build off of that in 2024-2025. Just how dominant was Oliver? Among all pass rushers with 50% of the league-leading 718 pass rushing snaps, the fifth-year player ranked fourth in pass rush productivity (8.4), only falling behind Chris Jones (8.8), the now-retired Aaron Donald (8.7) and Justin Madubuike (8.5). Oliver did all that without his side-kick DaQuan Jones, who missed the majority of the season due to injury. The two reunite in 2024-2025 looking to stay healthy, return to form and reignite the havoc that began early last season.
DaQuan Jones: Before tearing his pectoral muscle early last season, Jones looked to be on the cusp of a career season. Through seven games the interior pass rusher had 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hits and 14 hurries. Although a limited sample size, Jones’ pass rush win percentage of 17.9 ranked third among interior pass rushers last season who played 20% of the league-leading 718 snaps, only falling behind Aaron Donald and Quinnen Williams. The veteran also provides stout run defense, showing the ability to be a three-down one-technique defensive tackle next to Ed Oliver, an extremely valuable asset to the roster when healthy. As previously stated, Jones missed the majority of last season due to injury and was only a shell of himself when he returned for the playoffs. The veteran also missed the Bills’ two playoff games in 2022, including the team’s season-ending loss to the Bengals.
D’Wayne Carter: A three-year captain out of Duke, Carter is a strong depth addition to the Bills’ interior defensive line. Carter showed a well-rounded skill set at the collegiate level, providing both run support and the ability to get after the passer. Primarily a three-technique defensive tackle, Carter will rotate in for Ed Oliver, likely on run downs, eating up snaps so Oliver can remain fresh to get after the passer. However, don’t be surprised if the rookie eats up more snaps as the season goes on, ultimately finding his way to third down pass rushing opportunities. Despite being a third-round selection, Carter is a polished player who should have an instant impact. The question is how far does the Duke product go beyond eating up snaps for Oliver in his rookie year?
Austin Johnson: Following the loss of DaQuan Jones, it was obvious the Bills lacked a veteran presence alongside Oliver that truly made an impact. Austin Johnson is just that. Although his 2023-2024 metrics are not eye-popping, the veteran has proven he is more than capable of playing against rushing and passing offenses. If Jones were to go down again in 2024, Johnson would have the opportunity to step up and play meaningful downs for the team’s void at the position. If the group can stay healthy throughout the season, the veteran will have a similar role to Carter, eating up rushing downs, then allowing Jones and Oliver to be on the field for the unit’s most important downs. Johnson also played 15% of the Chargers’ special teams snaps in 2023-2024, proving to be more than just a defensive depth piece.
Eli Ankou: Ankou is a true NFL journeyman. With 83 transactions to date, the veteran has played snaps for six different teams through his seven seasons in the league. The Bills do appreciate the depth asset that Ankou is, signing him to the team’s practice squad four times over the past four seasons. The veteran has just 44 total tackles and 2.5 sacks through 34 games played, but Ankou has stepped up and provided quality depth for the Bills when called upon, with injuries at the interior defensive line being common in previous seasons for Buffalo.
DeShawn Williams: With the Bills getting thin at interior defensive line last season, Brandon Beane decided to add multiple veterans to the mix. Enter DeShawn Williams, a player with an interesting career path. As a 24-year-old rookie, Williams appeared in four games for the Bengals. Fast forward three seasons of bouncing around practice squads and the veteran finally got his chance to play meaningful snaps for Denver in 2020. Williams started 11 games for the Broncos that season, playing 46% of the team’s defensive snaps and 22% of Denver’s special teams snaps, rare for a defensive tackle. Williams kept that role through 2022, where he had a career year, ending with 4.5 sacks, 37 tackles and eight quarterback hits. The veteran took a step back in 2023 with the Panthers, having just one sack across ten starts. To be fair, not many players on that team had career seasons, with the Panthers ending the season with a 2-15 record. Williams now comes to Buffalo looking to carve out a role on the 53-man roster and provide strong depth for a team that so desperately needed it just a year ago. With Carter, Johnson and Ankou also in the mix, it’ll be interesting to see how many spots the Bills elect to defensive tackles on the 53-man roster and which player gets placed on the practice squad.
Branson Deen: Don’t sleep on Branson Deen. Outside of third-round draft pick DeWayne Carter, every other name we’ve noted has been an NFL veteran with five or more seasons played in the league. Deen enters camp looking to take a roster spot from one of them, an uphill battle. Deen played at Purdue before transferring to Miami for the final season of college. Over his final three seasons, Deen started 27 games between the ACC and Big Ten, having nine sacks, 19 tackles for a loss and 72 total tackles. The rookie has a chance to earn a practice squad spot if he has a strong preseason and camp. Being in the room of mostly older veterans, the team could stand to stash another youth player.
Linebackers:
Matt Milano: Matt Milano is one of the best, if not the best, linebackers in the league when healthy. Anyone who has watched him play over the past few seasons knows that to be true. The veteran began 2023 with a statement, flashing all over the field with tackles and interceptions. Ultimately, a season-ending leg injury put an end to Milano’s dominance, testing the Bills’ depth at the position. Several players stepped up in the absence of the veteran, but if we learned one thing from the Kansas City loss, Milano is one of the key players this defense needs to get the Bills over the hump. Let’s hope the veteran stays healthy throughout 2023-2024 and returns to form.
Terrel Bernard: In the absence of Milano, Bernard had a breakout campaign in his second season. The Baylor product put up a statistical season that measured among the league’s best with 143 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three interceptions. Bernard is an athletic three-down linebacker who plays instinctually and creates negative plays for opposing offenses. If he can stay healthy alongside Milano and have a repeat performance in 2024-2025, the Bills should have one of the league’s elite duos at the position.
Dorian Williams: Throughout his rookie season when called upon to play snaps in the absence of Matt Milano, Dorian Williams showed flashes of good linebacker play. Athletic. Fast. Decisive. The rookie made plays and mistakes, and when he made mistakes, he did so at 100 miles per hour. Williams enters his second season locked into a depth role in the linebacker room, with the opportunity to step up if injury occurs. Learning behind Milano and Bernard is a great opportunity for a young athletic linebacker, especially with Milano turning 30 this season. Williams also played 60% of the team’s special teams snaps in 2023-2024.
Baylon Spector: Spector has provided dependable special teams play for the Bills throughout his time in Buffalo, playing 37% of their special team’s snaps last season. When called upon to play defensive snaps late last season though, Spector looked the part of a quality depth linebacker too. The Clemson product logged six tackles in the Bills’ division-clinching win over Miami in week 18 of the NFL season, playing 37% of the team’s defensive snaps. Spector also logged defensive snaps in four other games last season, including the Wild Card round of the playoffs, the Clemson product proved he could be relied upon when needed. Spector’s roster spot is by no means guaranteed, but heading into his third season in the league, all with Buffalo, it’s safe to say the team values Spector’s contributions.
Nicholas Morrow: When Morrow signed with the Bills during NFL Free Agency, Bills Mafia directly saw him as the Tyrel Dodson, LB3 replacement. Entering his seventh season in the league, Morrow has now started 58 games, while starting more than ten in his last three seasons. As a full-time starter for Chicago in 2022-2023, the veteran amassed 116 total tackles, 11 for a loss, and one interception. Signing with the Eagles then for 2023-2024, many Philadelphia fans would tell you he was underwhelming for them while playing 77% of the team’s defensive snaps. However, the Bills aren’t looking for a starting linebacker and the veteran’s playing experience ensures that should he be called upon, the team won’t be relying on a young and inexperienced Dorian Williams or Baylon Spector. Morrow will serve as a special teams contributor and buffer for the young linebackers in the room. His roster spot is not guaranteed, but with his experience and talent, it would be hard to see Morrow not making the roster.
Edefuan Olofoshio: A late-round rookie linebacker with strong pass coverage skills and good athleticism? Where have I heard this before? No, I am not about to preach to you that Olofoshio will be the next Milano. That would be insane. Rather pointing out the obvious mold of linebackers the Bills like to add to their roster. The Washington product had a strong final season in college, his sixth to be exact, ending the 15-game season with 94 tackles, eight of which were for a loss, three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdown. The All-Pac 12 First-Team honoree comes to Buffalo looking to carve out a depth role. Olofoshio may have an uphill battle with six veterans in the room and two other undrafted free-agent linebackers, but it’s hard to believe that the 24-year-old would not at least be signed to the team’s practice squad.
Deion Jones: The Bills decided to add another veteran linebacker to the mix after Morrow, bringing in former Pro Bowler Deion Jones. Early in his career Jones was widely considered one of the league’s best linebackers, notable for his athleticism, tackling and ball skills. The linebacker has five defensive touchdowns in his career and 13 interceptions. Despite the impressive numbers, the veteran has slowed down in recent years, starting just eight games over the last two seasons between the Browns and Panthers. Following last year’s preseason, Carolina designated Jones to the team’s practice squad, dressing for just one of the Panther’s first five games. Jones earned snaps from there, ultimately playing 30% of the team’s defensive snaps, with 35 tackles and an interception to show for it. Surprisingly, despite his declining defensive snaps, Jones hasn’t taken on a true special teams role for any of his previous three teams over the last three seasons. The linebacker played just 1% of special teams snaps for the Panthers in 2023, none for the Browns in 2022 and less than 1% for the Falcons in 2021. It would be hard to see Jones make this team if he can’t carve out a special teams role, but a linebacker who excels in pass coverage always has a chance to make Sean McDermott’s team.
Joe Andreessen: A Western New York native, Andreessen has had quite the journey to sign with the Bills. With a lack of offers out of high school, ultimately signing with an FCS school in Bryant University, Andreessen turned into an All-American linebacker. He returned home to play at UB in his final season of eligibility and turned heads, leading the Bulls in tackles, and then earning an invite to the Bills’ Rookie Minicamp. Perhaps Andreessen’s best trait is his athleticism. At UB’s Pro Day, the local product showed out, bench pressing 225 pounds 32 times, showing off a 38” inch vertical jump and running a 4.65 40-yard dash. Those metrics stack up to nearly any linebacker in the league. Add in the fact that the new kickoff rules tend to favor defensive players who can read and get off blocks to make tackles, there is a path for Andreessen to go from Buffalo-born to Buffalo Bill.
Shayne Simon: One of the last additions to fill out the Buffalo Bills roster heading into training camp was Shayne Simon. The linebacker joins the team following six years in college, playing at Notre Dame for four seasons before transferring to Pitt, where he started for two seasons. Simon started 25 games for Pitt between his final two seasons in college, finishing with 94 tackles, seven sacks and eight passes defended. Simon proved to be a solid athlete at his pro day, running a 4.70 40-yard dash, having a 37” inch vertical jump and bench pressing 225 pounds 23 times. Just like Andreessen, Simon has a path to making the roster, but it starts with a strong camp, showing out in the preseason and embracing a special teams role.
Outside Cornerbacks:
Rasul Douglas: In the NFL you don’t often see slam-dunk additions at the trade deadline. Rasul Douglas was that for the Buffalo Bills in 2023-2024. Shortly after arriving in Buffalo, Douglas became a playmaker on the defense and a name that opposing teams had to note when scouting the team’s defense. In the eight games that Douglas played 85% or more snaps, he amassed four interceptions, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, seven passes defended and a defensive touchdown. You could make the debate that over that span, Douglas was the Bills’ most impactful defensive player. An injury hindered the veteran’s impacts down the stretch of the season, holding him to just 48% of snaps in the division-clinching game at Miami, then also sitting out in the Wild Card round against Pittsburgh. Now with an offseason to get back to 100% and get more comfortable in Buffalo’s system, Douglas could be primed for a repeat performance and be the playmaking cornerback the team has lacked since Tre’Davious White’s stretch of major leg injuries.
Christian Benford: Probably one of the league’s most underrated players, not many fans outside of Buffalo even know Christian Benford exists. Fresh off a solid rookie campaign and into a camp battle for the second cornerback spot next to Tre’Davious White, Benford earned the CB2 role last season, beating out Kaiir Elam and Dane Jackson. Now headed into his third season, Sean McDermott and Bobby Babich will surely make Benford earn his starting role yet again with Elam waiting in the wings, but it’s likely the Villanova product will retain his spot. Benford has by no means arrived as a CB1-level player in the NFL yet, but what he’s displayed through two seasons puts him in elite CB2 territory.
Kaiir Elam: Where do we even start with Elam…if you asked the realists of the Bills Mafia about the Florida product, they’d tell you he has been an underwhelming first-round pick. They are right. If you asked the optimists, they’d point to the number of turnovers the young cornerback has under his belt through two seasons of limited playing time. Four interceptions in 780 snaps to be exact. No matter where you land on Elam, one thing is true: the Bills need to find a way in the next two seasons to get more than depth out of him or the team’s 2022 first-round selection was wasted on a player who sat the bench through the prime of Josh Allen’s career. Harsh or fair? You decide.
There is still hope for Elam though and I’d consider Buffalo Sports Talk to be one of his greatest supporters. Let's look at some numbers:
Player A (2023-24): 837 Snaps, 453 Yards on 42 Receptions, 2:2 TD:INT Ratio, 87.7 Rating When Targeted, 10 Penalties.
Player B (2022-2024): 780 Snaps, 528 Yards on 44 Receptions, 4:2 TD:INT Ratio, 80.6 Rating When Targeted, 5 Penalties.
Player A is Christian Benford. Player B is Kaiir Elam.
Instead of seeing this as an attempt to bring down Benford while raising up Elam, see it more as this: one cornerback is widely criticized for not contributing enough while the other is seen as massively underrated. I understand that Elam yields higher expectations being a first-round selection, but with two more seasons on his rookie deal and the possibility of a fifth-year option, the Bills have a chance to keep Elam at a low cap-hit while providing quality starting snaps. The development path for the third-year player is obvious. Elam needs to be stickier and smarter in coverage to allow fewer receptions while maintaining his playmaking ability. In the NFL’s world of high expectations and the desire for instant results, we ask that you provide some patience for a still young and developing cornerback as Douglas and Benford likely hold down the starting spots for another season.
Kyron Brown: Brown is the definition of a depth and special teams contributor, but has made himself an asset to multiple NFL organizations for those reasons. Dressing for just four games since his career began in 2019 and starting just one on defense, Brown has bounced around from practice squad to practice squad. However, the few games the veteran has appeared in, he’s played a large number of special teams snaps, which Beane and McDermott truly value in a player. Brown spent the entirety of the 2023-2024 season on the Bills practice squad, heading to camp this fall looking to retain a roster spot.
Jamarcus Ingram: Another UB Bull, Ingram has now been a member of the Bills for two seasons, seeing minimal game action and spending most of his time on the practice squad. In his final season at UB, Ingram had 47 tackles, three passes defended and one forced fumble. The young defensive back has a good frame for the position, standing in at 6’2” and 190 pounds.
Keni-H Lovely: Perhaps one of the best names on the Bills heading into camp? Lovely is a product of Western Michigan, yet another Mid-American Conference player for Buffalo. The Bronco had six interceptions and 13 passes defended over 23 games in his final two seasons in college. Lovely looks to battle for a practice squad spot at camp.
Nickel Cornerback
Taron Johnson: Perhaps one of the league’s most underrated players over the past four seasons, Johnson is a massive piece to the Bills’ defense. Playing as a slot cornerback, the veteran is responsible for not only being strong in coverage but also acting as an additional linebacker or safety to the Buffalo defense. Johnson has shown the ability to provide support in run defense, earning 358 tackles over the past four seasons, three of those seasons having 90 or more tackles. What the team asks of Johnson is a skill set that is not a widespread commodity. The Bills’ truly have a special player and that is why he is the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the league. Johnson, now 27, is an established veteran in McDermott’s defense, looking to take on an even larger role with the departure of Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.
Daequan Hardy: Standing in at just 5’9” and 178 pounds, Hardy projects to be a nickel cornerback in the NFL. However, during his collegiate career, the Penn State product showed the ability to play on the outside too. Due to his lack of size, the opportunity to do so seems slim at the next level, but there’s no reason Hardy can’t carve out a practice squad role as depth behind Taron Johnson in the nickel cornerback role. The rookie shows great athleticism, with great quickness and jumping ability. Hardy also showed strong ball skills at times, having 18 passes defended in his final three years in college. Perhaps Hardy’s biggest knock though is his tackling ability. With his small frame, the rookie struggled to wrap up in college and bring down the ball carrier, a trait that makes Johnson one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the league and a three-down player. With time to learn from the coaching staff and veteran players, Hardy holds some potential with his positive traits.
Tre’Cory Couch: Another undrafted free agent from Miami, Couch had an impressive final season in college. The Hurricane had three interceptions and seven passes defended in 13 games, also finishing the season with 38 tackles. Couch is a true nickel corner standing in at 5’10” and 175 pounds, but he’s experienced in the role, being a three-year starter at Miami. Couch will push for a practice squad spot, looking to develop and provide depth barring injury.
Safety
Taylor Rapp: In his first year in Sean McDermott’s defense, Rapp played primarily a backup role, sitting behind veteran safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. The Bills decided to make a massive change at the position in the offseason, releasing Poyer and not re-signing Hyde. However, the team did decide to bring back Rapp. Looking back at Rapp’s 2023-2024 with Buffalo, the safety was solid in his limited snaps. Among safeties that played 20% of the league-leading 1,247 snaps, Rapp had the lowest missed tackle percentage (4.7%) while logging nearly 20% of his snaps in the box and another 17% of his snaps in the slot. Rapp also ranked 34th among the 101 safeties in passer rating when target, posting a 75.4 rating. The veteran will surely have to earn a starting spot on the Bills’ though. The team brought in a plethora of talent at the position via the draft and free agency. It would be hard not to see Rapp missing the cut entirely though, as he logged 39% of the team’s defensive snaps last season and 44% of the Bills’ special teams snaps.
Mike Edwards: A two-time Super Bowl Champion despite being in the NFL for only five seasons, Edwards is accustomed to winning. Signing Edwards was a good insurance policy for the Bills following the departure of Poyer and Hyde, adding another veteran with true playing experience to the room. Edwards played 57% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps last season, while also playing 28% of their special teams snaps. The veteran also played 72% of the Buccaneers' defensive snaps in 2022 and 11% of their special teams snaps. Add in the fact that Edwards has eight interceptions and three defensive touchdowns under his belt over the past four seasons and you may start to believe that the Bills could have another Poyer or Hyde-esque hidden gem found in free agency. I urge you to pump the brakes a little bit.
Is Edwards a strong veteran addition to the room? Yes. But he still has flaws. Among safeties that played 20% of the league-leading 1,247 snaps, Edwards had the 13th-highest missed tackle percentage (19.5%) and a poor tackling grade (39.3/100) from Pro Football Focus. Sean McDermott has valued Poyer and Hyde’s ability to tackle, playing both in the box as additional linebackers at times. Maybe McDermott can bring the best out of Edwards, but if those tackling struggles remain, it would be difficult to see Edwards being a long-term player in Buffalo.
To end on a positive note, Edwards does excel in coverage, obviously a selling point for any defensive back in the league. Among the 104 safeties, the veteran ranked 21st in passer rating when targeted, posting a 64.7 rating with Kansas City. Edwards will be in the battle to start, but between Rapp, Bishop and Hamlin, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will take the two starting roles for the upcoming season.
Cole Bishop: Despite re-signing Rapp and bringing in Edwards via free agency to help fill the void at safety, the Bills’ elected to spend a second-round selection on the safety that they believe is a future piece to the defense. Bishop comes to Buffalo with a great opportunity, learning from McDermott and Babich who helped Poyer and Hyde blossom into elite players in the league. The Utah product’s athleticism comes with a high ceiling and expectations, but Bishop will surely need some time to adjust to the next level. At worst, he’s a solid special team’s player who will make tackles from sideline to sideline, playing in specific packages on the defense throughout the game. At best, he’s a starting safety for the team and an impact player in his rookie season. I am excited to see what McDermott and company have in store for Bishop, as the team’s safeties have been impact players since McDermott’s era began in Buffalo.
Damar Hamlin: Before the life-threatening injury Hamlin suffered two seasons ago, the Pitt product was a young player who showed flashes of greatness while stepping in for an injured Micah Hyde, leading the team with 91 tackles. Sure, there were moments where you wondered how the young safety blew a coverage or displayed poor ball skills, but as a fan, you rooted for the second-year player who showed flashes of greatness and gave it all to the game each week. A quiet 2023-2024 along with a spotlight still shed on him from the prior season’s events garnered some hate for Hamlin, as critics downplayed his abilities for not dressing on a game-by-game basis. However, players who have career-threatening injuries often are lackluster the following season, let alone a player with a life-threatening injury. Hamlin deserves and will be given a shot to compete for a starting spot on this Bills roster. If the Pitt product can return to form from the 2022-2023 season, he will surely be in the mix to start and damnit, I really hope he does.
Cam Lewis: Another extremely underrated player on the Bills roster is Lewis. A special teams savant, the UB product has carved out a spot in Buffalo for four seasons now. The team has always valued special teams and players like Lewis, but he brings value with his defensive versatility too. Lewis, listed as a safety, can also play nickel cornerback, providing depth to two positions should starters go down on game day. The now veteran serves as a swiss-army knife for McDermott and I do not see that changing, especially with a well-deserved extension being signed this past offseason, keeping him in Buffalo for two more seasons.
Kendall Williamson: A former four-year starter at Stanford, Williamson had a solid college career that ultimately landed him on the Bears’ practice squad for 2023-2024. The rookie failed to log any snaps during his first NFL seasons, with the Bills later signing him to a reserve/future contract. Williamson had 140 tackles, 10.5 for a loss and one interception over his five seasons at Stanford. The second-year safety looks to make a name for himself in camp and preseason, with much opportunity in the safety room up for grabs.
Dee Delaney: Delaney has been a bit of a journeyman through the five years of his NFL career thus far. Heading into his sixth season the Bills are Delaney’s sixth team. The veteran has appeared in 52 games in his career thus far, logging only five starts, but commanding a special teams role at every step of the way. Delaney played 65% of Tampa Bay’s special teams snaps in 2021 and then 66% of snaps in 2022. The veteran then earned more defensive snaps in 2023 (40%), while still playing a special teams role for Tampa Bay (27%). With much opportunity in the safety room for defensive and special team snaps, Delaney could carve himself a roster spot in Buffalo.
Thank you for reading! The offensive roster preview will be released on Wednesday morning. Stay tuned.
Go Bills!
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