The Buffalo Bills once had one of the NFL’s most formidable safety tandems in All-Pros Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. However, with Poyer moving on to a new team and Hyde opting for retirement, that dominant era in the secondary has come to a close.
In response, the Bills have turned to Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp as their new starters and added promising rookie Cole Bishop to the mix. Still, not everyone is sold on the revamped unit. According to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, safety remains the biggest question mark on Buffalo’s defense. He suggested the Bills could look to free agency to bolster their depth, possibly targeting another experienced All-Pro who has yet to sign with a team.
Kristopher Knox suggested the Buffalo Bills could target veteran safety to shore up their secondary. The 31-year-old is coming off a solid 2023 campaign, during which he started 16 games for the Atlanta Falcons, recording two interceptions and 62 total tackles.
He still brings plenty to the table. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 while playing for the Denver Broncos, further proving he can perform at a high level.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine has also raised concerns about the Bills’ safety group, noting that Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp aren’t guaranteed to hold down starting roles and could face stiff competition during training camp.
“Perhaps Cole Bishop will take on more responsibility in his second season, but the starting combo of Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp are the weak link of the defense as constructed,” Ballentine wrote, underscoring the need for additional veteran help in the back end.
Another Familiar Face Could Return to Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills may have another option if they’re looking to bolster their safety depth — a potential reunion with Jordan Poyer. After being released by the Bills in March 2024 and spending last season with the Miami Dolphins, Poyer recently expressed interest in continuing his NFL career and even hinted at a return to Buffalo.
Speaking on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, the 12-year veteran shared his love for the game and his desire to keep playing.
“I love the game, you know? I’m in a place right now where I played 12 years, extremely thankful and blessed to have played the game for such a long time,” Poyer said.
Poyer reflected on the difficulties of last season, calling the transition from Buffalo to Miami a challenging one.
“Last year was an extremely tough year on so many levels. Our team wasn’t very good,” he admitted. “I didn’t play as well as I wanted to play. It was just a really tough year. Obviously, transitioning from Buffalo to Miami, cultures being different, systems being different, it just didn’t work out the way that anybody had hoped. But at the same time, I’m thankful for it all, thankful for all the moments, all the friendships.”
Despite the challenges, Poyer made it clear he’s open to suiting up again.
“Would I like to play again? Absolutely. Whatever that looks like.”
And when it comes to the idea of returning to Buffalo for one final run, Poyer didn’t hide his feelings.
“It’d be dope, it’d be ideal to have a fantasy ending and be able to retire a Bill, but who knows? I’m just being an open book right now, really enjoying life for what it is.”
With the Bills still possibly looking for veteran depth at safety and Poyer openly expressing interest in a reunion, the door might not be fully closed on a storybook ending in Buffalo.