Orlando, Fla. (WGR 550/WBEN) - This offseason for the Buffalo Bills has been highlighted, to this point, by the major cuts to their roster as a way to save some money on their salary cap ahead of the new league year.
Amongst the notable veterans released as part of the salary cap purge back on March 6 included the likes safety Jordan Poyer and center Mitch Morse. However, the one cut that, arguably, hit home the hardest for Bills fans was the release of cornerback Tre'Davious White.
White was the first-ever draft pick of head coach Sean McDermott's tenure as head coach back in the 2017 NFL Draft with the 27th overall selection in Round 1. Almost immediately, the product of LSU made a huge impact on the Bills defense, recording four interceptions in 16 starts during his rookie campaign. He also helped Buffalo snap its 17-season playoff drought in his first season with the Bills.
Over the course of his 82-game career with the Bills spanning seven seasons, the 29-year-old recorded 311 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, three sacks, 68 passes defended, 18 interceptions, five fumbles forced, five fumbles recovered and one defensive touchdown.
While attending Monday's NFL Owners Meeting in Orlando, Florida, McDermott reflected on his time spent with White in Orchard Park, and felt his release from the organization came as an unfortunate circumstance.
"Eventually, it's gonna come just because of the lifespan of an NFL player. But it came way too early, in my mind, and I'm sure in his mind as well," said McDermott on Monday with the assembled media. "To me, it's tragic in some ways, because of the injuries. Had not injuries occurred, who knows where his time in Buffalo would have taken him and us.
"I think he's one of the best defensive backs to ever play in Buffalo, I really believe that. He's all class, all the time. He works his tail off, and he's one of the best human beings I know."
McDermott has constantly been one of the biggest supporters of White throughout his career in Buffalo, and couldn't help but feel his missed presence on the field after the veteran suffered a torn Achilles during the Bills' Week 4 matchup with the Miami Dolphins this past season.
"What he came from, and how he's not only lifted himself up and lifted his family up, the way he's lifted our team up over the years, it's just, to me, a very unfortunate situation with the injuries. Sad to see him go," McDermott said. "He got injured in the Miami game, a number of us went over to his house after the game. And what do you say, right? Especially after he had just went through it the year before, what do you say? There's nothing you can say other than just try and be there for him, and that's how I felt when we were having our conversation. It's just a surreal moment."
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