Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - My 2025 State of the Buffalo Bills series continues with a look at the safeties:
Under contract:
- Taylor Rapp
- Cole Bishop
- Cam Lewis
Pending free agents:
- Damar Hamlin (UFA)
- Kareem Jackson (UFA)
State of the position:
This is a spot the Bills will need to address this offseason, at least for depth purposes, but maybe even more if they aren’t totally confident in Cole Bishop being a full-time starter next season.
As a rookie last year, Bishop was a main special teams contributor and saw action on defense in 11 contests, starting four due to injuries. But it was his own shoulder injury that caused him to miss time at the end of preseason and the opening regular season game.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have both said that missed time really hurt Bishop’s early development and chances to see the field more.
Now Bishop will have a full offseason with the Bills, and a legitimate chance to become a full-time starter.
At the NFL Combine two weeks ago, McDermott talked highly of Bishop, but said he won’t just be handed the job opposite Taylor Rapp.
After re-signing a three-year deal with the club last offseason, Rapp not only won a starting job, but became a solid, dependable piece of the defense, collecting a pair of interceptions and 82 tackles.
There should be no question heading into 2025 that Rapp is one of the starters at safety. The 27-year-old is under contract for two more years, and will only cost the Bills $3.6 million on this year’s salary cap.
Damar Hamlin, on the other hand, will be an unrestricted free agent.
Hamlin’s journey is, of course, a remarkable story, and he will forever be tied to the Bills. But his time with the organization may very well be over.
The soon-to-be 27-year-old surprised and surpassed many people‘s expectations last year by starting 14 games and collecting a pair of interceptions. However, the Bills still need more athleticism and splash plays from that position, and while Hamlin will do what he’s coached to do and understands the system, he has a much lower ceiling then Bishop.
The Bills have publicly said they’d love to have Hamlin back, but it would have to make sense for both sides.
The Bills are very fortunate to have a player like Cam Lewis and his ability to play multiple roles in the secondary.
It’s hard to believe the University at Buffalo product is now entering his seventh season. He’s done a tremendous job to fill in when called upon, whether at safety or his primary backup position, nickel cornerback, for Taron Johnson.
Lewis has another year remaining on his deal that will cost the team less than $2 million on the salary cap.
Kareem Jackson was signed to the practice squad as a veteran to have in the building, and in case of emergency. There were a couple of those, as he was elevated and saw action in a pair of games.
Jackson will be 37-years-old in April, and will now head to unrestricted free agency.
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