Most predicted the Buffalo Bills would struggle to replace the production from the safety tandem of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. The two were as set-it-and-forget-it as things get in the NFL, but all things end, in time. The brought in safety Taylor Rapp, and have been high on him at the free safety spot since day one.
Rapp may struggle to stay on the field thanks to injury, but his status as a starter isn’t up for grabs. It’s all those in the room with Rapp who remain in unknown territory, with head
coach Sean McDermott revealing to media members on Tuesday, August 19 that the team is “still searching” for that starter opposite Rapp.
This isn’t the most ideal time for such news, not with Buffalo opening the 2025 regular season just 18 days from now, with a huge primetime game against the Baltimore Ravens on September 7 for Sunday Night Football. It’s telling that even with Rapp’s injury history he remains head and shoulders above the entire safety group.
Damar Hamlin is a known commodity. He’s a great and vocal on-field leader, and capable of excelling in run support. Hamlin, at minimum, raises the floor. It’s in trying to figure out what the team has between Darrick Forrest Jr. and Cole Bishop. The Bills have barely looked Forrest’s way, even if McDermott claims that he’s still very much in the running to win a starting job.
Though the early portion of offseason work and into training camp, Bishop was the odds-on favorite to start next to Rapp. He was listed on the team’s depth chart as a starter, and all signs pointed toward positive development as both an individual player and partner with Rapp. Then, another injury — a sudden common theme for a young pro who was healthy, available, and capably versatile in college.
But as with Hyde and Poyer’s dominance, all things come to an end. For Bishop, that rings true when it comes to good health, and he’ll beat the label branded on him if it’s the last thing he does. Just ask his head coach who (alongside defensive coordinator Bobby Babich and safeties coach Joe Danna) has yet to make a final decision about the starting strong safety on the team’s 53-man roster.
“I really feel like Cole, from the time he’s come back, it’s just been a short runway to this point. He continues to improve… those so many subtle things that come up. Even in the practice the other day against the Bears, it looked like a good practice. And then there’s a little thing here that, had he not practiced, right? Had he not practiced, he would not have experienced. So that adds callous to his experience and his resume, if you will. You know, he has shown to this point that the ability, the skill level, uh, can be there. We’re just not there yet. And so his refining process if you will, goes one day at a time, one rep at a time. And, again, this — we’re just kind of getting started because of what wasn’t with his availability, you know, again, um affects that.“
That’s been McDermott’s stance for a bit now, with him previously claiming that time was “getting short” for Bishop to get back on the field from injury and be ready to go Week 1. But when asked about the rest of the safety group, overall, McDermott revealed a bit of news.
“I think we’re looking for… I think we’re looking for that, that other safety to play alongside T-Rap. There’s been really good moments for all those guys back there, young and some of the more veteran guys that are back there that’ve played for us. But I think we’re still looking to find, um: ‘Who is it gonna be?’ Right? And how consistent can they become and how quickly can they grow if they’re a younger player. And so, you’re always looking to, you know, figure that other piece out. Right now, for us, we know who T-Rap is. We know what he brings to the table. It’s what other piece can go along with T-Rap.”
The natural question, even though a follow-up along the lines didn’t materialize, is if their “looking” involves players outside the organization or simply just a different way to say they’re continuing to evaluate only in-house options. There’s very little time to waste in naming a starter, regardless of who it is and where they’re found.
This conversation also includes rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock, who’s been working at both nickel cornerback and safety. Hancock is currently injured, and McDermott noted that while he’s not on track to play in Saturday’s preseason finale, he “flashed in the game the other night a little bit; still a lot of work to do, um, but now he’s sidelined.” Which may imply his path to any significant opportunity early will be a challenge.
Elsewhere, many have continually pointed to veteran safety Justin Simmons, but he profiles more as a free safety (Rapp’s role), than a strong safety. Simmons does have experience playing both roles, but reports claim that he’s waiting to land with a true contender in 2025. Buffalo seems to fit the bill for the 31-year-old Simmons. But no matter what one believes of Simmons, he’s not coming in to replace Taylor Rapp at free safety.
There is, of course, a familiar name to consider in Jordan Poyer. Would the team revisit history at the position to strengthen the present? Poyer did play strong safety to aplomb, and he is a free agent. There are different concerns with Poyer in the present, mainly his status athletically and if he can and will hold up to the rigors after stepping away. However, if there are athletic concerns with Hamlin, how things would change with a now 34-year-old Poyer are unclear.
It remains unknown if general manager Brandon Beane or anyone else at One Bills Drive have talked to Poyer about a potential reunion. If the need remains dire — and right now it’s trending that way — it’s an easy road to travel to such a reunion.
