The Battle for Jobs at Safety and Corner.

[GASabresIUFan]

This is as crowded a field for DB jobs that I can remember.  The Bills' secondary last season outside of Benford was mediocre at best.  Benford emerged as one of the top 5 corners in the NFL and was rewarded with a huge second contract.

 

Gone from last year are former 1st rd pick Elam (traded away) and CB2 Douglas.

 

There are 9 returning players, plus 3 FA signees and 3 draftees competing for 10-12 jobs.  Historically the Bills have keep 4-5 safeties and between 5-7 CBs.

 

1) Besides Benford there are four other locks for the team.

2) Slot Corner Taron Johnson - Former All Pro was not a good as usual last season, but still solid.

3) Rookie Corner Max Hairston - speed demon and our top draft pick

4) Starting Safety Rapp - Beane praised his leadership last season.

5) 2nd year safety Cole Bishop - Injuries slowed his progress, but he pushed Hamlin for the starting job late in the season. 

 

Guys almost certain to make the team

6) Former starting safety Hamlin. Bills re-signed him this offseason and his dead cap if cut is 2 mill which is nearly 700K more than his actual cap hit.  A trade may happen if he gets out performed in camp.

7) FA signee and Bills returnee Tre White.  White signed for a year and 2.88 with a dead cap if cut of 2 mill.  He'll compete with Hairston for the CB2 job

 

Guys competing for the remaining jobs (not in any particular order)

8.) FA Safety Forrest - Cap hit 1.2 (dead cap 167K) - Has starting experience.  I have him penciled in but he could lose out like Edwards did last year.

9) S/CB Cam Lewis - Cap hit 2 mill (dead cap 212K) - Special Teams leader and often plays the dime, but 1.8 cap savings if cut.

10) FA CB Dane Jackson - Cap hit 1.37 (dead cap .568) - Former Bill returns after dreadful season in Carolina.

11) CB Ingram - Cap hit 1.03 (dead cap 4K) - played ok when called upon last season, but is primarily a special teams player.

12) CB Draftee Strong - Pick 177 out of Virginia Tech - Press Corner with 4.5 speed and good height and other measurables (Cap hit 911K, 71K dead cap if cut)

13) CB/S Hancock - Pick 170 out of Ohio State - 4.42 speed and 41.5 vertical.  Beane imagines him a safety because of only decent coverage skills. (Cap hit 920K, dead cap 80K)

14) CB/KR Codrington - UDFA acquired from the Jets - Good rookie year as primarily a punt returned. (Cap hit 960K, 0 dead cap)

15) CB/KR Hardy - 2024 draftee who lost his job to Codrington but remained on the PS last season. (Cap hit 844K, 8.5K dead cap)

 

CB Benford, Johnson and either White or Hairston start - Backups White or Hairston, then 2 others and maybe a 7th player who is primarily a punt returner.  The camp battles look like Strong, Ingram and Jackson for 2 CB slots with Codrington vs Hardy vs Shenault (WR) for the KR slot.  No telling how that will play out. 

 

At Safety Bishop are Rapp are the starters, Hamlin a backup with Forrest, Hancock and Lewis competing for up to 2 jobs.  I have Lewis as the odd man out.  

 

How this plays out should be interesting to watch.  

 

 

Edited May 3 by GASabresIUFan

[Simon]

Forrest and Hancock have a good chance of filling out the S room and making this a very reliable group, imo.

There's also a scenario where one or even both could really push the starters, although they are more likely to be a year away.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I'll be honest: so far Bishop has not proven to me that he's a starter. I expect major battles up and down the depth chart and some decent players are going to be gone on cutdown day

[MJS]

The thing with White, though, is that he provides no special teams help. So, if they roster him and he isn't the starter, he'll be inactive. It is just like the Elam situation.

 

I think Cam Lewis and Hancock are in a direct competition for that backup nickel and safety role. Lewis may be gone.

 

I don't see Hamlin as a near lock. Yes, he has a dead cap hit, but they can spread it out over two seasons if he is cut after June 1st, I believe. Forrest is better than him. And if they want to keep Lewis AND Hancock, than means Hamlin is the odd man out.

 

They usually keep 5 corners, right? So, Benford, Hairston, Johnson, and then two of White, Jackson, and Strong. Hancock will count among the safeties and make the team, I think. 

[Logic]

If I was Cam Lewis or Ja'Marcus Ingram, I'd be a little bit worried right now.

[BuffaloBillyG]

I expect Hairston and Benford to start at the corner position. Taron at NCB.

 

At Safety Rapp and Hamlin are the starters coming into camp.

 

If someone outplays them, so be it. As of the close of last year, Bishop did not look like a guy poised to take over. Maybe a healthy camp changes that. Forrest or whoever his name is is a dart throw and a guy that people desperately wanting anyone but Hamlin are clinging to. And Hancock is going to have to learn the position. I don't see him as a day 1 option. 

 

And for what it's worth with all the hand wringing about Hamlin, I felt he was actually better than Rapp for much of the season. 

 

In any event the Bills action (or lack thereof) tells us what they think of that room. They made no move to bring in guys that are established starters, didn't look to the position high in the draft. They like their guys there.

 

 

[klos63]

15 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I expect Hairston and Benford to start at the corner position. Taron at NCB.

 

At Safety Rapp and Hamlin are the starters coming into camp.

 

If someone outplays them, so be it. As of the close of last year, Bishop did not look like a guy poised to take over. Maybe a healthy camp changes that. Forrest or whoever his name is is a dart throw and a guy that people desperately wanting anyone but Hamlin are clinging to. And Hancock is going to have to learn the position. I don't see him as a day 1 option. 

 

And for what it's worth with all the hand wringing about Hamlin, I felt he was actually better than Rapp for much of the season. 

 

In any event the Bills action (or lack thereof) tells us what they think of that room. They made no move to bring in guys that are established starters, didn't look to the position high in the draft. They like their guys there.

 

 

Hamlin did a lot of good things last season,  but he's probably the slowest safety I've seen play,  ever. 

He's a quality backup,  but way too slow to be a top starter.

[Mat68]

8 minutes ago, MJS said:

The thing with White, though, is that he provides no special teams help. So, if they roster him and he isn't the starter, he'll be inactive. It is just like the Elam situation.

 

I think Cam Lewis and Hancock are in a direct competition for that backup nickel and safety role. Lewis may be gone.

 

I don't see Hamlin as a near lock. Yes, he has a dead cap hit, but they can spread it out over two seasons if he is cut after June 1st, I believe. Forrest is better than him. And if they want to keep Lewis AND Hancock, than means Hamlin is the odd man out.

 

They usually keep 5 corners, right? So, Benford, Hairston, Johnson, and then two of White, Jackson, and Strong. Hancock will count among the safeties and make the team, I think. 

I would guess it ends up

cb1 Benford, Jackson, Strong

cb 2 White/Hairston

Slot Johnson, Hancock

 

S Rapp, Bishop, Hamlin and Forest

 

Codrington imo has no chance to make the 53 unless an injury puts a player on IR and opens a roster spot.  That spot is going to a db.  I think they like Lewis too much to keep him off the roster.  I think him and Ingram are too limited.  They are replaced by Hancock and Strong.  

[H2o]

This is the way I see things shaking out. 

 

CB1: Benford, Strong

CB2: Hairston, White

NCB: T. Johnson, Ingram

 

FS: Forrest, Hamlin, Hancock

SS: Rapp, Bishop 

 

I think Ingram sticks over Lewis and Jackson. I think Codrington and Hardy are battling for a roster spot strictly based on ST's. I think they keep one less LB on the roster to keep one more DB. I hope the LB cut is the Temu version of Klein, Baylon Spector. 

[Mat68]

19 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I expect Hairston and Benford to start at the corner position. Taron at NCB.

 

At Safety Rapp and Hamlin are the starters coming into camp.

 

If someone outplays them, so be it. As of the close of last year, Bishop did not look like a guy poised to take over. Maybe a healthy camp changes that. Forrest or whoever his name is is a dart throw and a guy that people desperately wanting anyone but Hamlin are clinging to. And Hancock is going to have to learn the position. I don't see him as a day 1 option. 

 

And for what it's worth with all the hand wringing about Hamlin, I felt he was actually better than Rapp for much of the season. 

 

In any event the Bills action (or lack thereof) tells us what they think of that room. They made no move to bring in guys that are established starters, didn't look to the position high in the draft. They like their guys there.

 

 

I think Hancock is an upgrade over Lewis.  I expect him to play special teams and see the field a bit due to being available.  

[Motorin']

28 minutes ago, Logic said:

If I was Cam Lewis or Ja'Marcus Ingram, I'd be a little bit worried right now.

 

I like them both as practice squad db's, personally. 

2 minutes ago, H2o said:

This is the way I see things shaking out. 

 

CB1: Benford, Strong

CB2: Hairston, White

NCB: T. Johnson, Ingram

 

FS: Forrest, Hamlin, Hancock

SS: Rapp, Bishop 

 

I think Ingram sticks over Lewis and Jackson. I think Codrington and Hardy are battling for a roster spot strictly based on ST's. I think they keep one less LB on the roster to keep one more DB. I hope the LB cut is the Temu version of Klein, Baylon Spector. 

 

I think Hardy has a shot to earn backup NCB. 

 

I hope that Hancock locks down both backup NCB and #3 safety. Though that's a lot to ask from a rookie. 

[DapperCam]

Best case scenario for me is Bishop and Forrest win the starting Safety spots. It would be a nice injection of athleticism we really lacked.

 

I expect Rapp and Hamlin…

[boyst]

40 minutes ago, Simon said:

Forrest and Hancock have a good chance of filling out the S room and making this a very reliable group, imo.

There's also a scenario where one or even both could really push the starters, although they are more likely to be a year away.

One thing I notice about McDermott is once you earn your starting spot you basically keep it for the entire year. Only a few times do I remember him coming out of camp with positions not firmly in place and lasting all season. 

 

 Wyatt Teller, was one of them. He replaced Ducasse and started the last handful of games and played well.  Then was traded after being a starter.

 

The other few were lineman as well. Spain, Ford, and a few others.

 

But my point remains, I don't think we have seen a lot of movement for starters in any positions to who starts and doesn't without injury being a factor.

 

It'll be interesting if he is trying to switch safeties mid season. It's not his MO. 

[oldmanfan]

Just throwing this out there, and before doing so understand that I think the world of Taron Johnson.  But he’s getting a bit older and has had some injuries.  Any chance one of the young kids beats him out?

[BuffaloBillyG]

12 minutes ago, klos63 said:

Hamlin did a lot of good things last season,  but he's probably the slowest safety I've seen play,  ever. 

He's a quality backup,  but way too slow to be a top starter.

I agree. Hamlin will never be a top starter level guy in the NFL. I would say his ceiling is below league average as a starter. But he does make some plays here and there and more times then not I believe he does what he's told and is where he is supposed to be. 

 

Facing facts, we were spoiled here in Buffalo watching Hyde and Poyer play in their prime for so many years. Not many will be suitable replacements for them. I think our expectations for how the position is played is raised a bit higher than in most fanbase. 

7 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

I think Hancock is an upgrade over Lewis.  I expect him to play special teams and see the field a bit due to being available.  

I really have no idea if Hancock will be an upgrade. I've never watched a full game of his. And who knows how his transition to safety will go.

 

I do think Lewis having time in the position and playing in this system gives him a mental upgrade to have the leg up on a rookie that has a lot to learn still. I think the only way Hancock flat out beats him is if he shows to be some physical specimen out there. My best guess is one is kept on the active roster and the other is signed back to the practice squad. 

[Cash]

6 minutes ago, boyst said:

One thing I notice about McDermott is once you earn your starting spot you basically keep it for the entire year. Only a few times do I remember him coming out of camp with positions not firmly in place and lasting all season. 

 

 Wyatt Teller, was one of them. He replaced Ducasse and started the last handful of games and played well.  Then was traded after being a starter.

 

The other few were lineman as well. Spain, Ford, and a few others.

 

But my point remains, I don't think we have seen a lot of movement for starters in any positions to who starts and doesn't without injury being a factor.

 

It'll be interesting if he is trying to switch safeties mid season. It's not his MO. 

 

Off the dome, didn't Spencer Brown move into the starting lineup around the middle of his rookie year?  Maybe at the bye week or something?

 

Matt Milano is another one, mid/late in his rookie year.

 

In general, I think the team philosophy across the board is that guys compete for jobs, and once someone wins, it's "his" job... until it isn't.  For example, Beane post-draft talking about what Hairston might do if he wins the starting job across from Benford.  He wasn't pretending that Benford will have to win a starting job in camp the way I've seen some NFL coaches or GMs do.  Honestly, I think the Bills' take is a good middle ground.  I hate the performative nonsense of coaches pretending their guys with 8-figure contracts are on the same level as rookie UDFAs, even if I get the idea behind it.  On the other end, I still remember Doug Whaley declaring Sammy Watkins and Cyrus Kouandjio "starters off the bus" in his post-draft presser.  Too much overconfidence and entitlement there.

[Warriorspikes51]

Start Forrest & Hancock, see what happens 

 

Unless Bishop wins a starting role in camp
 

Rapp and Hamlin have a penchant for concussing their own players 

 

[Augie]

5 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Just throwing this out there, and before doing so understand that I think the world of Taron Johnson.  But he’s getting a bit older and has had some injuries.  Any chance one of the young kids beats him out?

 

I suspect it’s more likely he learns from him for a year, but I’d bet he has that role eventually. 

[Cash]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I do think Lewis having time in the position and playing in this system gives him a mental upgrade to have the leg up on a rookie that has a lot to learn still. I think the only way Hancock flat out beats him is if he shows to be some physical specimen out there. My best guess is one is kept on the active roster and the other is signed back to the practice squad. 

 

Only problem there is that 5th round picks usually don't clear waivers.  If it does come down to Hancock vs Lewis and Lewis wins, that probably means bye-bye to Hancock.

[NickelCity]

I'd like Hancock to turn into our next Hyde, but I kind of expect him to shine at nickel corner. 

 

Wouldn't be the worst thing. Taron is aging.

Edited May 2 by NickelCity