The Battle for Jobs at Safety and Corner.

[BuffaloBillyG]

3 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 don't know if his contact makes it difficult to move on from him this year. Maybe a cap guru can answer that for me. But he did have some streaks of struggle last year and seems to get knicked up more than he has in the past.

 

I liked Hardy last year in the preseason. Added so much more at CB than Codrigton. I think he's who I'm thinking of that played some NCB and didn't look terrible. I think if he can show better judgment returning kicks he could lock down a spot on the 53 and see some real reps at NCB. 

1 minute ago, Cash said:

 

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.

We say that every year. "So and so won't clear waivers". Yet most times they do. Yearly only a handful of guys get claimed by a new team league wide. 

 

Yet, if it's close and there is legitimate worry he wouldn't clear because he showed well in preseason, you keep him, cut Lewis. Cheaper contract and no one is likely to claim Lewis. 

[Mat68]

1 minute ago, Cash said:

 

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.

I think the odds are low for Ingram and Lewis.  Buffalo drafted higher caliber athletes who had better college careers.  Hancock and Strong are highly rated players and picks draft heads seem to universally praise.  Both in scheme fit and value.    

[MrEpsYtown]

I think Damar Hamlin is one of the worst players in the NFL don’t understand the appeal. 

 

Rapp and Bishop will very likely be the starters. Hairston, Johnson, Benford are the starting corners. White and Strong make the team as does Hancock. After that it’s upside plays like Forrest or we know what we have low ceiling plays like Lewis and Hamlin. 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

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

I like Ingram last season. I though he played well and showed potential. If he can't make it, it means the Bills are pretty good.  Same for Lewis, who has been a solid reserve. 

18 minutes ago, Cash said:

 

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.

Right. Fifth round pick has to be pretty disappointing to get cut.  

[Mat68]

2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I like Ingram last season. I though he played well and showed potential. If he can't make it, it means the Bills are pretty good.  Same for Lewis, who has been a solid reserve. 

Unwilling to replace Elam with Ingram vs KC tells me all I need to know imo.  That game is why they brought back White and Jackson and drafted 3 dbs. 

[Shaw66]

I was hoping someone would start a discussion about these position groups.  I don't know who will win the corner roster spots, but I'm confident it'll be a good group. 

 

Safety is where I, and I think most others, are concerned. There isn't one who gives me a lot of confidence to be a solid, above-average start. I can't get enthused about Rapp, Bishop didn't show last season that he was ready (although he may and very well could make the jump he needs this season), Hamlin doesn't do it for me. It seems to me like a room full of backups and projects. One or two need to emerge. 

[Pete]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

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

Same with AJ, Daquan, Carter and Dane.  

[Senth]

With all the draft capital we used on corner and or safety there has to be a PONY in there somewhere!

[Mat68]

2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I was hoping someone would start a discussion about these position groups.  I don't know who will win the corner roster spots, but I'm confident it'll be a good group. 

 

Safety is where I, and I think most others, are concerned. There isn't one who gives me a lot of confidence to be a solid, above-average start. I can't get enthused about Rapp, Bishop didn't show last season that he was ready (although he may and very well could make the jump he needs this season), Hamlin doesn't do it for me. It seems to me like a room full of backups and projects. One or two need to emerge. 

I think Bishop started playing better late.  I think he could take a leap year 2.  Rapp is average.  Hamlin is serviceable.  Interested to see how Hancock looks at safety.  Beane wants to see if he fits better at S or Nickel.  Some break downs have him playing better outside the box than inside. I think Forest is a flyier more so than competition.  

[Cash]

37 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

We say that every year. "So and so won't clear waivers". Yet most times they do. Yearly only a handful of guys get claimed by a new team league wide. 

 

Yet, if it's close and there is legitimate worry he wouldn't clear because he showed well in preseason, you keep him, cut Lewis. Cheaper contract and no one is likely to claim Lewis. 

 

When was the last time we cut a 5th-rounder in his rookie year?  I can't think of one off the top of my head.  Hardy was a 6th rounder last year and did clear waivers, which was a mild surprise to me.  The year before, 7th rounders Alex Austin and Nick Broecker both got claimed when we cut them and are still rostered by those teams.  In 2022, 6th rounder Luke Tenuta got claimed.  In 2021, 6th rounder Rachad Wildgoose and 7th rounder Jack Anderson both cleared waivers, but then both were poached off our practice squad during the 2021 season.  In 2020 & 2019, I don't think we waived any drafted rookies.  The closest is 2020 5th rounder Jake Fromm, who made the team in 2020 but was cut the following year and signed to the PS.  Of note, he was poached by the Giants later that season.

 

So, going back through 6 years of drafts, we've cut 3 6th rounders and 3 7th rounders, and 5/6 were snapped up by other teams before end of the regular season.  I think it's a pretty safe bet that Hancock either makes the team out of camp, gets put on IR, or is not a Buffalo Bill in 2026.

[GASabresIUFan]

1 hour ago, Cash said:

 

When was the last time we cut a 5th-rounder in his rookie year?  I can't think of one off the top of my head.  Hardy was a 6th rounder last year and did clear waivers, which was a mild surprise to me.  The year before, 7th rounders Alex Austin and Nick Broecker both got claimed when we cut them and are still rostered by those teams.  In 2022, 6th rounder Luke Tenuta got claimed.  In 2021, 6th rounder Rachad Wildgoose and 7th rounder Jack Anderson both cleared waivers, but then both were poached off our practice squad during the 2021 season.  In 2020 & 2019, I don't think we waived any drafted rookies.  The closest is 2020 5th rounder Jake Fromm, who made the team in 2020 but was cut the following year and signed to the PS.  Of note, he was poached by the Giants later that season.

 

So, going back through 6 years of drafts, we've cut 3 6th rounders and 3 7th rounders, and 5/6 were snapped up by other teams before end of the regular season.  I think it's a pretty safe bet that Hancock either makes the team out of camp, gets put on IR, or is not a Buffalo Bill in 2026.

The Bills also claimed Cine last season when cut and then he was taken from us by the Eagles.  

 

One thing I should have put in the OP is that Special Teams participation will be a factor in those last cuts.  Last season Ingram 66.59%, and Lewis (56.75%) were 3rd and 4th respectively in special teams snaps.  Andressen was 5th with 55.16.

 

Of the new comers Jackson played 27% for the Bills in 2023 but only 4% for Car last season.  Forrest played 53% of Washington's special teams snaps last season.

Edited Friday at 09:58 PM by GASabresIUFan

[ganesh]

5 hours ago, Logic said:

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

Competition this summer will make our team better.

[gonzo1105]

I think this room is more straightforward than people think. You don’t invest the kind of capital the Bills put into DB just to keep the same guys. 
 

CBs: Benford, Hairston, Johnson, White, Strong 

 

S: Rapp, Bishop, Hancock 

 

These guys to me are locks pending injury. I think with the adds Dane Jackson is toast because he doesn’t provide STs. I think Ingram or Lewis is out depending on who is better at teams. 
 

The questions I have is who gets the last spot at Safety with Forrest /Hamlin. Will they keep Codrington or keep Shenault. Is either Lewis or Ingram valuable enough to keep on the 53 for Special teams only 

[<bills4life>]

5 hours 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.

Next to 4.76 guy Taylor Rapp. 😂 

[YattaOkasan]

2 minutes ago, &lt;bills4life&gt; said:

Next to 4.76 guy Taylor Rapp. 😂 

Both had coverage grades over 100. I put a lot of our 3rd and long problems on them. 

[Buffalo716]

18 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

I think this room is more straightforward than people think. You don’t invest the kind of capital the Bills put into DB just to keep the same guys. 
 

CBs: Benford, Hairston, Johnson, White, Strong 

 

S: Rapp, Bishop, Hancock 

 

These guys to me are locks pending injury. I think with the adds Dane Jackson is toast because he doesn’t provide STs. I think Ingram or Lewis is out depending on who is better at teams. 
 

The questions I have is who gets the last spot at Safety with Forrest /Hamlin. Will they keep Codrington or keep Shenault. Is either Lewis or Ingram valuable enough to keep on the 53 for Special teams only 

Man, I have a soft spot for the ub guys because I've been around the program for 20 years first hand 

 

I really like both kids.. but knowing McDermott and knowing our scheme if I had to choose one right now.. I would probably go with Lewis because of his versatility 

 

He plays nickel , safety and special teams which is a valuable bottom end roster guy

[Ralonzo]

19 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Man, I have a soft spot for the ub guys because I've been around the program for 20 years first hand 

 

I really like both kids.. but knowing McDermott and knowing our scheme if I had to choose one right now.. I would probably go with Lewis because of his versatility 

 

He plays nickel , safety and special teams which is a valuable bottom end roster guy

 

Hancock does that on a rookie salary with better size and speed, and played for an FBS Champion.

[Buffalo716]

4 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

Hancock does that on a rookie salary with better size and speed, and played for an FBS Champion.

I hear you.. was just saying Ingram versus lewis

[Ralonzo]

1 minute ago, Buffalo716 said:

I hear you.. was just saying Ingram versus lewis

 

Lewis I think has a very narrow path to the 53 at his combination of ceiling/effectiveness/contract. Can't justify carrying him at twice the price unless Hancock just can't ball. Soon as I saw that pick, I figured he's gone.

[Buffalo716]

Just now, Ralonzo said:

 

Lewis I think has a very narrow path to the 53 at his combination of ceiling/effectiveness/contract. Can't justify carrying him at twice the price unless Hancock just can't ball. Soon as I saw that pick, I figured he's gone.

Yeah I hear you but as a 4th safety , fighting for nickel 2 and a special teams player he has a chance if he balls 

 

Probably will be on the waiver wire