The Battle for Jobs at Safety and Corner.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

5 hours ago, MiracleAtRich1393 said:

My hope & prediction

CB1: Benford

CB2: Hairston

Nickel1: Taron

Reserves: Tre White & Dorian Strong (boundaries) Daequan Hardy (nickel2 + punt return)

 

Safeties: Rapp, Bishop, Forrest, Hancock (high end Cam Lewis role), Wande Owens (special teams & developmental)

Good list. I agree with the list. Not sure if McD will keep two rookie reserves and start another.  I think Hancock has a better shot of making the 53 than Strong but I would keep both. Might come down to White vs Jackson for the final reserve CB spot. 

[NeverOutNick]

5 hours ago, nedboy7 said:

 

This is my prediction as well.  I really want to see Hamlin go to the bench.  Forrest should be able to take that job. 

I want him working in the bills PR department that’s it 

[VW82]

On 5/2/2025 at 12:51 PM, NickelCity said:

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.

 

This. He even plays like Taron who I thought dropped off a lot last year, particularly in press situations. Hancock is a fearless in run support for a little guy. 

Edited May 5 by VW82

[VW82]

I also thought it was noteworthy that we drafted both Hairston and Strong. Our man press has been terrible the last couple seasons. We didn't have a single guy on the roster who could do it credibly once Taron dropped off. Now we have options.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Strong not only make the team but battle for a starting spot right out of the gate a la rookie Benford. He doesn't run as well as some guys but he finds a way to stick with routes like the best of them. Could be a very underrated draft pick imo.

[nedboy7]

27 minutes ago, NeverOutNick said:

I want him working in the bills PR department that’s it 

He very well might be. 
 

[ColoradoBills]

On 5/3/2025 at 3:15 PM, Doc said:

Going into the season last year they kept 11 DBs: 7 CBs and 4 Ss.  One of them (Codrington) was just a returner and offered little at CB, playing only late in the season when the outcomes were decided.

 

Right now on the roster there are only 4 Ss (Rapp, Bishop, Forrest and Hamlin), and while they say they're going to (also) play Hancock there, he is just a rookie.  I think they (may be forced to) keep them all.

 

At CB is where it gets interesting.  If they keep 7 again, I would say it's because they plan on keeping Codrington, again.  That means that there are 10 players (not counting Te'Cory Couch or the UDFAs) vying for 6 spots.  I'd say Benford, Hairston, Johnson and White are locks, with Hancock being a likely bet.  That leaves 1 spot open. 

 

I think they can cut Jackson, Lewis and Ingram with minimal dead cap hit (less than $800K) and chance of losing them.  They can be put on the PS.  That leaves 1 spot for Hardy or Strong.  Unless they keep 7 CBs without Codrington.

 

It would not surprise me at all if one of the "bubble" players end up on the IR with a hamstring (or something similar) to start the season.

[billsfan89]

On 5/5/2025 at 11:37 AM, ColoradoBills said:

 

It would not surprise me at all if one of the "bubble" players end up on the IR with a hamstring (or something similar) to start the season.

 

Kind of agree that they are going to pull what they did with Justin Shorter with a rookie or a bubble player. 

[Ralonzo]

On 5/3/2025 at 4:20 PM, GASabresIUFan said:

Hancock is a raw rookie learning a new position.  

 

Perhaps at the pro level but for OSU he played boundary, nickel AND safety AND called the secondary alignments. No questions with his run support either. Combine that with a 9.8 RAS. I'm thinking they want to have him learn for a year behind Taron Johnson and see where he's at come 2026, but I don't think they're going to risk trying to slip him to the P/S if he shows anything at all in preseason.

 

 

[BigAl2526]

On 5/2/2025 at 3:24 PM, 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.

Rapp actually times slower than Hamlin.  Rapp also times slower than Buffalo's starting linebackers.  I actually doubt if Rap times faster than any of Buffalo's linebackers.  He's smart, and that's why he has enjoyed some success with Buffalo, but if almost any receiver gets behind him with the ball, and he's the last line of defense, chalk up six points for the bad guys.  Both Rapp and Hamlin have to keep the play in front of them or bad things happen. 

[balln]

2 hours ago, BigAl2526 said:

Rapp actually times slower than Hamlin.  Rapp also times slower than Buffalo's starting linebackers.  I actually doubt if Rap times faster than any of Buffalo's linebackers.  He's smart, and that's why he has enjoyed some success with Buffalo, but if almost any receiver gets behind him with the ball, and he's the last line of defense, chalk up six points for the bad guys.  Both Rapp and Hamlin have to keep the play in front of them or bad things happen. 

Rapp got torched in den playoff game for that early deep td 

 

our safeties stink. Want two new starters this season 

Edited Wednesday at 04:52 PM by balln

[YattaOkasan]

13 minutes ago, balln said:

Rapp got torched in den playoff game for that early deep td 

 

our safeties stink. Want two new starters this season 

Also gave up a big play in the Pats game the week before.  It didnt mean much but hes gotten burned.  I def think we started below average S's last year and it was a big cause of the 3rd and long issues.  

[BillsShredder83]

On 5/2/2025 at 8:50 PM, 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 

Cod was the best return man I can remember since McGhee?  Seems like it. Thought he was a top 5-10 returner in league last year. Is Shenault in that realm, cause I cant picture it.  Hed have to blow the doors off Cod in TC to win that job id imagine, cause if its close you bring back the familiar guy who played well. Am I missing on something?

[Ralonzo]

On 5/3/2025 at 3:12 PM, Buffalo716 said:

Lewis and Ingram 100% would get another contract ... There are worse back half of roster guys

 

I wouldn't expect it on Lewis. Beane was talking about getting more physically talented on both the DL and secondary and his draft shows it. Lewis is physically maxed out and at age 28 you know this is his ceiling - bubble bottom-of-roster/practice-squad guy. Good on him hanging on as long as he did, but for the Bills to go where they want to go, him taking meaningful playoff snaps can't be a possibility.

 

Cam Lewis - 5'9" 183lb - 4.51/40 - 32" vertical - wingspan 73"

Jordan Hancock - 6'0" 195lb - 4.42/40 - 41.5" vertical - wingspan 76"

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, Ralonzo said:

 

I wouldn't expect it on Lewis. Beane was talking about getting more physically talented on both the DL and secondary and his draft shows it. Lewis is physically maxed out and at age 28 you know this is his ceiling - bubble bottom-of-roster/practice-squad guy. Good on him hanging on as long as he did, but for the Bills to go where they want to go, him taking meaningful playoff snaps can't be a possibility.

 

Cam Lewis - 5'9" 183lb - 4.51/40 - 32" vertical - wingspan 73"

Jordan Hancock - 6'0" 195lb - 4.42/40 - 41.5" vertical - wingspan 76"

I didn't say anything about the next contract with the bills .. I said contract with another team 

 

You can go back here years and I've always had cam Lewis's back 

 

Even when people were calling him trash I was hyping him up.. being a former division one defensive back I've always had a eye on defensive backs 

 

And Lewis was a tremendous undrafted free agent from the get-go.. his versatility.. his willingness to get his nose dirty and special teams versatility is enough for a lot of teams 53

 

You can't have 53 all pros.. every single team needs good back half of roster players 

 

And most players don't have a 53 as good as Cameron Lewis

 

Edited Thursday at 12:32 AM by Buffalo716

[BigAl2526]

8 hours ago, balln said:

Rapp got torched in den playoff game for that early deep td 

 

our safeties stink. Want two new starters this season 

I agree.  I would love it if Buffalo started 2 new safeties, but McDermott seems to like Rapp.  I would be surprised if he's not starting at least to begin the season.

[Bullfrog]

I expect at least Rapp to start the first 6 games this season.

[Sierra Foothills]

4 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Cod was the best return man I can remember since McGhee?  Seems like it. Thought he was a top 5-10 returner in league last year. Is Shenault in that realm, cause I cant picture it.  Hed have to blow the doors off Cod in TC to win that job id imagine, cause if its close you bring back the familiar guy who played well. Am I missing on something?

 

Codrington is an excellent return man and the Bills actually traded for him (swap of late picks).

 

The reason he has less value is because he's viewed strictly as a returner and nothing else.

 

[Ralonzo]

11 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

I didn't say anything about the next contract with the bills .. I said contract with another team 

 

You said "contract." You didn't say anything about next contract with the Bills or another team, and neither did I. No need to take what I said, change it to what I didn't say, and argue against what I never said. Lewis is undoubtedly a target to be upgraded on the Bills roster, having spent a draft pick on a player who slots (heh) into his exact roster niche. The things that work against him to make the Bills 53 work to an even greater degree for the rest of the league as players who are a scheme-fit for the Bills wouldn't find a ton of teams running McDefense variants in the league (and judging from the playoff performances, why would they).

  

11 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

You can go back here years and I've always had cam Lewis's back 

 

Even when people were calling him trash I was hyping him up.. 

 

That's fine, I'm just saying he's a maxed out player. Go to bat for your guy, Buscaglia agrees with you and is also higher on Lewis' value than I am. I think the upside and traits, contract and team-control of his competition will make the decision go against him if the performance is close. I'm stoked to watch all these guys competing in preseason.

 

Edited Thursday at 11:38 AM by Ralonzo

[Doc]

32 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

You said "contract." You didn't say anything about next contract with the Bills or another team, and neither did I. No need to take what I said, change it to what I didn't say, and argue against what I never said. Lewis is undoubtedly a target to be upgraded on the Bills roster, having spent a draft pick on a player who slots (heh) into his exact roster niche. The things that work against him to make the Bills 53 work to an even greater degree for the rest of the league as players who are a scheme-fit for the Bills wouldn't find a ton of teams running McDefense variants in the league (and judging from the playoff performances, why would they).

  

 

That's fine, I'm just saying he's a maxed out player. Go to bat for your guy, Buscaglia agrees with you and is also higher on Lewis' value than I am. I think the upside and traits, contract and team-control of his competition will make the decision go against him if the performance is close. I'm stoked to watch all these guys competing in preseason.

 

I think Lewis can be a final cut and be placed on the PS.  

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

On 5/4/2025 at 9:03 PM, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Good list. I agree with the list. Not sure if McD will keep two rookie reserves and start another.  I think Hancock has a better shot of making the 53 than Strong but I would keep both. Might come down to White vs Jackson for the final reserve CB spot. 

 

5 hours ago, Doc said:

 

I think Lewis can be a final cut and be placed on the PS.  

 

I'd be shocked if Dane Jackson made the final roster - I'd say him, lewis, ingram, hardy are all PS candidates.  As bad as tre was last year at times, and even his last season here... dane jackson was bruuuutal