Darrick vs Damar…who makes the team?

[Billsfed1]

I think this is the most interesting camp battle to watch in 2025.  You can go down the 90 man roster and pretty much pencil in 95% of the guys that make it, but I feel this is one of those spots that’s truly up for grabs.

 

Assuming McDermott only keeps 4 safeties, who doesn’t make it?

 

I think Rapp, Bishop and Lewis are all a lock (McD loves him some Cam Lewis).

 

Is Damar’s knowledge of the playbook the deciding factor, or does Darrick pick up the concepts quick and shows a little more athleticism in camp?

 

I’m just trying to figure out if Forrest is this years camp version of MVS.

[BullBuchanan]

Damar is a lock to make the team. His contract is fully guaranteed and he's a multi-year starter. Forrest is a dart throw.

Edited 17 hours ago by BullBuchanan

[buffblue]

Damar....unfortunately. I don't think I'll ever get the memory of the abuse he took in the AFC Championship game out of my head. He was incomprehensibly bad against KC. The only thing that may obscure that fact to the powers that be is that Elam was somehow even worse

Edited 17 hours ago by buffblue

[Billsfed1]

If Damar didn’t make the team I wonder where he would go.  For some reason I’m picturing him in a Cowboys helmet.

[HOUSE]

Stefon Gilmore is starting at safety so who really cares ??

 

 

Edited 16 hours ago by HOUSE

[3rdand12]

14 minutes ago, buffblue said:

Damar....unfortunately. I don't think I'll ever get the memory of the abuse he took in the AFC Championship game out of my head. He was incomprehensibly bad against KC. The only thing that may obscure that fact to the powers that be is that Elam was somehow even worse

Perhaps he was trying to figure out wtf Elam was doing and improvise ?

Ha jk

That was a tough day for Bills

6 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Stefon Gilmore is starting at safety so who cares ??

 

 

Woah Nelson !

Will he have to tackle though ?

[The Cincinnati Kid]

25 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Stefon Gilmore is starting at safety so who cares ??

 

 

Because the Bills are on TV now?

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

28 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Stefon Gilmore is starting at safety so who cares ??

 

 

probably one of my least liked Bills’ players. Remember him always looking around and trying to blame the safeties? 

[Process]

Both. Lewis gets cut with Hancock taking his spot. 

[Victory Formation]

Damar.

[MasterStrategist]

59 minutes ago, Billsfed1 said:

If Damar didn’t make the team I wonder where he would go.  For some reason I’m picturing him in a Cowboys helmet.

You clearly dont know Damars background well.

 

Pittsburgh boy, spends A TON of time back home in offseason/ super close to Tomlin and their org.

 

He's going to be a Bill in 2025, but if he ever signs elsewhere it will be with the Steelers.

 

And its more than what you wrote "about him knowing the playbokk", as to why he will be a Bill.  His contract his fully gtd/he just re signed, but most important is his connection with entire team, coaches, etc.  He's ahead of Cam, there's someone we will all be talking about in camp (Hancock), that will make Lewis expendable.

[BillsFanForever19]

I think if the board had it's way, it would obviously be Forrest staying.

 

But I've said this a few times, I don't think there's been a bigger disconnect between the fanbase and the brass on a player than that of the evaluation of Damar Hamlin.

 

A large percentage of the fanbase sees a guy who shouldn't even be on the team. Not deserving of even a depth roster position.

 

But McDermott sees a guy who he happily started for the entire year last season. Even when Mike Edwards was asking for his release. Even after Cole Bishop came back from injury and had time to get the playbook down and started in the final game.

 

They had the chance to walk away from him this offseason and they brought him back. I think McDermott likes him a lot. And I'll believe it when I see it that they're going to go from him being a full time starter to not even being a depth player for us.

 

As others have mentioned, there's also the contracts. Darrick Forrest is only guaranteed 167k. Damar is guaranteed 2m. 

 

When push comes to shove, i'd be surprised if Forrest is anything more than a Camp Body. 

Edited 15 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[Big Turk]

Darrick is a better player, Damar knows the system and has McD's trust.

[BullBuchanan]

7 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Darrick is a better player, Damar knows the system and has McD's trust.

If that was true maybe he'd have more than 6 starts over the last 2 years. He was thrust into the starting lineup due to injury, played ok and was then benched as soon as there were better options. Hamlin isn't a world beater, but he's a legitimate fringe starter. I don't know why folks act like he sucks.

[Sojourner]

One or the other? Damar. 
 

Believe both make the team however. Usually we carry 10 or 11 DBs on the active roster under McDermott. 

The following are the only absolute locks imo:

Benford

Bishop

Hairston

Taron

Rapp

 

That leaves:

Codrington

Forrest

Hamlin

Hancock

Hardy

Ingram

Jackson

Lewis

Porter Jr. 

Strong

White

 

The bolded are the ones most likely to take the final 5/6 spots on the roster. Italicized are the ones who I feel are competing and likely to have the better chance going into TC and the regular season. 
 

(White in italics in the event someone has a strong showing and makes the team, you run with him for that last spot given the acumen and experience he brings)

 

 

[BillsFanForever19]

3 hours ago, Sojourner said:

One or the other? Damar. 
 

Believe both make the team however. Usually we carry 10 or 11 DBs on the active roster under McDermott. 

The following are the only absolute locks imo:

Benford

Bishop

Hairston

Taron

Rapp

 

That leaves:

Codrington

Forrest

Hamlin

Hancock

Hardy

Ingram

Jackson

Lewis

Porter Jr. 

Strong

White

 

The bolded are the ones most likely to take the final 5/6 spots on the roster. Italicized are the ones who I feel are competing and likely to have the better chance going into TC and the regular season. 
 

(White in italics in the event someone has a strong showing and makes the team, you run with him for that last spot given the acumen and experience he brings)

 

You have both Hancock and Strong most likely being cut? That's not only not the most likely to happen, it's HIGHLY unlikely.

 

We've never outright cut a 5th Round Draft Pick. Hancock was Drafted bc he's a more talented version of Cam Lewis. Strong was the 1st Pick in Round 6 and was a steal there. 

 

Obviously, not all 9 picks are making the 53. But our 5th selection? My gut says both make it. But at the very least, Hancock is in. I'm willing to say there's close to a zero percent chance that neither Hancock or Strong make the roster.

Edited 11 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[Sojourner]

40 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

You have both Hancock and Strong most likely being cut? That's not only not the most likely to happen, it's HIGHLY unlikely.

 

We've never outright cut a 5th Round Draft Pick. Hancock was Drafted bc he's a more talented version of Cam Lewis. Strong was the 1st Pick in Round 6 and was a steal there. 

 

Obviously, not all 9 picks are making the 53. But our 5th selection? My gut says both make it. But at the very least, Hancock is in. I'm willing to say there's close to a zero percent chance that neither Hancock and Strong make the roster.

Not at all. I believe Hancock is competing for one of, if not the final spot. I posted in another thread about how he is a sleeper for me on this team.

 

Strong? He was an 6th rounder; irrelevant in itself. But imo? Exactly the same as Hardy last year, a practice squad guy imo. I don’t disagree that he’s talented and a potential steal where he fell but out of all the guys in the 5th to 7th rounds, the only guy I’d hang my hat on as having anything as a great chance would be Hancock. I may be wrong and I’ll happily accept it if so. 
 

Again, Hancock was highlighted as competing for the final spot on that DB room and he is a guy I posted in the “sleeper” thread for what it’s worth. 

Edited 14 hours ago by Sojourner

[C.Biscuit97]

4 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

probably one of my least liked Bills’ players. Remember him always looking around and trying to blame the safeties? 

Much respect to Miyagi but Belichick knows more ball than you. Bills fans hating on Gilmore for not smiling was one of the dumbest things in the history of the franchise. He’s a future HOF but wasn’t good enough for us!!?

 

and damar became a mascot but also proved he’s a nfl player. He’s a solid backup who knows the system.

Edited 12 hours ago by C.Biscuit97

[BillsfaninSB]

4 hours ago, HOUSE said:

Stefon Gilmore is starting at safety so who really cares ??

 

 

I kind of miss the gray facemask. 

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, Sojourner said:

Strong? He was an 6th rounder; irrelevant in itself. But imo? Exactly the same as Hardy last year, a practice squad guy imo. 

 

I don't think he's the same guy as Hardy. Like at all. And while he was a 6th Rounder, he was only taken 7 picks after Hancock, 4 picks after Hawes. 

 

Hardy is a diminutive 5'9" Nickel, who was Drafted primarily to be a Return Man and failed to impress to a point that they traded a pick for Codrington to take his roster spot. If not for the return ability in College (that didn't show up in Training Camp and the Pre-Season), Hardy was probably a UDFA.

 

Strong is a 6'1" Outside CB with Zone coverage skills drafted to be a CB for us. He's a much better Outside CB than Hardy was a Nickel. Expected to go as high as Round 4 and fell more for being a Zone guy than anything else.

 

And while both were technically taken in Round 6, they were effectively taken almost a Round and a half apart. Dorian Strong was taken with the 1st Pick in Round 6 (Pick 177). Daequan Hardy was taken with the 43rd Pick in Round 6 (compensatory and second to last in the Round, Pick 219).

 

I view Lundt and Prather as the Draft Picks unlikely to make it. I'm not guaranteeing Strong makes it. But if he lives up to expectations and can play Teams, I think him beating out Ingram as the last CB (alongside Benford, Hairston, Taron, and Tre) is likely. He's more talented and has the potential to be developed into more.

Edited 11 hours ago by BillsFanForever19