Assess the Bills' Safeties

[GreggTX]

Starters: Col Bishop, Taylor Rapp

Bishop shows promise. Rapp is on IR following a weak start to 2025. We're injuries the reason?

Depth: Damar Hamlin(IR), Jordon Poyer, Cam Lewis, Jordan Hancock

Hamlin and Lewis are solid rotational veterans. Poyer's veteran presence has helped, but his time is short. Hancock has great speed and shows some promise.

What's your perspective?

 

[BullBuchanan]

Did you need two threads for this?

Drinking this heavy on a Monday morning is wild work.

[GreggTX]

Perhaps if I'd thought of this one first...

[BuffaloBillyG]

Bishop is the future of the room. Rapp, Poyer and Hamlin should be wishes well on their future endeavors. Hancock shows some promise. Lewis is a valuable piece, and would like to see him play more NCB going forward.

[hondo in seattle]

I think Bishop is a legit starter.  Really happy with his recent trajectory.

 

I think the rest of them are backups.  I like Poyer's knowledge and experience but he's clearly not the player he once was.  We've seen enough of Hamlin and Lewis to know they're okay as depth but shouldn't be starting.  As for Hancock, I haven't watched him closely enough to have a strong opinion. 

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

The future is Bishop and Hancock I think. Don't think its a coincidence that Bishop has improved with Poyer beside him. Lewis should be playing over Taron at this point. The rest you can have them.

[BigAl2526]

Bishop is certainly going to be the starter moving forward at one safety spot.  He is a quality safety with upside to be one of the better ones in the league.   Rapp was never more than backup quality, the same with Hamlin.  At this point in his career, Poyer is probably the equivalent of Rapp.  Hancock may be the future at the other safety spot.  He's done some good things, but I think it's a bit early to know his ultimate ceiling.  He might have solid starter potential.  If the Bills don't add a quality safety or draft one with potential, they will probably be OK next season, but I think they would be better off if they did add someone.

[Special K]

It's not nice to call the Bills Safties a bunch of a**es!!😁

[TBBills Fan]

1 hour ago, BullBuchanan said:

Did you need two threads for this?

Drinking this heavy on a Monday morning is wild work.

Not if it's a continuation from Sunday, if that's the case then it's acceptable 

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

The future is Bishop and Hancock I think. Don't think its a coincidence that Bishop has improved with Poyer beside him. Lewis should be playing over Taron at this point. The rest you can have them.

 
 

Hancock is the future, and can be worked in week by week.  I’m hoping Poyer becomes the coach on and off the field.

[BlueRed]

After this Texans mini-bye, I’d like to see them try to work Taron at safety and Cam in at NB. 
 

I doubt they’ll do it but they need to keep tinkering to try to raise the floor of some of the defensive weak spots. 

[GASabresIUFan]

A few years ago DB was a strength of this defense with Hyde, Poyer, White, and Johnson

 

Potentially, as early as next season, the DBs could be developing into an excellent group with Benford and Hairston at the corners, Bishop and maybe Hancock at safety.  If Taron gets health then the slot is also covered.  This group would have significantly more speed at both safety and the boundary corners.  

[Shaw66]

I really have my doubts about passes for analysis around here.

 

Everyone is on the Bishop bandwagon, and so am I.  He's been improving since late last season, and he's making plays all over the place. 

 

Everyone also seems to think Poyer has nothing left and is a weakness. I'd suggest watching the games. Yesterday he made a lot of tackles in the running game, and he made some really nice plays on the ball in pass defense. Nearly had an interception in the end zone.  Check the stats, folks - he had 15 tackles yesterday. 15!  

 

Hancock looked solid earlier in the season and is now getting worked into more playing time. 

 

I think the Bills are solid and safety and will be better in a month.

[Big Turk]

Rapp can stay on IR for all I care, he has looked terrible and Bishop has really taken off since Poyer was back there with him. Plus we don't have to worry about him coming in and injuring other players on D with his reckless tackling...we have enough issues with injuries without him.

Edited 1 hour ago by Big Turk

[Shaw66]

16 minutes ago, BlueRed said:

After this Texans mini-bye, I’d like to see them try to work Taron at safety and Cam in at NB. 
 

I doubt they’ll do it but they need to keep tinkering to try to raise the floor of some of the defensive weak spots. 

What defensive weak spots? The Bills have the 6th best defensive passer rating in the league.

 

They're 31st in the league in yards per game rushing. Pass defense is not a weakness. 

[Donuts and Doritos]

Bishop looks good. Draft or sign the other future safety this off-season.

[gobills404]

The Poyer over Hancock situation seems exactly the Hamlin over Bishop situation from last year. Hancock clearly has starter potential and I feel like they’re delaying his development by starting the “safer”, more experienced player even though that more experienced player is still a liability in their own right.

[Kelly to Allen]

Poyer has lost a step but can obviously still play. 

 

If Mike Edwards can start for the 23 chiefs and their safeties were fine, Then we're in excellent shape with Bishop, Poyer & Hancock. 

 

Hopefully Hamlin is back in late December for depth insurance 

Edited 54 minutes ago by Kelly to Allen

[Sojourner]

These last 5 games Bishop has had have been great. 
 

Nice to see the consistency. That was about the only thing I ever doubted. Talented kid and looks like the light is finally on. 

[CirclnWagons]

I could be giving him way too much credit and he’s obviously a half a step slower than his last stint but I feel like Poyer has brought a confidence we haven’t had back there this year. A legit coach on the field, if he’s not making calls out there he’s making them from the sidelines. Really feel like his veteran voice has went a long way in calming this group down and getting people in position