Buffalo Bills position room preview: Cornerback
By Avery Duncan
On the roster bubble
Ryan Lewis
Ryan Lewis played a significant amount of snaps in the first two games of the 2018 season, but he quickly lost his job as a primary corner. Though he does offer some versatility as a special-teamer, we haven’t seen much from the 25-year-old.
Lewis has bounced around from practice squad to practice squad. He started his career with the Cardinals and was subsequently cut before the start of the season. After Arizona, he spent time in New England and was cut again. Now, on the Bills, he could face the same result considering their upgrades at the position.
Denzel Rice
Like Lewis, Denzel Rice has bounced around his fair share of practice squad and teams. Since starting his NFL career in 2015, he’s played for five teams but hasn’t made an impact on any. He’s played 20 games and has started none, tallying a career one interception, a pass deflection, and 14 total tackles.
Rice played the majority of 2018 for the Browns and joined the Bills practice squad in mid-November. In Rice’s four games in Buffalo, he compiled two tackles. His on-field defensive production is minimal, but he’s a solid special-teamer. If the Bills keep him, expect it to be in the latter capacity.
Lafayette Pitts
A core special-teamer for the past two seasons, Lafayette Pitts‘ spot on the roster has a better guaranteed than any player in the “roster bubble category.” That becomes especially true considering the recent one-year extension given to him by the Bills. Don’t expect him to see defensive snaps in 2019, but he should be able to continue his value on the third squad.
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