Buffalo Bills position room preview: Safety

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ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: Micah Hyde #23 of the Buffalo Bills intercepts the ball as Michael Crabtree #15 of the Oakland Raiders attempts to break it up during the third quarter of an NFL game on October 29, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

The leader of the pack: Micah Hyde

The Bills signing Micah Hyde to a five year, $30.5 million deal in 2017 was a bit of a gamble. During Hyde’s time in Green Bay, he struggled to find a position — starting as a cornerback, then moving to free safety, and later to strong safety — and a dip in both production and efficiency followed. He was viewed as a starter, but not a high priority player.

The gamble paid off. The Bills kept Hyde at strong safety; which let his instincts, range, and discipline show, and ultimately shine. In his first season in Buffalo, Hyde earned a Pro-Bowl and second-team All-Pro nod, while finishing the season with 82 total tackles, 13 pass deflections, and five interceptions in 16 starts.

In his second year with the Bills, quarterbacks learned to stop throwing Hyde’s way. Though he didn’t repeat as a Pro Bowler, he was the leader of the top-ranked pass defense in the NFL. Hyde finished the season as Pro Football Focus‘ fourth-best safety, with an 84.0 grade, that includes an elite 88.4 coverage grade.

Entering his third year as a Bill, the 28-year-old Hyde figures to be the star of the show of the Bills’ secondary. With a contract that runs through 2021, he’ll continue doing so for the foreseeable future. Hyde’s versatility and calculated (yet instinctual) style of play should be a staple of the Bills’ defense for years to come. Brandon Beane more than hit on the gamble that is the addition of Hyde in 2017.

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