Predicting the Buffalo Bills 2020 Depth Chart: Safety

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Jordan Poyer #21 of the Buffalo Bills and Micah Hyde #23 walk toward the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 15: Jordan Poyer #21 of the Buffalo Bills and Micah Hyde #23 walk toward the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
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Buffalo Bills
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 15: Jordan Poyer #21 of the Buffalo Bills and Micah Hyde #23 walk toward the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)

The starters at safety for the Buffalo Bills are some of the best in the league but there are questions at the backup spots.

The secondary has been a strength for the Buffalo Bills over the last three seasons and that has a lot to do with Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.

The Bills struck gold in the 2017 free agency when they signed both Hyde and Poyer and both have looked great ever since they made their debut in the blue, red and white. Other than the star tandem Buffalo hasn’t had to worry much about their backup depth, since the duo has stayed healthy.

Returning are Dean Marlowe and Jaquan Johnson. Marlowe is a reliable veteran who has been with Sean McDermott for his whole career, while Johnson is going into his second season, after a promising rookie season.

Adding youth to the safety position through undrafted free agency was a priority for the Buffalo Bills, where they signed Garrett Taylor and Josh Thomas. With young talent behind the veteran starting duo, the Bills will hope that the youth can learn and grow behind the star safeties.

McDermott can rely on the depth at safety to contribute on special teams as of now, and if some of the young players stick around they could eventually fill out a role on defense.

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