Predicting the Buffalo Bills 2020 Depth Chart: Safety

Backup: Jaquan Johnson

The Bills sixth-round selection from 2019, played great whenever he got the chance to play on the defensive side of the ball, whether in preseason or his lone appearance in Week 17.

The playmaking safety by way of the University of Miami, was a star for the Hurricanes during his collegiate career. Producing six interceptions during his junior and senior seasons, along with five forced fumbles.

Despite his small frame at 5’10” 191 pounds, Johnson has shown an affinity to lay huge hits on ball carriers. One of his better hits came versus Virginia Tech, where he reads the wheel route to perfection and lays the lumber on the running back forcing the incompletion.

Johnson appeared in 13 games during his rookie season but only played significant snaps on defense during week 17 versus the Jets when the Bills rested their starters. He played great during that game and had a pick taken away due to an unfortunate personal foul by Kurt Coleman. Johnson carved out a role on special teams, playing 43% of those snaps.

Backup: Dean Marlowe

The four-year pro has been primarily an inactive backup up until last season where he appeared in 9 games for the Bills.

Marlowe made rare appearances on defense during the season, playing 21% versus the Giants, 10% versus the Bengals, 14% versus the Titans, 7% versus the Dolphins, 26 versus the Eagles and 82% versus the Jets in week 17. When the safety appeared in the game, he would most often be deployed in the nickel position, offering a larger frame than the usual occupant Taron Johnson.

The journeyman safety was a core contributor on special teams, playing 39% of snaps.