Buffalo Bills: Grading the safeties on the roster before 2021 NFL Draft

The Buffalo Bills starting safeties, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, is one of the better starting duos in the NFL. The team ensured they would continue having both for the next few seasons after reaching a contract extension last offseason with Poyer and then a new deal with Hyde this offseason.

The concern at this position though begins after these starters. This is my grade for the safety position heading into the 2021 NFL Draft and what the Bills might do to add to the position.

Safeties on the Buffalo Bills roster

• Micah Hyde
• Jaquan Johnson
• Jordan Poyer
• Josh Thomas

Position Grade: B-

One of the first moves Sean McDermott did when he took over as head coach of the Buffalo Bills was sign Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer as free agents. These two moves have paid tremendous dividends as these two players complement each other very well and they are a strength of this defense.

The concern entering this season though is whether they have the depth behind them at the position. The Bills really haven’t had to test this question over the past few seasons because of how healthy Hyde and Poyer have been. Jordan Poyer has missed only one game over the past four years and Micah Hyde has missed two.

One of the more underrated losses this offseason will be the departure of Dean Marlowe. He knew this defense well and was the primary backup for both positions and even started in place of Hyde this past year. He signed as a free agent with the Detroit Lions and the team must now find his replacement.

The team currently has Jaquan Johnson, who was a sixth round pick in 2019, and Josh Thomas, who was an undrafted free agent signing. These are two players who are relative unknowns at this point with the limited playing time.

If the Bills don’t add another safety in the NFL Draft, this will be a big endorsement for these two players and the team feels confident with one of them stepping into a larger role if the need were to arise.