As the Buffalo Bills work their way through OTAs and minicamp, it's hard not to look ahead to the grueling weeks of training camp and try to get an early gauge on who might be in danger of missing the final cut.
Last year, the Bills drafted cornerback Daequan Hardy in the sixth round out of Penn State. Although he came into the league undersized, there were definite reasons to be hopeful.
But, after just one year and additional roster decisions from the Bills, Hardy appears to be near the outside looking in.
Daequan Hardy will have a difficult road ahead to making the Bills' roster
This offseason has felt as though the Bills are truly loading up for a special run. That might sound like déjå vu, but it's the truth.
Looking at the familiar faces Buffalo brought back, this has the feeling of a team that's getting ready for a serious championship marathon. The Bills opted to welcome back both Tre'Davious White and Dane Jackson into their secondary room.
Those two are well-liked in Buffalo and will fit right back into a familiar system alongside Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, and first-round pick Maxwell Hairston.
Buffalo also drafted Dorian Strong in the sixth round.
Ja'Marcus Ingram and Brandon Codrington are also hanging around, plus Buffalo signed undrafted free agents Daryl Porter and Wande Owens.
To say that's a crowded room is an understatement, but it's a room the Bills have wanted to get right for quite some time now. At this point, it's a "whatever it takes" mentality at cornerback.
Hardy didn't appear in a single game last year and now risks running a similar race in 2025. He came into the league as a special teams ace with return skills and impressed as a gunner at Penn State. He was no slouch on defense, either.
The former Nittany Lion piled up five interceptions to go with 20 pass breakups in college. He was also unafraid to get physical behind the line of scrimmage, amassing 3.5 sacks.
He still has plenty of potential as a second-year pro. But, it's going to take him really impressing throughout the summer months for Hardy to earn his way up the depth chart.