The Buffalo Bills could be starting two new safeties in their defensive backfield in 2024. With the possible retirement of Micah Hyde and the unknown with Jordan Poyer, the Bills will be looking to fill a huge hole on defense that they haven't had to fill since 2017. With the conclusion of the NFL Combine, the deep pool of safety free agents, plus players currently on the roster, the team will have plenty of options to choose from.
With the uncertainty of what might happen with Poyer, the Bills could be looking for two new safeties, rather than just one. Poyer's cap hit in 2024 is over $7.7 million and with Buffalo's cap situation, he instantly becomes a potential cap casualty candidate. Several safeties have already been released this offseason due to their respective cap hits, such as Jamal Adams. If the Bills release Poyer, they take a $2 million dead cap hit but save more than $5.7 million.
The NFL Combine showed us there are options at safety as well that the Buffalo Bills could target in the 2024 NFL Draft; however, Brandon Beane has said before the goal is to fill as many needs as possible via free agency, so their draft can truly be the best player available, rather than feeling like they have to reach for players of need. But if the Bills end up looking to the draft to fill a starting need at safety, they will almost have to draft one early. I don't think there is a day-one starting caliber in this year's draft outside of the second round.
Possible starting safeties for the Buffalo Bills in 2024
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Taylor Rapp
I think Taylor Rapp makes the most sense for the Buffalo Bills. He knows the defensive scheme and is familiar with the players on the defense. The problem is that he's a free agent and might not return to the team in 2024. Rapp is one of the most important Bills free agents that Brandon Beane needs to find a way to retain. Spotrac.com has his market value projected at $5.5 million per year. This is a price point that Buffalo can afford and is well worth the money.
Last season, Rapp started four games and played in 16 games. He totaled 45 tackles and an interception and recorded half a sack. I said last season when the Bills signed Rapp that I felt like it was a signing not only for 2023 but beyond. I think the Bills will retain him and he will likely take over at safety. But if the Bills lose both Hyde and Poyer, who plays next to Rapp at the other safety spot? I think it would be one of the next four players I list here.
Christian Benford
First of all, don't assume anything with the order I list these players because it means nothing. That said, Benford is an option as one of the starting safeties. It's no secret that Buffalo had him practicing there his rookie year and a lot of the draft analysts were saying he's better suited to play safety. If the Bills look to their cornerback room for a potential move to safety, Benford makes sense from the standpoint of his skillset. He's the best tackler among the corners too, recording 54 total tackles last season, 43 solo. He also added two interceptions and a forced fumble.
We can also look at his Pro Football Grades and see how good he is against the run, scoring a PFF grade of 75.6, which was 22nd among all corners in the NFL. Benford can play both the run and the pass very effectively and would make a great candidate for the safety position. The problem is how well he played corner. His overall PFF grade of 83.0 was eighth best in the league and this was only his second season.
Rasul Douglas
Ok, I have to admit this one was not my idea. It actually came from a much more intelligent individual than myself (that's not hard to do) but Steve Tasker, former Bills receiver and one of the hosts of One Bills Live, suggested this thought. When you think about it, it does make sense though. The one issue fans might have with this idea is that it would mean either Dane Jackson or Kaiir Elam would be the other starting corner. Unless Tre'Davious White is ready to return in time for the season, which is no sure thing either.
If Elam can become the first-round corner the Bills drafted him to be, then this idea could work. Of course, this would also be the scenario if they decided to move Benford to safety, plus we can't forget that Jackson is a pending free agent and he might not even be on the roster in 2024. Essentially, moving either Benford or Douglas answers a need at safety but may create one at corner, where it may be harder to find the answer. For that reason, I don't think the team will move any of the corners and instead will opt for the free agent route.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
When I looked at the free agent safeties, I took into account position, cost, and age. Hyde played
primarily the strong safety role for the Bills, even though he and Poyer were interchangeable for the most part. Buffalo could look to spend roughly the same amount they've paid Hyde and Poyer, which is around $8 to $9 million a year but I think they go cheaper this year. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson checks all the boxes.
He can play at a high level and is only 26 years old, so he can be a piece of the Bills secondary for the next four or five years. He's played mostly strong safety as well, most recently with the Detroit Lions. He played in only three games last season but totaled 17 total tackles, including 16 solo. His season was cut short due to a torn pectoral muscle. He could be signed to a team-friendly one-year deal, with incentives. The Bills will be in a better position next offseason to extend him if they so choose.
Jordan Whitehead
Bills might remember Jordan Whitehead. If not, let me refresh your memory. It's Week One of the 2023 season, Bills versus Jets on Monday Night Football. It was Aaron Rodgers Jets debut and the night belong to Whitehead. This was the game he picked of Josh Allen three times to begin the season. Whitehead finished the season with an impressive 65 tackles, and 97 total. He had four interceptions on the season and half a sack.
Whitehead made over $5.2 million last season and spotrac doesn't have his projected market value, but I'd estimate it be roughly the around that same $5 million. Whitehead is also only 26. Between Gardner-Johnson and Whitehead, my preference would be Gardner-Johnson, but I think Whitehead could do a solid job with Buffalo perhaps has a "bridge" safety to a rookie the Bills draft.