Buffalo Bills 21 pending free agents in 21 days - safety Taylor Rapp

With the likely retirement of Micah Hyde and the unknown with Jordan Poyer, Taylor Rapp's pending free agency looms large for the Buffalo Bills. It would benefit the team to bring Rapp back for the 2024 season. He has a year with the defense and growing within this scheme. If Buffalo has to replace both safeties, there will be a larger learner curve and possibly early-season growing pains.

Pro Football Focus wasn't kind to Rapp and admittingly, I expected more. Rapp played 422 snaps in 2023, recording 41 total tackles. He had only one interception but he also was credited with only two missed tackles. When targeted in the passing game, the opposing quarterback's rating was only 75.4 but his overall grade from PFF was 56.4.

Rapp's 2023 contract paid him over $1.7 million and now according to Sportrac.com, his projected market value is $5.5 million. If this is the type of contract he can get on the open market, the Bills might be out and if that is the case, the team may very well be starting two new safeties, who could possibly be rookies. Damar Hamlin could find his way into the starting lineup as well. What the Bills do this offseason at the safety positions will be huge and have a massive impact either way in the 2024 season.

How free agency works out this offseason will go a long way toward determining what the Bills do in the NFL Draft. If both Poyer and Hyde retire, and the team is unable to re-sign Rapp, look for Buffalo to revamp through the draft. Most likely you can expect a safety in the first round and no later than the second. My hope is at least one of these three return in 2024.