14 INT Safety Signs Contract With the Buffalo Bills

Once a seventh-round pick and an afterthought, Geno Stone has played his way into a third contract. After spending each of the last two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Stone and the Buffalo Bills have agreed to a one-year contract. He spent the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens.

Geno Stone, Bills, Agree to Contract

Stone was drafted by the Ravens with the 219th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Iowa. With the Hawkeyes, Stone amassed 127 total tackles, four interceptions, and seven pass breakups over three seasons. In his rookie season, Stone was a depth piece, only appearing in two games (two defensive snaps, 38 special teams snaps).

His usage went up in his second season in 2021. He logged his first-career start in the Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Stone played 218 snaps on defense and 282 on special teams and recorded 21 tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass breakup, and his first-career interception in the final game of the year.

Stone took another step forward in 2022 with 451 defensive snaps and seven starts. In 17 appearances, Stone totaled 38 tackles, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. However, his 2023 season was his true breakout. He started 11 games and appeared in six others. In that season, he amassed 68 tackles, broke up nine passes, and hauled in a whopping seven interceptions, good for the second-most in the NFL.

Following that breakout, Stone signed a two-year, $15 million deal with the Bengals ahead of the 2024 season. In his first season in Cincinnati, Stone made 81 tackles, broke up six passes, recovered a fumble, and hauled in another four interceptions (one pick six). Then, last year, he set a career high with 104 tackles, two sacks, four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and two interceptions, one of which was a pick six.