After being released from the Steelers over three weeks ago, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is headed back to Buffalo, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Trubisky left the Bills two years ago to compete for the starting job in Pittsburgh, but after falling dramatically on the depth chart since then,
Trubisky found himself a free agent. Tim Graham of The Athletic was the first to report progressing talks of a reunion earlier this afternoon.
After leaving for the Steelers, Trubisky successfully won the starting job over then-rookie Kenny Pickett. In a Week 4 loss to the Jets, Trubisky was benched for the rookie out of Pitt and remained on the bench for most of the remainder of the year, except for two games during which Pickett was injured.
This season, Trubisky was the first name called upon to start when Pickett got hurt again. He played in three consecutive games before eventually getting benched once again, this time in favor of Mason Rudolph.
During his previous stint in Buffalo, Trubisky signed knowing that he would serve as a backup to Josh Allen, resigning himself to a role learning under the same staff that molded Allen into an MVP candidate. He’ll return to the same role in 2024.
Trubisky’s addition likely means the end of Kyle Allen‘s time in Buffalo. Allen made seven garbage-time appearances last year as the primary backup. Practice squad reserve Shane Buechele was signed to a futures deal and should play a similar role next season.
The Bills also kept an important name in the secondary, signing safety Taylor Rapp to a three-year extension worth up to $14.5M, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Rapp, formerly a full-time starter as a second-round pick for the Rams, functioned as a third safety for the Bills in 2023, sitting behind the veteran pair of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Rapp’s main playing time in Buffalo came as a starter in the four weeks that Hyde and Poyer missed due to injury.
With Hyde headed towards free agency and Poyer being released Wednesday, Rapp’s signing may deliver a glimpse of the Bills plans with Hyde moving forward. Some have even linked Buffalo to some of the best safety prospects in the draft like Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin or Miami’s Kamren Kinchens.
Since both Hyde and Poyer will be 33 years old heading into the 2024 season, it makes sense that Buffalo is making plans to move on. Rapp represents one possible solution moving forward at 26 years old.
Finally, another reunion is happening in Buffalo, this one on special teams. Veteran punter Matt Haack signed a deal to return to Buffalo this year. Haack’s last full season came in 2022, when he served punting duties for the Colts, but he did play a game for the Browns last year.
The Bills re-signed current punter Sam Martin to a three-year, $6M deal last year, so he’s still under contract for two more years.
Martin’s contract does have a potential out this offseason that would allow the team to save $1.25M of cap space, so given the rest of their actions Wednesday, I wouldn’t rule out Haack coming in to replace Martin.
For now, though, we’ll assume Haack is coming in to provide some camp competition for Martin this summer.
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