The Buffalo Bills entered free agency with a glaring need at safety, and have turned to the veteran market to find what appears to be one of their starters in 2024 by signing Mike Edwards.
Buffalo Will Have A New Safety Duo
Having stability in the defensive backfield is something that few teams across the NFL have had in recent years, but Buffalo has been one of the few that has. Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde both came to Buffalo in 2017 and have anchored the back end for the Bills since, proving to be one of the best safety duos in the league.
That era is gone – Micah Hyde wasn’t re-signed in free agency, and the Bills made the bold cap-saving move to release Jordan Poyer, who has now signed with the Miami Dolphins.
Moving on from those two will be a challenge for the Bills to overcome. Their chemistry anchoring the split safety defense of Sean McDermott provided great stability to the defense when they were on the field. Now, it’ll be up to Mike Edwards and Taylor Rapp to take the reins.
Mike Edwards Fills The Role Of A Split Safety
Edwards will fit in nicely in the McDermott defense, having played as a box defender, a slot corner, and primarily as a free safety. He has positional flexibility to move around the defensive alignment, while primarily anchoring the ranging free-safety position.
Since 2021, Edwards is tied for the second-most defensive touchdowns in the NFL with four and has picked off opposing quarterbacks eight times in his career.
Should The Bills Still Draft A Safety In The 2024 NFL Draft?
Edwards and Rapp provide the Bills with a good safety tandem heading into 2024, but with Edwards only on a one-year deal entering his age-28 season, the Bills should still look to add youth to the position group.
What the Edwards signing does provide, however, is the ability to be patient. Brandon Beane won’t be walking into the 2024 NFL Draft knowing that safety is a glaring need, meaning he won’t feel added pressure to potentially reach on a prospect above where they feel comfortable selecting him.
If Buffalo sees a safety as the best pick at 28th overall, then so be it, but they now find themselves in a position where they are more able to simply take the best player available.
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