Bills Re-Sign S Damar Hamlin

This is a one-year contract, which comes as little surprise. Hamlin agreed to a deal of the same length last offseason after playing out his rookie pact. Outside interest was shown, but Hamlin remaining in place allowed him to continue a Bills tenure which has seen him alternate between starter and backup duties.

That trend continued in 2025, a year in which Hamlin primarily saw his playing time on special teams. A pectoral injury limited him to just five games during the regular season. The 28-year-old returned to practice leading up to the start of the playoffs, but he did not wind up being activated in time for a return to action.

As a result, this latest Buffalo contract will surely not be a lucrative one. Hamlin took a $2MM deal last time around, with that figure guaranteed in full. Given his missed time in 2025 and projected status as a backup, a similar contract – if not one worth slightly less – can be expected this time around. In any case, Hamlin will represent a familiar face to a safety group which has seen a number of changes this offseason.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone have been added in free agency, while Darnell Savage departed by joining the Steelers. Taylor Rapp was released shortly before the start of the new league year, while Jordan Poyer is unsigned. A retirement decision in his case is expected. Especially if Poyer does not continue his career, Hamlin could be counted on as an experienced presence.

The former sixth-rounder has made a total of 27 starts over the course of his career. Gardner-Johnson and Stone are both veteran first-team defensive presences, however, while Cole Bishop is on course to remain a key figure in the secondary. That could leave Hamlin to focus on special teams work once more in 2026, although he could fill in defensively if needed provided he can avoid another major injury.