Buffalo Bills Trade for S Dean Marlowe

The Buffalo Bills executed two trades of their own in the closing minutes of the window, making up one-third of all players traded. First, a move for Colts running back Nyheim Hines . Secondly, a trade to re-acquire safety Dean Marlowe from the Atlanta Falcons.

Welcome Back Dean Marlowe

Dean Marlowe has been a favourite of Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane dating back to 2015, when he was picked up as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) by the Carolina Panthers. As many new head coaches do, McDermott brought Marlowe with him to Buffalo to help install the new regime. Though he sat on the practice squad in 2017, he spent more than three years on the roster as a backup safety. He had seven starts and appeared in 26 games.

He did good work filling in for both our free and strong safeties, Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, either playing late in blowouts or in case of an injury to either player. That versatility and familiarity in our scheme may be invaluable, with the position group in desperate need of extra talent. He could be starting as early as Sunday against the New York Jets.

The Cost Of Doing Business

The Buffalo Bills may not have picked up the best safety in the world, but the investment is a good one. It’s short-term, as Marlowe’s contract expires at the end of the season. Now 30, he’s unlikely to get a new contract with the team for his level of play.

The cost of the move made it a no-brainer, considering the state of the safety room at the moment. We sent away the 7th-round pick we’d initially traded to the Carolina Panthers for LB Andre Smith. (That pick had been traded conditionally, and when the conditions weren’t met upon Smith’s release, the pick was returned to us.) This second trade doesn’t have conditions, but Marlowe can be expected to make the roster and get actual playing time in a defense that desperately needs him.

After their moves, the Buffalo Bills now have the following draft picks for 2023.

To allow for the addition of Marlowe, and officially promote Tre’Davious White to the active roster, the Bills released WR Isaiah Hodgins and DT Brandin Bryant.