Buffalo Bills Veteran Emerges as Surprise Cut Candidate

The Buffalo Bills face a tough call in their secondary as training camp winds toward the preseason, with a veteran safety signed in free agency emerging as a potential roster casualty.

Geno Stone, a six-year NFL veteran, joined the Bills on a one-year contract earlier this offseason. The team brought him in as a low-risk addition to bolster depth at safety. Yet roster spots are limited, and competition has heated up.

Stone finds himself battling Damar Hamlin for one of the remaining positions in the defensive backfield. Analysts tracking the team closely have already flagged him as a possible cut before the final 53-man roster is set.

Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic recently listed Stone among the players who could be released.

“Stone playing spot duty for Gardner-Johnson kept the door open for Damar Hamlin to get some playing time with the top unit until Gardner-Johnson returned, which means anything could happen for the 53-man roster. Cole Bishop, Gardner-Johnson, rookie Jalon Kilgore and special teams ace Sam Franklin Jr. are all roster locks,” Buscaglia wrote.

He continued, “However, would the Bills really keep six safeties to include both Stone and Hamlin? As with the defensive line and at outside linebacker, it might be one too many safeties to keep, and that spot could be used for depth elsewhere.”

If the Bills decide to move on from Stone, it would signal that Hamlin has won the internal competition. Bishop, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Kilgore appear locked into spots, leaving little room for both veterans.

Stone arrived in Buffalo after a strong season with the Cincinnati Bengals. He started all 17 games last year, finishing with 104 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and four passes defended. Those numbers showed he can still produce at a high level when given the opportunity.

The Bills signed him early in free agency, hoping his experience would strengthen a secondary that already features promising young talent. Stone later explained what drew him to the organization.

“Talking to my agent, he’s always said the Bills are one of the better organizations to be with and he’s always raved about it,” Stone said. “So, for me, it’s just an easy decision.”

He also spoke about the scheme under defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard and how it fits his skill set.

“They’re going to use me to my strengths, and that’s the main thing I want to do at this point in my career is playing to my strengths and limiting my weaknesses,” Stone said. “That’s why they brought me in: to go get the ball. So, that’s how I was envisioning myself. That’s how I see myself in a lot of place … It’s cool as someone coming in to hear that’s an emphasis, taking the ball away.”

Stone entered the league as a seventh-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Iowa. He has bounced around a bit since then but continues to earn opportunities based on his production.

For a stretch earlier in camp, it looked as if both Stone and Hamlin might stick around. That possibility grew when Gardner-Johnson dealt with a calf strain that sidelined him briefly. The injury raised questions about depth at the position.

Gardner-Johnson, however, recovered quickly and returned to practice in less than a week. He expressed confidence in his readiness and the team’s medical staff.

“I feel like I’m 100% ready to go,” Gardner-Johnson said. “Health, as well, so it’s continue to trust the trainers and the coaches. … I’ve got a lot of trust in this training staff here, more than other places I’ve been. … (They’re) being really honest with me. This is the risk you take if you go back, these are the benefits if you do the plan and stuff like that.”

With Gardner-Johnson back and expected to start opposite Bishop, the numbers game in the secondary grows tighter. The Bills must weigh experience against special teams value and overall roster flexibility as they prepare for the preseason slate.

Stone’s presence has added competition and veteran leadership during camp. Whether that proves enough to keep him in Buffalo remains an open question as the coaches evaluate the final depth chart.

The coming preseason games will offer one last chance for players on the bubble to make their case before difficult decisions arrive.