Getty Casey Hayward No. 29 of the Atlanta Falcons.
The Buffalo Bills have already turned to free agency to add depth to their secondary this season, bringing back veteran and former All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman to their practice squad as an insurance policy after a season-ending injury for Tre’Davious White.
One insider believes the Bills could look to another well-traveled veteran, advising they sign free agent Casey Hayward to provide even more depth and bolster the secondary for a playoff push. Bleacher Report broke down needs for all 32 NFL teams, suggesting that the Bills make another move on defense.
Bills Advised to Address Defensive Weakness
The Bills made some big investments in their secondary in the last few years, using a first-round draft pick in 2022 on Kaiir Elam and finding starting corner Christian Benford later in the draft. But a spate of injuries left the Bills thin in the defensive backfield, which Bleacher Report noted could become an even bigger liability as the season goes on.
“Cornerback depth is one of the few things that could wind up hurting this Bills team,” the report noted. “Getting to and winning the Super Bowl is going to require locking down some of the best passing attacks in the league, and they are already going to have to do it without Tre’Davious White who is out for the season. This week, Kaiir Elam, Dane Jackson and Cam Lewis all made appearances on the injury report.”
Hayward’s versatility could help the Bills if they continue to suffer from injuries, the report added.
“Signing 34-year-old Casey Hayward would give them a veteran with the ability to play on the outside or in the slot,” Bleacher Report noted. “He might not be young enough to be a full-time player anymore, but he’s the kind of signing that could have big implications in the playoffs.”
Hayward played his first four NFL seasons with the Packers before a five-season stint with the Los Angeles Chargers, making two Pro Bowls during that time. He played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, appearing in six games and making 17 tackles with one interception.
The Bills could be making other changes in the secondary. Elam had been a healthy scratch for the first four games of the season, then struggled when he was inserted into the lineup after White’s injury. Elam’s performance has led to rumors that the team could consider trading him at the upcoming deadline.
Bills Add Help for Secondary
The Bills added a familiar face in Norman, who played in Buffalo for the 2020 season and under Sean McDermott when he was defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers. Bills defensive line coach Eric Washington, who also worked with Norman in Carolina, said Norman could have a lot to add to the team.
NFL: Former All-Pro CB Josh Norman returning to Buffalo after injury to Tre’Davious White
“I know the type of player that he’s been throughout his career, the intensity that he brings to the game, the size, the ability to be disruptive,” Washington said, via The Associated Press. “We’re looking to get some of the things that he’ll bring to the table as a player. I look forward to seeing that.”