This offseason, the Buffalo Bills added new talent to their defense. The team went out and signed defensive end Joey Bosa, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, and cornerbacks Dane Jackson and Tre’Davious white.
Buffalo knew heading into the offseason that upgrading the defense was a must. The Bills have one of the best offenses in football, but the defense needs improvement.
Buffalo Needed Help On Defense
There were a few games last year where the Bills had to score over 40 points to win, and sometimes that wasn’t enough. Towards the end of the 2024 season, the Bills went to Los Angeles to take on the Rams. Buffalo scored 42 points in the game but lost 44-42.
The following week, the Bills headed to play the Detroit Lions. Buffalo had to score 48 points to win the game because the defense couldn’t stop anyone. It was two games in a row that the defense let down the offense, and things didn’t change in the postseason.
During the Bills’ AFC Championship Game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills’ defense couldn’t get the Chiefs’ offense off the field. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was able to sit back and pick up yards with his arm and legs. The Bills know they must be better on defense if they want a chance to make the Super Bowl.
Even though Buffalo added to the defense this offseason, they also re-signed some of their players. The Bills brought back safety Damar Hamlin on a one-year, $2 million contract.
Bills Urged To Move On From Damar Hamlin
Even though the Bills signed back Hamlin for this season, Brandon Ray from Fansided doesn’t think he should make the active roster.
“Throughout the offseason, people have been saying that the Bills’ secondary is their weakest link. Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not. Either way, Buffalo will have some competition at safety but not necessarily for the starting roles that Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop should be expected to have,” Ray wrote. Instead, there should be a competition between Damar Hamlin and Darrick Forrest, who the Bills brought in from Washington. Forrest is a better overall player and has more success early on in his career, until injuries hit him. If the Bills want more physicality on the back end of the defense, then Forrest is the guy they need to keep instead of Hamlin.”
Hamlin has been with Buffalo since the 2021 season and started 27 games over that period. In 2022, Hamlin experienced cardiac arrest during a Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin battled back from one of the scariest moments in NFL history and played in five games in 2023.
Last year in Hamlin’s first full season playing since his cardiac arrest, he started 14 games. In 2022, Hamlin started 13 games, the second-most starts in his career.
There’s a good chance Hamlin will make the 53-man roster. But he could be cut if his play declines and there isn’t enough room for him.
Damar Hamlin’s Time With The Bills Could Be Coming To an End Per NFL Writer