Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

[Woodman]

Bills news, notes from NFL draft combine- Potential options at safety

INDIANAPOLIS - When the Buffalo Bills picked cornerback Christian Benford in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, barely a whisper could be heard.

For a team that went into 2022 as a viable Super Bowl contender, even the betting favorite in some circles, no one envisioned a sixth-round pick out of Villanova having a realistic chance of contributing much to the defense.

However, Benford came to Buffalo and opened the collective eyes of the defensive coaching staff in the offseason program, followed that up with a solid training camp, and come opening night in Los Angeles, Benford was one of the starting cornerbacks at SoFi Stadium while first-round pick Kaiir Elam stood on the sideline.

Logically, it tracks that Tre’Davious White and Elam - who came on at the end of his rookie season, partially because he wasn’t sharing snaps with Benford - will be the starters at cornerback. And the Bills will probably try to re-sign Dane Jackson as a restricted free agent, though it’s possible they could lose him.

If Jackson returns, that makes for a crowded situation at boundary cornerback, so moving Benford might make sense.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

Either way, we need to get younger at the position and prevent any reliance on Jaquon Johnson.

This defense clearly took a step back with Hyde out. We gave up an uncharacteristically high number of big pass plays with him gone.

Poyer is great at reading plays and coming downhill to limit gains. There are several guys with similar traits in this draft who could step into his shoes. No, they won't be as good right of the bat, that's for sure.

This draft is thick at safety, and we should not hesitate to get one early.

The reality is that we are likely going to take a step back on defense and as a whole this year. We need some re-tooling and injection of high end youth to build up for another serious run at the whole thing in 2024 and beyond.

[Woodman]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

Good point on Johnson.

Having said that Hyde, Miller and White if they are able to return at 100% our defense might be able to get the job done.

[kgun12]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

Good point on Johnson.

Having said that Hyde, Miller and White if they are able to return at 100% our defense might be able to get the job done.

I certainly hope they all come back 100%, this will determine how well the defense performs.

[Woodman]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

I certainly hope they all come back 100%, this will determine how well the defense performs.

Best of luck to all of them and to us of course!!

[swiper]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

There are a lot of very good safety prospects to be had from the end of the 1st round through the 3rd round of the draft.

[kgun12]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

There are a lot of very good safety prospects to be had from the end of the 1st round through the 3rd round of the draft.

For sure, to get one of them and fill the other needs, we need to trade back for a few extra picks.

[Cali512]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

Hamlin should be a SS

His strengths are tackling, pursuit, run stopping, coming in like a missile

If hes able to play again which his doctors say he should, it should be Hyde/Hamlin this season

[jamze132]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

Good point on Johnson.

Having said that Hyde, Miller and White if they are able to return at 100% our defense might be able to get the job done.

Don’t count on much coming from Von Miller, physically. The type of injury he sustained is tough to come back from in year one and his age makes it even more difficult. He’ll have more of an impact in the meeting rooms.

[Woodman]

Re: Potential Options to Fill Safety Need

Don’t count on much coming from Von Miller, physically. The type of injury he sustained is tough to come back from in year one and his age makes it even more difficult. He’ll have more of an impact in the meeting rooms.

I have more confidence in Miller than any of the others.

He's a special athlete and know's what it takes.