Bills Free Agency: Sign All-Pro DB to Fill Void?

Originally posted on FanNation Bills Central
By Ralph Ventre | Last updated 2/16/24

Buffalo Bills are set to undergo a changing of the guard at safety this offseason.

With Micah Hyde not under contract, and seemingly heading toward retirement, the Bills will likely feature a new starting safety for the first time since 2017 when Hyde and Jordan Poyer came aboard for head coach Sean McDermott's rookie year.

Poyer still has one year remaining on a contract that he signed in 2023, but there's always the threat of being released as a salary cap casualty. Bills' third safety Taylor Rapp, who played on a cap-friendly one-year deal this past season, adds another question mark to the equation.

It all points to the Bills scouring a free agent safety market that now includes former All-Pro Eddie Jackson. The Chicago Bears released the 30-year-old on Thursday following seven seasons in the Windy City.

Jackson's resume should interest a team like the Bills, who have placed a heavy importance on the safety position during McDermott's tenure. The 2017 fourth round draft pick made exactly 100 career starts for Chicago, totaling 15 interceptions and forcing 10 fumbles. He averaged 65.5 tackles per season.

Foot injuries cost Jackson 10 games over past two seasons, but the two-time Pro Bowl selection was productive when healthy. He picked off five passes and totaled 11 passes defensed over his final 24 appearances as a Bear.

Jackson, who had one year left on a contract that carried a reported $14.6 million average annual value, is likely in for a pay cut regardless of where he lands. How much of a decrease he's willing to incur should determine the cap-strapped Bills' level of interest in the Alabama product.

The Bills could turn to the draft for their next starting free safety while adding insurance through a modest free agent signing similar to what they did last year with Rapp. After four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Rapp joined Buffalo in 2023 for a reported $1.77 million. Spotrac estimates his value at $5.5 million per year moving forward.

Occasionally spelling Hyde or Poyer, Rapp saw a lot of time on field in the team's three-safety alignment. He totaled 50 tackles over 16 games and made the division-clinching interception in the triumphant regular season finale against the Miami Dolphins.

Meanwhile, Hyde carved out a special place in Bills' history over his seven seasons in Western New York. A driving force behind ending the franchise's 17-year postseason drought, Hyde was an important piece on the team that won four consecutive division titles. He made 16 interceptions over 95 starts as a Bill.

This article first appeared on FanNation Bills Central and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: