Fan-Favorite Bills Player Expected to Miss Final Roster This Summer After Double Setback
The Buffalo Bills have significantly revamped their safety group over the past two years, parting ways with longtime veterans and investing heavily in a long-term replacement through the draft.
Now, the Bills may be ready to cut one more link to the past, with analysts predicting that Damar Hamlin could be on the wrong side of the roster bubble this summer. Sal Maiorana from the Democrat & Chronicle recently made an early prediction of the team’s final roster, suggesting the Bills will keep four safeties — but Hamlin will not be one of them.
A Big Year for Cole Bishop, and Potential Goodbye to Damar Hamlin
For years, under head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane since 2017, the Bills had little competition at safety. All-Pro safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer anchored the secondary, helping propel the team into Super Bowl contention.
With both players now gone, the Bills face more uncertainty at the position. Maiorana forecasts that Taylor Rapp will reclaim a starting role, while second-year safety Cole Bishop will join him.
Maiorana also predicted the team would keep two additional safeties: free-agent acquisition Darrick Forrest and versatile defensive back Cam Lewis.
“This is a critical year for Bishop as he needs to establish himself as a reliable starter after being drafted in the second round in 2024,” Maiorana noted. “Rapp is solid but injury-prone, so signing Forrest was a smart move. He’s an intriguing addition with starting experience for the Commanders, and Lewis adds value because of his ability to play safety, nickel corner, and contribute on special teams.”
If the Bills follow this plan, it could spell the end for Hamlin, who returned to the team on a one-year contract.
“This would leave Damar Hamlin off the roster due to his lack of versatility compared to Lewis,” Maiorana wrote.
Hamlin has been a fan favorite in Buffalo and across the country, especially after his remarkable recovery from suffering cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023.
While Hamlin faced challenges in coverage at times, he was also one of the team’s most reliable tacklers and a strong presence in run support. He registered 89 tackles and two interceptions in 14 starts last season.
Hamlin may not offer the same flexibility as Lewis, who has played both safety and cornerback, but he could bring value in other areas. He has been a key contributor on special teams in the past, though that role diminished last season as he started 14 games at safety.
Hamlin has also hinted that he could improve moving forward, revealing that he was still dealing with the effects of his cardiac arrest early in the previous season.
“Last year, I felt like I was getting the training wheels off,” Hamlin said in March. “Coming back from literally dying on the field to playing in a significant role, starting, and playing a full season again for the first time. I feel like I had a lot of success on the field.”
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