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A number of safeties have snagged big contracts at the start of NFL free agency, but the Bills haven't chased those types. Instead, they're bringing 2024 starter Damar Hamlin back on a one-year deal and importing former Commanders S Darrick Forrest on a one-year deal. There's obviously plenty of time for more moves -- including the NFL Draft -- but Buffalo might simply be setting up competition for the spot next to Taylor Rapp.
NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe: "Forrest will get a chance to compete for playing time and potentially a starting job."
Forrest started 16 games across 2022 and 2023. That number would have been larger if a Week 5 shoulder injury hadn't ended his 2023 season.
Forrest fell back to a reserve role for his final Washington campaign, playing just 74 total snaps behind starters Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin.
He now joins a Buffalo defense that currently only rosters Rapp and 2024 second-round pick Cole Bishop at safety.
Rapp started 14 games (plus two in the playoffs) in his first Buffalo season. That included returning to the lineup after two in-season injuries that cost him games. (Rapp missed the AFC title game with a hip injury.)
He's probably the best bet to start in 2025 among the current options.
Hamlin started all 17 of his appearances (including the playoffs) and played every snap of the three postseason contests. But he wasn't terrific in college.
Bishop filled in for five starts (including the playoffs) and played every snap of the title-game loss to K.C. in Rapp's place. We'll see about his progress this summer. If Bishop doesn't hit training camp as a favorite to win a starting gig, then he might be a bust of a second-round pick.
Forrest and Hamlin will obviously be in the mix. I'd guess the Bills quietly hope Hamlin doesn't hit September as one of their two best options. We'll see what they think of Forrest this spring and summer.
We'll also see about the draft, but I'm not sure the incoming class holds immediate-starter candidates at safety beyond the top 2: Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori.
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