Bills coach sees ‘improvement’ from promising newcomer in key safety area

The safety position has long been a secondary consideration at One Bills Drive; given the long-term presence of All-Pros Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, excellence has long been assumed and, at times, taken for granted.

That’s no longer the case as the Buffalo Bills prepare for their 2024 training camp, as they seek two new starters at the position given the respective departures of Hyde and Poyer this offseason. Taylor Rapp, who played nearly 40 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season in a niche role, is slotted at one position, and the team determines the starter opposite him via a three-man competition.

Fourth-year player Damar Hamlin, free agent Mike Edwards and second-round pick Cole Bishop are all firmly in the mix, with first-team reps split between the three players during the first few practices of camp. Edwards could now find himself sidelined by a recent hamstring injury, with Hamlin and Bishop now having an increased opportunity to make their mark on the defense.

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While Hamlin may have immediate upside given his scheme experience, Bishop is the more attractive long-term option given his youth, draft capital and skill set. The 21-year-old is a versatile, well-built defender who can both cover and play in the box, and given his repertoire, he seems like a natural fit for the job left open by Poyer. Early hiccups are to be expected, as with any rookie, but Buffalo rightly views Bishop as a future starter at the position.

And if he can make the most of his training camp, he could start as early as his rookie season. Head coach Sean McDermott has been impressed with the growth he’s already seen in the defenseman, noting he’s already shown a good understanding of the team’s scheme.

“I think one of the biggest things I’ve seen, and one of the biggest things you can hope for, is the growth over the break, which means he’s definitely put in the time on the mental side of things with the scheme and mastering it,” McDermott said. “He’s still got a lot of work to do, but he’s getting better at that, understanding more about how important it is at that position to communicate and get everybody aligned and on the same page.”

McDermott’s mention of Bishop’s improvement as a communicator echoes a sentiment shared by veteran nickel back Taron Johnson last week; the cornerback spoke about the rookie’s growth in communication last Friday, telling reporters that “it’s getting better.”

Buffalo’s defense often puts its safeties in position to make plays, and Bishop was no stranger to those occasional splashes throughout his time at Utah; he recorded 198 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 12 pass deflections, 7.5 sacks and three interceptions throughout his college career. If he’s able to make first-team plays throughout the remainder of camp, he could find himself with a starting role in the Bills’ defensive backfield come Week 1.

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