The Buffalo Bills defense may experience more turnover than it has in recent memory with a plethora of free agents and the team being $43 million over the cap.
One player whose days with the Bills appear to be over is veteran safety Micah Hyde, who made the second-team All-Pro twice (2017 and 2021). He had been a mainstay for Buffalo’s defense in the last seven seasons, though injuries have limited him to 16 games in the last two.
Hyde has alluded to this past season being his last, and his wife, Amanda Hyde, echoed that in an Instagram post after the season. With Micah’s time in Buffalo seemingly ending, here are three safeties who can replace him through free agency or the draft.
Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone:
No player in the NFL had a better breakout season than Baltimore Ravens safety Geno Stone.
Stone, 24, didn’t play much until this season after Ravens safety Marcus Williams suffered a torn pectoral muscle, and when he got his chance, he didn’t miss. Stone, a former seventh-round pick, had seven interceptions, the second most in the NFL. He also graded out well by Pro Football Focus with an 84.9 grade, which ranked seventh among safeties.
At his best, Hyde was a ballhawk and had five interceptions two different times in his Bills tenure. In Stone, they could add another difference-maker to the secondary who can anchor their defense.
Washington Commanders safety Kam Curl:
Lost in the shuffle of playing on the worst defense in the NFL last season has been the steady play of Washington Commanders safety Kam Curl.
Curl, 24, is also a former seventh-round pick and set a career-high with 115 tackles in 2023. He also had three tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, five passes defended and a forced fumble. Curl earned the best grade of his career in 2022 with an 82.9. Curl had a bit of a down year, though playing on a Commanders defense that allowed the most points and yards per game didn’t help matters.
Curl was at his best on a Commanders defense that was seventh in points allowed per game in 2022. With a better-supporting cast in Buffalo, Curl could elevate his play again as he did a season ago.
University of Miami safety Kamren Kinchens:
If the Bills’ cap constraints force them to add a safety through the draft, the University of Miami’s Kamren Kinchens should be near the top of their list.
Kinchens is widely viewed as one of the best safeties in this class with good reason. He had five interceptions, 10 passes defended, one sack, 40 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in his junior season at Miami. He also had a stellar year in 2022 with six interceptions, 12 passes defended and 34 tackles.
While it isn’t as sexy as adding a receiver, the depth at that position could force Buffalo to wait until later to draft one. If it comes down to Kinchens and a receiver with the Bills’ first-round pick, the Miami safety should garner serious consideration to be the pick and be Hyde’s replacement.
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