The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks at No. 54 overall.
Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select.
This installment of our position-by-position series looks at the safety prospects and which players could still be on the board when the Bills make their first selection at the upcoming draft:
Current roster
The Bills aren’t in desperate need for a safety. In fact, they’re really not in need of a safety at all. Jordan Poyer signed a two-year extension that keeps him in Buffalo through 2022. Micah Hyde’s contract, which he signed prior to the 2017 campaign, will expire after the 2021 season. The duo has combined to be one of the most productive safety combinations since their pairing in 2017.
Dean Marlowe, Siran Neal, and Jaquan Johnson are currently signed as depth players. Neal spent some time playing as the “big” nickel cornerback when called upon.
Hyde and Poyer are cemented on top of the depth chart. Buffalo could draft a player later in the draft, possibly Day 3, and see if this player can battle for a depth spot. However, they could also look for a player who could play in multiple roles, similar to how Neal is used against certain matchups.
When the Bills pick in the second round, they have to make the choice of selecting the best player available, who could be a safety, or looking to a position of where greater depth is needed. They might also look for a player who could be the heir apparent to either Hyde or Poyer, since the team lacks any glaring needs on the roster. A safety could be a luxury at this point, giving head coach Sean McDermott another tool to use on defense.