The Buffalo Bills secondary is going through some major changes. Buffalo’s brass moved on from several entrenched veterans during the 2024 offseason.
Tre’Davious White, Micah Hyde, and Jordan Poyer were all allowed to move on this offseason–Assuming Hyde retires.
The trio combined for 284 starts during their time in a Bills uniform. One could argue that a drop-off is on the horizon with the loss of such experienced players.
However, Pro Football Focus sees the updated version of the Buffalo secondary as one of the top units in the league for the upcoming season.
The analytics outlet ranks Buffalo’s secondary as the one of the top ones heading into next year. In particular, PFF highlighted three players with high coverage grades.
Pro Football Focus noted:
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The Bills quietly return three cornerbacks who produced coverage grades north of 81.0 last year: Christian Benford (83.3), Rasul Douglas (81.8) and Taron Johnson (81.0). With the release of longtime starter Jordan Poyer and the uncertainty surrounding Micah Hyde‘s playing future, the Bills will rely on Dee Delaney and Taylor Rapp at the safety position, but both players have proven effective.
Buffalo added two more pieces to compete at the free safety spot. The Bills signed Mike Edwards after winning the Super Bowl with Kansas City. In addition, the Bills drafted Utah safety Cole Bishop in the second round of this year’s NFL draft.
While the Bills are looked upon favorably within this position group, Buffalo is not the highest-graded unit in the AFC East.
The entire NFL secondary ranking from PFF can be found below:
Jun 6, 2022; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of an Arizona Cardinals helmet during OTA workouts at the teams training facility. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants helmet on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 8, 2023; Ashburn, Virginia, USA; Washington Commanders players’ helmets rest on the field during day three of minicamp at OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park, held inside the training bubble due to poor air quality from Canadian wildfire smoke in Ashburn. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; A Jacksonville Jaguars football helmet sits on a crate on the sidelines during the first half against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; A detailed view of an Indianapolis Colts helmet on the sideline during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Detailed view of a Los Angeles Rams helmet during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Carolina Panthers helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles helmets on the players bench in a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; The helmet of the Pittsburgh Steelers on the field during warm up prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of a Atlanta Falcons helmet during warm ups against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of a New England Patriots helmet against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Detailed view of the helmet of Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko (96) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 10: A Chicago Bears helmet is seen in the bench area during a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on August 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Broncos defeated the Bears 24-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
May 24, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans helmets lay on the turf during organized team activities at the Houston Texans practice field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of the Las Vegas Raiders helmets during the game against the New Orleans Saints during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 15, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Denver Broncos helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 10, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; View of Salute to Service stickers on the helmet of Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Taylor Lewan (77) during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; Cincinnati Bengals helmets sit on a bench prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys helmet on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 25, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2023; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A Detroit Lions helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Metairie, LA, USA; Detailed view of New Orleans Saints helmet at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2019; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet during the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers helmet on the bench against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general veiw of a Seattle Seahawks helmet prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 12, 2022; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; a Cleveland Browns helmet sits on the sidelines during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in preseason at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A general view of a Miami Dolphins helmet on the field during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; General view of the Baltimore Ravens helmet during the warm ups before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
ORCHARD PARK, NY – JULY 28: A general view of the helmets worn by Buffalo Bills players during training camp at the Adpro Sports Training Center on July 28, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
iAug 25, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; A general view of a San Francisco 49ers helmet on the sideline of the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Jets helmets on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports