After nearly dying on national television in 2022, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made the roster cut in 2023. However, the former starter spent most of the season in a reserve role and hardly saw the field. Appearing in five games, the 2021 sixth-round pick finished the season with just two tackles and a featured role on one of the most ill-advised fake punts in recent memory. Hamlin overcame his poor draft capital to earn a starting job in 2022, but last year’s unremarkable showing suggests he might never find his pre-injury form.
Bleacher Report‘s David Kenyon recently dropped an article highlighting one major cut candidate from every team. In the piece, the NFL analyst suggested that the Bills could cut Damar Hamlin after adding Taylor Rapp, Mike Edwards, and Cole Bishop.
Buffalo Bills Could Cut Damar Hamlin
Hamlin’s professional fate likely rests on whether or not he can recapture his 2022 form. Establishing himself as a starter on one of the league’s better defenses, the safety finished the season with 91 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, three quarterback hits, and a 61.4 PFF grade. While he was far from an All-Pro, he could be a serviceable part of a defense. If he can regain that level of play, the Bills probably won’t cut him.
However, if he cannot improve, this is probably the end of his time in Buffalo. While the Bills parted ways with the once-elite safety duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, the team added three players capable of replicating their modern-day production. Damar Hamlin is battling for the fourth safety spot, and there is a chance he’s not up for the cut. Even if he’s not good enough for Buffalo, some other team will probably kick the tires on him and see if they can bring out his pre-injury form.
Possible Destinations
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are actively looking for a third safety to pair with Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams. While the team brought in Jamal Adams for a visit, they could be more interested in a player like Damar Hamlin if cut. Baltimore lost Geno Stone and his seven interceptions to the Cincinnati Bengals, and somebody must hold down the deep part of the field. Hamlin is at his best as a deep safety and could be a cost-effective replacement for the former seventh-round pick.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have one of the best all-around defenses in the game, but their biggest weakness is in the secondary. While the front seven can collapse any offensive line, the cornerbacks and safeties don’t always hold up their end of the bargain. Seeing as this team is pressed for cap space, the 49ers can’t afford an elite option like Justin Simmons and might have to wait and see if the Bills cut Damar Hamlin. If they do, he’d be a decent low-risk, medium-reward signing for the NFC frontrunners.
Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud is the real deal, and the Texans spent the offseason going all-in on his rookie window. The team acquired Stefon Diggs from the Bills and broke the bank on several big-name free agents. However, they have yet to address a secondary that lacks game-changing talents beyond Derek Stingley. Damar Hamlin won’t singlehandedly win or lose games, but if the cut candidate can recapture his old form, then his ability to patrol the deep part of the field should help slow down the high-volume passing attacks of the AFC.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints cut Marcus Maye earlier in the offseason, and they could use Damar Hamlin as a cost-effective replacement. New Orleans routinely manipulates the salary cap at will, meaning they never have to rebuild but can never find top-market talent. With Tyrann Mathieu already on the roster, the Saints could use a cheap player to patrol the deep part of the field and keep the three-time All-Pro close to the line of scrimmage.
Kansas City Chiefs
Last year, the Chiefs safeties had the benefit of playing complementary football to arguably the best cornerback duo in the game. While Trent McDuffie is still around, L’Jaruis Sneed is now a Tennessee Titan. While Joshua Williams played well in a limited role last year, he’ll need more help than Sneed. This emphasizes the safety position more, and Damar Hamlin could help take away deep passes if the Bills cut him.
Main Photo: Mark Konezny – USA Today Sports
