After establishing one of the longest-standing safety duos in the 21st century, the Bills have altered their course this month. They parted ways with Jordan Poyer and have yet to re-sign Micah Hyde, signaling a shift towards younger talent in that position.
This week, the Bills hosted Julian Blackmon and Mike Edwards, ultimately choosing to commit to the latter. Edwards officially signed with Buffalo on Wednesday, as announced by the team. The agreement spans one year, with the two-time Super Bowl champion entering his age-28 season.
Edwards rose to prominence as a starter for the Chiefs following Bryan Cook’s season-ending injury. He started the Chiefs’ final five regular-season games and all four playoff matchups last year. In the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory over the Chiefs, Edwards played a significant role and logged nearly all of Kansas City’s defensive snaps in their Super Bowl LVIII triumph. With the Chiefs already having Justin Reid under contract, and Cook signed for two more seasons, Edwards follows Juan Thornhill out of Missouri.
Edwards stepped up for Kansas City after Thornhill’s departure to Cleveland, and Cook’s injury in December amplified his importance. Despite a less favorable grade from Pro Football Focus last season, placing him 82nd among safeties, Edwards provided valuable contributions after Cook’s injury led to an increase in his workload. The former third-round pick recorded seven tackles and broke up a pass against the 49ers last month.
Throughout his career, Edwards has amassed 28 starts and secured nine interceptions, including his playoff interception of Tua Tagovailoa and a two-interception game against the Falcons in 2021. While the Bills still have Damar Hamlin under contract for one more season, they sparingly utilized the recovering defender on defense last season, which likely contributed to Joe Flacco’s Comeback Player of the Year award. The signing of Edwards suggests that he and Rapp will form a more cost-effective safety pairing following the notable tenure of Hyde and Poyer. However, considering the departure of key players, an early- or mid-round draft pick could also be a logical move for Buffalo.
Meanwhile, Blackmon will remain on the market. As a four-year starter for the Colts, Blackmon likely commands a higher price compared to Edwards. He joins a group of remaining safety starters, including Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, and Eddie Jackson.
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