The Buffalo Bills have a vacancy in their secondary after 15-game starter Rasul Douglas entered free agency, and general manager Brandon Beane might already have a potential replacement on the roster.
Douglas, who was acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, became a key part of the defense, recording 58 tackles and forming a solid tandem with Christian Benford. Despite his contributions, the Bills opted not to re-sign him.
Although the team may explore options in free agency or the draft, Beane suggested that a popular in-house player could step up to fill the role.
At the last league meetings, Bills general manager Brandon Beane told reporters that reserve cornerback could step into the starting role left open by Rasul Douglas’s departure in free agency. Ingram made a name for himself early in the season when injuries thrust him into action in Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins, where he delivered a breakout performance with two interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown.
Ingram also started the season finale against the New England Patriots, finishing the year with 24 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack.
Beane praised Ingram’s flexibility on defense, likening him to fellow University of Buffalo product Cam Lewis, who has become a key contributor for the Bills.
“Ja’Marcus has logged meaningful snaps for us and made some strong plays,” Beane said, via SI.com. “He’s shown he can step in at nickel too. He’s one of those versatile chess pieces, like Cam Lewis, who can line up in multiple spots and help on special teams as well.”
Bills Have Needs in the Secondary
The Bills face another gap in their secondary after trading reserve cornerback Kaiir Elam to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason. Despite being a first-round pick in 2022, Elam struggled with consistency and eventually fell down the depth chart.
To address the thinning depth, the team could turn to the NFL Draft. According to SI.com’s Ralph Ventre, Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos recently confirmed he had a pre-draft visit with the Bills. Amos started 13 games for Ole Miss last season, notching 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and 13 passes defended. He emphasized his all-around skill set as a key strength heading into the pros.
“You’re going to see a physical presence at the line, strong technique. I consider myself a jack-of-all-trades — I can play man, zone, whatever is needed,” Amos said.
Buffalo has already re-signed veteran Dane Jackson, who returns after a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers. Additionally, general manager Brandon Beane noted the team is still open to bringing back Rasul Douglas, who remains a free agent. Douglas has also expressed interest in returning, maintaining a close relationship with Christian Benford and sharing footage of offseason workouts while wearing Bills gear.