The Bills were knocked out of the playoffs last season by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round while the Cardinals missed the postseason with a 4-13 record.

Dissecting the Bills’ options at safety

In the final year of his rookie deal, Hamlin went from potentially on the roster bubble heading into training camp to having everything at the position break his way. Now, the Bills have rewarded both his work and overall availability with his first start since the 2022 season. Hamlin benefitted from the early training camp injuries to both second-round rookie Cole Bishop and veteran Mike Edwards, taking nearly every first-team rep from late July until the team’s joint practice in Pittsburgh in mid-August. Bishop and Edwards are also in their first year in the defensive scheme, with Hamlin in his fourth year, giving him a legitimate advantage. The Bills shut Hamlin down near the end of the preseason with a minor hamstring injury, likely to ensure he’d be ready for the start of the season.

Hamlin’s grasp on the starting role is not locked in for the entire season. The safety position has remained fluid all spring and summer, and with offseason investments in both Bishop and Edwards, they could factor into the starting discussion if they begin to show signs in practice. The Bills might also contemplate splitting snaps at some point when they feel Bishop, Edwards or both have had enough practice time to have a good grasp of their defensive scheme. McDermott listed safety as one of the three hardest in their scheme for a young player to transition from college to the NFL. Additionally, the Bills have yet to close the door on a potential Micah Hyde reunion, leaving it open as recently as one week ago. Hyde, a seven-year starter for the Bills, openly mulled retirement at the end of the 2023 season but has yet to decide on his future. — Joe Buscaglia, Bills writer