Bills could strengthen secondary and use salary cap space on four-time All-Pro

This isn’t a pressing need for the Buffalo Bills, but a proven Pro Bowl talent certainly wouldn’t hurt the safeties rotation.

After releasing experienced veteran Jordan Poyer as a salary cap casualty, coupled with the inability to count on the return of unsigned Micah Hyde, Buffalo made sure to re-sign safety Taylor Rapp before adding a two-time Super Bowl champion free agent and a second-round pick to the mix.

If rookie Cole Bishop needs time to develop, the Bills could start Rapp and veteran Mike Edwards in the secondary and feel good about it, or they could add a known commodity to the roster.

Former Denver Broncos starter Justin Simmons is arguably the most palatable option remaining on the free agent safety market, which hasn’t seen much activity this offseason. Simmons, a third-round pick in 2016, has made 118 career appearances (108 starts) for Denver and earned two Pro Bowl selections and four second-team All-Pro nominations in the process.

Simmons, who has 30 career interceptions, has picked off at least two passes in each of his eight professional seasons.

The current market suggests that Simmons will have to take a pay cut regardless of which team he eventually joins. The $15 million salary he earned in 2023 could be cut in half.

RELATED: NFL salary cap expert sees Bills as active spenders in 2025

The Bills would have approximately $11 million in salary cap space available as a result of post-June 1 trades. Buffalo could realistically use up to $8.5 million on a safety, or follow the Rapp-Edwards tandem and use the money elsewhere.

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