For the better part of seven years, Bills fans could count on seeing two numbers patrolling the back end of the defense — 21 and 23. 

Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer represented perhaps the best safety duo in team history and consistently one of the best tandems in the league during their time together. 

They're two All-Pro players. Two unquestioned leaders on the field and in the locker room. Two men who represented the turnaround of the franchise among the free agent signings after Sean McDermott became head coach in 2017. 

But the Bills released Poyer in a cost-cutting move and he has since joined the arch-rival Miami Dolphins. Hyde remains a free agent, muling retirement or the possibility of returning to the Bills. Both sides have said they’re open to the idea, but it’s ultimately Hyde’s decision. 

The absence of Poyer and Hyde leaves major questions. You don’t just replace players of their experience and performance, but someone has to step up.

First on the list is Taylor Rapp, who signed a three-year, $10.625 million deal with the club in March after spending one season in Buffalo. Rapp started four games in the regular season with one interception, two passes defensed, a fumble recovery and 50 total tackles. The 26-year-old started 48 games in four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams before joining the Bills in 2023. 

McDermott noted during mandatory minicamp that he saw Rapp beginning to take a leadership role among the safeties this spring — a critical void to fill with Poyer and Hyde no longer in the building. Rapp is a hard-hitting safety, perhaps more similar to Poyer as a better fit to play closer to the line of scrimmage, but is capable of playing deep safety as well. He could likely be one of the starters at safety when the season kicks off in September. 

The Bills added another veteran presence at the position in the offseason with the signing of Mike Edwards to a one-year deal. Edwards, 28, won a Super Bowl with Kansas City last season after spending his first four seasons with Tampa Bay, where he was also part of a Lombardi trophy-hoisting team. Edwards has a knack for making “splash” plays. Since 2021 he’s tied for second in the NFL with four defensive touchdowns. He started five games for the Chiefs in the regular season before starting all four of their playoff wins en route to the championship. 

In Buffalo, he could have a chance to start the season in the top safety pairing. His winning experience could be helpful to the Bills as a whole as they try to find new leaders after departing with so many veteran players this year. 

Many eyes during training camp and the preseason will be on rookie 2nd round draft pick Cole Bishop. While the Bills spent a premium asset on him in the draft, they likely won’t force him into the lineup right away unless he proves he’s ready. Bishop has plenty to learn coming out of college at Utah, where the safeties generally had different roles than what the Bills ask of their safeties. 

Bishop prides himself on being versatile, with the ability to play strong and free safety, help in run support, and his coverage ability.  During practices at Utah, he went up against college teammate and current Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid, one of the better recent pass catching prospects at the position to come out of the collegiate ranks. Bishop could immediately be a contributor on special teams, as well as dime packages on defense.  Of course, there’s always the chance his play during training camp and the preseason will warrant him having an even bigger role.  The faster he gets up to speed, the better for the Bills in the short term and the long term. 

The Bills also added veteran safety Dee Delaney to the group, with the likes of Damar Hamlin and Cam Lewis also competing for spots. Hamlin in particular stood out during spring practices, with McDermott saying that Hamlin was playing fast, focused and consistently. He’s now roughly 18 months removed from his cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati.

Whoever it is to step up at safety this season will serve a crucial role for the Bills without the old 21 and 23 combo on the field.