Hey, wait a minute...
The Buffalo Bills have a new-look secondary this season. Well, it’s a new-look safety group, at least, as mainstays Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are both off the roster. For the first time since the 2016 NFL season, when Buffalo’s head coach was Rex Ryan and their starting safeties included Corey Graham, Aaron Williams, James Ihedigbo, and Duke Williams (no, not that Duke Williams), the Bills will be looking for new starters at safety.
It’s a good thing we brought up the Duke Williams who played defense because, just as we might be more likely to think of the Duke Williams who played receiver before the one who played safety, the Bills have two players by the same name on this year’s roster, as well. There won’t be many people confusing the Mike Edwards who plays offensive line with the Mike Edwards who plays safety, but at least in passing conversation, it could lead to some confusion.
Well friends, fear not. In today’s installment of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss the second Mike Edwards on the Bills’ roster — and the one who is most likely to have an impact on the 2024 NFL season.
Mike Edwards
- Number: 21
- Position: S
- Height/Weight: 5’10”, 205 pounds
- Age: 28 (29 on 5/18/2025)
- Experience/Draft: 6; selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round (No. 99 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft
- College: Kentucky
- Acquired: Signed with Bills on 3/20/2024
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Edwards signed a one-year deal with the Bills, a pact worth $2.8 million overall. Of that total, Edwards is guaranteed $1.6 million. That number is what the Bills would carry in a dead-cap charge if he were to be released. His cap hit if he makes the roster will be $2.8 million.
2023 Recap: Edwards won his second Super Bowl title, this time as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. He signed with Kansas City in the offseason, and was used as a sub-package defensive back and a special teams player until starting safety Bryan Cook was injured against the Miami Dolphins. Edwards made his first start in Buffalo’s 20-17 win over the Chiefs in November. Edwards started every game for Kansas City from that point on in spite of the fact that he suffered a concussion in the Chiefs’ 27-24 playoff victory over Buffalo. He finished the regular season with 51 tackles, five pass breakups, two tackles for loss, one interception, two fumble recoveries, one sack, and a defensive touchdown. In the playoffs, Edwards had 12 tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception.
Positional outlook: Edwards is one of four traditional safeties on the Bills’ roster. Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, and Damar Hamlin are the others. Cam Lewis can play safety, but he mostly performs on special teams and as a slot corner. Dee Delaney and Kendall Williamson are listed at defensive back, and both players can play both corner and safety.
2024 Offseason: Edwards has dealt with a shoulder injury this offseason, so we haven’t really seen him much as of yet. He’s expected to be fine for the regular season.
2024 Season outlook: The Bills are paying Edwards like someone they expect to start at safety, and as long as he’s healthy, that’s what I expect him to do this season. Kansas City used Edwards as a “strong safety,” but that designation doesn’t matter much anymore in the modern NFL. Given that Buffalo’s other safeties are all much better in the box than they are in the deep-third of the field, it’s likely that Edwards will need to spend much of his time in the Micah Hyde role rather than the Jordan Poyer role.
The positive about Buffalo’s whole safety room, though, is the athleticism of the main parties, which should allow for plenty of interchangeable roles throughout the season. We should expect some hiccups early given just how excellent Poyer and Hyde were together, but Edwards is a solid veteran who should be able to thrive in Buffalo’s system.