Bills continue to bolster safety depth for 2026 NFL season

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: Damar Hamlin #3 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball against Roquan Smith #0 of the Baltimore Ravens during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on September 07, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Buffalo Bills have already signed veteran safeties C. J.

Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone to shore up their safety room this offseason, and then, on Friday, the Bills brought back a familiar face to serve as valuable depth at the position. Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by discussing the news that Damar Hamlin is returning to the team on a one-year deal. Damar Hamlin back on one-year deal Damar Hamlin has been a fan-favorite and a great underdog story ever since he worked his way back onto the field following a cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 NFL season.

Hamlin’s fate with the 2026 Bills was uncertain, however, as he was a free agent and the Bills had already brought in veterans C. J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone to surround up-and-coming starter Cole Bishop in the safety room.

But Hamlin, who turned 28 on Tuesday, is staying with the Bills on a one-year contract, returning for a sixth season with Buffalo. The signing of Hamlin gives the Bills a deep and experienced quartet of safeties at the back of their defense. Hamlin has appeared in 53 career regular-season games (27 starts) and seven career playoff games (three starts) with two career interceptions, nine pass breakups, 2.