In Orchard Park, New York, the Buffalo Bills took steps to reinforce their safety lineup by inking Dee Delaney to a one-year deal on Thursday. Delaney, aged 29, brings with him five seasons of NFL expertise, notably spending the last three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his tenure there, he made five starts across 49 games. Initially entering the league as an undrafted free agent from The Citadel, Delaney debuted in the NFL with two appearances for Jacksonville in 2018 before moving to Washington for one game the following season.
Delaney’s arrival coincides with a period of change for the Buffalo Bills’ safety corps, as the longstanding partnership of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, intact since 2017, has dissolved. Poyer’s departure, occurring in March, led him to join Miami, while Hyde remains without a team, contemplating retirement.
In this transitional phase, backup Taylor Rapp, returning to the team, and offseason addition Mike Edwards are anticipated to assume starting roles. Adding depth to the unit is Cole Bishop, a second-round draft pick from last month, further shaping the dynamics of the Bills’ safety lineup.
To open up a roster spot, Buffalo opted to release recently acquired receiver Quintez Cephus, whose presence became surplus following the team’s signing of free agent Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Tuesday.
Cephus, who had previously played three NFL seasons with Detroit, was eager for a new beginning after sitting out the entirety of the 2023 season due to a league suspension related to betting on NFL games in 2022.