The Bills’ safety retention effort continues. Dean Marlowe, who returned to Buffalo via trade at last year’s deadline, agreed to terms to stay. He signed a one-year deal Monday, according to the team.
Marlowe came back to the Bills just more than a month after Micah Hyde‘s season-ending injury and became a starter following Damar Hamlin‘s terrifying January injury. The Bills are running it back with Hyde, the recently re-signed Jordan Poyer, Hamlin and Marlowe in 2023.
Initially signed during Brandon Beane‘s first free agency period as GM, in 2018, Marlowe spent three years in Buffalo. He left for a Detroit free agency deal in 2021 and signed with Atlanta last year. But the Falcons traded Marlowe back to the Bills on deadline day, when the AFC East champions also acquired Nyheim Hines.
Marlowe, 30, played one defensive snap during his first two months back in Buffalo. But the Bills needed him following Hamlin’s cardiac arrest scene. The Bills turned to Marlowe as a full-time starter against the Patriots in Week 18 and in both their playoff contests. Marlowe intercepted a pass in Buffalo’s narrow wild-card win over Miami.
The Bills have employed their Hyde-Poyer safety tandem for six seasons now, and Poyer’s two-year, $12.5MM deal will bring a seventh season of this pair working together. Marlowe served as a top backup for the Bills from 2018-20, starting seven games during that span. Hamlin’s progress will obviously be worth monitoring as the season approaches, but the inspirational defender has received full clearance. If Hamlin indeed returns to game action as expected, he is expected to be the Bills’ top safety reserve — as he was last season. Marlowe, however, provides additional depth for an injury-plagued unit and a seasoned special teams presence. Marlowe saw action on 75% of the Falcons’ ST snaps before being traded.
Although the Bills let Tremaine Edmunds walk in free agency — via a Bears pact for top-five off-ball linebacker money — they have brought back several pieces on defense this offseason. Poyer, Marlowe, Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson signed deals to stay in Western New York. The Bills ranked second in points allowed last season.
Their secondary is awful….Rodgers is gonna feast..
Yeah cause he totally lit up a stellar Lions and Bears secondary last year… #sarcasm
Dude played with a busted thumb…
Please explain how the Bills secondary is “awful”
Ill hang up and listen.
Poyer:often injured, old, no other takers in FA
Hyde: coming off a serious next injury, old
White: Hasn’t been the same since knee surgery, distinct possibility he’ll never be the same player
Hamli: coming off heart issues, not a game changing player to begin with..
Marlowe: eh
Yeah, OK. Typical Jersey Jets fan. We’ll see.
Poyer was great last year. Its true. Watch him. Even played hurt. The reason is market was down is his age snd asking price for sure – but I think Safety is a devalued position.
Bills are deep at corner – even if I buy your Tre White trashing. ( I think it’s silly ) Benford, Elam and even Dane is a great 4th CB.
Hamlin isnt a starter. He was a big hitter though.
Taron is one of the games best slot corners.
The best you could possibly get to not as good as last year, but they will be a very long way from terrible.
You made a grand statement without due consideration and are backing into it. The Bills have consistently great secondaries for many seasons now. Its a scheme fit.
Not a Jets fan….yep time will tell, should be fun to watch…