Pro Football Rumors
Safety Cole Bishop started all 19 of the Bills’ games in 2025, including two in the playoffs, but he did not get through the season unscathed. Bishop recently revealed he underwent a left knee scope in the offseason, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN relays.
The Bills are installing a new defensive scheme under first-year coordinator Jim Leonhard, a former NFL safety, but Bishop’s recovery has kept him from getting any practice reps. However, the 23-year-old indicated he will be back for training camp in July, per Getzenberg.
The Bills spent the 60th overall pick on Bishop in 2024, but the former Utah standout dealt with a quadriceps injury during training camp. While that put Bishop behind the 8-ball in his first summer as a pro, he still played 16 games. With Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp getting the lion’s share of work at safety, Bishop played 32.43% of defensive snaps and logged 40 tackles and two passes defensed during an interception-less season. Pro Football Focus ranked Bishop’s performance a lowly 92nd among 97 qualifiers at his position.
Despite his struggles in his first year, the Bills entrusted a starting job to Bishop in his second season. The decision paid off for Buffalo, which saw Bishop live up to his second-round draft stock. While leading all Bills defenders in snap share (91.14%), the 6-foot-2, 207-pounder recorded 85 tackles, seven passes defensed and his first three picks (he also made a game-sealing INT in a 27-24 wild-card round win in Jacksonville). He gave up a meager 65.6 passer rating on 43 targets, down from 127.4 in 2024, and improved his missed tackle rate from 11.1% to 6.6. Bishop made a significant jump in the estimation of PFF, which placed him an above-average 41st among 91 safeties.
Bishop offered stability at the back of the Bills’ defense in 2025, but none of their other safeties even played 50% of snaps. Jordan Poyer (43.58%) unexpectedly led the way after the former All-Pro returned to the organization for a second stint late last summer. Poyer is no longer on the roster, and as a 35-year-old free agent, he might not play again. Rapp, whom the Bills released in March, is also still unsigned. However, the Bills did re-up Hamlin and bring in three outsiders, first picking up C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Geno Stone in free agency and then drafting fifth-rounder Jalon Kilgore.
Barring any unforeseen developments, Gardner-Johnson will start alongside Bishop when the regular season kicks off in September. Kilgore and Sam Franklin, a reliable special teamer, are strong bets to earn roster spots behind them. If the Bills keep five safeties, signs are pointing to a roster battle between Hamlin and Stone. Regardless, as long as Bishop is healthy, the Bills will count on him to lead the group in his third season.
