Bills get perfect early Christmas gift by adding former first-round pick and officially addressing the Darius Slay situation
An exciting update coming out of One Bills Drive.
The Buffalo Bills have made a decision on veteran cornerback Darius Slay.
Slay was claimed off waivers by the Bills and decided that he didn’t want to report to the team, citing his desire to potentially retire. It put Buffalo in a difficult position, considering that to make room for the move, the team released cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram, who was picked up off waivers by the Houston Texans.
The Bills now placed him on the reserve/did not report list, meaning the team retains his rights, and if he were to decide to play football again, it would have to be for the Buffalo Bills unless the two parties reach an agreement.
Slay’s position on the reserve/did not report list opens up a roster spot, and the Bills gave the fan base a perfect early Christmas present. The team wasted no time filling in that spot on the roster by claiming safety Darnell Savage.
Welcome to Buffalo, Darnell Savage
Savage is a former first-round pick in 2019 and was selected by the Green Bay Packers. He spent the first five seasons with the team and was a solid addition to the secondary. In 2023, he signed a $21.75 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Packers let him walk in free agency.
After barely making it through one season with the Jaguars, he was released. Savage started in 13 games in 2024 but saw his playing time decrease over time and wound up rotating in as a backup.
He then jumped over to the Washington Commanders and spent eight games with the team, totaling 15 tackles, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection during his limited playing time. Since he had a diminished role, he requested the team release him, which was approved on Thursday morning.
Savage adds some versatility to the roster, something head coach Sean McDermott loves. He can play both the deep safety and the slot corner, giving Buffalo another big win by claiming him.
Current safeties for the Bills and Savage’s role
Savage joins the likes of Cole Bishop, Jordan Poyer, Jordan Hancock, and Cam Lewis. Just this season, the team has placed two safeties on injured reserve in Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp. The decision to sign Savage is a low-risk, high-reward type move that the fan base will be happy the team made if injuries plague that specific unit.
He could see a boost in his playing time by being a contributor on special teams. With the loss of Ingram and his prowess in that game, Savage could potentially slot in and make a difference sooner rather than later.
At the very least, Savage gives Buffalo another experienced body at a position that’s been stretched thin at points of the season.
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