Grading The Signing: Buffalo adds an important piece to Jim Leonhard’s new defense, but the recent decision is far from perfect
Brandon Beane and the Bills have been busy.
The Buffalo Bills keep adding important pieces; this time, it was bringing in some key depth to the safety room with a one-year deal to former Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone.
For the second straight day, Buffalo adds to its secondary. The team brought in C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who will be paired alongside Cole Bishop as the starting safeties. Stone is nothing more than solid depth for the Buffalo Bills, and depth that they could absolutely use.
The former seventh-round pick has 14 career interceptions and 21 pass breakups, as Jordan Schultz reported. In 2023, Stone went nuclear with the Baltimore Ravens, finishing the season with seven interceptions. After a few days of free agency, the Buffalo secondary is starting to look scary.
Stone hasn’t been perfect, but the Bills don’t need him to be right now
After a successful tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, in which he played in 51 games with eight interceptions, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and 127 combined tackles, Stone joined the Bengals. In two years in Cincinnati, he played in 34 games with six interceptions (two of which he returned for a touchdown), two sacks, and 185 combined tackles.
He was a frustrating player for the Begnals, as his poor tackling was on full display. He stayed on the field as a starter for his experience and IQ at the position, but he isn’t a single-high type of rangy safety. Joe Goodberry reported that he’s a below-average athlete with some motor issues as well.
As John Sheeran from A to Z Sports Cincinnati reported, Stone will thrive as a depth piece but struggled as the starter for the Bengals. Buffalo is hoping to get more of his Ravens days instead of the competitor he was during his time in Cincinnati.
“Cincinnati bet on Stone becoming the real replacement for Jessie Bates in 2024. That bet lost horrendously as Stone flopped hard for most of his first season as the Bengals’ free safety. He recovered enough in the final five games to warrant keeping around in 2025, but not without his contract being adjusted with a pay cut denoting his underwhelming play.
“He had a chance to really salvage his value last season, and was pretty much the same player in a new scheme. Stone is not a trustworthy tackler in space, but he does have adequate ball skills and can blitz from time to time. He should be no team’s starter anymore, but as a depth piece, he’ll do just fine.” – John Sheeran
On the bright side, Stone will only be 27 this season. In his last three seasons, he’s played in every game and has 13 interceptions, 19 passes defensed, and 253 tackles. He stays healthy and is reliable.
Buffalo added some crucial depth with the signing of Geno Stone
I’m not looking at this in the light of Stone being a starter, rather a guy that can come off the bench when needed, who also has some chops in the special teams game. In his career, according to Pro Football Focus, he has over 1,000 snaps as a special teamer, adding a Swiss-Army-Knife-type aspect to the signing.
Despite all the negativity surrounding Stone, I like this move for what it is. General manager Brandon Beane and the organization are filling holes on the roster and getting serviceable players behind them in an offseason that was filled with plenty of doubt on what the team would be able to pull off.
Grading the signing: B-
Buffalo Bills News
Bills’ newest addition wastes no time winning over the hearts of the Bills Mafia with a simple but perfect message after signing
He’s going to fit in nicely in Buffalo.
