The Bills signed safety Mike Edwards to a one-year, $2.8 million contract this offseason, but he’s only played in three of the team’s eight games so far.
Edwards has seen limited action, logging just 20 total snaps—seven on defense and 13 on special teams—as defensive coordinator Bobby Babich has opted to start Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin at safety, with Cam Lewis and Cole Bishop providing depth.
Now, according to ESPN’s Dan Fowler, Edwards is on the trade block, expressing interest in finding a new team and securing more consistent playing time this season.
Of Edwards’ five missed games, four were healthy scratches, with an illness sidelining him for Week 7.
Edwards has less than $1 million left in salary and per-game roster bonuses, and he would likely only cost a late Day 3 pick in a trade, making him an affordable target for teams needing secondary help.
Despite Rapp and Hamlin holding up as a starting duo, the Bills’ safety play could use improvement, according to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.
Both Bishop and Lewis have struggled, earning Pro Football Focus grades of 50.3 and 45.5, respectively (subscription required).
If Buffalo decides to trade Edwards, they may consider re-signing veteran safety Micah Hyde, who entered free agency last spring and stated he’d either retire or return to the Bills.
The team has kept the option open for a reunion with Hyde, per Buscaglia, and his familiarity with Rapp would allow him to quickly reintegrate into the defense.
