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The pair of 2017 free-agent safeties have been incredible during their time in Buffalo" OpinionState of the Bills RosterBills training camp 2019State of the Buffalo Bills roster Ed Oliver Jersey , safeties: Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are elite startersNew,5commentsThe pair of 2017 free-agent safeties have been incredible during their time in BuffaloEDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:State of the Buffalo Bills roster, safeties: Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are elite startersTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailHeading into the 2017 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills revamped their defensive secondary. While some free-agent acquisitions don’t pan out, Buffalo hit on both of its moves at safety that offseason. Micah Hyde, who had served as a jack-of-all-trades in the secondary for the Green Bay Packers over the duration of his rookie contract, was voted to his first Pro Bowl last season. His counterpart, Jordan Poyer, set career-highs in every statistical category the same year. This offseason, Buffalo didn’t make the same splashes, but they’ve added one draft pick to the depth behind those top two starters.In our second look at the state of the Bills roster, we profile the safety group, which has been the saving grace of the defense over the better part of the last two seasons.Micah HydeContract status for 2019: Signed; $6,618,750 cap hit ($4.8 million dead cap if cut)Age: 28 (29 on 12/31/19)Playing time: 15 games (15 starts), 881 snaps (86.88% of defensive total), 112 ST snaps (25.51%)Key statistics: 58 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended, 1 fumble recoveryHyde’s 2018 season was not nearly as good statistically as his 2017 season, as he had fewer tackles, interceptions, and passes defended. However, Hyde seemed to perform just as well overall, and the defense was stronger as a group. Now entering his third season as a full-time starting safety, Hyde has developed into one of the league’s better all-around players. He and Poyer form a dynamic duo that should continue to play at a high level next year.Jordan PoyerContract status for 2019: Signed through 2020; $3.825 million cap hit ($1.75 million dead cap if cut)Age: Turned 28 on 4/25/19Playing time: 16 games (16 starts), 1009 snaps (99.51% of defensive total), 101 ST snaps (23.01%)Key statistics: 100 tackles Youth Vosean Joseph Jersey , 9 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions, 6 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recoveryFor the second consecutive year, Poyer was arguably the better of the Bills’ two safeties, even if it is Hyde who receives more of the attention. Poyer’s per-16 game averages with Buffalo are excellent, as his “average” 16-game season with the Bills includes 100 combined tackles, five interceptions, ten passes defended, a fumble forced, a fumble recovered, two sacks, and seven tackles for loss. His contract is an incredibly friendly one for the franchise, and while I don’t agree with reworking deals that have multiple years left on them, he is someone to watch for in terms of receiving an early extension, especially if he continues his solid play throughout the beginning of this season.Rafael BushContract status for 2019: Signed; $1.8 million cap hit ($300,000 dead cap if cut)Age: Turned 32 on 5/12/19Playing time: 15 games (7 starts), 452 snaps (44.58% of defensive total), 136 ST snaps (33.26%)Key statistics: 45 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB hits, 1.5 sacksThe veteran came in via free agency, and he did a very good job last season. He was the team’s third safety, but he was also their backup slot cornerback. After rookie Taron Johnson was placed on injured reserve in December due to a shoulder injury, Bush took over as the team’s primary slot corner. His numbers indicate a player who is more comfortable playing in the box and hitting people than he is in coverage, and he did a very good job as a extra blitzer off the edge in pressure packages. While his contract would allow for the Bills to release him at next to no harm to the franchise’s overall cap Womens Vosean Joseph Jersey , it would be wise to retain him for this season. Good depth is hard to find, and the Bills have found a much better R. Bush than the last person by that name to suit up for the team.Siran NealContract status for 2019: Signed; $641,504 cap hit ($214,512 dead cap if cut)Age: 24 (25 on 8/4/19)Playing time: 16 games (0 starts), 15 snaps (1.48% of defensive total), 249 ST snaps (56.72%)Key statistics: 11 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 QB hit, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recoveryThe first of Buffalo’s fifth-round draft picks in April made little impact as a rookie, serving as a core special-teams player but doing little on the stat sheet. His position is one to watch going forward, as the Bills have shown him an opportunity this spring. He could also spend another year learning the defense and playing special teams as a depth player.Dean MarloweContract status for 2019: Signed; $645,000 cap hit ($0 guaranteed)Age: 26 (27 on 7/25/19)Playing time: 2 games (1 start), 54 snaps (5.33% of defensive total), 19 St snaps (4.33%Key statistics: 5 tackles, 1 pass defendedMarlowe’s season certainly was interesting. Called up from the practice squad leading up to the Bills’ Week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans, he was pressed into starting duty when neither Micah Hyde nor Rafael Bush were healthy enough to play. Marlowe responded by playing every snap on defense, making four tackles and breaking up a pass in a 13-12 Bills’ victory. While he is by no means a world-beater, he is the perfect player to have on the back-end of the roster: he knows the defense well enough to step up in a pinch, and he is on a low-cost contract.Jaquan JohnsonContract status for 2019: Signed a 4-year, $2,704,340 rookie deal; $541k cap hitAge: 23 (24 on 11/13/19)Playing time: 11 games for the University of Miami (FL)Key statistics: 92 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 PD for the University of Miami (FL)The only newcomer to the fold, Johnson has an excellent chance to make the roster in 2019 despite being a late-round selection. Nothing about his measurables is inspiring, but he has played very well for Miami over the last two years, including being the Defensive MVP in 2017.<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="vDInbn">Positional OutlookPoyer and Hyde are written into the starting lineup in Sharpie Authentic Vosean Joseph Jersey , and the trio of Bush, Neal, and Marlowe are by no means be guaranteed a roster spot. Now that the Houston Texans believe they've finally found their franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, they want to do everything they can to make things easier on him."As long as I'm here, I'm going to make every effort to put the pieces in place around him to help him, support him, and help him be successful on the field," general manager Brian Gaine said. "That might be on the perimeter. That might be on the offensive line. That might be in the backfield. That might even be on defense — a guy that can generate more turnovers that gets the ball back to him even more than that. He's certainly a centerpiece in terms of how we want to build our team and it's a focal point of how we want to build the roster."Their first priority in this year's draft should be improving the offensive line after Watson was sacked an NFL-leading 62 times as Houston won the AFC South but lost to the Colts in the wild-card round. Watson played every game in his second year after having season-ending knee surgery as a rookie, but was banged-up for a chunk of the season while dealing with a partially collapsed lung and broken ribs from taking hits.The Texans have three picks in the first two rounds, with their top selection coming at No. 23 a year after they didn't have any picks in the first or second rounds because they shipped their top two picks to get rid of Brock Osweiler and trade up to get Watson in 2017.While Gaine naturally wouldn't say what direction they planned to go in the first round, he did say he's been impressed with the talent at offensive tackle in this draft. That includes Florida's Jawaan Taylor and Washington State's Andre Dillard."It's a good year in the draft at tackle for both the left and right side at various points in the draft, from starting-caliber players to backup players," he said.Houston signed free agent left tackle Matt Kalil this offseason, but it's unclear how much he'll bolster the group after missing all of last season with a knee injury. The Texans started Julie'n Davenport at left tackle last season and Kendall Lamm played right after Seantrel Henderson had a season-ending ankle injury in Houston's opener. Gaine indicated they plan to stick with Davenport at left tackle, but need him to take a step forward in his third year. Lamm left in free agency, but Henderson is healthy and they expect his return will improve the protection for Watson.If the Texans do draft an offensive tackle, Gaine would prefer that he's versatile."Nowadays you need a guy that can athletically block on the left, equally block on the right," Gaine said. "There's going to be a good pass rusher on the right side of the offense as much as there is on the left ... you want them to be fully dimensional, full skillset, and not just be a power guy or not just be an athlete that can handle power. Ideally, we want the full complementary skill set to play left and right tackle."Some things to know about the Texans as the draft approaches:CORNERBACK DEPTHThe Texans lost veteran Kareem Jackson in free agency and cut 2015 first-round pick Kevin Johnson after four injury-filled and ineffective seasons. They signed free agents Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Bradley Roby and have veteran Johnathan Joseph but could use the draft to add more depth at the position with Joseph turning 35 this month.QUESTIONS AT RUNNING BACKHouston could look to add a running back in the later rounds with starter Lamar Miller entering the final year of his contract and D'Onta Foreman yet to show he can return to form after surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in 2017. The Doak Walker Award winner appeared in just one game last season after rushing for 327 yards in 10 games as a rookie in 2017.Despite his struggling to get healthy and contribute last year, the Texans remain confident that he can help them in the future."From everything that we hear, he's really working hard and he's ready to go," Gaine said. "It's a big year for him."VALUE IN LOWER ROUNDSThe Texans added some good players in last year's draft despite not picking in the first or second round. Safety Justin Reid, a third-round pick, made 12 starts and had three interceptions and 88 tackles. Fellow third-round pick tight end Jordan Akins made six starts and had 225 yards receiving. Houston also found value in the fourth round with receiver Keke Coutee, who had 287 yards receiving and a touchdown in six games despite being slowed by hamstring injuries.