Inside The Panthers

Bills Roster Moves Open Opportunity for Pitt DBs

Two former Pitt Panthers could benefit from the Bills' cost-cutting measures.

Stephen Thompson

Bills Roster Moves Open Opportunity for Pitt DBs
Bills Roster Moves Open Opportunity for Pitt DBs /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Buffalo Bills made some drastic changes to their roster this week as they tried to get back under the salary cap. Some major pieces of their secondary are now free agents and it clears up potential opportunities for two former Pitt Panthers. 

With two starters from the secondary - safety Jordan Poyer and Tre'Davious White - on their way out, a door has opened for former Pitt defensive backs Dane Jackson and Damar Hamlin. As the Bills look for more ways to cut costs, Jackson and Hamlin could be cheap replacements. 

Jackson, who's started 28 games over four seasons for the Bills, has the best chance of sticking in Buffalo. He's been productive, playing nearly 1,700 snaps and recording 152 tackles, three interceptions and 28 passes defended. 

He is a free agent this season and is likely to test the market before considering a return to the Bills. But as White departs, there is a new opportunity to possibly become a full-time starter. Spotrac estimates Jackson's market value is a one-year contract worth $3.1 million. 

Hamlin, on the other hand, is more of a long shot but the Bills are low on options. The safety market is not kind and Hamlin's proven to be starter-capable during the 2022 season when he made 13 starts and recorded 91 tackles for the injury-riddled Buffalo secondary. 

This year, he's not even a lock to make the roster in 2024 but as the Bills look for affordable replacements to what had been a strong, but increasingly expensive secondary, Hamlin could be an option. 

The Bills do like their Pitt defensive backs, so who knows? Maybe draft-eligible cornerback M.J. Devonshire will find his way to western New York as well. Either way, there is an opening for Panthers to make big splashes in Buffalo. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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