Buffalo eyes safety upgrades as Jabrill Peppers hits free agency, with five team fits named, including the Bills. Buffalo’s current safety depth features Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, and Taylor Rapp, plus internal youngsters Cam Lewis, Jordan Hancock, and Sam Franklin, with DeWayne Carter in the mix on the practice squad. Peppers’ eight-year resume—85 starts, 7 interceptions, 35 passes defended, 6 forced fumbles, 511 tackles, plus return ability—positions him to play a second-level role and add veteran versatility as Buffalo develops its youth movement.

Crabbs lists Washington, San Francisco, Baltimore, and Las Vegas as other interested destinations. If Peppers signs, Buffalo could leverage his pedigree to replicate some of Poyer’s 2023-second-level duties and free up Hamlin for more specialized or return work. The outcome hinges on fit, price, and how Buffalo values a flexible, veteran presence over continued youth infusion at safety.

DeWayne Carter's Achilles tear ends his 2025 season before it begins, leaving Buffalo with interior-line depth questions. Carter appeared in 11 games as a rookie in 2024, delivering 14 tackles with 5 for loss and three QB hits. The Bills now face how to fill those snaps as Carter’s absence amplifies questions about their run defense and interior pressure.

Two DTs on the practice squad, Zion Logue and Jordan Phillips, could be elevated to the 53-man roster to stabilize the rotation. Expect Ed Oliver to shoulder more responsibility up the middle, while depth pieces step into situational roles. Fantasy angles center on how quickly Buffalo can sustain interior disruption against efficient inside runs and quick-hit passes.

DeWayne Carter tore his Achilles in Wednesday practice, ending his season and altering Buffalo’s inside rotation before the 2025 campaign. Carter, a 2024 third-rounder, was slated for a key role on the Bills’ defensive line. Buffalo’s depth should cushion the loss, but the injury shifts snaps toward Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones as reserves step up. Rumors of Jordan Phillips joining were denied, leaving internal options to fill the void.

Fantasy managers should note the shift in interior workload early. While Buffalo’s front remains strong, the vacancy could create opportunity for other Bills defensive linemen in IDP leagues and for those streaming DLs against favorable matchups.

Buffalo’s 53-man cutdown sets the table for Week 1 against Baltimore, but Beane isn’t done recalibrating. Three players sit closest to the hot seat: DeWayne Carter, Shaq Thompson and Brandon Codrington, all facing potential roster reversals as Buffalo angles for reinforcements. The Bills added Draft picks TJ Sanders and Deone Walker, and signed Larry Ogunjobi (suspended six weeks) while Jordan Phillips looms on the practice squad. If Buffalo elevates Phillips or activates Ogunjobi, Carter’s spot could vanish. Codrington’s punt-return remit could be replaced in-house by Khalil Shakir, who also handles returns.

The dynamic matters for fantasy perspectives: shifts on the D-line and linebacker corps open lanes for emerging Bills, and changes in special-teams roles could swing returner opportunities and early-season depth charts. Week 1 implications loom as Buffalo navigates cap and competition, looking to avoid overcommitting to one evaluation as waiver wires heat up and free agency beckons.