Damar Hamlin one of three defenders battling for the same starting job during Bills training camp

Entering Buffalo Bills training camp, it was thought that Taylor Rapp and Mike Edwards would be the starting safety duo, with rookie Cole Bishop pushing for playing time.

Damar Hamlin apparently didn't get the memo, and has been crashing the party. Hamlin has been seeing plenty of first-string reps , and appears to be entrenched in a legitimate camp battle for the second safety spot opposite Rapp.

Damar Hamlin has every opportunity to snag a starting role

The safety position is one of the biggest storylines heading into the 2024 season for the Bills. The era of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer anchoring the secondary has come to a close, and with it, Buffalo will need to sort out who will be holding down the back end of the defense, with several options on the roster to get through.

Buffalo gave Rapp a three-year, $10.6 million contract extension this offseason. He has been a constant starter throughout camp so far and appears to have locked down one of the starting safety spots. Edwards, a two-time Super Bowl winner who came to the Bills after previous stops as a starter with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, figures to have the upper hand for meaningful reps.

Bishop, who was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Bills, is a utility safety that can do just about everything. I expect him to find a way on the field in some packages this year, if not as a starter, due to his ability to line up in the slot, to blitz, or to cover deep.

Hamlin has been seeing first team reps throughout training camp

By all accounts, this is a true competition. Hamlin was back with the first team on Sunday, proving that this was more than just a solitary look early in training camp by the coaching staff.

Looking to prove that Hamlin is not simply defined by the tragic incident that took place during a Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati on January 2, 2023, Hamlin will aim to prove that his legacy is that of a football player, not just a horrible accident.

According to Alex Brasky of the Bills Digest, who spoke to Hamlin following Friday's training camp practice, Hamlin said he is "F*cking starving" to prove himself on defense.

If Hamlin continues to consistently perform during training camp, he might just end up starting on defense for the 2024 iteration of the Buffalo Bills.

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