Buffalo Bills A ‘Best Fit’ For Miami Hurricanes Safety in NFL Draft

If the Buffalo Bills target a safety early in the 2024 NFL Draft, Miami safety Kamren Kinchens could be a top target.

Oct 21, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes safety Kamren Kinchens (5) celebrates / Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time in a long time, the Buffalo Bills are dealing with turn over in the backend of their defense. 

Safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde had been mainstays on the Bills’ defense since 2017 and combined for 38 interceptions in their seven years in Buffalo. Poyer was cut this offseason signed with the division rival Miami Dolphins, while Hyde is still a free agent. 

With Poyer gone and Hyde expected to go elsewhere, the Bills need to address the  safety position beyond signing Taylor Rapp to a short contract extension and Mike Edwards to a one-year deal. Given the need, Bleacher Report tabbed the Bills as one of the best fits for University of Miami safety Kamren Kinchens. 

Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami-Fl defensive back Kamren Kinchens. / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

“Neither Rapp nor Edwards should have a guaranteed starting spot heading into the fall and Buffalo's brass should still consider drafting Kinchens,” Bleacher Report writes. “The Miami product could easily become a first-stringer by the end of training camp and should be able to take advantage of the errant throws the team's strong pass rush will create.”

In his final two seasons for the Hurricanes, Kinchens had 11 interceptions and ran two back for a touchdown. He also had 11 passes defended and 118 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss.  

While Kinchens’ stats point to him being capable of potentially becoming a cornerstone in the backend of a defense, his testing results at the NFL Scouting Combine left a little to be desired, namely running a 4.65 40-yard dash. Kinchens did improve his 40 time at his pro day, running an unofficial 4.57, according to Inside the U. 

Buffalo has many different directions it could with its first-round pick, including adding another pass rusher or a receiver. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bills trade up either if a player they like is within reach. 

If the Bills think Kinchens is capable of making an impact similar to Poyer and Hyde, then he should be among the players they consider with their first-round pick. But if Buffalo has some doubt, adding a receiver or pass rusher should take priority while waiting to see if Kinchens slides into the second round makes more sense.