The Buffalo Bills entered the offseason looking to bolster depth across their roster with several low-risk additions, and safety Geno Stone was among those brought in on a one-year deal.
The veteran, who spent last season starting every game for the Cincinnati Bengals and posting 104 tackles along with two sacks, two interceptions and four pass defenses, arrived in Buffalo with the expectation of competing for a role in a secondary that already features some established pieces.
Yet as training camp progresses and the preseason games approach, Stone’s path to the 53-man roster appears uncertain.
According to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, the veteran is a potential cut candidate. Buscaglia noted that Stone’s limited opportunities while C.J. Gardner-Johnson was dealing with a calf strain helped keep the door open for Damar Hamlin to see work with the top unit.
With Gardner-Johnson now back and expected to start opposite Cole Bishop, the numbers at safety become crowded. Bishop, Gardner-Johnson, rookie Jalon Kilgore and special-teams standout Sam Franklin Jr. are viewed as locks, leaving little room to carry both Stone and Hamlin. Keeping six safeties would likely force the Bills to sacrifice depth at another position, Buscaglia observed.
Stone’s decision to join Buffalo was straightforward. He has spoken positively about the organization’s reputation and the chance to play to his strengths under the guidance of defensive backs coach Jim Leonhard, particularly in creating takeaways.
A former seventh-round pick out of Iowa by the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, Stone has carved out a solid career as a reliable contributor when given the chance. In fact, Stone has not missed a game since 2021.
Still, roster construction often prioritizes youth, special-teams value and scheme fit over pure production from the previous year.
Gardner-Johnson’s quick return from the calf strain has further tightened the competition. He has expressed confidence in the training staff and readiness to contribute fully.
That development reinforces the notion that Hamlin and Stone are essentially battling for the same potential roster spot, with the loser likely headed elsewhere or to the practice squad.
As the Bills prepare for their preseason schedule, the secondary depth chart will continue to take shape through practice and game action.
Stone’s experience and recent production give him a legitimate shot, but the mathematics of the roster and the preference for locking in younger or more versatile contributors leave him in a vulnerable position.
Whether he sticks or becomes available to other teams will depend on how the coaching staff ultimately values experience versus flexibility in the final cuts.
