The Buffalo Bills are dipping back into the waiver wire, and this time they’ve landed veteran safety Darnell Savage Jr. - a move that brings both athletic upside and much-needed depth to a secondary that’s been tested by injuries.
Savage joins the 53-man roster following a bit of roster shuffling. The Bills had previously claimed veteran cornerback Darius Slay Jr., but when Slay didn’t report to Buffalo, the team placed him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list.
That opened up a spot, which the Bills have now filled by claiming Savage. To make room for the original Slay move, Buffalo had waived cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram - a tough but necessary decision given the circumstances.
Now, let’s talk about what the Bills are getting in Savage. The 28-year-old was a first-round pick back in 2019 - the 21st overall selection by the Green Bay Packers.
And while his time in Green Bay didn’t quite live up to the Pro Bowl expectations that often come with that kind of draft capital, he was a consistent presence on the field. Over five seasons with the Packers, Savage racked up 302 tackles, nine interceptions, and 32 pass breakups across 72 games.
He also chipped in with nine tackles for loss and a sack - showing he’s not afraid to get downhill and mix it up near the line of scrimmage.
After his run in Green Bay, Savage signed a three-year deal with Jacksonville in March of 2024. But that stint was short-lived.
He played 15 games for the Jaguars before being released in September. Even so, he was productive during his time in Duval - tallying 52 tackles, one interception, and seven pass breakups.
Not eye-popping numbers, but enough to show he can still contribute when given the opportunity.
From there, Savage landed with the Washington Commanders on September 22, just six days after his release from Jacksonville. He appeared in eight games with Washington, starting two, and added 15 tackles, one pass breakup, and a forced fumble to his season stat line. It’s worth noting that Savage requested his release from Washington, which was granted on December 4 - a sign he was looking for a fresh opportunity, and now he’s got one in Buffalo.
Athletically, Savage has always been a standout. His 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the 2019 NFL Combine turned heads, and he backed that up with a 39.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot-6 broad jump. Those are elite testing numbers, and while raw athleticism doesn’t always translate to consistent production, it gives coaches something to work with - especially on special teams or in sub-packages.
For the Bills, this move makes a lot of sense. They’ve already lost Taylor Rapp, a starter in the secondary, and veteran Damar Hamlin has also been sidelined.
That’s left the safety room thinner than they’d like heading into the stretch run. At worst, Savage gives Buffalo a fast, experienced body to bolster special teams.
At best, he provides quality depth - and possibly more - at a position that’s been hit hard by injuries.
This is a classic low-risk, high-upside addition. Savage has the pedigree, the experience, and the athletic tools to contribute. Now it’s up to the Bills’ coaching staff to see if they can unlock the version of Savage that once made him a first-round pick.