The Buffalo Bills added some veteran depth to their secondary on Friday, claiming safety Darnell Savage off waivers from the Washington Commanders, according to the NFL’s official transaction wire.
The move comes on the heels of Buffalo placing cornerback Darius Slay on the reserve/did not report list. While that situation remains unresolved, the Bills wasted no time reinforcing their defensive backfield with a player who brings both experience and versatility.
Savage, 28, is no stranger to the spotlight. A former first-round pick out of Maryland, he entered the league in 2019 after the Green Bay Packers traded up to grab him at No. 21 overall.
That deal saw Green Bay send picks No. 30, No. 114, and No. 118 to Seattle - a clear sign of how highly they valued his potential.
He made an immediate impact in Green Bay, carving out a role as a rangy, instinctive safety with the speed to cover ground and the physicality to play downhill. Savage played out his rookie contract - a four-year deal worth over $12.5 million, including a hefty $7.1 million signing bonus - and the Packers picked up his fifth-year option for 2023, locking him in for just under $8 million guaranteed.
After his time in Green Bay, Savage landed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. But that stint didn’t last long. He was released just a few games into his second season with the team and quickly found a new home in Washington.
Now, after 10 games split between the Jaguars and Commanders this season - in which he tallied 16 tackles, two passes defended, and one forced fumble - Savage is headed to Buffalo.
It’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward pickup for the Bills, who are clearly looking to stabilize their secondary heading into the stretch run. Savage brings playoff experience, positional flexibility, and a skill set that fits well in a defense that values versatility on the back end. Whether he slots in as a rotational piece or pushes for a starting role, he gives Buffalo another option in a unit that’s been tested by injuries and inconsistency.
Savage may not be the same player who flashed Pro Bowl potential early in his career, but he’s still only 28 and has shown he can contribute when given the opportunity. For a Bills team with postseason aspirations, adding a player with his pedigree and experience could prove to be a smart move down the line.