The Bills have added further experience at the safety position. Kareem Jackson has signed a deal with Buffalo, per a team announcement. 
Jackson began his career with the Texans, spending nine seasons with the organization. That was followed by a four-plus-year tenure in Denver, one during which he remained a full-time starter. Jackson, 36, formed an effective tandem with Justin Simmons for much of his time in the Mile High City.
Last season, however, things took an unwanted turn for Jackson. The former first-rounder was suspended for repeated instances of unnecessary roughness. That ban was reduced to two games on appeal, but in his first game back on the field Jackson committed another helmet-to-helmet hit and was suspended for four games. He was waived by the Broncos in December before being claimed by the Texans in a reunion with head coach (and former teammate) DeMeco Ryans.
Jackson played sparingly in his return to Houston, and to little surprise he had to wait until after the start of training camp to find a new deal. The Colts hosted him on a visit, but instead the Alabama product will spend the coming weeks in Buffalo trying to carve out a roster spot. The Bills released Jordan Poyer in one of many decisions to move on from veteran players this offseason, and fellow longtime starter Micah Hyde remains unsigned amidst an uncertain future.
The team added Mike Edwards in free agency while re-signing Taylor Rapp. Those two, along with special teamer Damar Hamlin and second-round rookie Cole Bishop, are set to compete for 53-man places and playing time. Hamlin was already thought to be on the roster bubble given the additions made this offseason, and Jackson now being in the fold could narrow his path to a roster spot.
Jackson has 203 regular season games to his name, but his age and discipline issues from last season will no doubt lower expectations for him in Buffalo. If he manages to impress over the coming weeks – and particularly if Hyde elects to officially hang up his cleats – though, he could survive roster cutdowns and continue his career with a third NFL team.
Jackson has managed to transform his play style and position to significantly extend his career. In fact, when he first dabbled at safety at the end of his Houston career, he tried it more traditionally, and not the heat seeking missile style he played in Denver. However, the disadvantage of that style is that he opens himself for penalties in the modern NFL. The league cracked down on Jackson specifically (and while some of it he earned, a lot of it was not fair in my view, as some of his punishment was legal but hard hits that they mixed in with his excessive ones), and his long suspension last year made me think that that was possibly it for him. The Bills are taking a risk that Jackson has adjusted his hitting to stay on the field. I, personally, don’t think that it will ever be gone.
Jackson moving teams may be enough to give him some cushion, but I don’t think that he’ll stop being a hitter. He really can’t afford to. At this stage, that’s his primary value-he is actually a brilliant player on the field, and knows offenses and their gameplans very well. He helps the backfield get into good spots, which is what Buffalo really lost when its much lauded safety tandem broke up. However, that’s not enough on its own to justify contracts. Jackson needs to hit so that he can have an exclusive enough skillset to be worth playing time.
Jackson’s had a really good career, at both corner and safety, but at his age now, he needs to have a niche that he can play to continue on. The NFL has done all it can to eliminate the niche that he plays. Buffalo, with that in mind, is taking a risk that Jackson can balance those two things. This is probably a low end deal, so the risk may not extreme, which would be my expectation, but we’ll see when it’s posted (as of this comment, it hasn’t been yet).
Of course the second Tua gets a big contract, someone in division signs a headhunter.
Bills don’t need to target Tua. He won’t play all year
What?
Bills don’t need to target Tua. He may not stay healthy all season.
Think that’s what they mean
He’s missed a total of eight games since he took over as starter his rookie year, and he’s had another three games when he failed to play the vast majority of the game. “He won’t play all year” is a weird thing to say about a guy who played 17 games and 95% of the offensive snaps last year.
Tua needs some Kareem in his coffee
Finally…an on field replacement who can contribute. Looks like he’ll be taking Hamlin’s roster spot.
How bad is the Mike Edwards injury?
1st a shoulder now a hamstring. He’s a chewed up piece of meat. Why is beans not chasing simmons? Release of edwards and hamlin frees up 2 milli. I know not enough; but at this point in camp hit him with 7-8 for a year…thoughts?
By the way dee Delaney reminds me of poyer early in his career. Would love to see him crack the starting lineup
Im not wanting to spend toms of cash for safeties. McD is a master of coaching up those two spots. Poyer and Hyde were not the same players before Buffalo.
Hamlin is a more traditional SS, and was not terrible a couple of years ago.
Mcd also seems to like people with experience in his system. Cam Lewis is interesting – but I think his versatility makes him a more valuable backup for more than 1 spot. Though the Daquan Hardy might potentially negate that at scb.
I don’t think most people expect Bishop to start – at least until late in the year.
Still, Without knowing a salary – guessing its low – I dont hate this signing. Safety is a spot where athleticism means less. Older safeties can still contribute. Which is kind of why I dont think they are willing to pay for Simmons. They can get passable production with lesser players.
Im all about value shopping here, knowing that safeties are more easily replaced.
Mike Edwards was a value buy too though I suppose. You just cant control injuries.
TLDR: Get a cheap guy and save the cap for a midseason trade at another position.
Good insight. Agree on stop the spending.
Go Bills !
Why not bring back Micah Hyde?!?! Younger, better than Jackson.
I think that may be a possibility. He did say Buffalo or nowhere.