The 2023 season saw Damar Hamlin win the PFWA’s Comeback Player of the Year award as he succeeded in resuming his NFL career. The Bills safety did not see notable playing time, however, and as such his roster spot is uncertain entering training camp. 
Hamlin managed to return to full health from his cardiac arrest in time to be available for the entire 2023 campaign. Both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde remained atop the depth chart, and as a result Hamlin only logged 17 defensive snaps during the season. That came as no surprise, although he did see a 65% snap share on special teams. Continuing to be a third phase producer would likely be Hamlin’s strongest path to a spot on Buffalo’s 53-man roster.
Poyer was released this offseason, and Hyde’s playing future remains in doubt. Several names are still ahead of Hamlin in the safety pecking order, however, including Taylor Rapp (who was re-signed), free agent addition Mike Edwards and second-round rookie Cole Bishop. For that reason, Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News writes Hamlin will need a strong training camp performance to avoid being cut.
The presence of Cameron Lewis – who has experience both at safety and slot corner – is another factor which could leave Hamlin on the outside looking in. The latter has made 38 combined regular season and playoff appearances, with all of his 13 starts coming in 2022 while filling in for an injured Hyde. One year remains on Hamlin’s rookie contract, and he is set to carry a cap hit of $1.1MM in 2024. Almost all of that figure would translate to cap savings with a release or trade during roster cutdowns.
Hamlin’s cap hit is certainly not prohibitive, but finances have been a central component of each of the Bills’ decisions this offseason. Buffalo currently sits 24th in the NFL in cap space with just over $10MM available. A portion of that would be needed if Hyde elected to play a 12th season in the league and he returned to the Bills. Such a scenario would push Hamlin further down the depth chart this summer, one in which his short-term future will be determined.
Your very first sentence is entirely wrong!! Joe Flacco won the 2023 Comeback Player Award, NOT Damar Hamlin!! Fix that
No grammatical or factual errors per there application notification!!!
2023 was won by hamlin …. 2024 was won by flacco
in case you need to verify
link to profootballwriters.org
No, they both won last year. Hamlin won the PFWA award, Flacco won the AP award.
Yes Flacco won the Associated Press not the PFWA which was distinguished in the first sentence. They said specifically PFWA. I mistaked the 2024 award for the NFL comeback player.
link to youtube.com
Ichiro:
“Your very first sentence is entirely wrong!! Joe Flacco won the 2023 Comeback Player Award, NOT Damar Hamlin!! Fix that”
First sentence: The 2023 season saw Damar Hamlin win the PFWA’s Comeback Player of the Year award as he succeeded in resuming his NFL career.
Either way, is it really something to make that big of a fuss about?
The only acceptable other uniform for him to play in would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. Any other just wouldn’t be right. Let him come home.
If it wasn’t for his heart attack he would have been cut last year.
Absolutely correct! He’s a charity case who can’t stay in position to save his life.
The amount of Hamlin coverage we had to live through for someone getting 17 defensive snaps was so exhausting, glad he’s alright but dude is just a random special teamer and he wasn’t even in the top dogs in that phase
He was always a back up level talent as they had Poyer and Hyde. Hamlin having to get over the mental hurdle of the heart if his body gets the ok from docs. I don’t think he can extend the mascot role as that was good for one season.
Will his clone still make the roster (as per the CIA’s orders sent through invisible carrier pigeons)?
Easy there, Aaron.
Right?
He’s like Biden…
His cap hit may be set for Buffalo but I believe the NFL guaranteed his rookie contract after his traumatic injury.
Jills guaranteed his 850k when he died. In the nfl on ir the player gets half of his salary; which would have been 425k. Bills paid his full 850 that year. Beyond that one year his 1.2 mil isn’t a lock if he gets cut
It’s a crock he was even considered for Comeback Player of the Year.
Obviously.. He stinks at football.
You guys are nuts. He’s a fine player still learning his position.
Pray for Damar!