Damar Hamlin operated as a full-time starter again in 2024, and as a result he had the opportunity to take a notable free agent deal with an outside team this offseason. Instead, the four-year veteran safety elected to remain with the Bills on a one-year pact. 
Hamlin managed to recover in full from the cardiac arrest which ended his 2022 season, making 14 appearances last year. He recorded the first two interceptions of his career while adding 89 tackles as a key member of Buffalo’s secondary, and a notable defensive workload could be in play for 2025 as well. Hamlin did generate a market outside of Buffalo based on his 2024 performance, though.
“We had a lot of conversations and a lot of interest, which was pretty cool,” the 27-year-old said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “I’m coming from not knowing if I’d be able to play football again, so to know I had what it took, go after that and chase it, go out there and for teams to respect my body of work after going through so much, I was appreciative of everything.”
The negotiating period allowed for Hamlin’s agent to speak with outside teams, but on the morning of March 12 – hours before the start of the new league year – his new Bills pact was already in place. The former sixth-rounder received $2MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. That represents more than double the annual average rate of his rookie contract, but it hardly guarantees a starting spot for 2025.
Cole Bishop, selected in the second round last year, could step into a larger workload next year alongside veteran Taylor Rapp. Bishop handled a defensive snap share of 34% as a rookie, and taking on more duties in that regard could come at the expensive of Hamlin’s playing time. In any case, the latter is set to remain in Buffalo for 2025; he hopes for that continue well beyond next year.
“It feels amazing to be back,” the Hamlin added. “This is home, this is all I know as a pro. I’m connected to this place on a totally different level. So this is the place I want to be, where I want to spend my whole career if I can.”
That cardiac arrest, on the field in Cincinnati, ended Hamlin’s 2002 season.
(Not the first time PFR has failed to fact-check dates.)
2002?
In 2002, Hamlin was four years old. Why was he on the field in Cincinnati when he was four years old?
lol
damar hamlin is darren baker
I guarantee you have never paid a cent to this site. At least your 2002 flub was epic!
Might need to fact check yourself there chuckster.
He is a great story… but a below average player
Disagree. He’s a solid rotational safety.
Rotational, not full-time starter. He may lose that position before the season startes and return to back up status.
Exactly. ROTATIONAL. He’s absolutely atrocious as a starter
Bills need a serious upgrade over damar. Glad he’s still with us, but I hope it’s as a backup. I wish Taron could play safety. Then we could get a third linebacker on the field.