BUFFALO BILLS

The Buffalo Bills have had an active offseason so far, and on Wednesday, they took care of another one of their own.

The Bills extended safety Damar Hamlin with a one-year deal, the team announced Wednesday. The value of the one-year contract is still yet to be announced as of the time of writing.

Hamlin, 26, is coming off of one of the best years in his career. In 2024, the fourth-year safety recorded 89 tackles (including two for a loss), plus career highs in passes defensed (5) and interceptions (2). Hamlin also recorded his first career fumble recovery last season.

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The University of Pittsburgh product was due to hit free agency this offseason after the conclusion of his rookie contract. The Bills, led by general manager Brandon Beane, have made sure Hamlin will stick around at least one more year.

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Buffalo initially drafted Hamlin in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft. After an uneventful rookie season that featured the safety in 14 games – nearly exclusively on special teams – Hamlin took on a starting role in 2022 with 13 starts in 15 games.

During a Week 17 “Monday Night Football” game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hamlin tackled wide receiver Tee Higgins before standing up and collapsing back onto the field. Trainers rushed in to administer CPR and had to use a defibrillator after the safety suffered cardiac arrest.

Later, the safety said he had sustained an episode of commotio cordis, a freak injury that happens when one takes a blow to the chest at a specific, 40-millisecond interval during a heartbeat.

Hamlin since made a full recovery and returned to the field in a limited capacity in 2023. He played almost the entirety of the 2024 season as a starter.