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Bills officially sign DB Micah Hyde, four others

Posted at 5:45 PM, Mar 09, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-09 17:45:36-05

The Buffalo Bills have made their initial swings in the free agent market with Sean McDermott as their next head coach. The team announced the formal signings of five free agents on late Thursday afternoon.

The Bills have signed fullback Patrick DiMarco, offensive lineman Vladimir Ducasse, kicker Stephen Hauschka, defensive back Micah Hyde, and safety Jordan Poyer.

Of the five, the most meaningful addition is Hyde, who comes to the Bills from the Green Bay Packers. Hyde has spent all four of his seasons in the NFL in Green Bay, making 33 starts out of 63 total games.

Hyde, 26, is a jack-of-all-trades type and according to multiple reports, signed a 5-year deal worth a total of $32.5 million. He'll make a guaranteed amount of $14 million.

Hauschka comes to the Bills after playing the last six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and replaces Dan Carpenter as the team's placekicker for the 2017 season. According to multiple reports, Hauschka signed on with the Bills for four seasons and will make a total of $12.4 million.

Poyer, a safety, has played the majority of the last four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Over the last two seasons, he's made 10 starts.

Both DiMarco and Ducasse were announced to have agreed on a deal with the Bills yesterday.

Joe B's Take

Of the five free agent signings, the most immediate impact will be the one Micah Hyde makes.

The Bills are in a desperate need for capable defensive backs, and Hyde can move into an every game starting role while still coming into his own. The money might be a tad high for some, but Hyde has built a strong reputation as a playmaking player at his position. Over the last three seasons, Hyde has a total of eight interceptions, which would provide the Bills with a ball-hawking style of safety that they're losing with the release of the oft-injured Aaron Williams.

Considering what the Bills have on their roster, getting a versatile player -- which seems to be a trend with this coaching staff in what they like with the players they're talking to and bringing on board -- is something that is needed by leaps and bounds.

The Bills really don't have much else when it comes to safety, so adding a player like Hyde -- who has starting experience -- to the equation is a welcomed sight for Bills fans.

Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia