Bills Sign Safety Darrick Forrest

[3rdand12]

10 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

He reminds me so much of a bigger/Faster Hyde and Poyer.  If this kid is 100% healthy, we may have found a steal.

I would like to think so. And will be watching for sure !

[MasterStrategist]

4 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Beane needs to bring in a few(or more) of these change-of-scenery types and hopefully one of them hits and they find a cheap starter or better.    Free agency has been by far Beane's biggest weakness and this is one category where he's never really gotten much of anything.   If memory serves correct, Ty Johnson is about the only cheap/talented but never-was-at-prior-stops types he has found in pro personnel in his prior 7 offseasons.

It's a good point, but honestly how many of these moves occur across the NFL each year?  I'm assuming that figure is 5 or less but it would be interesting to determine.

 

Bigger issue is hitting on the draft.  Young/talented, everything but change of scenery from what you said.  We'd be in a better position if we could stack 2-3 consecutive years of very good drafts.

[BigAl2526]

3 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

4.63 is pretty generous too.

That was Hamlin's combine run.  He may well have slowed since then.

 

[Warriorspikes51]

 

bring the pain! 

[Beck Water]

7 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Coaching change

 

Fair.

[JaBu]

2 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

bring the pain! 

 

 

From those videos (if representative) he looks like a more athletic Jordan Poyer. If paired with T Rapp we may have one of the hardest hitting safety duos in the league. 

[Beck Water]

8 hours ago, Simon said:

 

Probably a combination of two things.

A new coaching staff who brought their own safety that took Forrest's spot.

And he tweaked a hamstring in camp and was inactive the first four weeks so probably never had a real chance to compete for his position.

 

I like some of the film clips people have put up.  Of course it's highlights but he's clearly not afraid to bring the lumber, which is what made me wince every time someone suggested maybe we could convert Elam to safety.

25 minutes ago, JaBu said:

 

 

From those videos (if representative) he looks like a more athletic Jordan Poyer. If paired with T Rapp we may have one of the hardest hitting safety duos in the league. 

 

If only we can persuade Rapp to limit his hitting to guys wearing the other uniform.  (I actually had the same 'that looks a bit like a young Poyer' thought)

[Richard Noggin]

22 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

I like some of the film clips people have put up.  Of course it's highlights but he's clearly not afraid to bring the lumber, which is what made me wince every time someone suggested maybe we could convert Elam to safety.

 

If only we can persuade Rapp to limit his hitting to guys wearing the other uniform.  (I actually had the same 'that looks a bit like a young Poyer' thought)

 

Agree with you and others noticing something in the Forrest acquisition that reminds of Poyer, but mostly in that I'd honestly never heard of either guy before they were signed, and yet there is apparent upside/value.

 

This time is different because we can see the potential proactively. Forrest's athletic profile is actually much more impressive than Poyer's, and he's had more on-field success than Poyer had at the time he was signed. Will be fun to track his progress in camp and preseason. 

[CSBill]

On 3/12/2025 at 12:55 PM, DJB said:

 

 

"In the run support game you’re gonna love him but in pass coverage you’re gonna pull your hair out

@BuffaloBills"

 

He'll fit right in.

[Warcodered]

8 hours ago, Beck Water said:

If only we can persuade Rapp to limit his hitting to guys wearing the other uniform.

I felt like Rapp actually improved a lot towards the end of 23 and last season.

[Simon]

8 hours ago, Beck Water said:

I like some of the film clips people have put up.  Of course it's highlights but he's clearly not afraid to bring the lumber, which is what made me wince every time someone suggested maybe we could convert Elam to safety.

 

I like what I've seen also; the hitting is nice icing but not the cake, imo.

The limited film I've seen from both college and the NFL suggests that this kid is a genuinely smart player; to me, that's the cake.

I think he has a genuine shot at stealing a starting role here.

 

8 hours ago, Beck Water said:

If only we can persuade Rapp to limit his hitting to guys wearing the other uniform.

 

I think he got better with that toward the end of his first season here. I don't know if it was Hyde working with him but it seemed like a light sort of finally went on and he started doing a better job of keeping his head up and his eyes open. It's a huge difference maker when you can actually see your target. There have been a lot fewer instances of blue on blue since then.

[Beck Water]

9 hours ago, Simon said:

I think he got better with that toward the end of his first season here. I don't know if it was Hyde working with him but it seemed like a light sort of finally went on and he started doing a better job of keeping his head up and his eyes open. It's a huge difference maker when you can actually see your target. There have been a lot fewer instances of blue on blue since then.

 

I agree with your perception, but Rapp was still the one who launched into Douglas during the Rams game, taking him out/injuring him AND leaving Kupp to catch the tuddy.  That was last season, early Dec.

9 hours ago, Warcodered said:

I felt like Rapp actually improved a lot towards the end of 23 and last season.

 

He did, but I think he went from awful to poor on this point.  In addition to taking out Douglas, I believe he was involved in the back/rib injury that cost Hamlin 3 games.

[wppete]

21 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

bring the pain! 

This guy is exciting to watch. Super athletic and fast and a hard hitter. Looks like he has great instincts also.