The Buffalo Bills announced today that they’ve released safety Corey Graham.
Graham, 31, was a fifth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2007. After a short stint with the Baltimore Ravens, Graham joined his hometown Bills in 2014. He’s played in ever game during his three seasons in Buffalo, starting all 16 games in each of the last two seasons. He appeared in 98.2% of the team’s defensive snaps in 2016, second behind Preston Brown.
The move is somewhat surprising, coming on the heels of the team releasing Aaron Williams just yesterday. They did, however, sign two versatile defensive backs in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. They could also still target the position with the tenth overall pick in the draft.
Graham was entering the final season of a four-year deal he signed in free agency upon joining the Bills. His release frees up around $4 million in cap room, which could be used to sign his replacement or address other areas of need at wide receiver and offensive tackle.
Graham was a fan favorite for his three years in Buffalo, and was always one of the more talented and productive defenders on the field. He turns 32 in July, so it’s probable that he’ll land on his feet somewhere before he hangs up his cleats for good.