Clearly in the “backup / depth” portion of free agency, the Buffalo Bills hosted linebacker Justin Durant and cornerback Marcus Cromartie on visits Thursday, per Ian Rapoport and Adam Caplan.
The Bills hosted corner B.W. Webb earlier this week. He signed with the Bears on Wednesday.
Neither are starting-caliber players, but they’d be experienced reinforcements on Buffalo’s defense.
Durant, 31, was picked in the second round by the Jaguars in the 2007 draft out of Hampton.
He measured in at 6’1” and 230 pounds and ran a 4.51 with a 36” vertical and a 10’1” broad jump at the combine that year.
In four years with the Jaguars over 50 games, he accumulated 272 tackles, two sacks, 11 PBUs, and two picks.
He signed with the Lions in 2012 and had the most productive seasons of his pro career. In two years in Detroit, Durant averaged 85.5 tackles and two PBUs.
The Cowboys added Durant in 2013, but he managed to play in just 16 games over two seasons due to injury. Following a season with the Falcons in which he made 83 tackles, Durant was back with Dallas in 2016.
In 13 games, he had 37 tackles and three PBUs on 26.4% of the defensive snaps.
Though quite the athlete — at least in his prime — Durant is mainly known for his occasional prowess as a run defender, not his abilities in coverage.
He’s spent the vast majority of his career as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, which likely speaks to Buffalo’s interest.
As for Cromartie, the cousin of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Antonio Cromartie, he entered the NFL in 2013 as a UDFA out of Wisconsin.
Not 27 until December, Cromartie is 6’0”, 195 pounds and ran a 4.41 in the 40 at his Pro Day with a 34” vertical, 10’1” broad jump and a 6.85 time in the three-cone drill.
He originally signed with the Chargers, yet spent most of his time on the practice squad. After a brief stint with the Browns, Cromartie was signed by the 49ers and eventually made his first start in November of 2015. He finished that season with 11 tackles and two PBUs. Last year, he appeared in three games, mainly on special teams.