Buffalo Bills sign safety Kurt Coleman; Rafael Bush retires

The Buffalo Bills swapped one veteran safety for another on Friday, signing veteran Kurt Coleman to a one-year contract. Coleman, 31, comes to Buffalo after a one-year stint with the New Orleans Saints. He replaces veteran Rafael Bush, who announced his retirement.

Coleman has twice played on defenses run by current Bills head coach Sean McDermott. The 5’11”, 208-lb safety entered the league in 2010 as a seventh-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles. McDermott was the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia that year. The two crossed paths again in 2015, when Coleman signed with the Carolina Panthers. McDermott was the defensive coordinator of that team, as well, and they went to a Super Bowl together—the Panthers losing to the Denver Broncos.

Coleman has appeared in at least 12 games in every year of his NFL career. He has 83 career starts, including nine last year for New Orleans. He made 32 tackles last season, breaking up one pass and making one tackle for loss. His best season was that 2015 season under McDermott, when he made seven interceptions and had nine pass break-ups on the season. He also had 88 tackles.

According to Ian Rapoport, Coleman will make just over $1 million this season. Per Rapoport, the veteran safety has the chance to earn up to $2 million this season with incentives.

Bush, 32, was slated to make $1.8 million this season. He served as Buffalo’s slot corner last season when Taron Johnson was injured, and he often appeared in Buffalo’s “big nickel” packages. He had 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 15 games with Buffalo.