Bills’ Underrated Second-Round Safety Predicted For Breakout Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Buffalo Bills made multiple second-round picks during the 2024 NFL Draft. Wide receiver Keon Coleman may be considered the more popular of the two due to his position, but safety Cole Bishop was also added. … and might end up being at least as important.

Bishop was taken with the 60th overall pick in the draft last year and played in 16 games. … so he might be underrated but he’s not a complete unknown.

And now? He is expected to compete for a starting role this year under Bills head coach Sean McDermott.

While Bishop did not pick off a pass during the 2025 season, he did exhibit growth toward become one of the up-and-coming players on Buffalo’s defense.

And in the end?

Despite Coleman being a breakout candidate on many analysts’ lists, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia believes that Bishop may be the one who has a bigger second season with the Bills.

“While everyone expects it to be Keon Coleman because he plays a position without a proven top target, I’ll go with Bishop,” Buscaglia said. “Many believed safety to be a draft consideration this year, but Bishop was the reason they declined to do so. As long as he remains healthy, the 2024 second-round pick looks like a pretty good bet to be the Week 1 starter in 2025.”

Buffalo needs Bishop to step up significantly in 2025. They have some depth among their safeties to offer competition with him, but getting a quality player to emerge from the second round is the plan, the desired payoff.

Meanwhile, safety play is essential in McDermott’s defense.

That’s why Bishop was taken where he was in 2024. Time will tell if he can prove to be worthy of that pick in the new year.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.