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Why new Bills safety Taylor Rapp kept coming back to Buffalo during free agency

Taylor Rapp, Buffalo Bills Free Agent signing, March 31, 2023 at One Bills Drive
Taylor Rapp, Buffalo Bills Free Agent signing, March 31, 2023 at One Bills Drive

With a Super Bowl ring under his belt in just four seasons in the NFL, safety Taylor Rapp was looking for the perfect match and opportunity with his next team. Rapp said during the free agency process he kept coming back to the Bills. Now he's elated to call Buffalo home.

"I think everyone in the free agency process is trying to find the right fit and right opportunity," Rapp said of what he wanted out of his new team. "This is a very special team, very special defense, very special back end, back seven, especially the guys that I will be joining in the room in Micah (Hyde) and Jordan (Poyer). They are obviously two great players, two former All-Pros and have had great careers. So, just a great opportunity to come in there and contribute in any way I can, just pick them apart and learn and soak up as much about the game as I can from those guys."

That fact that Hyde and Poyer are already in Buffalo didn't deter Rapp from choosing the Bills, rather he feels like the two veterans can help him take his game to the next level.

Rapp has started in 48 out of 57 games played in his four-year career. In those games, he has accounted for 330 total tackles, nine interceptions and 18 passes defensed. The safety is looking forward to continuing this in Buffalo by being ready for any opportunity.

"Just finding opportunities where I can fit in and contribute, whether that's coming in on passing downs or building in different packages and stuff like that," Rapp shared. "Just any way I can help the team, even on special teams. At the end of the day, ultimately, I just want to win and help this team out, help this organization bring home a championship."

With nine interceptions so far in his career, Rapp is ready to add to that number as a Bill with the help of Poyer and Hyde.

"I take pride in being able to turn the ball over and obviously the guys here, this defense is really known for takeaways as well," Rapp added. "The two guys in the room who I'll be learning from and kind of soaking up as much about the game as I can from in Micah and Jordan, those guys are notorious for their takeaways and turning the ball over. They're just ball hawks, and I'm excited to be part of it."

The former second-round pick is also eager to learn from a former safety in his new head coach Sean McDermott.

"He's a very defensive minded coach, and he has a long history of coaching great safeties at the position," Rapp said. "And obviously, like I touched on with Jordan and Micah, those are two of the best safeties in the game, in my opinion. I respect their game tremendously."

Rapp has gotten to know Bills new safeties coach Joe Danna over the last few weeks and is thrilled to grow alongside a coach who's been in the NFL for 15 years.

"I'm looking forward to building on that and developing from year four to year five, obviously in the future as well," Rapp shared. "This defensive staff, the whole entire staff are such great people, they love ball…I think this defensive staff can develop me tremendously so looking forward to seeing the development."

As for getting to play with a few former Rams, Rapp is pumped to link back up with Von Miller.

"He hit me up right away as I agreed to terms on the deal," Rapp said. "So we spent some time in LA together when we won the Super Bowl in 2021. Von's an awesome guy, and I'm excited to be on board with him."

Check out the best photos from Buffalo Bills Free Agency 2023 as players sign their contracts, meet with the media and tour the Bills facility.

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