It’s not a name that many football fans know, but people need to get used to the name Cole Bishop.

The second year safety has instantly become one of the NFL’s more under the radar defenders who can quickly become a multi-time Pro Bowler.

Bishop was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 60th overall out of Utah and the major calling card on him was that he was a super athlete who loves  to throw the body around.

In his rookie year we got a good glimpse of that physicality, even though he only started in five games, he registered 40 total tackles (25 solo), with two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss.

Two weeks ago in a win against the New Orleans Saints, Bishop showcased that superior athleticism with a freakish one-handed interception.

There wasn’t a doubt about the Bills’ offensive efficiency. In four out of the past five seasons, Buffalo has finished in the top-three in points per game, and defensively, it was always fairly solid.

However, this season, the Bills’ defense is a bit suspect. With ongoing concerns on the defensive line and the secondary, there was a major need for someone other than their usual suspects to step up.

And now with Damar Hamlin being forced to miss a chunk of time on injured reserve, the need for Bishop is that much dire.

Bishop was certainly a subject of heavy scrutiny prior to the season’s start, especially in the 30-0 preseason loss against the Chicago Bears where Bishop completely misread a play and Olamide Zaccheaus zoomed past him for a 30 yard touchdown.

Coach Sean McDermott after the game clearly wasn’t pleased with his team’s effort at the time, but he understood for a player like Bishop, that excellence was going to come with reps. 

"He needs more experience, he needs more reps. That's where you work out some of these things, and that's how you build the callousness, and it comes from experience."

And he’s getting just that as the season’s gone on.

For a team that has been looking for a dynamic duo in the secondary since Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer left (Poyer came back as a member of the practice squad), Bishop’s arrival on the scene is major for Buffalo’s defense.

"Cole's play has ratcheted up each week, preseason and now in the regular season. So, still a lot of the journey ahead of him in this young career that he's in," said McDermott.

So far for the season, he’s well on his way to shattering his rookie numbers, and has already registered two sacks.

It may be asking a lot out of a second year player, but a lot of Buffalo’s success falls how Bishop fares for the duration of the season.