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Bills sign safety Geno Stone to one-year deal | 'They're going to use me to my strengths'

Mar 16, 2026 at 03:50 PM

Sydney Ciano

Seasonal writing associate

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The Buffalo Bills signed another safety to a one-year deal. Geno Stone joins the Bills after spending the last two seasons in Cincinnati.

"Talking to my agent, he's always said the Bills are one of the better organizations to be with and he's always raved about it," Stone said after signing Monday. "So, for me, it's just an easy decision."

Stone started all 17 games for the Bengals in both 2024 and 2025. Last season, he had 104 total tackles, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, four passes defensed, two sacks and two interceptions, including a pick six against New England.

Heading into 2026 under first-time head coach Joe Brady and new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, taking the ball away is an emphasis for Buffalo's defense.

"They're going to use me to my strengths, and that's the main thing I want to do at this point in my career is playing to my strengths and limiting my weaknesses," Stone said. "That's why they brought me in: to go get the ball. So, that's how I was envisioning myself. That's how I see myself in a lot of place … It's cool as someone coming in to hear that's an emphasis, taking the ball away."

Prior to his time in Cincinnati, the safety spent the first part of his NFL career with the Ravens. Baltimore drafted Stone in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Iowa, going 219^th overall.

Stone had a rocky start to his career as a rookie. He started as a backup safety behind DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark, but was waived in October 2020. The Ravens re-signed him to the practice squad, elevated him to the active roster, placed him on the reserve/COVID-19 list, re-activated him and eventually waived him again in December 2020.

The Texans claimed Stone off waivers one day after and he spent the remainder of his rookie year with Houston. Baltimore then signed Stone to a one-year deal in 2021 and stayed with the team until the Bengals signed him in 2024.

During his four seasons as a Raven, Stone registered 127 tackles, 11 passes defensed, eight interceptions, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss. He played in 51 games for Baltimore, working his way into a starting role by 2023. That season, he started in 11 of 17 regular season games.

While Stone hasn't played for the Bills previously, he's familiar with the organization from players like defensive end A.J. Epenesa, safety Damar Hamlin and former safety Micah Hyde, who Stone shares an agent with. Stone said he's excited to play for a winning organization with a winning culture.

"I'm seven years into the league. I've been around a lot to know what it takes to be a pro in this league and what it takes to win," Stone said. "I know what it takes to get to the next step and my goal is to get back to the AFC Championship, win that and get to the Super Bowl."

Stone is a New Castle, Penn. native. He will wear No. 25 with the Bills.

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Free Agency, March 16, 2026 at Buffalo Bills Training Center.

Ben Green/Buffalo Bills