The team, Thursday morning, officially signed Dean Marlowe with the Detroit Lions after a free visit on Wednesday.
Marlowe was drafted in 2015, but played a special role with the Carolina Panthers for several years. In the past three years, however, he has expanded his role at the Buffalo Bills. Since 2018, he has played in 26 games and started seven. Especially last year was his breakout season, playing in 15 games and starting in four. As a versatile safety, Marlowe has amassed 22 tackles, two interceptions. 1.5 bags and three passes defended in 2020 alone.
Marlowe will come in and immediately compete with Will Harris for a safety job with Tracy Walker. Even if he enters the season as a backup, Marlowe can immediately contribute to special teams. Last year, he played on 215 special team snaps (sixth in team).
Sean McDermott, head coach of the Bills, was a big reason for Marlowe’s growth in the league. He was defensive coordinator for the Panthers when Marlowe was there, and he played a big part in bringing Marlow to Buffalo.
“He saw the life journey in the NFL where his career began in his first year and (he) was successful and expected to take the job in Carolina in the next year or two,” McDermott said in 2018. “He never quite got over it, maybe partly due to injuries. Now he’s found himself (as) another old man, basically since he came to Buffalo.”
Marlowe can play several roles in the defense, as he was a Swiss Army on the Bills defense last year. Per PFF, he played 54 snaps in the box last season, 56 at nickel angle and 96 at free safety.