The Buffalo Bills are making a bold move in free agency, signing veteran cornerback Steven Nelson to a 1-year, $5.5 million contract to step into the shoes of Rasul Douglas, who remains unsigned as an unrestricted free agent. Nelson, a former Kansas City Chiefs standout, brings a remarkable twist to this signing: he’s returning to the NFL just months after announcing his retirement in June 2024.
Nelson, 32, walked away from football last summer after a nine-year career that saw him rack up 13 interceptions and 78 passes defensed across stints with the Chiefs, Steelers, Eagles, and Texans. His retirement seemed final—until whispers surfaced in early March that he was “considering a comeback” if the right opportunity arose. The Bills, desperate to bolster their secondary after losing Douglas to the open market, pounced on the chance to bring the seasoned corner out of hibernation.
“Steven’s a proven playmaker who fits our system perfectly,” GM Brandon Beane said in a statement. “His experience and ball skills are exactly what we need to keep our defense elite. We’re thrilled he chose Buffalo for his return.”
The 1-year deal, valued at $5.5 million with $2 million guaranteed, reflects Nelson’s pedigree as a reliable starter without breaking the Bills’ tight salary cap, currently sitting at $9.1 million before additional moves. It’s a bargain for a player who notched 4 interceptions and 12 passes defensed in his last full season with the Texans in 2023, drawing comparisons to Douglas’s 2023 impact (4 INTs in 9 games with Buffalo). The contract aligns with the market for veteran CBs—below the $7-10 million annual average for top-tier starters but above the $2-3 million range for depth pieces—making it a savvy pickup for a contender.
Nelson’s journey back to the gridiron is nothing short of inspiring. After retiring to focus on family and business ventures, he briefly joined the Chiefs’ practice squad in December 2024, hinting at an itch to return. Now, fully committed, he steps into a Bills secondary that desperately needs stability. With Christian Benford locked in as one starter and young guns like Kaiir Elam still unproven, Nelson’s arrival fills the void left by Douglas, who struggled in 2024 (no INTs, 72.9% completion rate allowed) and may command a higher salary elsewhere.
