Buffalo Bills: With Stevie Johnson Back, Look for the Bills to Target Meachem

Today, Buffalo Bills fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as Stevie Johnson was re-signed to a five-year contract extension. The deal works out for both parties. Stevie gets paid like a middle-tier No. 1 receiver, and the Bills get their best receiver signed to a long-term deal. With that said, Buffalo still has a need at the receiver position for a bona-fide No. 2 with some speed.

Names like Vincent Jackson, Marques Colston and Dwayne Bowe have been thrown around a lot in connection with the Bills, but I just don't see that happening now. Many of the big-name receivers won't even make it to the free-agent market, as they will receive the franchise tag before then. Those that do make it will be in high demand, as there are a number of teams in the market for a receiver. Other teams can make better pitches to those receivers in terms of past success and the amount of money they offer. The competition will be fierce, and the Bills have shown that they have neither the ammunition nor the inclination to win those competitions in the past.

I also don't expect Buffalo to prefer drafting a receiver come April. Drafting receivers is an unpredictable game (see: James Hardy), and even when they do pan out, they often need a few years to develop (see: Stevie Johnson). Buffalo needs help at the position now.

Instead, look for the Bills to target Robert Meachem in free agency. He will come at a very reasonable price, and he can be expected to provide a legitimate second target for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Meachem fits the exact profile of the receiver that Buffalo needs. He has size at 6'2''. Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey have stated on multiple occasions that they prefer receivers with size. However, Meachem can also provide the deep threat that the Bills desperately need. He ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash in college and has averaged over 16 yards a catch in the pros. He can come in and immediately provide a nice complement to Stevie on the opposite side of the field.

Meachem is the type of player that Nix has pursued in free agency in the past. It's a signing that won't be overly flashy, but it will fill a huge need and will make the team better.