Buffalo Bills: Last Minute Guide to Free Agency
NFL free agency hasn't even officially begun, and the Buffalo Bills are already off to a solid start.
Without even signing an unrestricted free agent, Buffalo has managed to address needs at quarterback (Matt Cassel) and running back (LeSean McCoy) while also re-signing stud defensive end Jerry Hughes. However, there is still plenty more general manager Doug Whaley and new head coach Rex Ryan can do to improve this team.
Whaley has already stated his vision—reported by ESPN's Mike Rodak—for how his team will win football games next season:
"Doug Whaley says the Bills will “play good defense, run the ball, and have the quarterback protect the ball."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) March 9, 2015"
He has already has a strong defense, a workhorse running back and an excellent game manager at quarterback. Now it is time to fill in the missing links and bolster his offensive line.
Let's take one final look at how the Bills will attack free agency when it officially begins later on today.
Strategic Investing
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Many teams have a large portion of their salary cap consumed by a mammoth quarterback contract—but not the Bills.
Naturally, Whaley is well aware of the extra space he has due to not paying his starting quarterback a boatload of money, and he has a plan to maximize this financial strength:
"Doug Whaley: “When you don’t have a large chunk of your cap tied up in marquee QB, you can invest it in other ways."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) March 9, 2015"
As noted by Rodak, Whaley has chosen to invest his money in a number of different positions other than the heralded quarterback position. In just this past week, the Bills general manager has elected to spend a lump sum of cash on his new starting running back and his starting defensive end.
With over $16 million in remaining cap space—according to Spotrac—Whaley still has money to work with in his strategic investing plan that isn't centered on the quarterback position.
Still Targeting Running Backs?
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The Bills' move to acquire McCoy and the subsequent contract extension led many to believe Buffalo was finished addressing the running back position.
Strangely, this may not be the case. As reported by Rodak, the Bills are in the mix to sign former New York Jets running back Bilal Powell:
"Jets RB Bilal Powell is “leaning toward a Rex Reunion in Buffalo,” per @MMehtaNYDN. Bills want all of the running backs. All of them.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) March 8, 2015"
In addition, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport notes Buffalo has chosen to retain veteran Fred Jackson as well:
"Long-time #Bills RB Fred Jackson is staying in Buffalo with no changes to his contract, I’m told.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2015"
As it stands today, Buffalo has McCoy, Jackson, Bryce Brown and Anthony Dixon under contract for the 2015 season. Yes, Ryan has historically elected to go with the "ground and pound" offense, but this seems to be overdoing it a bit.
Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports reported Whaley is reluctant to release Brown too:
"Based on text I just got from #Bills source, Whaley won't be pumped if team is forced to cut Bryce Brown after he traded for him year ago.
— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) March 9, 2015"
However, he also notes this is expected to come to fruition if Jackson were to be retained—and we now know he has been.
"Source did not tell me #Bills *will definitely* cut Bryce Brown if FJax stays. But it could lead to that, which Whaley wouldn't love.
— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) March 9, 2015"
Talk about a clogged (and talented) backfield.
Charles Clay a Solution at Tight End?
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Tight end has frequently been tabbed as a positional target for Buffalo in free agency, and it appears the Bills are zeroing in on their target.
The Miami Dolphins recently used the transition tag on tight end Charles Clay with hopes of retaining his services without committing a lengthy contract to him, but this apparently will not scare the Bills away according to Mike Garafalo of Fox Sports 1.
"Mentioned on @FOXSportsLive just now I'm not expecting the transition tag to scare the Bills in their pursuit of Dolphins TE Charles Clay.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 10, 2015"
While the Dolphins would have an opportunity to match an offer to Clay made by the Bills, Miami would not receive any sort of compensation if it was to allow Clay to walk—a slight difference between the franchise tag and transition tag.
Clay would help the Bills become considerably more athletic at the tight end position, but he isn't exactly known for his blocking. Per Pro Football Focus, Clay received a negative-2.9 pass-blocking grade for 2014.
Regardless, Clay would undoubtedly be an upgrade to incumbent starter Scott Chandler, and signing him would allow the Bills to address other needs with high draft selections.
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S Da'Norris Searcy Unlikely to Return
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Buffalo was fortunate to retain the services of Hughes, but it appears it won't be so lucky with safety Da'Norris Searcy.
According to Patrick Moran of Mix 96 Buffalo, the Bills' starting safety is expected to walk during free agency:
"Da'Norris Searcy is all-but-gone from Buffalo. A "friend" tells me the Bears are among those very interested.
— Patrick Moran Mix96 (@PatMoranMix96) March 9, 2015"
It is worth noting this isn't set in stone; Searcy hasn't reportedly agreed to terms with any team just yet.
If this does happen, however, the Bills could look to address the safety position during free agency, draft a prospect in the middle rounds or move forward with a currently rostered player such as Aaron Williams or Bacarri Rambo.
Obviously losing Searcy to free agency isn't ideal, but the Bills do boast a strong defensive secondary, which includes cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore.
Offensive Line a Priority
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As Bills fans may have already noticed, Buffalo has been connected with a number of top-notch offensive linemen recently.
The most popular reports have included former Green Bay Packers tackle Bryan Bulaga and former San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati, as noted by The Buffalo News' Tim Graham:
"For second straight day, name I heard connected with Bills: tackle Bryan Bulaga.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) March 9, 2015"
Fox Sports' Ross Jones has also noted Whaley and the Bills are targeting Bulaga:
"Hearing the #Bills aren't slowing down anytime soon. Pushing to sign Mike Iupati or Bryan Bulaga.
— Ross Jones (@RossJonesFOX) March 9, 2015"
Iupati (especially) would have been an excellent fit for the run-first Bills, but it appears the Pro Bowler will be taking his talents to the Arizona Cardinals organization. However, this can't become official until later on today, so Buffalo isn't completely out of the running.
Trapasso has also noted former Cincinnati Bengals guard Clint Boling as a potential target:
"If Iupati signs w/ AZ , its onfield blow for #Bills but may be blessing in disguise re: ROI. Turn to Bulaga, Boling. Or. You know. The draft
— Chris Trapasso (@ChrisTrapasso) March 9, 2015"
Despite already signing Richie Incognito and spending multiple picks in the 2014 draft on offensive linemen, it appears Buffalo is still hunting for blockers. This likely correlates with the way Greg Roman intends to run his offense, as noted by The Buffalo News' Vic Carucci:
"New #Bills OC Greg Roman will concentrate mainly on run game. QB coach David Lee & WR coach Sanjay Lal will focus on passing game.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) January 26, 2015"
It has been a crazy couple of weeks for Bills fans, and it will likely only get crazier when free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. ET.
For more NFL news, statistics and discussion, find me on Twitter @RobertReidell.
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