Percy Harvin Gambling on the Bills More Than Buffalo Is Gambling on Him

The gamble Percy Harvin is making on re-establishing his value with the Buffalo Bills is far greater than the gamble the Bills are making by signing the volatile receiver to a low-risk, high-reward deal.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Harvin and the Bills agreed to a one-year contract Friday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Networks reports the deal is worth "roughly" $6 million. 

The move reunites the multidimensional weapon with head coach Rex Ryan and provides Buffalo with a potentially scary new toy for a suddenly loaded offense. 

The marriage looks like an ideal one for the Bills. 

Not only is Buffalo getting a verified playmaker in the slot and on special teams, but the team is also hooked to the deal for just a single season—or about the time it generally takes for Harvin to wear out his welcome. If things goes awry, the two sides can part ways after 2015 and be no worse for it. 

But there's also explosive potential for the good. 

Harvin will join an offense now overflowing with talent at the skill positions. Running back LeSean McCoy was added via trade before free agency, and second-year receiver Sammy Watkins headlines a returning receiving group that also includes Robert Woods. Most offenses could only dream of possessing the firepower and playmaking ability Buffalo now has in both the passing and running game. 

Watkins, who finished his rookie season with 982 yards and six scores through the air, is fully on board:

"

We got @Percy_Harvin that's who I always tried to play like on the field now I'm ballin with him

— Sammy Watkins (@sammywatkins) March 13, 2015"

There's just one issue, and it's a big one: Will the Bills be any better at quarterback? 

Former first-round pick EJ Manuel is entering his third season, but he's been mostly a bust up to this point. The last staff in Buffalo was more comfortable starting journeyman Kyle Orton in 2014. Manuel now needs to take a big step this season. 

Clearly unsatisfied with their quarterback situation, the Bills went dealing and traded for veteran Matt Cassel earlier this month. But he'll be playing for his third team in four seasons, and he also hasn't finished a season with a passer rating over 81.6 since 2010. 

According to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News, the team also added a third quarterback in Tyrod Taylor on Thursday. He threw just 35 passes during his four seasons for the Baltimore Ravens. 

Overall, the Bills have one of the more underwhelming quarterback groups in the NFL. 

	Cmp. %	Yards/Att	TD/INT	Passer Rating
E. Manuel	58.6	6.4	16/12	78.5
M. Cassel	59.0	6.6	96/70	80.1
T. Taylor	54.3	5.7	0/2	47.2
J. Tuel	44.1	5.2	1/3	45.1

Herein lies the risk for Harvin. 

One-year deals for established players like Harvin are almost always "prove it" opportunities. They provide a chance for a big name to pick a comfortable situation and then re-establish value before hitting the market again a year later. And in Harvin's case, his worth could certainly use a productive, incident-free season. 

The 26-year-old is already joining his fourth NFL team. The Minnesota Vikings dealt him in 2013 to the Seattle Seahawks, who in turn traded him to the New York Jets last season. After trading for Brandon Marshall, New York dumped Harvin. There's nothing like three ugly divorces to kill a man's market. 

Yet his freedom in free agency allowed Harvin to pick and choose where he'd attempt to fix perceptions of him. 

One source admitted to ESPN's Josina Anderson that playing with the right quarterback would likely influence Harvin's decision. 

"I think there's a sentiment that there are some in Percy's camp that want him to play with a more experienced quarterback, but I believe we have some really good pieces here," the source said. 

There's logic in that idea. Playing with an experienced quarterback is an obvious boon to the receiver position, which relies almost solely on the thrower of the football. Harvin's best chance to be productive is with a top quarterback. 

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He'll be surrounded by big-play threats in Buffalo, but Harvin will also be catching passes from either Manuel or Cassel. Or, in a worst-case scenario, some combination of both. His value could be marginalized, much like it was during his stretch with the shaky quarterback situation in New York last season. 

Harvin also wants the right scheme fit. According to Anderson's source, he is sick of playing the "gadget guy" and instead wants a "defined wide receiver role." 

"A lot of people have lied to him and told Percy that when he plays on their team he will be a traditional wide receiver, but if you look over the course of his career that certainly hasn't always been the case," the source said. "My understanding is that Percy wants to play the position full-time or get closer to that."

The Bills certainly have an opening inside in the slot, where Harvin can be a nightmare to defend. But will new offensive coordinator Greg Roman remain committed to keeping Harvin in a traditional role? 

There is always a temptation with Harvin to manufacture his touches—and for good reason. He is dynamic with the football in his hands, with terrific long speed, incredible short-area quickness and tackle-breaking ability. 

But it's easy to see why Harvin would want less of a gadgety role. Outside receivers and the dominant slot receivers eventually get paid. Handsomely. His versatility is both an asset and hindrance to his own value. 

The Bills have McCoy, Fred Jackson, Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown at running back, so it's possible Roman will have no interest in trying to manufacture Harvin's touches in the backfield. That would suit him just fine. 

The question now is whether a traditional receiving role in an offense led by Manuel or Cassel will produce the stock-increasing season Harvin desires. 

The Bills have hit a home run with this deal, adding an explosive player and personality on a deal that is conducive to both traits. 

Meanwhile, Harvin is swinging big on a curveball and hoping he connects. 

Gambles come in all shapes and sizes, but it's clear Harvin is taking the bigger risk here. 

Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @zachkruse2