Brandon Tate to Bills: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Buffalo Bills and free-agent wide receiver Brandon Tate reportedly agreed to terms on a contract Tuesday, as the Bills bolstered a receiving corps that was lacking in terms of depth. 

Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 in Buffalo was the first to report the signing.

The Bills were set to enter the regular season with just five wide receivers on the roster, but the addition of Tate provides quarterback Tyrod Taylor with another option behind unquestioned No. 1 wideout Sammy Watkins.

Tate, 28, spent the last five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before he was cut Aug. 30. He had two receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown in 2015.

“He’s a guy that’s been essential to what we done over the last couple of years,” Bengals offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “A great example and leader for the guys. He’ll be missed. He’s a guy that helped us more than people realize.”

Where Tate had most of his value last year was as a return man, making 27 attempts on punts and 18 on kicks. He hasn't brought one back for a touchdown since 2011 and mostly struggled in 2015 with punt returns, as his long was only 18 yards.

While he left a lasting impression on the Bengals roster, it's unclear if Tate is any better than what the team had in-house. He became a source of frustration for many Cincy fans due to making ill-advised decisions on returns.

Although return duties are a possibility for Tate in Buffalo, Walter Powell seemingly did enough to earn that role during the preseason, which means Tate could be relied upon more so as a pass-catcher.

Tate has just 57 catches for 901 yards and six touchdowns in his seven-year career, and his best season as a receiver came in 2010 when he made 24 grabs for 432 yards and three touchdowns with the New England Patriots.

Regardless of how the Bills opt to deploy Tate, he adds experience to one of Buffalo's weaker positions, and he has the ability to contribute in multiple ways on special teams, which gives him added value.