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Ex-Cowboys WR Cole Beasley, Bills Agree to Reported 4-Year, $29M Contract

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Cole Beasley runs against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half in an NFL divisional football playoff game Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

The Buffalo Bills are addressing the wide receiver position in a big way during free agency.

The team announced the signing of former Dallas Cowboys receiver Cole Beasley on Wednesday.

Mike Garafolo of NFL.com previously reported on Tuesday the financial details of the four-year deal:

Mike Garafolo @MikeGarafolo

Cole Beasley gets $17 million over the first two years of his deal with Buffalo, $14.4 million guaranteed. The #Cowboys wanted him back, but didn't come strong enough with the offers.

That report came shortly after Adam Caplan of ESPN reported the team was also signing wide receiver John Brown to a three-year, $27 million deal.

The Bills also reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with veteran running back Frank Gore and with tight end Tyler Kroft to a three-year, $18.7 million contract in an aggressive effort to add more weapons around young quarterback Josh Allen.

While none of these additions are elite offensive players, they should upgrade an offense that was 30th in both points and yards last season. 

Chris Trapasso @ChrisTrapasso

The $10.1M guaranteed at signing for new Bills WR John Brown is (currently) the 35th-highest figure among WRs. Gives Josh Allen an established speedster to pair with Robert Foster. Good signing by Brandon Beane and Co.

Chris Trapasso @ChrisTrapasso

Assuming the reported $14.4M guaranteed in new Bills WR Cole Beasley's contract is total guarantees (not $ guaranteed at signing). That (currently) represents the 32nd-highest total guarantee among WRs. Another low-cost veteran at a big position of need for Buffalo.

Brandon Marianne Lee @BrandonHerFFB

Bills looking sharp. I rally like Robert Foster. John Brown and Cole Beasley nice pickups. Not hating this for fantasy. Looking like some nice late round roster fillers with upside. https://t.co/XNukWAkXEn

Beasley will give the Bills a nice option in the slot. He caught 65 receptions for 672 yards and three scores last year, earning a grade of 74.6 from Pro Football Focus (34th among wideouts). He should pair with the combination of Brown, Zay Jones and Robert Foster on the outside to give the Bills a solid wide receiver group.

The Bills won't exactly be the Greatest Show on Turf next season, but Gore, Beasley, Brown and Kroft will give them nice depth across the board and offer slight upgrades on what Buffalo had to offer Allen at the skill positions last season. 

The team's leading receiver was Jones, with just 56 receptions for 652 yards and seven scores. Allen was the team's leading rusher with 631 yards. The Bills desperately needed more weapons. They didn't get the sexiest weapons available, but they upgraded nonetheless.