The top priority for the Buffalo Bills is to find stronger playmakers on the offensive side of the ball this offseason. The team made strides over the past two years on the offense. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement for Buffalo’s offense.
The Bills were tied for 23rd in points per game, 26th in passing yards per game, and 24th in touchdown receptions. There’s room for improvement.
Buffalo is in need of a big, playmaking wide receiver. With this in mind, it’s natural that many would connect the Bills with high-end wide receivers in free agency. One intriguing name has piqued the interest of many following Buffalo is A.J. Green.
While Green’s tantalizing skill has made him one of the best players at the position in recent years, there are several reasons to be concerned about making a substantial investment in the seven-time Pro-Bowler moving forward.
While Buffalo could take a look at Green in the offseason, ultimately, here are four reasons why the Bills should pass on Green moving forward:
Price tag
Green is coming off a four-year, $60 million dollar extension that he signed in 2015. Even with the deal signed in the middle of the decade, Green’s average yearly salary ranked 11th among receivers in 2019.
Spotrac views Green’s market value at just over $9 million per season, seeing a two-year, $18.1 million contract as the going rate for the wideout. This compares his contract with Julian Edelman, Emanuel Sanders, Larry Fitzgerald, and DeSean Jackson. Even though these contracts are similar, Green’s arguably the second-best player, next to Fitzgerald, on the list.
The free agency frenzy drives up the cost of a player. The market value is conservative at this point, as teams will be bidding on the services of Green, Sanders, Amari Cooper, Robby Anderson, and Randall Cobb.
Fitzgerald signed a one-year extension to remain with Arizona at a cost of $11 million. Green, more explosive and younger than Fitzgerald, will be looking for something bigger than his counterpart’s contract. Thus, a yearly average of $13-15 million is not out of the cards for Green.
This would place Green as the largest cap hit on Buffalo’s roster.