The Bills have been active in the first wave of NFL free agency, addressing roster needs with players who can be valuable contributors and rotation players in all three phases.
Similarly, letting some players walk in free agency while releasing and trading others has created cap relief and added draft capital while freeing up money to add cost-efficient talent.
Headlined by the additions of WR Curtis Samuel and LB Nicholas Morrow, a mix of new and familiar faces have been signed and re-signed.
While it’s worth noting that additional signings have taken place, including DE Casey Toohill and S Mike Edwards, with more potential moves on the way as the team has reportedly met with S Julian Blackmon and DE Austin Johnson on free agency visits, and still have a number of their own free agents available as well.
Had they been factored in, Toohill, who’s had solid numbers as a depth and rotation player, and Edwards, who has the second most defensive TDs in the NFL since 2021 (5) and two Super Bowl championships with Tampa and Kansas City to his name, may have affected the grade.
Nonetheless, here is the Bills 2024 free agency grade prior to those additions, according to Pro Football Focus…
BUFFALO BILLS
- Re-signed: G David Edwards (two years, $6M)
- Re-signed: P Matt Haack (one year, TBD)
- Released: S Jordan Poyer
- Released: CB Siran Neal
- Released: C Mitch Morse
- Released: RB Nyheim Hines
- Released: WR Deonte Harty
- Released: CB Tre’Davious White (post-June 1)
- Signed: QB Mitch Trubisky (two years, $5.25M)
- Re-signed: S Taylor Rapp (three years, $10.625M)
- Extended: T Dion Dawkins (three years, $60.5M)
- Re-signed: CB Cam Lewis (two years $4M)
- Re-signed: EDGE A.J. Epenesa (two years, $12M)
- Re-signed: DI DaQuan Jones (two years, $16M)
- Signed: LB Nicholas Morrow (one year, TBD)
- Signed: WR Mack Hollins (one year, TBD)
- Re-signed: RB Ty Johnson (TBD)
- Signed: WR Curtis Samuel (three years, $24M)
Epenesa has two straight seasons with strong production as a pass rusher, notching pressure rates above 10% and pass-rush grades above 70.0. He’s a big edge who has gotten faster off the ball as he’s developed, and he’ll still be just 25 in Week 1 of 2024, so there could be more improvement ahead.
Jones came out of the gates of the 2023 season on fire as an interior pass rusher, and the continued growth of Ed Oliver has enabled the two to work off each other and weaponize twists and stunts on the interior more effectively. Oliver still has a quick get-off and a bursty second step in his 30s, and Buffalo needed to add more defensive linemen, so why not retain a player you know is a fit as a three- to five-technique?
Buffalo looks ready to move on from the dynamic duo of Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, who had an incredible run as the starting safety tandem for years. Rapp is a good box defender, and the Bills structured this deal in a way that they can approach it year to year while also buying out two additional years from Rapp.
PFF FREE AGENCY GRADE: B-
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