The Buffalo Bills have 12 unrestricted free agents inching their way toward free agency which opens on March 18. On March 16, the Bills can start negotiating with other team’s players and then two days later, the club can officially ink players to deals (although, reports of signings will start on the 16).
On the flip, the Bills’ pending free agents can do the same and sign with another franchise. With the clock ticking, the Bills still have a chance to sign their own free agents to contracts, and might even do so after the market opens.
Bills Wire will do a 12-part rundown of each of Buffalo’s pending free agents leading up to the “tampering period.”
Here’s the free agent profile for Bills free agent linebacker Maurice Alexander:
Stats
2019: 7 games played, 11 tackles
Bills: 7 games played, 11 tackles
Career: 57 games played, 134 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 passes defended, 2 interceptions
How acquired
Signed via free agency, March 2019
Previous contract
One-year, $1 million deal (current age: 29)
Breakdown
Another special teamer mostly for the Bills. Maurice Alexander signed during the offseason, likely a move by special teams coordinator Heath Farwell. The coach joined the Bills last year to lead their special teams unit, helped them improve this past season. Prior to that, Farwell was a played and then coach with the Seahawks. The year prior to joining the Bills, Alexander was with the Seahawks so the two of them crossed paths there.
Alexander also hit the injured reserve list with a knee/ calf injury in November.
What are the Bills’ options?
As a veteran, the Bills can let Alexander test the free agent market. If he leaves, they can get a young option in. But Farwell will likely have his say. Do the Bills like him enough to keep him as a piece on their special teams unit?
What should they do?
We can’t be in the mind of Farwell, but it’s up to him. Does he feel Alexander was a key factor to their special teams in 2019? Snap counts say Julian Stanford was, as he led the unit in snaps played (273). Based on that, the Bills do have nine draft picks to bring in a younger option. But Alexander could be a camp body to battle for a position.
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