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 running back Frank Gore:
Stats
2019: 16 games played, 599 rushing yards, 3.6 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
Bills: 16 games played, 599 rushing yards, 3.6 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns
Career: 226 games played, 15,347 rushing yards, 4.3 yards per carry, 79 touchdowns
How acquired
Signed via free agency March 2019
Previous contract
One-year, $2 million deal (current age: 36)
Breakdown
The Bills signed Frank Gore last season in a surprise move. Of all the deals they made via free agency, Gore was announced first and no one really saw it coming.
Off the field, Gore’s role as a leader is something a lot of players from the Bills locker room have said they loved. Among those in that bunch are running back Devin Singletary and head coach Sean McDermott. On the field, Gore was a sight to see early in the season, but then things slowed down for him. It certainly appeared like he lost a step, unfortunately.
What are the Bills’ options?
Gore has said he still wants to play so he’s probably open to re-signing with the Bills. Buffalo could tab him as a low-priced free agent, or they could let him leave, likely replacing him with a young option, probably via the NFL Draft. The Bills have nine picks in the seven-round draft in April.
What should they do?
The Bills should probably let Gore go, and it seems that’s the way things are trending. Buffalo complimented all of their running backs at the combine recently, but made no mention of Gore. Sure, he’s a free agent, but he’d probably be open to returning. It seems like the Gore could be a perfect option as a later addition this offseason if injury strikes.
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