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’ 12 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” on March March.
Here’s our free agent profile for Bills free agent defensive back Dean Marlowe:
Stats
2019: 9 games played, 11 tackles, 1 pass defended
Bills: 11 games played, 16 tackles, 2 passes defended
Career: 16 games played, 16 tackles, 2 passes defended
How acquired
Signed to practice squad in 2017 (Week 14)
Previous contract
Two-year, $1.2 million deal (current age: 27)
Breakdown
Since joining the Bills, Marlowe has served mostly as a special teamer and that unit improved under Heath Farwell in his first year as the team’s coordinator in 2019. Last season. Marlowe only suited up in nine games and did make two starts and saw some decent playing time in the meaningless Week 17 loss to the Jets.
One positive Marlowe has under his belt is an understanding of Sean McDermott’s defensive system. Not just from his two years with the Bills, but he also was with the Panthers in 2015 and 2016 as a depth player while McDermott was their defensive coordinator.
What are the Bills’ options?
Bringing back Marlowe would likely cost the Bills a similar deal, close to a league-minimum deal such as the one Marlowe previously signed with them. Or the Bills could let him walk.
What should they do?
With nine draft picks, the Bills are probably better off letting Marlowe walk, then possibly bringing him back later in the offseason, depending on the way things workout for them in the spring and summer. Buffalo has all those draft picks and younger defensive backs, such as Siran Neal and Jaquan Johnson, who now have some experience in McDermott’s defense under their belt.
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