Isaiah McKenzie’s future with the Buffalo Bills was in jeopardy, or so it seemed.
On March 16, the Bills declined the restricted free agent tender on his contract, making the 24-year-old a free agent. Later that same day, the Bills traded for Stefon Diggs, who shoots right to the top of their depth chart.
Signs pointed to McKenzie not returning to the Bills, but that was never the case for him. While doing the rounds with Western New York media via video call, McKenzie said returning was always his priority and he officially did so on March 24, inking a one-year deal with the team.
“I told my agents and everybody I want to come back… like no matter what, I want to come back and they gave me an opportunity, they wanted me back and I wanted to be back. It wasn’t anything they had to do to get me there because I would have came back regardless,” McKenzie said.
The reason for his desire to return was what he described as a door opening for the Bills. Tom Brady leaving the AFC helps, but McKenzie said regardless of that he sees an opportunity to achieve something with the Bills, despite having offers from offers from other teams as a free agent.
“Each and every year is a possibility. Last year, what we did last year, we’ve just got to build off that. We’ve got a couple of great guys who came in through free agency and stuff like that… we’ll have some rookies come in to help out… I feel like we’ve got a chance to win the whole thing, if you ask me,” McKenzie said.
And of course the first name that comes to name in McKenzie’s mentioning of free agency is Diggs, who the Bills traded for when the market opened. McKenzie described Diggs as a welcomed addition, not any sort of threat to his potential job security.
“It’s just another piece of the puzzle that we need. It’s going to be a great season,” he said.
McKenzie, like Diggs, John Brown and Cole Beasley, the presumed top-three wideouts on the Bills roster, is not the big-bodied target many projected for Buffalo this offseason. Still, the Bills haven’t been shy in the past about their feelings on the receiver position. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have both referenced just wanting the best talent at the position, size or shape doesn’t matter.
What does provide might even more valuable. It’s McKenzie’s versatility, something he’s put on display in his Bills career.
After struggling with fumbles early in his career as a returner, he’s proven to be a valuable asset as a a gadget player. McKenzie had 27 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown, and added 49 yards rushing on eight carries in 15 games last season.
With the NFL Draft to still unfold, McKenzie could be in a battle for a roster spot in training camp.
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