buffalo bills free agency – Page 2

Bills’ Brandon Beane explains Stefon Diggs trade

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is excited about his team’s first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, Stefon Diggs?

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is excited about his team’s first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft.

Technically, he doesn’t have an actually selection, but while speaking to reporters on Thursday via video call, Beane called his new No. 1 receiver just that.

“The way I’m treating it is, that’s our first-round pick,” Beane said.

As free agency started on March 16, the Bills lost their first rounder in a trade with the Vikings, along with a slew of other picks, but gained Stefon Diggs. Beane confirmed earlier speculation that the deal was a long time in the makings.

Reports indicated during the 2019 trade deadline that the Bills were interested in adding Diggs, but the price was too high at the time. Beane then reached out, and also confirmed what Saints wideout Emmanuel Sanders said this week. The Bills’ GM was looking into adding other piece via free agent signings, but he clearly reached out to the Vikings that day too, and felt more comfortable with the trade route.

Speaking of price tag, Beane also compared the price he paid for Diggs to the price he’d pay to move up in the draft. Beane said that he believed it would have cost Buffalo more to move up in the draft and find an immediate impact player such as Diggs.

Buffalo originally held the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the upcoming draft. The Bills sent that pick, along with a fifth-round pick, sixth-round pick and 2021 fourth-round pick for Diggs and a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.

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CBS Sports pegs Bills’ ‘biggest need’ ahead of 2020 NFL Draft

The Bills addressed their edge defender position in free agency, but CBS Sports doesn’t think they’ve done enough there.

The outlet pegged every NFL team’s biggest remaining need as the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, and that’s what was labeled as the Bills’ need. Here’s why:

Buffalo Bills: Edge rusher
They signed Mario Addison to go with Jerry Hughes, but they are 32 and 33, respectively. They need a young, explosive edge player to add to the group. Corner and backup running back are also needed.

A case can be made for all three spots, but the analysis of the Bills’ defensive end group is spot on. Along with Addison and Hughes, Trent Murphy is also 29 and has underwhelmed in his Bills career. After the 2020 season, Buffalo’s outlook at the position isn’t the prettiest.

While the Bills do not have a first-round pick at the upcoming draft anymore thanks to their trade for wide receiver Stefon Diggs, in Round 2, there’s certainly going to be options there to find an edge defender. Buffalo’s selection is No. 54 overall in the second round.

On cornerback, the Bills don’t have the biggest need there because of the additions of EJ Gaines and Josh Norman via free agency, but with their health and consistency issues in recent years, it would not be surprising if Buffalo added a cornerback at the draft. Instead of labeling Buffalo’s running back need as “backup” to Devin Singletary, they could instead use a complementary back, someone who could potentially take the load from Singletary in certain games depending on opponent.

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Bills spoke to Emmanuel Sanders right before Stefon Diggs trade

Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs sounds nice, but what about Allen to Emmanuel Sanders? Apparently that was legitimately a possibility.

According to Sanders, on the same day that Buffalo traded for Diggs, he had spoke to the Bills. Sanders was an unrestricted free agents this offseason who eventually signed with the Saints after his Super Bowl run with the 49ers in 2019.

“I spoke with the Bills for a little bit,” Sanders told The Rich Eisen Show. “And I told them, ‘Let me think about the idea, give me a night.’ And 30 minutes later the Stefon Diggs deal went through and I was like, ‘OK.’”

Apparently Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane was in a pretty impatient mood on March 16, the day the deal went down. Had Sanders simply accept their offer on the spot, it’s very unlike the Bills have Diggs.

On Sanders’ experience with the Bills, it does matchup with reports on the deal. Talks between Beane and Vikings general manager Rick Spielman reportedly moved fast that day and a deal came together. Buffalo was said to have “blown them away” with their offer, which included a first-round pick.

In addition, if the Bills did add Sanders instead of Diggs, it really shows how much the Bills don’t value size much. Beane and Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott have said various times that size doesn’t make a good wideout, talent does. The 33-year-old Sanders is only 5-foot-11, not a big-bodied guy… and niether is Diggs, 26, who’s only six-feet tall himself.

Buffalo could still add that type of target later this offseason with the 2020 NFL Draft still to come, but much offseason analysis of the Bills roster saw an opening for a large playmaker immediately. Evidently not. We’ll see if the Bills keep adding.

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8 things to know about new Bills OL Daryl Williams

Even after the first wave of free agency, the Buffalo Bills couldn’t resist continuing to add familiar players, as the team inked offensive lineman Daryl Williams to a one-year deal. In Williams, the Bills add a low risk and potentially high reward …

Even after the first wave of free agency, the Buffalo Bills couldn’t resist continuing to add familiar players, as the team inked offensive lineman Daryl Williams to a one-year deal.

In Williams, the Bills add a low risk and potentially high reward player. Could the 27-year-old provide a strong depth piece on Buffalo’s offensive line, or will he even grab more playing time than expected?

Just in case, get to know him a little better. Here are eight things to know about new Bills offensive lineman Daryl Williams:

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) reacts with offensive tackle Daryl Williams. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina connection

First and foremost, the Bills front office of general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott once again know a signing well from their time in Carolina. In 2015, Williams was the Panthers’ fourth-round pick. In that rookie season, Williams was part of the Super Bowl team in Carolina that lost to the Denver Broncos.

While with the Panthers, he started two games as a rookie then 10 in his sophomore season. By 2017, Williams was playing at top gear for the Panthers. He was named a second-team All-Pro that year, but failed to make the Pro Bowl. For his efforts that season, Pro Football Focus graded Williams the Panthers’ “star” on offense, along with Luke Kuechly on defense, some good company. Williams’ overall grade that year was an 86.3 overall, landing him their “elite” category.

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Bills WR Isaiah McKenzie: ‘I would have came back regardless’

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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PODCAST: Full Bills’ mock draft, post-free agency edition

Kyle Silagyi is joined by Justin DiLoro and McKenna Middlebrook to construct a seven-round 2020 mock draft for the Buffalo Bills.

The Buffalo Bills were aggressive in improving its roster to start the 2020 NFL offseason, acquiring wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings before adding eight players through free agency.

The Bills are now left with a roster that lacks any glaring holes. Though there are areas in which the team could improve, Buffalo appears to currently possess something it hasn’t since the early 1990s – a Super Bowl-caliber roster.

Though the team’s roster is already stout, the Bills could strengthen its fortunes with a strong 2020 draft. On this episode of The Kyle Silagyi Variety Hour, host Kyle Silagyi is joined by BillsWire staff writers Justin DiLoro and McKenna Middlebrook to construct a seven-round post-free agency mock draft for Buffalo.

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The 15 most expensive Bills against 2020 cap after free agency

15 largest salary cap hits for Buffalo Bills following 2020 free agency.

The Buffalo Bills came out swinging when free agency opened earlier this month.

There were naturally new additions via free agency additions. But Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane didn’t stop there. Buffalo traded for Stefon Diggs and re-signed a few of their own players.

After all those moves, the Bills have the 12th most space still remaining in the NFL in terms of their salary cap. But several of these new acquisitions now sit amongst the highest-cap hits for the Bills moving forward.

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Here’s a quick look at how the Bills’ top-15 salary cap hits currently sits:

Buffalo Bills center Mitch Morse. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

1. OL Mitch Morse (age: 27) – $11.625M salary cap hit

Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs/ Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

2. WR Stefon Diggs (age: 26) – $11.5M salary cap hit

Panthers linebacker Mario Addison. Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

3. DE Mario Addison (age: 32) – $9.969M salary cap hit

Bills defensive end Trent Murphy. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

4. DE Trent Murphy (age: 29) – $9.775M salary cap hit

Bills wide receiver John Brown. Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

5. WR John Brown (age 29) – $9.719M salary cap hit

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USA Today gives Bills critical mark in free agency grade

Consider USA Today not a fan of the Buffalo Bills this offseason, and especially not in favor of their decision to trade for wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

When handing out grades for the each team in the NFL following hauls from free agency, the Bills earn a tough mark of D-plus:

They made some moves in line with their disciplined approach from recent offseasons, extending underrated S Jordan Poyer through 2022, adding LB A.J. Klein, signing fading veteran CB Josh Norman to a reasonable deal ($6 million in 2020) and loading the D-line with depth (Mario Addison, Vernon Butler and Quinton Jefferson). But why did a club that owned the No. 22 pick in a receiver-rich draft surrender it and three mid-rounders for Diggs, a moody player who’s never been to the Pro Bowl and could disrupt a locker room that boasts carefully crafted chemistry? Seems like a highly questionable risk.

Not only are the Bills ranked extremely low on this list, Buffalo only edges out the Patriots (F), Texans (F), Bears (D-) and Jaguars (D) in terms of grade.

Only time will tell which side to this deal rings true. Was Diggs worth it? Plenty of that depends on Josh Allen, but if you’re one who trusts Buffalo’s front office led by general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott, there’s reason to believe they made the right decision.

Sure, at No. 22 the Bills could’ve landed at top receiver prospect. But regardless, whether the No.1 overall pick or the final pick in a draft, rookies are all a roll of the dice. Diggs is not a roll of the dice. He was when he was a fifth-round rookie, but he’s since proven that he can play at a top level in the NFL, and isn’t that what you want out of your first-round pick? The Bills got that.

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Updated look at Bills’ salary cap following free agency start

The Bills have been one of the most active teams in the NFL since the league year opened earlier this month.

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane added plenty of pieces via free agent signings and even trade, landing star wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Plus, the Bills re-signed a few of their own players in offensive lineman Quinton Spain and safety Jordan Poyer.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the marquee signings made by the Bills and their cap hits:

WR Stefon Diggs ($11.5M)
DE Mario Addison ($10M)
S Jordan Poyer ($8M)
DT Vernon Butler ($7.1M)
DE Quinton Jefferson ($6.9M)
LB AJ Klein ($6M)
CB Josh Norman ($5.8M)

Following these moves, along with the players Buffalo already had under contract, one question comes to mind. Where is the Bills’ salary cap sitatuin now?

Heading into the offseason, the Bills had the fourth-most space in the NFL, near $90M. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Bills actually still have a decent chunk of room to continue making moves, if they so choose. With $26.5M in approximate cap space, the Bills have the 12th most space in the league to continue making moves.

That number will eventually change when the team selects rookies at the 2020 NFL Draft, but with that in mind, as opposed to other teams in the NFL, Buffalo no longer has a first-round pick. That rookie contract carries the biggest cap hit from the draft, a hit the Bills’ cap won’t endure.

With all the moves in free agency conducted thus far, the top-five teams in terms of space remaining actually all still sit in the AFC:

Texans ($49.3M)
Jets ($45M)
Browns ($43.7M)
Chargers ($37.6M)
Titans ($32.5M)

With the Jets in mind, rounding out the AFC East, the Bills actually still edge out their other two rivals. The Dolphins have the 14th most cap space at $22.7M, while the Patriots have the second-least space in the league at $892K, edging out only the defending champion Chiefs.

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Dean Marlowe contract details with Bills

According to Aaron Wilson at the Houston Chronicle, Marlowe signed a one-year deal with the Bills worth $1 million.

The Bills re-signed one of their own last week in safety Dean Marlowe.

Last season, Marlowe appeared in nine games for the Bills. 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. He first joined the Bills in December of 2017 and was formerly a member of the Panthers.

According to Aaron Wilson at the Houston Chronicle, Marlowe signed a one-year deal with the Bills worth $1 million. In total, the contract comes to $1.55 million. Marlowe has a $250K signing bonus on his deal, plus per game active roster bonuses worth up to another $250K. Marlowe also gets a $50K workout bonus.

Marlowe had 11 tackles and one pass defended last year. The 27-year-old played in 108 snaps on defense, making two starts, in a depth role in 2019. He played in 22 percent of Buffalo’s special teams snaps as well. Marlowe will likely battle for a roster spot later this summer in training camp.

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Tag: buffalo bills free agency