Tag: Buffalo Bills

ESPN’s bold prediction for Bills offseason: Tre’Davious White re-signs

ESPN predicts the Buffalo Bills will re-sign cornerback Tre’Davious White this offseason.

The Buffalo Bills have a lot of things on their to-do list this offseason. Is re-signing cornerback Tre’Davious White among them? ESPN predicts yes.

In the outlet’s “bold predictions” for every NFL team this offseason, the worldwide leader pegs Buffalo re-signing the All-Pro:

The 2017 first-round pick also has a fifth-year option available, but since earning All-Pro honors in his third season, he has established himself as one of Buffalo’s franchise cornerstones. As one league source told ESPN, White is simply too good to have to prove himself again with the fifth-year option. Expect him to be one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league, if not the highest-paid, once his extension kicks in.

Signing White seems like a no-brainer decision for the Bills and general manager Brandon Beane. However, there’s plenty of factors in play here.

White’s entering a contract year, of sorts. As a former first-round pick, he has his fifth-year option attached to his deal. Don’t be surprised if the Bills activate that instead of getting White on a long-term deal first.

Would both sides like a long-term contract signed? Probably. But as things currently sit, the Bills really have little to lose in regard to White by flexing his option. He’s going to be one of the highest-paid cornerbacks already. No one is hoping for a regression, but the price tag is close to being set as one of the highest in the NFL.

So why wait? White has that option, his fellow draft class members in left tackle Dion Dawkins and linebacker Matt Milano do not. Both of those players aren’t All-Pro status as of now like White, but they are important members of the Bills already. So Beane might opt to tag White, re-sign those two or other pending free agents after 2020 such as veteran safety Jordan Poyer, then circle back around the White, even as early as training camp.

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Bills’ Tre’Davious White hopes Tom Brady leaves Patriots

Buffalo Bills CB Tre’Davious White says he hopes QB Tom Brady leaves the New England Patriots.

With the NFL offseason now in full swing, football fans are going to hear about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a lot.

Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White gets that, and is fine with hearing about him. White just doesn’t want to see Brady in the AFC East anymore. Even at the expense of the overall football landscape itself.

“For me, I hope he doesn’t go back,” White said via The Athletic. “For football, it’d be great to see him stay a Patriot and continue to do it that way.”

White hasn’t beaten a Brady-led Patriots team in his career, so his argument makes plenty of sense. White has only dealt with Brady for three seasons as opposed to near two decades of them like Bills Mafia, so Buffalo fans will likely agree with White’s assessment. You can included Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane in there, too.

“He’s the best of all-time so you wish him well, but I’m not rooting for him to come back to New England or anything like that,” Beane said. “I’ve said before we would love for him to retire or move on.”

Despite White’s maybe not so subtle knock against the Patriots, he certainly didn’t say anything negative about the QB himself. If Brady did return to the Patriots, he knows he’d still have it.

“There’s never a fall-off with Brady,” White said. “He’s everything.”

“He is still the best. Anytime you’ve got to go against him, I guarantee a lot of guys are panicking,” White added.

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Bills make trade in PFF 2020 mock draft

In Pro Football Focus’ latest 2020 NFL mock draft, the Buffalo Bills make a trade for a wide receiver.

Many haven’t pegged the Buffalo Bills as a trade candidate at the 2020 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus tossed their name into the mix as one of the first ones doing so in their latest mock draft.

The football analytics outlets views the Bills as a trade back candidate. In doing so, the Bills move back from pick No. 22 to pick No. 26 via a trade with the Detroit Lions.

In the end, the Bills end up with wide receiver Denzel Mims from Baylor after the dust settles.

Here’s how PFF breaks down the deal:

The Bills can afford to accumulate more picks by moving back in the draft with how deep this receiving class is. Mims’ highlight-reel catch ability and physicality in contested situations is something the Bills do not have currently. His 20 contested catches in 2019 were the second most in college football.

In PFF’s draft, things fall this way for the Bills thanks to separate trade. The Dolphins trade up to the third-overall pick held by the Lions to draft quarterback Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama. In order to get there, the Dolphins send the No. 26 pick to the Lions, who then send it to the Bills.

In Mims, the Bills get “highlights,” as PFF mentions, but also size. The 6-foot-4 prospect had 12 touchdowns in his final season in college. Mims took part in the recent Senior Bowl and impressed during practices. Draft Wire tabbed Mims as one of their standouts from that prospect extravaganza.

If this scenario plays out of the Bills, plenty of Bills observers would view this as a win. Buffalo adds to their offensive arsenal while likely picking up more draft selections. One can also envision some of those extra picks coming at the 2021 NFL Draft, as the Bills already hold nine picks at the upcoming rookie selection event.

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Bills go defense with first 2 picks in NFL.com 3-round mock draft

Buffalo Bills picks in NFL.com’s first three-round 2020 NFL mock draft.

As the way things currently sit for the Bills, NFL.com believes Buffalo won’t sit tight with the way their defense stands when the 2020 NFL Draft rolls around.

In the outlet’s first three-round mock draft of the offseason, the Bills go defense with their first two picks before addressing their offense in Round 3 with a receiver.

Here’s the full breakdown:

No. 22: DE Yetur Gross-Matos

School: Penn State | Year: Junior

With Shaq Lawson heading toward free agency this offseason, the Bills might look to the draft to keep the defense strong on the edge. Gross-Matos possesses the ability to stack his man on the line and beat him around the corner.

So far the popular pick for the Bills during mock draft season has been offense in Round 1… namely receiver. But the Bills pass on the likes of Clemson’s Tee Higgins, Colorado’s Laviska Shenault and LSU’s Justin Jefferson in NFL.com’s mock.

In Gross-Matos the Bills land the fourth edge defender off the board, but depending on the way the Bills attack free agency, he could make plenty of sense. Not only could the Bills lose Lawson, they could stand to use more production overall from the position. Lawson led the Bills’ defensive end group with 6.5 sacks last season. That’s not good enough.

If the Bills do land Gross-Matos, they could land a guy that many draft analysts consider as one of the more underrated edge defenders in the 2020 draft pool. Gross-Matos is praised as a high-motor athlete, but concerns are over his frame. He is 6-foot-5 and 260-plus pounds, but adding more will help him.

 

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Bills fortify D-line in The Athletic’s newest 2020 mock draft

Buffalo Bills select LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson in The Athletic’s latest 2020 NFL Draft mock.

The Bills can’t settle on their current defense.

At the 2020 NFL Draft, if the Bills see a way to improve that side of the ball, they shouldn’t hesitate to do so. Buffalo reflects that thought in The Athletic‘s latest mock draft following Super Bowl LIV.

In it, The Athletic pegs defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson from LSU at the Bills’ selection. Here’ why:

22. Buffalo Bills – K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
With Shaq Lawson a pending free agent and Jerry Hughes entering his age 32 season, the Bills are in position to address their pass rush with a premium draft pick. Chaisson bursts off the edge to win the corner or convert his speed to power, also showing the athleticism to drop and cover.

Adding to their pass rush is among the Bills’ top needs this offseason. However, additions on offense, specifically at wide receiver, has become a popular pick as well. But with that in mind, The Athletic’s mock draft falls in a way where pass rusher makes more sense.

While the first wide receiver doesn’t come off the board until pick No. 12 via Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, four in total do. Jerry Jeudy (13), Brandon Aiyuk (18) and Tee Higgins (19) are all gone before Buffalo’s pick at No. 22.

Those selections help push Chaisson to the Bills. He’s the third edge defender off the board behind top pick Chase Young (2) and AJ Epsensa (16).

In addition to potentially replacing Lawson, the Bills could also potentially cut Trent Murphy this offseason as well if they want a full overhaul of their defensive line to begin. Lawson led the Bills with 6.5 sacks from the defensive end position and the Bills ought to want much more production from that group in 2020.

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Greg Olsen confirms Bills visit, is ‘blown away’ by amount of calls

Former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen will visit Buffalo Bills, discussed free agency.

Tight end Greg Olsen is a hot commodity.

The 13-year vet and the Carolina Panthers went their separate ways last weekend. He did tell The Athletic that it was actually more so the Panthers didn’t want him anymore, and not so much that it was a “mutual” agreement.

But one team’s old tight end is another team’s treasure, it appears.

Soon after his release, a report surfaced that “multiple teams” would be interested in Olsen. Then it was discovered via later reports that the the Bills were one of three teams that would host Olsen (so far) on a free agent visit. The others are the Redskins and the Seahawks.

Good news: Olsen also confirmed that those three, including the one with the Bills, will happen.

“We’ve been blown away by the amount of teams that have called. We got those three visits set for right now,” Olsen said.

Bad news: There might be more competition than we know. Olsen said there’s also a “few other teams” he has talked to.

“I’m just gonna go gather as much information as I can, see what opportunities are out there, see what different situations are out there. And then I can lay it all on the table and decide what’s best,” he said.

In regard to connections, the Bills and Redskins stick out like a sore thumb for Olsen. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane spent years with Olsen in Carolina. As did recently hired Redskins coach Ron Rivera.

All those visits are set to play out this week at some point. Olsen said he’s heard from plenty of coaches he’s played for and hasn’t played for, and at this point, he still doesn’t have a preference until he sits down and speaks to teams.

“It’s so early in the process right now. We’re still hearing from different teams in different parts of the country in different states of their organizational development. New coaches. Old coaches. It’s kind of been a mixed bag,” Olsen said.

What do we know, though? McDermott very much covets the tight end. Prior to revamping his tight end position last season with the likes of Dawson Knox, Tommy Sweeney, Lee Smith and Tyler Kroft, McDermott said Olsen is the type of player he wants.

“Yeah, I liked it [in Carolina] when we were on offense, when it was third and about five, I knew we were going to go get a first down because we had Greg Olsen,” McDermott said last March.

One further thing that could be taken from Olsen’s comments? It doesn’t sound like he’s in a rush to make his decision, so get comfy.

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2020 Bills opponents: Ryan Tannehill ‘not leaving’ Titans

According to reports, the Titans will not move on from QB Ryan Tannehill. They face the Titans next year.

Does the AFC go through Tennessee and the Titans in 2020?

One way or another, the Bills will. While Buffalo’s 2020 schedule has yet to be finalized, the Bills are slated to visit the Titans next year.

The Titans surprisingly advanced all the way to the AFC Championship Game this past season, falling to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Chiefs. Leading them there was quarterback Ryan Tannehill and their stout defense.

Despite that, there’s been some rumblings. Could the Titans be in the market for a new QB? Perhaps Tom Brady, even?

According to Titans Wire, the Bills should be facing Tannehill next season as reports surfaced earlier this week that the club will not look to replace him.

Tannehill made 10 starts for the Titans last season and picked up 2,742 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Tannehill also completed 70.3 percent of his passes. Those numbers helped him take home the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

The Bills did beat the Titans last season, however, that game will likely go down as Marcus Mariota’s final start with the club. Tannehill replaced him the following week.

Tannehill, 31, still has plenty of years left in the tank. But the Titans have to decide if he’ll be able to match that production because Tannehill has to be re-signed as he’s a pending free agent. Spotrac estimated that could cost the Titans a whopping $30.5 million in average annual salary.

But for what it’s worth, the Bills have a 7-4 overall record against the former first-round pick of the Dolphins.

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2020 NFL offseason: Important dates for Bills in February

Unfortunately the NFL season typically concludes in early February each year. After that, things go silent for the Bills and the rest of the league. But not for long. There’s a little action… eventually. Here’s a full rundown of some NFL action …

Unfortunately the NFL season typically concludes in early February each year.

After that, things go silent for the Bills and the rest of the league.

But not for long. There’s a little action… eventually.

Here’s a full rundown of some NFL action that’ll happen this month:

Feb. 3: Waiver system begins for 2020.

Feb. 11: Beginning at 12:00 p.m ET, NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2020 CFL contracts have expired. Players under contract to a CFL club for the 2020 season or who have an option for the 2020 season are not eligible to be signed… (Think Duke Williams).

Feb. 24-March 2: NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN.

Feb. 25: First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition players.

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Bills CB Tre’Davious White would be happy to see Tom Brady leave Patriots

White wants Brady out of the division.

Playing against Tom Brady can take a certain toll on a player. To do it twice a year? That’s a huge challenge. It’s a challenge that Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White has accepted in his first three seasons. And it’s one that he’d be glad to celebrate being over.

“It’s definitely a big deal because he’s been doing it at a high level for that team for a while… For me, I hope he doesn’t go back (to New England),” White told the Athletic’s Jeff Howe when discussing the potential of Brady leaving the Patriots for another team. “For football, it’d be great to see him stay a Patriot and continue to do it that way.”

The 25-year-old understands Brady’s greatness and what it would mean for the game. Of course, it’s unheard of to have a player, especially one as important as Brady, remain in one location with one team for a career spanning 20 seasons. However, it would be beneficial for White and his team to have the quarterback out of the AFC East.

White also doesn’t seem to believe there’s really any truth to the narrative of Brady’s play declining in a significant fashion.

“There’s never a fall-off with Brady,” White told The Athletic. “He’s everything. I think people are so used to him – his standard is set so high that whenever he is a little half under that, they think it’s an off year and they’re panicking. People don’t understand the league changes every year. People change. Stuff changes. Every year is not going to be 100 percent. You can be 97 percent, but that is great. His 97 percent is better than everybody else in the league. He is still the best. Anytime you’ve got to go against him, I guarantee a lot of guys are panicking.”

That’s high praise coming from a guy who, while still young, is considered one of the best up-and-coming cornerbacks in the game. White’s had his issues with the Patriots, including the incident with Rob Gronkowski a few years back. However, those appear to take a backseat when it comes to showing respect to one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.

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Report: Seahawks also interested in Bills target Greg Olsen

Seattle Seahawks also interested in TE Greg Olsen, per report.

The Carolina Panthers and Greg Olsen mutually split up last week. The Buffalo Bills were quickly one of the first teams to reportedly have interest in the 13-year veteran.

On Tuesday, another team was added to the fold, the Seattle Seahawks.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, like the Bills, the Seahawks will host Olsen on a free agent visit.

Along with the original report of the Bills’ interest, the Redskins also were said to be a team that Olsen would be visiting. The Redskins hired the Panthers’ now former coach Ron Rivera to lead their team earlier this offseason, so like the Buffalo coaching staff, so the Redskins coaching staff has a past with the tight end.

With three teams already in the fold for Olsen’s services, he can’t be in all these difference places at once, so expect Olsen to take his time making up his mind.

In his career, the 13-year vet has 718 catches for 8,444 yards with 59 touchdowns. In 14 games last season, Olsen had 52 catches for 597 yards and two scores.

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