Tag: Cole Beasley

List of Buffalo Bills players who are still free agents

List of #Bills players who are still free agents:

As free agency always goes, it’s all about the incomings and outgoings… especially when someone like Von Miller is involved with the Buffalo Bills.

But we’ve hit a bit of a grey area as well. The Bills have some players who still remain free agents and have yet to re-sign or sign with a new team.

Here’s a rundown of such players from Buffalo’s 2022 roster:

Former Bills WR Cole Beasley working out with Browns QB Baker Mayfield

Former #Bills WR Cole Beasley working out with #Browns QB Baker Mayfield:

Evidently Cole Beasley has a workout buddy.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Beasley, who is still a free agent, is catching passes from a player technically still on a team’s roster: Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield has drama unfolding with the Cleveland Browns. Previously the No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland, the Browns are working on now trading Mayfield.

The Browns have acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans so there’s no room for Mayfield there anymore.

As for Beasley, the Bills released him on March 17 after not being able to trade him.

The report also mentioned that Beasley, 32, had been playing through rib injury in 2021 with the Buffalo Bills.

Check out the full report on the joint workouts below:

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Bills’ Isaiah McKenzie sent love to Cole Beasley after release

#Bills’ Isaiah McKenzie sent love to Cole Beasley after release:

When it became known the it was unlikely Cole Beasley would return to the Buffalo Bills, eyes started looking toward Isaiah McKenzie.

In one outing in particular last season, McKenzie thrived playing out of the slot. That’s where Beasley has played his entire career.

Next man up, right?

Not so much for the people involved. Often we forget about the personal side of things.

McKenzie could very well replace Beasley in 2022, even with the addition of Jamison Crowder via free agency. But that doesn’t mean McKenzie doesn’t have a soft spot for his now former teammate.

McKenzie showed he certainly does via his social media account on Instagram with a shoutout he sent to Beasley after his release last week.

Check out the message below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbN6H9NpX8d/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=9a15d3d4-839e-4c82-9989-5a2ca7268a8a

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12 takeaways from Bills GM Brandon Beane’s free agency presser

A bunch of what #Bills GM Brandon Beane had to say about the first wave of free agency his team had:

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane has been pretty busy lately, wouldn’t you say?

Despite that, Beane took a few minutes at the end of last week and took questions at a press conference to discuss all-things Bills and… mostly free agency.

Here were 12 takeaways from the GM during free agency:

PFF free agency grade: Bills re-sign WR Isaiah McKenzie

PFF free agency grade: #Bills re-sign WR Isaiah McKenzie:

The Bills and WR Isaiah McKenzie came to terms on a value deal per Spotrac.

It surprised some, in that the receiver didn’t test the free agency market for a chance to make more money playing for another team.

Pro Football Focus viewed the signing favorably as well, grading the pact as being an “above average” deal for Buffalo.

Here is what PFF said about the deal keeping McKenzie with the Bills:

WR Isaiah McKenzie: Two years, $4.4 million ($1.25 million guaranteed)

McKenzie has flashed in a limited slot role over the past three seasons, operating behind Cole Beasley in that capacity when needed. He’s earned PFF receiving grades of 75.0 or higher in each of the past two years on fewer than 300 total offensive snaps. 

The Bills aren’t necessarily committing to him taking over that role full time with this type of investment, especially given that McKenzie can also contribute in the return game, but it does give them the flexibility to cut ties with Beasley if needed for salary cap relief this offseason. Buffalo could save over $6 million in 2022 by releasing Beasley this offseason, per Over the Cap. 

Grade: Above average

Buffalo’s offensive potential was on full display during the team’s run into and throughout the playoffs. That included a career performance by McKenzie in the absence of Cole Beasley during their week 16 must-win victory against the New England Patriots

The team is being active this offseason in exploring possibilities to improve their short-yardage passing offense. They reportedly looked into trading for Christian McCaffrey while attempting to sign J.D. McKissic, who trailed only Alvin Kamara and Austin Ekeler in total receptions over the last two seasons.

But before doing so, they re-signed McKenzie.

With Ken Dorsey being promoted to offensive coordinator, and the team releasing Cole Beasley after granting him permission to seek a trade, McKenzie appears to factor into the teams’ immediate-future plans.

Buffalo’s offense will be guided under Dorsey with the help of newly added senior offensive assistant Don Shula, who notably coordinated Carolina’s offense in a tenure that included their 2015 season, Super Bowl appearance, and MVP year for QB Cam Newton.

To help Josh Allen achieve similar success, he’ll need continued consistent play from receiving threats.

While the front office may continue to add a dual-threat running back to their offensive group, McKenzie’s only 26-years-old and could continue to develop as a contributor in that respect. His gadget skills on running plays, familiarity with Allen and the offense, and big-play potential he showed against New England could mean more opportunities in his next two years with Buffalo.

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Cole Beasley saga in Buffalo is over: Bills to release the receiver

Cole Beasley saga in Buffalo is over: #Bills to release the receiver:

The Buffalo Bills’ journey with wide receiver Cole Beasley came to an end on Thursday.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Beasley will be released by Buffalo. The team went on to confirm that news moments later.

The Bills wide receiver previously asked to be traded and the team granted him permission to seek a trade partner on March 4.

Evidently one did not come about and his tenure in Buffalo has come to an end via his release.

Early in the offseason, general manager Brandon Beane had stated that he would welcome Beasley back in the fold next season despite him being an obvious cut candidate.

Beasley’s cap hit stayed around the same as it was last season ($7.5M) in his contract with the Bills, but his dead cap hit drops from $8.4M to $1.5M, per Spotrac.

That cap savings put Beasley in cut territory–and this is why it was always very unlikely the 32-year-old would find a team willing to trade for him. Anyone interested can now just work out a contract with him worth less than $7.5M.

Last year Beasley had 82 catches for 693 yards with one touchdown. The season prior he also had 82 grabs but the rest of his numbers were better: 967 yards and four touchdowns.

On the field, Beasley was productive throughout his career in Buffalo. He was named a second-team, All-Pro in 2020 and nearly surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career.

Off the field, things drastically changed for Beasley once COVID-19 and vaccinations became a hot-button topic.

The wide receiver became a polarizing figure on the matter as far as the NFL is concerned, so much so that he read a “pro-choice statement” early in training camp last season.

With the virus becoming less of a main headline due to the pulling back of safety protocols in the United States and distribution of the vaccine, Beasley has a good chance to find a landing spot in free agency. The off-field stuff will be less of an issue.

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What are the salary cap ramifications if the Bills trade Cole Beasley?

What are the salary cap ramifications if the #Bills trade Cole Beasley?

Reports from the NFL combine last week surfaced surrounding Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley. According to those, the slot playmaker has asked to be dealt and the team granted him permission to find a trade partner.

It remains to be seen if that happens. It’s debatable if a team would be willing to part with assets for a receiver that will be 33 next season.

However, the biggest aspect here might be Beasley’s contract.

If Buffalo finds a suitor for him, that team will take on a sizeable contract. The exact details of those numbers come to us via Spotrac.

In acquiring Beasley, his new team would take on the final year of his contract. While only a one-year deal, Beasley will have a cap hit of $6.1 million in 2022 and he has a $1M bonus due on March 20.

Because of the bonus, the Bills will likely want to make a decision on Beasley’s future before then. It makes little sense to pay him it only to cut him a few days later–Consider that date as a bit of a deadline.

For Buffalo, trading Beasley would make plenty of sense in terms of their own salary cap. The Bills would take on only $1.5M in dead cap space while removing that $6.1M total.

That would create $4.6M in additional cap space for Buffalo. The Bills sorely need that considering the Bills are slightly over the 2022 salary cap as things currently stand.

Moving Beasley would put the Bills back in the green.

Now for the reason why many don’t think the Bills will find a trade partner… and why it doesn’t really matter: If Beasley is cut by Buffalo, that same $4.6M will come off their salary cap.

Not only do the Bills know that, so do other teams.

Once a free agent, Beasley’s contract is ripped up and a new team doesn’t have to get him to agree to a contract restructure or pay him his current deal.

They’d just need him to agree to any deal. A contract which would likely be smaller than his current one.

If Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane does find a way to get a late-round draft pick for Beasley, it would be some superior work.

But simply letting the receiver go is a smart move as well.

Beasley did have a productive 2021 season, which is why Beane said he’d welcome the receiver back next year.

Still, if Beasley is halfway out the door, taking the cap savings and moving on is a good play. The Bills have dealt with enough headlines surrounding Beasley off the field already. Cut the losses, take the space, and move on.

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Bills grant permission for Cole Beasley to seek a trade

Cole Beasley has permission from the #Bills to seek a trade:

The Buffalo Bills have given wide receiver Cole Beasley permission to seek a trade this offseason, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Per the report, Bills general manager Brandon Beane did OK Beasley to look at his options as it was the player that wants to move… and there is said to be interest in Beasley.

However, it’s added that Beane would also welcome the wide receiver back:

Beasley, 32, is signed through 2022.

Earlier this offseason some speculated the team could want to move on from him because cutting Beasley could save the Bills salary cap dollars. His cap hit stays around the same as it was this season ($7.5M), but his dead cap hit drops from $8.4M to $1.5M, per Spotrac.

Fueling that thought is the Bills currently being slightly over the 2022 salary cap. Buffalo has to find room somewhere.

At Beane’s end of season press conference, the GM stated  “I would anticipate Cole being back” in terms of next season.

Last year Beasley had 82 catches for 693 with one touchdown.

The season prior he also had 82 grabs but the rest of his numbers were better: 967 yards and four touchdowns.

Considering Beasley’s cap hit, it’s unlikely Buffalo would get much in a trade for him. If he’s not dealt, one could likely assume Beasley would eventually be released by the Bills, likely ahead of free agency’s start on March 14.

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ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. sends Bills Trent McDuffie in recent mock draft

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. sends #Bills Trent McDuffie in recent 2022 mock draft

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It’s never too early to guess whom the Bills might select in this year’s NFL Draft.

That is certainly the case if you are ESPN’s draft guru Mel Kiper Jr, who released his initial first-round mock projections for the 2022 NFL Draft before the Bills had played their final game of the postseason.

Interestingly enough, Kiper Jr. pinpointed the cornerback position and predicted that the Bills would select Washington CB Trent McDuffie.

Here is what he had to say on the pick:

Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Buffalo doesn’t have many holes on its roster, but Tre’Davious White’s season-ending knee injury in November put the focus on its cornerback depth. This late in the first round, teams are hoping for rookie starters, but they’ll also take high-upside prospects who could grow into starters in time. McDuffie can cover wideouts outside or from in the slot, so the versatility is a plus. He was very good in man coverage for the Huskies. I also thought about a guard here, and the Bills’ running backs were disappointing again in 2021, even though Devin Singletary had a couple of good games to end the season. This is a little too high for a back on my board, but we could see risers after the combine, so keep an eye out.

Those following last year’s pre-draft coverage might recall that Kiper Jr. also protected the Bills would select a CB in his final mock selection ahead of last year’s draft.

Without knowing where the team would land in the selection order at the time, he chose based on their being at 27th overall based on projections from ESPN’s Football Power Index. The Bills, however, would secure the 25th spot in the first round for the first time in franchise history.

The team has nine total picks, including two selections apiece in the sixth and seventh rounds. Given GM Brandon Beane’s collecting of draft capital and maneuvering of trades, it would be no surprise to see him use some of those assets to move up in a round to take a player he feels is worth doing so for.

Currently, Kiper has McDuffie ranked sixth in this drafts cornerback class.

Some other CB’s the draft analyst projects to go earlier in the first round that could also be targets should the Bills elect to move up include LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr., Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, or Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr.

Free-agent Levi Wallace, who was serviceable while sharing the CB load in the absence of number-one corner Tre White in the wake of a season-ending injury, could be in line for offers from other teams.

While he and Dane Jackson played well down the stretch, the absence of talent like White’s was felt in matching up with the speed and talent of teams like Kansas City. 

With their CB1 recovery timeline from surgery to repair a torn ACL unknown, that could be all the reason for Buffalo to make a move to add a complimentary talent to that position group. 

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The Bills’ top-five grades from PFF against the Chiefs

The #Bills’ top-five grades from PFF against the #Chiefs:

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Okay, pencils down.

It’s time to see which Buffalo Bills players Pro Football Focus graded the highest on their final performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in their 42-36 overtime loss.

The two at the top of the class should be no surprise.

Gabriel Davis is in the No. 1 spot after putting together one of the all-time great playoff performances. Eight catches, 201 yards, and four touchdowns. There’s no way to take away from his game on Sunday, it was record setting.

Davis had the longest play of the Bills season against the Chiefs, a 75-yard touchdown reception where the cornerback just threw his arms up hoping the ball would strike him before Davis’ hands.

Following Davis is the man who made it possible. Josh Allen went toe-to-toe (arm-to-arm?) with Patrick Mahomes. Allen completed 27 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns. Allen had the most rushing yards on the Bills with 68 and led the team with 11 carries.

It’s an A-plus performance for Allen. Across 17 games, Allen threw for 4,407 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also rushed for 763 yards on 6.3 yards per carry:

 

There’s a steep drop off to the third-highest grade on the Bills. Cole Beasley received a 76.2 grade. He caught six passes on eight targets for 60 yards. He had a long reception of 24 yards. Beasley saw his usage drop off this season but had a solid performance with the Chiefs doubling Stefon Diggs all night.

The rookie Gregory Rousseau is fourth. His stats don’t scream fourth-best player on the Bills Sunday with only one tackle but PFF thought he did a solid enough job on the edge to earn the nod.

Ed Oliver finishes the list. A breakout year for Oliver finished with a dominating performance against the Chiefs’ offensive line. Oliver had three tackles, one sack, and two tackles for a loss. Oliver was one of the few Bills players to get a hand on Mahomes with two quarterback hits as well.

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