Bills free-agent target T.J. Carrie re-signs with Colts

CB TJ Carrie re-signs with Indianapolis Colts after free-agent visit with Buffalo Bills.

The Bills will not be adding TJ Carrie to their secondary. The cornerback has decided to re-sign with the Colts this weekend.

Last week, the Bills hosted Carrie on a free-agent visit on Tuesday. He also had a visit with the Saints before signing.

According to Colts Wire, it’s a one-year deal worth near $2 million. Carrie, 30, previously signed a one-year deal with the Colts last offseason. He eventually saw more playing time down the stretch in 2020. Pro Football Focus graded Carrie as their 37th-best cornerback in the league last season.

Without Carrie, the Bills move forward into the 2021 NFL Draft with Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson as potential starters across from Tre’Davious White. Carrie also could have potentially lined up in the slot as well.

Expressing interest in Carrie does, at minimal, show the Bills could still continue to add to their secondary at some point this offseason.

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Bills hosting CB T.J. Carrie on free-agent visit

Buffalo Bills host free agent cornerback T.J. Carrie from Indianapolis Colts on a free-agent visit.

With the 2021 NFL Draft right around the corner… a cornerback… seems like a viable option for the Bills at some point. But that idea might take a bit of a bump if one possible signing happens.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bills hosted cornerback TJ Carrie on a free-agent visit on Tuesday. Carrie played with the Colts last season.

Formerly a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2014, he signed with the Browns when his rookie contract expired and eventually landed on the Colts originally as a depth piece prior to last season. However, late in the year, Carrie was battling for a starting role.

Overall, Pro Football Focus graded Carrie as their 37th best cornerback in the league in 2020. His run defense grade via PFF was outstanding as well, 90.0.

While Carrie to the Bills might be viewed as a player that could potentially battle for the No. 2 cornerback spot with Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson, Carrie also has experience playing inside the slot. At minimal, such a signing would give the Bills veteran depth in multiple spots.

In total last year, Carrie had 32 tackles, with one for loss, two interceptions and eight passes defended.

On March 26, the 30-year-old had a visit the Saints but did not sign a contract, per Colts Wire. If signed, the Bills could still draft a cornerback, but makes doing so with a high selection a bit more unlikely.

Stay tuned to Bills Wire for updates.

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12 under-the-radar free agents for Bills to target on defense

12 free agents on defense for the Buffalo Bills to consider in free agency.

The NFL’s free agency period is slated to open on March 18 and the Buffalo Bills could be in business. The Bills signed cornerback Josh Norman this week, getting a head start on things.

But despite that signing, the Bills moved from the fourth-most to fifth-most salary cap space in the league, near $77.4 million, according to Spotrac. That’s a lot of room to move, and of course, room for big-named additions.

But in recent years, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have had a thing for finding diamonds in the rough. Could the 2020 offseason have more of the same?

With that, here are 12 under-the-radar free agents on defense the Bills could consider adding:

Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins. Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

DT Maliek Collins

Stats: 61 games played, 84 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble

Based on reports of interest in certain players via the draft and free agency, the Bills are looking to add to their defensive tackle position. There’s Star Lotulelei and Ed Oliver highlighting the group, but depth can be added behind them.

Collins, a former third-round pick, is likely to leave the team that drafted him, the Cowboys. Collins is a versatile player who can jump in the 1-tech or 3-tech positions on the defensive line for the Bills, but he’s probably more suited for the three spot. His Pro Football Focus grade reflects that, as his overall mark was a 65.2 grade (64th best) but his pass-rushing mark was a 77.7.