Buffalo Bills Entertaining Idea of Byrd Replacement

Dec 8, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jarius Wright (17) has the ball knocked away by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Corey Graham (24) at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

March 11, the day that the Buffalo Bills fans saw Byrd’s true colors.  Jairus Byrd flew to New Orleans and accepted a contract offer from the Saints to equal just over 9 million a year.  The Bills had provided Byrd with what was called a pretty lucrative offer as well, but Byrd did not want to provide the Bills organization with a hometown discount.  Maybe he was still frustrated with the previous franchise tag the Bills placed on him, who knows.  Either way the Bills need to move on as Byrd obviously has already.

The question now comes up as to who will join Aaron Williams in the backfield and begin a new tenure of the “best duo”?  The Bills have Da’Norris Searcy, Duke Williams, and Jonathan Meeks currently under contract.  Jim Leonhard could also be an option if the Bills look to add some more depth.  The Bills could look to move Aaron to Free Safety and move Duke to Strong.  This is a possibility as well.

Another option for the Bills would be to move the newly acquired Corey Graham to the free safety position and provide a similar move that they did last year with Aaron Williams.

Graham as been asked a couple of times as to where he has been told his new role would be.  His response has been…

"“Wherever I end up, that’s where I end up,” Graham said after signing with Buffalo. “Obviously I want to play as much as I possibly can, so that’s what it’s about. It’s about competing and it’s about being the best you possibly can. Whatever the coaches choose to do, I’m going to take that and do whatever they ask.”"

Doug Marrone filled presented the possibility while attending the Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida this week.

"“What’s interesting about him is he can play an outside corner and play it well. He can play nickel and start at nickel and that would be a good competition in there,” said Marrone. “He’s also a physical player who had about 70 tackles and four fumble recoveries (last year) where he may be in the mix at the safety spot.”"

I think that Graham would be a great addition to the safety position with his versatile ability at corner-back.  He sees the field well and is able to play in a number of different spots on the field.  This is almost a perfect setting for a player like this.

If Graham does make the move, then the Bills would have Gilmore and McKelvin as their two CBs going into the season with Brooks as the nickel and Robey as your first off the bench.  McKelvin is coming off of what seems to be his best year with the Bills.  Can he do it again? We will have to wait and see.