2016 Buffalo Bills Offseason: Pass Or Fail?
The Buffalo Bills had many needs to address this offseason and very little salary cap space to do so. Let’s take a look at some of their positions of need and rate them pass or fail as to whether they addressed the need adequately. There are some positions we won’t talk about but that’s because they weren’t major areas of need.
Backup Quarterback – Pass
With Tyrod Taylor and E.J. Manuel on the last year of their deals the question was not whether the Bills would add a backup but whether they would do so in free agency or in the draft. The Bills went with the better approach when they selected Cardale Jones with the last pick of the 4th round in the draft. In the immediate future it provides the Bills with a very raw player who probably is not ready to fill in for Tyrod if he were to get injured but down the road, Jones has the potential to be a franchise quarterback for the team. What remains to be seen is whether he will realize his full potential. Finding a guy with the amount of potential that Cardale has while only having to use a fourth round pick is why the Bills ultimately received a passing grade.
Wide Receiver – Fail
Sammy Watkins had a breakout season for the Bills and really started to develop chemistry with Tyrod Taylor in the second half of the year. Unfortunately, he now has a broken bone in his foot but that is expected to heal before the season starts. The Bills entered the offseason needing another receiver to play opposite Watkins to take some of the pressure off of Tyrod. Robert Woods played with a groin injury all last season and wasn’t able to produce the way the team had hoped. The Bills will now have to rely on either him to step up or sixth round pick Kolby Listenbee to prove that he is more than just speed but it’s not guaranteed that Listenbee even makes the team. The Bills did not do enough at this position in the offseason and that’s why they are receiving a failing grade.
Next: Defensive Tackle and Defensive End Grades