Buffalo Bills Free Agency Update: Thursday, March 16th
By Ryan Brennan
The Buffalo Bills are still adding pieces to their roster from free agency. Here’s the latest.
It’s been a total of four days since BuffaLowDown’s last free agency update and boy do we have a lot to cover. The Buffalo Bills have been one of the busiest teams this period and they haven’t really slowed down at all.
We’re going to dive right into it, starting with everything that happened up until last Sunday and then getting into everything that has happened since.
Additions included Mike Tolbert, Patrick DiMarco, Vladimir Ducasse, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Corey Brown and Steven Hauschka. Players that re-signed were Tyrod Taylor, Jordan Mills, Lorenzo Alexander and Colton Schmidt.
Departures included Marcus Easley, Marquise Goodwin, Robert Woods, Aaron Williams, Stephon Gilmore, Corey Graham, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Dan Carpenter and Lerentee McCray.
Alright, now let’s get into the new announcements that we haven’t mentioned yet.
WR Jeremy Butler
The Buffalo Bills signed Jeremy Butler, a wide receiver that has spent time with both the Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers. He has history with Tyrod Taylor, who threw Butler his first career TD catch in a preseason game with the Ravens in 2014. It was a big reason he chose to sign with Buffalo on a one-year deal that will only hold a $625,000 cap hit.
Speaking of Tyrod Taylor.
QB Tyrod Taylor
Since last Sunday, we also learned more about Taylor’s new deal. He will hold a $9.713 million cap hit in 2017 and an $18.08 million cap hit in 2018. Over the next two years, he is set to make a total of $30.5 million — where he would’ve made $40.5 million under the old contract.
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Taylor also won’t receive the $15.5 million option bonus, since the team officially declined the option before the restructure. It was highly likely that the Bills went with Brian Hoyer if the deal with Taylor never worked out.
C-G Ryan Groy
After learning of the Rams and Groy signing an offer sheet, the Bills had five days to match their offer. In one of the smarter moves this free agency period for the Buffalo Bills, they matched the offer and will keep him in town on a $5 million contract next season ($3.5 million guaranteed).
Groy will continue to be the No. 1 backup on the Bills’ offensive line and will be a security cushion if any injuries arise next season. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen, though.
WR Andre Holmes
This is a name that many fans might recognize. Spending the last four years with the Oakland Raiders, Andre Holmes will be a nice target for Taylor next season. He signed a three-year, $4.5 million deal with $2.425 guaranteed. He has 102 career receptions for 1,462 yards and 12 touchdowns.
His 6’4”, 210-pound frame will help in the red zone and will be a good replacement if Justin Hunter decides to sign elsewhere.
CB DeShawn Shead
After losing Stephon Gilmore to the Patriots, the Buffalo Bills are in dire need of a starting cornerback to work alongside Ronald Darby. The team also released Nickell Robey-Coleman before free agency. DeShawn Shead has reportedly met with the team.
Shead has spent the past four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and has totaled 152 tackles, one sack, 4 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 24 passes defensed (14 last season), 2 stuffs and one block. He is successful as a nickel corner and can also play special teams.
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DE Ryan Davis
Ryan Davis comes from the Dallas Cowboys and will likely work behind Jerry Hughes and Shaq Lawson. He brings a lot of potential after spending a year with Dallas that saw him thrust into a heavy rotation. He knows how to pressure the quarterback and will be very successful in the Bills’ new 4-3 defense.
Davis signed a two-year deal that will bring a $925,000 cap hit in 2017 and $1.275 million cap hit in 2018. There are a lot of incentives for getting sacks, so that will likely be his focus.
E.J. Manuel
It’s official, E.J. Manuel will not return to the Buffalo Bills next season. After a very disappointing four years, he will take his talents to the Oakland Raiders and will backup Derek Carr. With Manuel out, Cardale Jones will likely be the Bills’ backup QB in 2017 — unless they bring in another QB.
Bye-bye former 16th overall pick.
LS Garrison Sanborn
Garrison Sanborn, who has been with the Buffalo Bills for the past 8 years, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will return to his hometown.
WR Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin announced that he will officially retire from the NFL. It’s something the Buffalo Bills were told last offseason, but the receiver would make a comeback during the season. That didn’t last long, as injuries would hold him back again. The NFL likely won’t see him again.
Next: March 13th Declared 'Marcell Dareus Day' in Georgia
What’s your favorite announcment so far this offseason? Leave your thoughts below!