Entering free agency, the Buffalo Bills had significant depth issue at their wide receiver positions. Their first move to address it was adding Corey Brown.
Corey, don’t call me ‘Philly’, Brown is fresh off his rookie contract with Carolina and is following Sean McDermott north to Buffalo through free agency. The Buffalo Bills offer Corey Brown and every other free agent receiver one thing — opportunity.
Opportunity for a player such as Brown is more valuable than a long term contract at this point. Opportunity for a player that has performed well in preseason could lead to legitimate playing time during the season.
Playing time often translates into better statistics for a better long term contract.
Contract Analysis
The contract for Corey Brown is one year and under $700,000. That contract isn’t a symbol of a player that will be plugged into a #2 or #3 WR position on the depth chart.
Rather, the contract is one that favors Brown and the Bills just about equally. For the Bills, should other free agent options and draft options fall their way, they can cut Brown at no major loss.
Should Brown perform and have a solid season, then he can parlay this opportunity into a more lucrative contract spread out over more years.
Roster Fit
Like all free agent signings, Corey Brown not only will contribute on offense, but also on special teams. As a mid-round draft pick and a fringe roster player, Brown had to play special teams in Carolina to stick on the roster.
In Buffalo, he will have more opportunities to contribute on offense, but if he isn’t valuable on special teams too, he could be expendable. Brown has NFL experience, something that gives him an early edge against all incoming rookies.
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The positive for Brown is that when he got the opportunity to play, he performed. He just doesn’t have the statistics to get excited about as a fan. In over 3 years, he barely has over 1,000 receiving yards.
The point Brown can insist on is that Carolina wasn’t a passing offense, so the targets would never be there to have impact statistics.
If Corey Brown can show in preseason that he can be a credible slot receiver, or possess an elite skill (downfield route running), then he can make the team and play in certain situations. With Sammy Watkins’ iffy foot, just making the roster and staying healthy could lead to substantial playing time — even if he is a 5th WR on the roster.
Final Analysis
Football analysts often say that the best thing a young player can do is to master special teams. Doing so can keep you on a roster, and with injuries and strong practices who knows what can happen.
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Just take a look at the career of Lorenzo Alexander.
Coach McDermott is signaling out tough nosed players that are going to over work themselves to be successful, which is what McDermott did to get to Buffalo. Brown no longer can ensure that special teams alone will keep him on the roster, but he also can’t bank on the WR depth chart to keep him there either.
The worst thing that could happen to Brown is that the Bills draft a WR in either round 1 or 2. That type of investment would add a player who won’t be required to play special teams and push Brown further down the WR depth chart.
Overall, I love this signing because he continues to fit the new identity of the McDermott-led Buffalo Bills. I do believe that Brown makes the opening week roster, but part of that is also because I don’t believe Kolby Listenbee will be ready by Week 1.
Also, I think the Buffalo Bills will draft primarily defensive players.
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What do YOU think of the Buffalo Bills signing Corey Brown? Leave your comments below!