The Buffalo Bills have signed former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Vontae Davis to a one-year deal. What does this mean for the Bills going forward?
The 2017-2018 NFL season just ended three short weeks ago and the Buffalo Bills aren’t wasting any time when it comes to getting better for next season.
The Bills hosted free agent Vontae Davis for a visit a few weeks back and recently decided to make things official.
Adam Schefter sent out a tweet Monday evening that the Bills had signed Davis to a one-year deal.
Former Colts’ CB Vontae Davis is signing a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills, per source. Agreement reached.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2018
This was then confirmed by the team.
Vontae Davis agreed to terms on a one-year contract.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) February 27, 2018
Details: https://t.co/3rrKpv3ZDC pic.twitter.com/gvurHkAubp
Davis battled a slew of injuries during the 2017 season and was released by the Colts midway through the season. After Buffalo, Davis visited the Browns, Raiders, Dolphins and 49ers before making his decision tonight.
Davis, who turns 30 in May, can still make plays in the secondary. He still has tremendous ball skills despite dealing with some rough injuries, as he has a total of 22 interceptions and has 67 pass break-ups in his last 66 games.
The move is a very nice quiet move for the Bills. It gives new secondary coach John Butler and head coach Sean McDermott another veteran player to work with in the secondary. Davis, who has been in the league nine years, brings some veteran experience with him into the locker room after making the playoffs with the Colts in 2012, 2013, and even making it to the AFC Championship Game in 2014.
Davis began his career as a Miami Dolphin in 2009 but was traded to Indianapolis in 2011, so there is the familiarity with teams like the Jets, Dolphins and Patriots.
Adding a veteran like Davis can only benefit Tre’Davious White. White, who is coming off a very impressive rookie season that season that saw him nab four interceptions, could still use some learning. Having racked up 16 interceptions from 2011-2015, Davis knows a thing or two about being a cornerback.
The addition of Davis only means one thing: The high possibility of the Bills moving on from E.J. Gaines. While he was satisfying in his lone season as a Bill, Gaines simply caught the injury bug too often. Gaines and Davis may be a similar type of player as the two have both battled injuries and both would command around $8-10 million. Though Davis is older, he perhaps was the cheaper option for Beane and McDermott.
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The Bills secondary is now better than it was last year. The addition of Davis revamps the Bills secondary into a top ten secondary in the league. The Bills are coming off a season that saw them have 18 interceptions which ranked the eighth best in the league and the addition of Davis should only see the team surpass that number next season.