Buffalo Bills fans would love their team to have all of the money in the world and sign exactly who they wanted, no matter the price – so let’s turn off the salary cap.
Being the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, or Los Angeles Dodgers means you have an endless amount of money and no salary cap. You are always linked to the best players no matter the cost and each of your players is one of the highest paid at their position in the league.
In the NFL, the salary cap gets in the way of building super teams and retaining all of your best players. They’ll leave in free agency and often head to whatever team gives them the most money.
With free agency looming, the Buffalo Bills will be looking to fill several needs. According to Spotrac, the team will have roughly $25,750,000 in available funds to add to their roster. Right now, we are going to pretend that number doesn’t exist.
There are plenty of talented, young players on the market that the Bills could scoop up and use all of Terry and Kim Pegula’s money on; many of them coming off their rookie deals and are hungry for their first huge payday.
These players will cross needs off the list, be long-term cornerstones of the franchise, be quick fixes, and help establish the Buffalo Bills as one of the premier teams in the league.
Allen Robinson – Wide Receiver
24 years old (2014 second-round pick/61st overall – Jacksonville Jaguars)
2017 Stats (Jacksonville Jaguars): 1 game played/1 game started: 1 catch, 17 yards – Missed 15 games due to torn ACL
Contract Offer: 6-years, $90 million ($15 million/year)
Often times a great quarterback can inflate a receiver’s numbers. Look at Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, or Aaron Rodgers. Other times, receivers are just so talented that they put up numbers despite a pedestrian quarterback.
Enter Allen Robinson. Blake Bortles has been his quarterback for his entire career and year after year he has put up numbers. Robinson was a second-round pick in the 2014 draft and it took one year for him to establish himself as an elite player.
In 2015, Robinson played in 16 games, recording 80 receptions, 1,400 yards, and 14 touchdowns on his way to his first Pro Bowl. He then followed up with 73 receptions, 883 yards, and six touchdowns in 2016, but only registered one catch for 17 yards in 2017 before tearing his ACL in the first game of the season and missing the rest of 2017.
What makes Robinson one of the best in the league is his combination of size, strength, and big-play ability. Despite lacking top-end speed, Robinson is big and lean receiver at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He makes up for his lack of elite speed with precise route running and ability to separate off the line.
He continues to impress with sure hands and ball security as he only has one fumble throughout his career. His size allows him to go up and get it over small receivers and win the jump-balls in tight coverage.
He is an elite player when healthy, and pairing him with a franchise quarterback (imagining the Bills get one this offseason) will truly unlock his potential. He is not yet 25 years old and already has four seasons of football under his belt; he could be one of the best receivers in the league for years to come.
If the Bills were to sign him, Robinson would immediately become their number one receiver and the focal-point of the passing game. Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones would become second and third options. With a franchise quarterback in place (imagine the Bills take Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield, or Lamar Jackson) Robinson and the quarterback of the future could lead the offense for years to come and help lift the team to one of the league’s most dangerous passing attacks.
Trey Burton – Tight End
25 years old (2014 undrafted free agent – Philadelphia Eagles)
2017 Stats (Philadelphia Eagles): 15 games played, 1 game started – 23 receptions, 248 yards, 5 touchdowns)
Contract Offer: 3-years, $16.5 million ($5.5 million/year)
This signing is purely to run the “Philly Special” against the Patriots over and over and over until the team forces Tom Brady into retirement.
In actuality, Trey Burton is more than just a quarterback turned tight end. He is a talented athlete that has shown he can perform in a leading role.
Against the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs this year, Burton stepped in for injured tight end Zach Ertz as he had to sit out due to a concussion. In that game, Burton went for 71 yards on five catches and two touchdowns. Yes it is one game, but that sort of production being thrusted into the lineup is impressive.
Charles Clay is a good tight end, but he is aging and has been injury-riddled for years. He is by no means a bad option, but Burton is a better athlete, younger, and can grow with this offense as they move into the future. His production has taken an upswing in the last two seasons and he is ready to be a number one tight end.
If you aren’t familiar with Burton’s story, he was recruited to play quarterback at the University of Florida. Once there, he played multiple positions and ultimately became a tight end and signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent after going undrafted in 2014.
Ready to take on the role of TE1, Burton could come into the Bills offense and be just that. If the team were to move on from Clay, they could get younger and save money on the cap.
Giving Burton a three-year deal gives him a chance to continue to grow and prove himself, and at $5.5 million a year, he earns a fair wage and gets a significant bump from his previous salary. It also leaves him the opportunity to earn another big contract before his prime passes him by.
Andrew Norwell – Guard
26 years old (2014 undrafted free agent – Carolina Panthers)
2017 Stats (Carolina Panthers): 16 games played/16 games started – First-team All-Pro
Contract: 5-years, $62.5 million ($12.5 million/year)
After being an undrafted free agent in 2014, Andrew Norwell has become one of the best guards in the NFL. The former Ohio State Buckeye started nine games as a rookie,13 games in his second season and 32 of 32 games during the past two seasons.
The Bills have a hole at right guard and Richie Incognito, while coming off a Pro-Bowl season, is aging and in the last year of his deal at age 34. With the potential of a new quarterback coming in, it would be beneficial for the team to look at the long-term future of the offensive line.
Norwell should step in and be the starting left guard because he and Dion Dawkins will be the future of the franchise quarterback’s blind side. Incognito can then flip to the right side of the line, fixing the hole at right guard and allowing the team to take someone and develop them for a season.
With the addition of Norwell, the team gets an excellent run and pass blocker. Imagining the team does draft a franchise quarterback in April, they need to protect their investment. In order to help take the pressure off of a young QB, the team will need a boost from the run game. Norwell could help in both areas, protecting LeSean McCoy and whomever is under center.
One factor that could also influence the team into signing Norwell is he comes from the Carolina Panthers organization. Bills GM Brandon Beane would have been heavily involved in bringing Norwell into the organization with his previous position in the Panthers organization.
In order to acquire Norwell, the team will have to pay up. Offering him a five-year deal will get him to his age-31 season. Giving the 6-foot-6, 326 pound guard $12.5 million a year will make him the highest paid guard in the league and the centerpiece of the Bills offensive line.
Dion Jordan – Defensive End
27 years old (2013 first-round pick/third overall – Miami Dolphins)
2017 Stats (Seattle Seahawks): 5 games played – 1 forced fumble, 4 sacks, 18 total tackles
Contract: 2-year, $5 million – second season is a team option; additional $3 million of performance incentives ($2.5 million/year)
In 2013, Dion Jordan was the third overall pick by the Miami Dolphins and in two years with the team he registered three total sacks in 26 games. After being suspended in 2015 due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, Jordan signed with the Seattle Seahawks and flashed the potential that got him drafted in the top three. The former Oregon Duck registered four sacks in just five games, forcing one fumble.
Taking a chance on Jordan is a major low-risk, high-reward option for the team. He showed just some of his potential, and his 6-foot-6, 248-pound frame is oozing with athleticism.
Defensive end is an area of need for the Bills. Jerry Hughes has been the go-to defensive end for Buffalo over the past several seasons, but he needs help. Shaq Lawson was a first-round pick for the team two seasons ago and has had injuries plague him in his first two seasons. Also, his run defense is better than his pass-rushing abilities.
Jordan could be the pass-rushing specialist the team needs opposite of Hughes, but doesn’t has to be the go-to guy. Lawson and Jordan could work in rotation or one could spell Hughes when he needs a break, providing depth to the position.
By offering a lower annual salary laced with incentives, Jordan could remain motivated to perform to reach his bonuses. By the time the contract expires, Jordan could be a turn into the player the Dolphins thought they were getting. That could in-turn give Jordan the opportunity to earn a big contract and stay with the team, wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
With a two-year deal and a team option, if he fails to perform or is unable to stay out of trouble, the team can rid themselves of the player with little money spent.
Muhammad Wilkerson – Defensive Tackle/Defensive End
28 years old (2011 first-round pick/30th overall – New York Jets)
2017 Stats (New York Jets): 13 games played/12 games started – 1 interception, 3.5 sacks, 46 total tackles
Contract: 1-year, $9 million
Muhammad Wilkerson was recently released by the New York Jets due to attitude issues and has reportedly skipped meetings frequently. However, his talent is undeniable.
A Pro Bowler in 2015, Wilkerson recorded 12 sacks, forced three fumbles and finished with 64 total tackles. He has played in at least 13 games in each of the seven seasons he has been in the NFL and has recorded at least three sacks in each of those seasons.
The production is clearly there for Wilkerson, but as stated above, he has his warts. Signing him and putting him in the middle of the defensive line would do wonders for not only the run defense, but the pass-rush as well. Typically a 3-4 defensive end, Wilkerson has the size at 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, to move to the middle and wreak havoc.
In this scenario, Wilkerson only gets a one-year deal because he is 28 and he isn’t a perfect fit for the defense. Essentially, this is a prove-it deal for Wilkerson. He can get one year and be productive and move on to greener pastures.
David Irving – Defensive Tackle
24 years old (2015 undrafted free agent – Kansas City Chiefs)
2017 Stats (Dallas Cowboys): 8 games played/8 games started – 7 sacks, 22 total tackles
Contract: 6-years, $81 million ($13.5 million/year)
A career year has catapulted David Irving to stardom and is one of the best young defensive tackles in the NFL. He recorded seven sacks and 13 tackles as a defensive tackle in just eight games last season, dominating opponents from inside.
Irving came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs before signing to the Dallas Cowboys active roster in 2015. He was an effective player in 2016, playing in 15 games and recording four sacks.
On the inside of the defensive line, Irving is an absolute monster. He is built like a defensive end at 6-foot-7 and 273 pounds, but his length, power, and speed are almost impossible to block for opposing offensive linemen. His ability to rush the passer from the middle of the defensive front is something this defense desperately needs.
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The biggest issue with Irving is the off-the-field issues. He was suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy this past season, missing four games. That doesn’t necessarily click with the team’s straight-and-narrow policy, but piecing his talent with the team’s other veteran leaders could allow him to grow and learn.
Being only 24, inking Irving to a six-year deal makes sense. He is entering his prime and will only get better as he gets older. He will make plenty of money, but would make more if it weren’t for the off-the-field issues.
Kyle Williams – Defensive Tackle
33 years old (2006 fifth-round pick/134th overall – Buffalo Bills)
2017 Stats (Buffalo Bills): 16 games played/16 games started – 5 sacks, 64 total tackles
Contract: 1-year, $6 million
This one is a no-brainer. Kyle Williams is the heart and soul of this team and should be retained if he chooses not to retire. Without a salary cap, the team can offer as much as they need to for him to return to the roster for one more season and not worry about letting him go to another team due to money.
Bringing Williams back would be major to help keep Irving and Wilkerson in order and he can teach them the defense and how to mature – much like he did with Marcell Dareus. Kyle is far too important to this team to lose, and paying him $6 million for one season is a bargain for everything that he does for this franchise and community.
Nigel Bradham – Linebacker
28-years old (2012 fourth-round pick/105th overall – Buffalo Bills)
2017 Stats (Philadelphia Eagles): 15 games played/15 games started – 87 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Contract: 4-years, $41 million ($10.25 million/year)
Come home, Nigel.
Nigel Bradham played for the Buffalo Bills for the first four seasons of his career, starting 38 of the 57 games he played. He really came on strong his final two seasons with the team, starting all 25 games in which he played, recording 164 total tackles with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He was exactly the type of player that his defense currently needs.
Bradham then signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on 2016 and has started each of the 31 games he has played in. He has 186 total tackles in the two seasons and has become one of the most versatile outside linebackers in the NFL.
His combination of size (6-foot-2, 241 pounds) and speed makes him a sure tackler and solid in coverage. One of the biggest issues with the current defense for the Bills is a lack of sideline-to-sideline speed. Bradham has that.
Preston Brown has been a very good player for the Bills in his tenure, and Lorenzo Alexander has done a very admirable job for the team but is old. Bradham could play the outside or inside and give the team some speed and size if Brown leaves or play outside if Alexander’s play begins to dip.
Next: Where the roster can be improved this offseason
At 28-years old, Bradham still has plenty of quality football left. A four-year deal gets the team out of the deal before he hits his decline, and $10.25 million per year is enough to entice him away from the Eagles and makes him one of the highest paid linebackers in the NFL.