The Buffalo Bills ended a long playoff drought this past season and will look to make January football a yearly occurrence. In order to do that the Bills will need to fill some holes on the team.
The Buffalo Bills got off to a quick start to free agency by agreeing to terms with veteran corner Vontae Davis and running back Chris Ivory. These deals won’t become official until 4 p.m. on March 14, the day the league year begins.
Many executives in football will tell you that the NFL is a draft and develop league. And that’s true, to an extent. Drafting is an important way to build a team and set a solid foundation for the organization. But free agency allows for a team to plug some holes on the depth chart with NFL ready talent.
Last season, Buffalo made a few savvy signings which resulted in immediate success for the franchise. Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer churned out Pro-Bowl seasons for the Bills, while Vlad Ducasse provided depth along the offensive line.
Finding two more Pro Bowlers may be difficult, but here is a list of ten players that the Bills should consider in free agency.
Quarterback shopping
First and foremost, the Bills need to address the quarterback position. That is even more clear after trading Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland.
Now that he is gone, let’s assume the Bills go shopping for a veteran QB in free agency as a stop-gap for whichever quarterback they take in the draft.
1) Sam Bradford
Bradford would be a fantastic addition for the Bills. He’ a former top pick in the NFL Draft and his game management skill would complement LeSean McCoy’s game-breaking ability brilliantly.
The biggest concern with Bradford is his health. The former number one overall pick has only started all 16 games in a season twice and hasn’t since 2012. Bradford is coming off of a recurring knee injury from Week 2 in 2017 that forced him to miss the remainder of the season.
Due to this injury concern, I would expect Bradford to receive low guaranteed money and mostly incentive-based contracts. Ones that will pay him the big money if he can stay on the field and perform like a top pick should.
He’s a four-time 3,500+ yard passer, including a 3,877-yard 2016 season with a record-setting 71.6 percent completion percentage. He was able to protect the football and move the ball down the field with 20 touchdown passes and just five interceptions.
Sam Bradford by the numbers in 2016 pic.twitter.com/suZsMfEedr
— PFF (@PFF) February 26, 2018
That’s exactly what the Bills need. A passer who is not afraid to go through his progressions and throw it to the check-down receiver as opposed to forcing throws for incompletions, or worse, holding onto the football for a sack— which is something Taylor did often.
Bridgewater would be an interesting pickup in free agency. At 25-years-old he is still young enough to be considered a long-term solution for the Bills. But much like Bradford, Bridgewater is coming off a gruesome knee injury that almost cost him his leg and essentially forced him out of football for two years.
The 2014 first-rounder has two attempted passes since 2015— one of which was picked off. But he is still highly regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in this strong free agent class due to his production in college and his first two years in Minnesota.
Bridgewater made the Pro Bowl for the 2015 season after he started all 16 games and threw for 3,231 yards and 14 passing touchdowns, with another three on the ground. If he can get back to being this type of quarterback he would surely be an upgrade from Tyrod Taylor and a more pro-ready option than any players in the draft.
Reports indicate Bridgewater is seeking a short-term, bonus incentive deal in an attempt to rebuild his value. If the Bills don’t want to bundle their picks to move into the top 10 of the draft, then Bridgewater is a low-risk-high-reward free agent option.
A familiar face
3) Zach Brown
A report surfaced not too long ago that Preston Brown would like to play in New England. If those rumors are true, then the Bills will be in the market to replace him.
Zach Brown was a late addition to the 2016 Bills but ended the season with a Pro-Bowl bid.
Zach Brown had a career year in Buffalo pic.twitter.com/1iDRr7RwLe
— PFF (@PFF) July 26, 2017
The seven-year pro racked up 94 tackles and three turnovers in his lone season with the Bills. He carried that success to Washington this past season with 84 tackles in just 13 games.
Brown is a run-stuffing inside linebacker with a nose for the ball. He’s been productive everywhere he’s gone. He made 140 tackles in his first two years in the league before suffering an injury and was later released by Tennessee.
A reunion in Buffalo would be nice for both sides.
Nickel corner is a glaring need
Buffalo is in a major need of an upgrade in the nickel corner position.
The Bills used Leonard Johnson as their slot cornerback last season. He played 423 snaps in the slot and allowed a league-high 59 catches on 82 targets and had a QB rating of 99.6 when thrown at. He also led all nickel corners in yards against (603) and yards given up after the catch (355).
There are two players the Bills should target as Johnson’s replacement as the slot corner.
Robinson had a similar type breakout season that Lorenzo Alexander had in 2016.
Robinson is a health concern. He’s missed 31 games over his career, but was able to stay on the field all of last season. A season where he became a vital part of the Eagles Super Bowl-winning defense.
Robinson played 363 snaps from the nickel position in 2017. According to Pro Football Focus, the veteran DB had the third-best passer rating against among all slot corners at 65.2 percent.
The eight-year corner had a career-high 18 passes-defensed and four interceptions last season, including one in the NFC Championship Game to solidify the Eagles’ chances of a Super Bowl berth.
I would be wary to offer Robinson a multi-year contract due to his health and inconsistencies. But a one-year prove-it deal with a higher dollar figure may be worth the gamble.
5) Aaron Colvin
Unlike most of the players on this list so far, Colvin is looking to cash in on a lucrative, long-term, contract.
The former fourth-round pick of the Jaguars was one of the NFL’s most elite slot corners in the game last season. He played 342 snaps in the nickel position and only allowed 0.76 yards-against-per-snap, third among all slot corners. In comparison, Colvin allowed 20 fewer catches and 326-yards less than Johnson.
An even more impressive stat is that Colvin leads the league in cover snaps per touchdown since 2014, and didn’t allow a single touchdown in 2017.
Since 2014, Aaron Colvin ranks first in coverage snaps per TD allowed 👀 pic.twitter.com/7aQIlToVoF
— PFF (@PFF) March 4, 2018
With 2017 first-rounder Tre’Davious White readying himself for a sophomore push, and the signing of Davis, Colvin would be a monster add to solidify the Bills secondary.
Bills need weapons for the passing game
The wide receiver position needs to be addressed in Buffalo.
No matter who the Bills put under center in 2018, they’re going to need playmakers on the outside. Zay Jones and Kelvin Benjamin aren’t going to cut it. Both players are skilled, but neither receiver provides that down-field threat that keeps a defense on its toes.
Therefore, Buffalo needs to find a legitimate deep-ball threat.
It’s a little surprising that Jacksonville is letting Robinson hit the open market. The four-year pro has been spectacular for the Jaguars, including a 1,400-yard and 14 touchdown season in 2015.
The #Jaguars have informed WR Allen Robinson that they won’t be applying the franchise or transition tag, I’m told. The team has until March 12 to work out a deal before he’s a free agent.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 6, 2018
Robinson is coming off a torn ACL though and there will be questions on if he’ll bounce back to his old self post-surgery.
At 6-foot-3, 211-pounds, Robinson has the ideal size and route-running ability to be a number one receiver. His ball skills and ability to locate and jump up for the football makes him and a superb down-field option as well.
Aside from the quarterback position, the receiving group is arguably the biggest weakness for the Bills. Adding a 2015 version of Robinson would transform this offense for whoever is passing him the ball next September.
There has been a lot of hype around Moncrief since putting on an NFL uniform. He’s got the prototypical size for a receiver on the outside. Pairing him up with Andrew Luck and T.Y. Hilton was supposed to be fun for Colts— but injuries derailed that thought process.
Moncrief has 152 catches, 1,875 yards, and 18 touchdowns over his four years in the NFL. He hasn’t quite had his coming out party yet but did experience a career-best 733-yards and 64 receptions year in 2015. With an injured Andrew Luck over the past two seasons, the former third-rounder hasn’t been able to eclipse 400-yards and was limited to just 26 catches last season.
The 24-year-old receiver has the intangibles necessary to be a great receiver in this league. He has a knack for sneaking passed corners and safeties and high-pointing the football in the air. Moncrief is still young enough to become a franchise-altering pass catcher on the outside.
The former Colts wideout’s chunk-play ability is elite. He has 24 catches of 20+ yards and five of 40+ and has a pair of touchdowns of 60+ yards. His blazing 4.3-40 speed allows him to separate from corners and safeties in the deep third of the field.
Pairing up Benjamin’s crisp route running underneath and 6-foot-5 frame with Moncrief’s ability to stretch the field and make tough catches would add a downfield element to the Bills offense. Something Buffalo truly missed last season.
Addressing the pivot position on the O-line
Bills Mafia was saddened by the sudden retirement of longtime lineman Eric Wood. He’s been the pivot of the Bills offensive line since 2009.
The draft could be an option in filling this hole, but there are a couple of veteran options in free agency as well.
8) Joe Berger
Joe Berger’s best season came in 2015 as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. He was Pro Football Focus’ number one center that year and ranked seventh in 2016.
Unfortunately, Berger lost his starting position at center to newly drafted Pat Elflein. He was subsequently moved to guard where he started all 16 games for the NFC North Division Champions.
Elflein’s success allowed Minnesota to let Berger test free agency.
Berger’s durability is something Buffalo should covet, considering the team is losing their center to a career-ending neck injury. The 35-year-old lineman has only missed six games since 2009 and only two in the last three seasons.
Next on the list is a former teammate of Berger. Sullivan finds himself on the market for the third year in a row. He spent seven years in Minnesota before leaving for Washington and LA for a year. Sullivan rebuilt his value last year in Los Angeles after spending most of 2016 on the bench.
Related Story: 2018 full first-round mock draft
The nine-year pro was PFF’s 12tg ranked center in 2017. He allowed just one sack and helped Gurley rush for over 1,300 yards and 19 total scores (rushing and receiving).
If Buffalo elects to bring in a rookie quarterback this season, having a veteran center like Sullivan would be a great mind for them to pick apart.
Cheating a bit
This one may be cheating a little, but given he’s currently a free agent I’ll allow it. Buffalo should bring back the longest-tenured Bill.
10) Kyle Williams
How can you not love this guy?
Williams is not only a fan-favorite, but he’s also productive along the interior defensive line. The long-time Bill has racked up 366 tackles and 43.5 sacks over his 11-year career in Buffalo.
As the team is currently assembled, the interior line has major holes. Adolphus Washington is the lone holdover from 2017 after trading away Marcell Dareus. So the loss of the run-stuffer Williams would only further hurt the depth of the position group.
Williams may not be the same player he was earlier in his career, but his locker-room presence could be key for any incoming rookies along the defensive line.
A cheap one-year deal should be all the 34-year-old lineman will command. If I’m Buffalo, it’s certainly worth the leadership alone.
Next: Why the Bills will draft Josh Rosen
Free agency officially kicks off on March 14th. Which of these free agents would you like Buffalo to sign?