Buffalo Bills: 10 free agents to consider signing in 2018
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.