Even though the NFL’s free agency window is basically closed, there is still good talent out there. Here are five free agents the Buffalo Bills should sign.
The NFL’s free agency window has basically closed with the draft being just ten days away.
Even though teams will address their needs through the draft there are still some excellent free agents out there that could help any team, but most importantly the Buffalo Bills.
Here are five free agents that are still available that the Bills should consider signing.
5) Johnathan Hankins
Even though the Bills have brought back veteran Kyle Williams, there’s always room for depth at defensive tackle. As of right now, the Bills have three good rotational defensive tackles in Star Lotulelei, Adolphus Washington and Williams. Having the three is fine but there needs to be one more so all three of them can rotate through a series and not get too burnt out.
Having second-year defensive tackle Rickey Hatley backup the 34-year-old Williams doesn’t look promising. A perfect fit for the Bills seems to be 26-year-old Johnathan Hankins.
Hankins surprisingly got released from the Indianapolis Colts this year after just one year of his new three-year, $27 million contract. With Frank Reich taking over the team, and a new defensive scheme being implemented, Hankins suddenly was no longer the big-ticket item that he was just a year ago.
There are some concerns with Hankins though, as he has been bugged by injuries throughout his career and is also on the more heftier side of free agency. His asking price last year was around $10 million per year, while this year it’s lowered to roughly $8 million per season. Hankins is rumored to want a multi-year, something Buffalo may not be willing to offer.
4) Brian Cushing
Obviously Cushing has had his fair share of injuries and suspensions over his nine-year career. .
The Texans waived their once franchise linebacker this past season after finding out he violated the league’s policy for performance enhancing drugs. This resulted in the league suspending Cushing ten games, then five months later the Texans had enough and waived Cushing. His injury history isn’t prettier either, as Cushing has a slew of knee injuries on his resume to go along with a pair of ACL/MCL tears back in 2013 and 2016.
But if healthy, Cushing is one of the most dominant linebackers in the league. Cushing has forced a fumble once in every year he’s been in the league. At 31, Cushing could still have some tread left on those tires, and he could also be coming into the league with a chip on his shoulder after being released for the first time in his career.
3) NaVorro Bowman
The Bills desperately need a solid inside linebacker now that Preston Brown has left for Cincinnati. It looks like there’s a good chance that the middle linebacker position will be addressed in the upcoming draft. But who better to show a rookie the ropes than superstar linebacker, NaVorro Bowman.
How fantastic would it be for a potential leader of the Bills defense like Roquan Smith to learn the game and the position the right way from a star like Bowman. Even if the Bills don’t intend on drafting a linebacker in the draft, Bowman would still be a fantastic fit. Bowman would bring leadership to an already young linebacker corps with guys like Matt Milano and Tanner Vallejo both at the young age of 23.
2) Jahri Evans
Now that Richie Incognito announced his retirement, the Bills now find themselves searching for a replacement. It’s highly unlikely that the Bills will the roll the dice on second-year guard Adam Redmond. Redmond spent most of his time with Indianapolis last season and on the practice squad for the Bills this past year.
It looks like Buffalo will probably pursue an offensive lineman in the upcoming draft. Whether that will be Quenton Nelson out of Notre Dame or Billy Price out of Ohio State, the Bills desperately need to fill the gap. Just like the linebacker position, it’s ideal that a rookie comes in and learns the game, but also the position inside and out. Who better to do so than 12-year veteran Jahri Evans.
At one point, Evans was considered one of the top guards in the league, as he blocked for Drew Brees in Super Bowl XLIV, defeating the Colts 31-17. Evans has obviously passed the fountain of youth, but he can still be a viable starter for the Bills and can also be a teacher to whoever the Bills bring in from the draft.
1) Jeremy Maclin
Since his departure from Philadelphia in 2014, Maclin could be looking for his third team in four years. The talented receiver was rumored to sign with the Bills last season, but he changed his mind and signed with the Baltimore Ravens instead.
Maclin would upgrade the Bills receiving corps immensely, as Buffalo ranked second to last in receiving yards per game with 192. The eight-year veteran would provide some stability to whoever is at quarterback next year and would also develop young receivers like Zay Jones and Kelvin Benjamin.
Next: Rookie quarterbacks that would fit best in Buffalo
Buffalo’s longest receiving play of the season was 47 yards, which ranks worst in the league for longest receiving plays. So it is obvious that Maclin would help out the weakest receiving corps in the league.