Buffalo Bills 2019 Roster Outlook: The tight ends

Move on From Charles Clay

At this point in time, it is almost certain that Charles Clay will not be a Buffalo Bill in 2019. Clay is owed $9 million in this final season of his deal next year, but cutting him would allow the Bills to only pay $4.5 million. With their expected cap space of nearly $90 million, that would be an easy hit for the team to absorb.

Clay contributed with 21 catches for 184 yards in 13 games this past season as he posted career lows in yards and touchdowns. His best game of the season came against Green Bay when he recorded four catches for 40 yards.

Throughout his tenure with Buffalo, Clay has never truly lived up to the five-year, $38 million contract he signed in 2015. Never playing all 16 games in a season due to injury, Clay has never been able to say he had outstanding quarterback play.

However, in his first three seasons with the team, Clay posted catch totals of 51, 57 and 49 while gaining yard totals of 528, 552 and 558. His touchdown totals were three, four and two in his first three seasons as she showcased he was extremely consistent, but not necessarily extremely effective.

Toward the end of the season, it was clear that Clay had lost his spot as the team’s top tight end. He was a healthy scratch one week and over the duration of the season, Jason Croom stepped up as the team’s top big receiving target.

Croom brought in 22 catches with 259 yards and a touchdown in a part time starting role. His promise in limited action and posting better numbers than Clay in less starting time means the team can move on from Clay and go in a different direction.

At 29 years old and with a lengthy injury history, Clay is clearly on the decline of his career. A tight end should be a security blanket for a young quarterback and it is clear that Clay cannot be that for Josh Allen.

Finding a long-term option for Allen at the position that can both catch and block could add a missing dimension to the offense.