The Buffalo Bills are reportedly set to release Chris Ivory, opening up a roster spot to get a bit younger at the running back position.
The Buffalo Bills made a somewhat surprising move earlier this month by signing veteran running back Frank Gore.
That gave the Bills a historically old running back room with the trio of Gore, Chris Ivory and LeSean McCoy.
The Bills are now opening up a spot that could allow the team to get younger at the position.
With the signing of RB Frank Gore, Bills are planning to release RB Chris Ivory today, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 26, 2019
This is not too surprising of a move considering Gore was added.
The Bills even save some money in the process.
Bills are saving $2.156M off their 2019 salary cap by releasing Chris Ivory, as @AdamSchefter reported.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) March 26, 2019
The addition of Gore was a situation where fans couldn’t get too angry about the age in the running back room because it was so early in the offseason. We all had to let things play out and the release of Ivory should signal that the team will look to add a back through the NFL Draft.
Ivory only rushed for 385 yards in his lone season with the Bills and finished with one touchdown. The entire running game was brutal in 2018 and Ivory did nothing to elevate the team, although it doesn’t entirely fall on him.
Buffalo is now a great place for a rookie running back with all the shared experience between Gore and McCoy. It mirrors the quarterback room where Josh Allen is learning from both Derek Anderson and Matt Barkley.
Perhaps the Bills will add a running back who plays alongside Allen for years to come. This player will learn from two of the best to ever carry the ball and won’t be overworked in his rookie season.
This is assuming the Bills don’t make any other moves at the position this offseason. A surprise release or trade of McCoy would certainly shake things up.