Which players could be in line for contract extensions this offseason with the Buffalo Bills?
One of the big differences with the Buffalo Bills since Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott joined the franchise as general manager and head coach has been their ability to retain top players. In years prior, it was almost expected to see good players leave Buffalo once their contracts were up and find success elsewhere.
However, that has changed with the Bills agreeing to contract extensions with players before they hit free agency like the new deals for Tre’Davious White, Dion Dawkins, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, and most notably Josh Allen the past few seasons.
While this is a great step forward, it also creates challenges with a salary cap and Buffalo may need to start being a little more selective when extending players to new deals. This offseason will certainly be interesting and these are six players that could potentially get contract extensions over the next few months.
Buffalo Bills Contract Extension Candidate: Stefon Diggs
The top priority for the Buffalo Bills should be working out an extension with wide receiver Stefon Diggs, even though he does still have two years left on his current deal.
In 2020, it was clear that the Buffalo Bills needed a number one wide receiver for their offense and identified Stefon Diggs as that player. The team had to trade multiple picks, including their 2020 first round pick, however, the move has certainly been a win for Buffalo.
In the past two seasons, Diggs has 230 receptions, 2,760 receiving yards, 18 receiving touchdowns, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl each season. At 28 years old, he still has plenty of great football ahead of him, and keeping him in Buffalo to help Josh Allen is pivotal.
There is also the benefit of working out a new deal that could lower the cap hits with it over $17 million each season. This can help free up some salary cap as the team tries to improve the roster.
Buffalo Bills Contract Extension Candidate: Ed Oliver
The Buffalo Bills are going to have a make decision on Ed Oliver this offseason about whether or not to pick up the fifth-year option of the former Top 10 pick. General manager Brandon Beane essentially confirmed that in his end-of-year press conference last month, according to Chris Brown.
However, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Buffalo go one step further and work on a contract extension past the rookie contract. The past two years, Buffalo has picked up the fifth-year option of a player and then a few months later agree to longer contract extensions. In 2020, they did that with cornerback Tre’Davious White and then last year it was the historic contract extension with Josh Allen.
This past season, Oliver was arguably their best defensive lineman and had an excellent season with 41 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, and four sacks.
Buffalo Bills Contract Extension Candidate: Dawson Knox
The next four players are players who are entering the final year of their current contracts so if Buffalo wants to avoid them testing free agency, it would make sense to try and come to an agreement on a contract extension this offseason.
In this group is tight end Dawson Knox, who had a breakout year with the Buffalo Bills this past season. The former third round pick was inconsistent the first two years in the NFL but this past season had 49 receptions, 587 receiving yards, and nine receiving touchdowns which were tied for the league lead among tight ends.
He added two more receiving touchdowns in the playoffs, with both coming in the Wild Card game against the New England Patriots.
It has been a while since the Buffalo Bills have had a receiving threat at the tight end position like Dawson Knox. He is one player they can’t afford let reach free agency and should try to sign to a new deal this offseason.
Buffalo Bills Contract Extension Candidate: Devin Singletary
As for Devin Singletary, who also was a third round pick by the Buffalo Bills in the 2019 NFL Draft, the argument to sign him to a new contract isn’t necessarily as clear. He certainly showed in the second half of the season that he can be the featured running back and help the offense have some balance.
Devin Singletary finished the year with an average of 90 yards from scrimmage per game and nine total touchdowns in the final seven games.
However, Buffalo may be hesitant to agree to a contract extension this offseason because they may want to see Singletary play as he did down the stretch over an entire season. The other reason is that running backs typically don’t get big contract extensions after their rookie deals.
The Buffalo Bills may wait to sign Singletary to an extension until free agency and the NFL Draft are complete to see if they are able to add a player to the position that could step into that featured running back role.
Buffalo Bills Contract Extension Candidate: Jordan Poyer
This next player may be surprising since it doesn’t seem that long ago that the Buffalo Bills and Jordan Poyer agreed to a contract extension. The two sides agreed to a new deal in 2020 but it was only a two-year contract extension that runs through the end of this year.
The Buffalo Bills have one of the best safety duos in the NFL in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, two players they signed as free agents in 2017. This past season may have been Poyer’s best with 93 total tackles, three sacks, and five interceptions which earned him first All-Pro selection.
At 30 years old, Poyer is in the prime of his career and the Buffalo Bills should be looking to try and work out another contract extension that keeps him with the frachise past this upcoming season.
Buffalo Bills Contract Extension Candidate: Tremaine Edmunds
The final player is middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds who is probably the most polarizing player on the roster among fans. He has been the starting linebacker for the past four seasons, had over 100 total tackles each season, and went to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020.
Edmunds has a unique combination of size and athleticism at 6’5″ and 250 pounds and is still very young at only 23 years of age. During the end-of-year press conference, general manager Brandon Beane was complimentary of Edmunds, according to this tweet from Sal Capaccio.
On Tremaine Edmunds: Brandon Beane mentions his leadership. Calls him a "quieter guy." Says his physicality, getting off blocks, and awareness improved but will be even better going into Year 5.
— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) January 26, 2022
On Ed Oliver: "Our best, most consistent d-lineman from start to finish."
The concern with Edmunds is a lack of impact plays with only 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles in his four years with the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills may wait to see if Edmunds can turn that corner next season but they also may believe that development is just around the corner, like Beane seemed to imply, and if that is the case then this offseason may be the time to work out a new deal.