If the Buffalo Bills want to make a change at slot receiver this offseason, these are three players they could consider adding in free agency
The slot receiver position is one that has been important to the Buffalo Bills offense. The Bills last year ran 71% of their offensive plays in 1-1 formation which has three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end, according to Sharp Football.
The team’s primary slot receiver Cole Beasley is under contract one more season but he could be potentially cut this offseason to create more cap space. He finished the year with the same number of receptions from the year prior with 82. However, he wasn’t as productive with those catches as his yards per reception dropped from 11.8 to 8.5 and his touchdowns dropped from four to one.
He is entering the final year of his contract and will be 33 years old. When considering where he is in his career and the fact the Bills could create over $6 million in cap space, Buffalo could be in the market for a new slot receiver this offseason.
If that is the case, and Isaiah McKenzie is not brought back, these are three free agents outside the organization that they could consider signing.
Buffalo Bills Free Agent Target: Christian Kirk
The first player is one that would probably command the biggest contract and the Buffalo Bills may not be able to go that high. However, if the two sides are able to agree on a contract Christian Kirk would be a great addition to the offense.
Kirk was a second round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2017 and has played 56 games over four seasons with the Cardinals. This past season was by far his best, and one he primarily played in the slot, with 77 receptions, 982 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
The addition of Kirk would be intriguing because he has played both outside and inside in the slot in his four years in the NFL. This versatility could give Ken Dorsey more options in terms of matchups and finding the best combination of players to have on the field around Josh Allen.
If the Bills do try to sign Kirk, they will have plenty of teams to compete with. According to Josh Weinfuss with ESPN, Kirk should have a ‘hot market’ and this is why the former second round pick might make more in free agency than Buffalo is willing to spend.
Buffalo Bills Free Agent Target: Juju Smith-Schuster
At one point in his career, Juju Smith-Schuster looked like one of the best wide receivers in the AFC. In 2018, Smith-Schuster made the Pro Bowl after finishing the year with 111 receptions, 1,426 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
However, in two of the past three seasons, he failed to surpass 600 receiving yards. This past year in particular was tough as he returned to Pittsburgh on a one-year deal after not finding the right deal in free agency but played in only five games and had only 129 receiving yards.
He missed a majority of the season due to a shoulder injury, and even when he was on the field didn’t get much support from his quarterback with the performance of Ben Rothlisberger. These two factors played major roles in his down season.
However, he is only 25 years old and could be looking for another one-year, prove-it type deal. A chance to play in Buffalo with one of the top quarterbacks in the league and in an offense where defenses have to give attention to Stefon Diggs could be the perfect spot for him to have a bounce-back season.
Buffalo Bills Free Agent Target: Jamison Crowder
Another player who has dealt with his fair share of injuries and poor quarterback play is Jamison Crowder. After starting his career with Washington, he has played the last three seasons with the New York Jets.
Crowder’s best season came in his first year with the Jets when he had 78 receptions, 833 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.
This past season, Crowder had 51 receptions, 447 receiving yards, and two touchdowns but also played his fewest snaps in a season with the Jets at only 69%. He seemed to be passed by Elijah Moorse and Braxton Berrios, two younger receivers that New York wanted to get on the field more in a rebuilding season.
However, he is only 29 years old and has never really had a chance to show what he can do with a top-tier quarterback like Josh Allen. If he were to come to Buffalo, this would be a great chance for him to take that next step in his career.