For three seasons, Cole Beasley was a key part of the Buffalo Bills’ offense from 2019 to 2021 with at least 100 targets each season. He would also be named second-team All-Pro in 2020 when he had career highs in receptions (82) and receiving yards (967).
However, last offseason the Bills elected to release Cole Beasley in a move to create cap space and move forward with Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder as the team’s starting slot receivers. Unfortunately, Crowder suffered a broken ankle injury early in the season and McKenzie’s performance was inconsistent.
The Buffalo Bills would elect to bring back Cole Beasley, who outside of a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t play during the regular season. He would be signed to the Bills’ practice squad and would be elevated for two regular season games, catching one pass for nine yards in each game.
His role in the offense grew more in the playoffs and had five receptions on nine targets for 68 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Should the Buffalo Bills bring back Cole Beasley in 2023?
Since Cole Beasley was never officially moved to the Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster, he is free to sign with any team right now. However, it sounds like his first choice might be the Buffalo Bills based on this tweet by Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN after the season.
WR Cole Beasley said if the opportunity is there, he would like to keep playing and that “it would help a lot” to be somewhere for an entire year. When asked if he’d like that to be in Buffalo, he said, “Yeah, if that opportunity’s there, I would definitely want to come here”
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) January 23, 2023
While Beasley may not be at the same level he was a few years ago, he showed during the playoffs that he can still make an impact in this offense. If the Buffalo Bills want to bring Beasley in as depth and a situational receiver, like in third down situations, it would make sense.
However, this can’t be the only move at the position and the Bills would need to bring in another option, either a free agent or draft a slot receiver in the NFL Draft.