Buffalo has a cornerback problem, and though there are plenty of options to trade for, it's a lot easier to just sign someone. The Bills are in dire need, but there are plenty of talented players out there who could contribute. Brandon Beane is known for making moves at the trade deadline, but why wait?
With both the skill level and health of Maxwell Hairston currently unknown, and the issues plaguing the rest of the Buffalo Bills secondary, adding some reinforcements now is the wisest course of action. There are plenty to choose from.
Free agent CBs Bills need to strongly consider signing
Asante Samuel Jr.
The top option is a serious one, and we've been talking about him for a long time. Asante Samuel Jr. is somehow still unsigned. The best available cornerback by far at this time, Asante would offer the most dramatic improvement of any free agent on the market today. Before his injury last season, he was arguably a top 3 CB in the league.
If he's fully healthy, as his camp claims, signing with a team like the Bills could be the best option. Instead, Samuel Jr. is waiting for an offseason where he hasn't proven himself healthy enough to warrant a top contract. Teams want to see him play before paying him top dollar. Starting on a Super Bowl contender gives him the platform he needs.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Gardner-Johnson is an interesting proposition for the Buffalo Bills. On one hand, he's been an excellent starting cornerback for the better part of his 6 seasons, has a track record of success, is a versatile athlete who can handle any coverage, and is both readily available and healthy. On the other hand, he's been on three rosters so far this calendar year, and was release only three weeks into the season by the Houston Texans before getting signed and released again after only a week with the Baltimore Ravens.
Still, Buffalo are a very good team in a desperate place at cornerback. C.J. Gardner-Johnson is an irrefutable upgrade to this room in terms of talent. The issue is the fit. Can they get him on board?
Stephon Gilmore
Stephon Gilmore being unsigned at this time is no surprise. He's a 13-year veteran who's still healthy and skilled enough to be able to choose his destination. A return to the Buffalo Bills would be a good choice, and one that the most begrudged fans would have to accept. Gilmore is a capable starter at the position with some of the best vision in the game. Bringing him on board can only improve the Bills secondary at this point.
When Stephon Gilmore does eventually retire, it will be with the expectation of a Hall of Fame jacket. If he wants to cement that legacy, adding a Super Bowl with the team that drafted him would be a poetic finish.
Cameron Sutton
Cam Sutton is a player who can bring security to the Buffalo Bills. He is not a star, nor ideally a full-time starter, but he played in 9 games last year after starting for three years before that. Mostly with the Steelers, and a brief stint with the Lions, Sutton has been up against top quality opposition his whole career. With their current situation at the top of the roster, Buffalo could use another veteran.
Sutton is cheap, having signed for only $1.2m last season with Pittsburgh, and he won't get any pricier. At worst, he's a solid player who can help fill out the roster, and at best he can start when Buffalo needs it. There are few ideal players left, Sutton is one that's 'good enough'.
James Bradberry
James Bradberry offers solid depth at worst, and an improvement at CB2 at best. The Bills had already expressed an interest in Bradberry earlier this offseason, and he returned that consideration.
It would be simple for Bradberry to fit into this defense. He's a typical fit for the Bills archetype at CB2, and played under McDermott's defense in Carolina. He will not blow fans away, but he certainly has good snaps left to offer.