We're technically only a day into free agency but legal tampering opened this past Monday and Gabe Davis was one of the first to go. Other wide receivers have since signed or agreed to terms, which could change but rarely do. Buffalo has a need at the receiver position, particularly their number two. The team did agree to terms with Mack Hollins, who is an alright receiver, but he will likely be penciled in as the third or fourth receiver. He is a standout on special teams though, which is important, given the loss of Siran Neal.
The Buffalo Bills may look to the NFL Draft for their new number two receiver, but I do think they will still sign a vet as a contingency plan. Unless the Bills are thinking about moving Khalil Shakir to the boundary role and signing a free agent slot receiver like Hunter Renfrow. I don't think this would be the direction the team would go, but it is an option, and you never know.
Odell Becham Jr. was recently designated as a post-June 1 cut by the Baltimore Ravens, but know that I'm not interested. If this guy was the "superstar" receiver he thinks he is, then he would find a team to stick with and get that big-money contract that he's been chasing. No thanks, I'll pass. Next option, please. Another name that has been tossed around, this offseason, is the former Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams. I like Williams as a player, but he simply can't stay healthy, and at 29 years old with a rather large price tag, I'm going to have to pass on this option as well.
Here are my five remaining free agent wide receivers the Buffalo Bills could pursue.
Marquise Brown
Marquise Brown is only 26 years old and has that speed element the Buffalo Bills need. Things probably haven't worked out the way Brown had hoped when he signed a big-money deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Spotrac.com has his market value listed at over $14 million annually, but I doubt he gets that kind of money. Even still, I think the money could be higher for him than what the Bills can or would be willing to pay, but if the money is right, I'd be all for it.
Let me make sure everyone understands this though, regardless if the Bills sign a free agent receiver or not, I hope they still target one early in the coming NFL Draft, preferably first round, and then double down at the position in a later round. That said, Brown could fill in nicely as the Bills number two as an insurance policy if that rookie receiver isn't ready. If he is, Brown is an even better option as the number three guy.
Curtis Samuel
Curtis Samuel is another receiver who brings some serious speed to the field; however, his yards per reception isn't what you would think it should be, coming in just over ten yards per reception. Is that due to scheme, lack of surrounding talent, or something else? Also, some see him as more of a slot guy too, and if that's how the Bills see him, then maybe he's not right for Buffalo, again, unless they want to move Shakir to the outside.
Samuel can be a solid playmaker and his speed can help take the top off of opposing defenses. When I look at this team and its makeup of pass catchers, it screams a need for speed. The Buffalo Bills have guys that can get open underneath and make a living there, like Shakir and Dalton Kincaid. Opening things up and stretching defenses with speed is all this offense is lacking. Samuel can bring that element to the Bills.
D.J. Chark
Here we go with more speed. In 2018, Chark recorded a 4.3 second, 40-time at the NFL Combine. That speed translated to the field early in his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he had 73 receptions, 1,008 yards, and eight touchdowns with 13.8 yards per reception. In 51 career starts, Chark has 23 touchdown receptions and a career 14.5 yards per reception average.
He's also only 27 years old, and 6'3", just over 200 pounds. Speed and size, sign this kid up for a two-year deal. He's shown in the past he can play at this level, and I believe he could have a career year with the Bills and Josh Allen slinging him passes. Spotrac.com has his market value sitting at $10.9 million per year, but again spotrac's estimations as far as market value are notoriously high. I think the Bills can get him for less.
K.J. Osborn
K.J. Osborn may not have Samuel or Chark speed but with a recorded 4.48, 40-time, he's still pretty stinking fast. He's also a former University of Buffalo receiver, so it would be a homecoming of sorts for him, despite having transferred to Miami later in his collegiate career. Osborn has spent his career with the Minnesota Vikings catching passes from Kirk Cousins, and while I'm a fan of Cousins, Allen would be an upgrade for Osborn.
During his four years with the Vikings, Osborn recorded 1,845 yards, 158 receptions, and 15 touchdowns. Please note that he didn't play at all during his rookie year, so all these stats are over the last three years. He has averaged 11.7 yards per reception throughout his career. Can Osborn feel that number two role for the Buffalo Bills? I'm not sure he's much of an upgrade over what we had with Gabe Davis and has someone who has had Osborn on his fantasy team, I can attest to the fact that he disappears from time to time as well. However, to be fair, he's never been a number two guy on an offense.
Donovan Peoples-Jones
I've written about Peoples-Jones before as a free agent target for the Bills, but let me state right now, that I do not see him as a viable number two for the Bills, the way I can see the previous four names I've mentioned. However, if the Bills are prepared to go all in on the draft in search of their new number two, Peoples-Jones would make an excellent depth piece and give the Bills a solid number four receiver.
Like Osborn, he has a recorded 40-time of 4.48, he's 6'2" and over 200 pounds. As far as the physical tools, he's very similar to Osborn but comes at a potentially cheaper price tag. Last season with the Detroit Lions, he was buried behind several talented pass catchers. However, his final two seasons with the Browns, he totaled 95 receptions, over 1,400 yards, and six touchdowns. His career 15.5 yards per reception is top of anyone on this list.