We've got your one-stop shop here for all of the Buffalo Bills free agent activity this offseason.
It's that time of year and the news will be flying off the shelves like toilet paper during a pandemic. There is a reason they call it "free agent frenzy". We will do our best here at BuffaLowDown to keep you up to date on all the happenings throughout the week. It will be an important one for the Bills and their success in the coming season. We've already seen several player releases this past week and there will be more news in the coming weeks as well.
With several free agents pending, as well as free agents from other teams. The Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills will be in their office, getting maybe an hour or two of sleep, and begin roster construction for the 2024 season. We're not expecting any big-name signings but with Beane, you just never know what to expect. We've already been shocked with contract restructures from Von Miller and Dawson Knox, and we have an extension for Dion Dawkins in the books, so what else will come down the pipeline?
Free agent signings
Mitchell Trubisky, QB (2-year $5.25M) - Trubisky makes his return to the Buffalo Bills where he will presumably replace Kyle Allen as the backup to Josh Allen. He is a better skill set fit for what the Bills do in the offense with Allen, but let's hope we never have to see Trubisky on the field outside of preseason games.
Matt Haack, P (1-year $1.125M) - Punter Matt Haack is also returning to the Buffalo Bills, but this deal seems odd, given the team still has Sam Martin. There is speculation this signing is solely to hold for kicker Tyler Bass, who had his best season in the NFL when Haack was his holder.
Nicholas Morrow, LB (1-year deal) - I haven't seen the specific numbers on the deal that Morrow agreed to with the Bills, but we know it's a one-year contract. Morrow comes in as presumeably the Tyrel Dodson replacement. We haven't heard anything regarding Dodson signing elsewhere, but it's hard to imagine at this point that he re-signs with the Bills. He'll be looking for a place to be a full-time starter and get paid like it. Morrow has a ton of experience and wore the green dot as well, so he's a guy that knows what he's doing when he's on the field.
Mack Hollins, WR (1-year deal) - The dollar amounts for this deal have not been shared yet, but Hollins is a fine WR4, but brings excellent special teams skills to the Bills. He also has good size and decent production. Solid depth addition for the Buffalo Bills.
Curtis Samuel, WR (3-years #24M) - Well, the Bills made that "splashy" move that Bills Mafia was hoping for but not the one many wanted. I like the acquisition though. Samuel brings his 4.31 speed to the Bills, something Buffalo hasn't had since possibly Lee Evans. Buffalo's top three of Stefon Diggs, Khalil Shakir, and now Samuel are interchangeable parts. All three are capable of playing in the slot or out wide and will give offensive coordinator Joe Brady something to be creative with and move around the field.
Casey Toohill: DE (1-year deal) - Toohill comes to the Buffalo Bills after spending the last four seasons with the Washington Commanders. He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2020 draft. Toohill enjoyed his best season of his career last year, recorded a career high five sacks.
Re-signed free agents
Cam Lewis, CB (2-year $4M) - The Buffalo Bills re-signed corner Cam Lewis. This is an important signing for familiarity and depth at a position that took a hit earlier this week when Tre'Davious White was released.
A.J. Epenesa, DE (2-year deal, up to $20M) - The deal reportedly comes with a base value of $7 million the first but could be worth up to $20 million over the two years. From the sounds of it, this will come with some incentives, to get to the max value. This was an important signing. Having already lost Leonard Floyd to free agency, Buffalo needed to get someone signed for the position. Epenesa had flashes of greatness last season and the year before, and if he can put it all together in a consistent package, he could be a threat game in and game out.
DaQuan Jones, DT (2-year, $16M) - This was probably the biggest need for the Bills. In my opinion, Jones was the most important free agent that Buffalo needed to get re-signed. He helps to make the entire defense job easier with his power, holding his position and not allowing offensive linemen to move him. He occupies the double teams and is a force in the middle of the defensive line.
Ty Johnson, RB (1-year deal) - The financial aspect of the deal is not yet known, but this is a solid signing for the Bills and one I hoped they would get done. I like the way Johnson runs, with aggression and no hesitation. With a full healthy offseason and new OC, I'm excited to see what Johnson can be as the Bills RB2 behind James Cook.
Bills FAs who signed with new teams
Mitch Morse, C (2-year, $10.5M) - Mitch Morse will be missed in Buffalo but the Bills brass has confidence that Connor McGovern can move from guard to center successfully. He's played the position before too. David Edwards will move into McGovern's previous spot at guard.
Gabe Davis, WR (3-year, $39M) - Gabe Davis has given the Bills and their fans some exciting performances and he became known as "Big Game Gabe", unfortunately, the inconsistency from game to game was an issue. Davis joins the Mitch Morse with the Jacksonville Jaguars. What will Brandon Beane do at the receiver position?
Leonard Floyd, DE (2-year, $20M) - Per Ian Rapoport, Floyd is signing with the San Francisco 49ers. This is a loss for the Bills, but it's obvious that Buffalo wants to get younger and rebuild their defense. This is just another player on the north side of 30, that will not be returning to Buffalo for the 2024 season.
Jordan Poyer, S (1-year, $2M) - I don't pretend to know all the details or conversations that went into the decision by the Bills to release Poyer, but the move didn't come as a big shock to most fans. What might be a little surprising is the fact that Poyer signed with the Bills' biggest rival in the division, the Miami Dolphins. Florida is Poyer's home, so I'm sure that played heavily into his decision, but either way, Buffalo will meet him twice next year, which should be interesting.
Nyheim Hines, RB (1-year, $3.5M) - Hines could have been something great in the Bills offense last season, especially when new offensive coordinator Joe Brady took over. Brady showed he knows how to get running backs involved when Ty Johnson suddenly emerged as a viable threat. Unfortunately, after Hines' injury last offseason, the Bills were not interested in keeping him under his previous contract. He'll be part of the Cleveland Browns backfield now.
Siran Neal, S (1-year, $1.95M) - We don't know the numbers on Neal's new contract, but he agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins. He becomes the second former Bills playe to sign with the Dolphins. Neal has been a standout on special teams during his time with Buffalo, but will take his talents to Miami, joining Jordan Poyer.
Dane Jackson, CB (2-years, $8.5M) - Jackson is a solid corner but was never going to be a full-time starter in Buffalo, and possibly as low as number four or five on this roster. He signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers, where he will get every opportunity to be a every down player for them.
Tim Settle: DT (2-years, $6M) - Settle has been part of the Bills defensive line rotation for the last couple of seasons and while he may not have lived up to the initial expectations, losing him put the Bills in an even tougher position with fewer and fewer defensive tackle options. The Bills currently have only two on the roster. Settle will be joining the Houston Texans for the 2024 season.
Poone Ford: DT (1-year deal) - I fully expected the Bills to retain a couple of the defensive tackles from the 2023 season; however, only DaQuan Jones has re-signed with the team. Ford agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Tyrel Dodson: LB (1-year, $4.2M) - It was a long shot for the Bills to re-sign Dodson, knowing that he would be playing behind Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano. Dodson agreed to terms with the Seahawks, where he will get his well-earned opportunity as a full-time starter.
Trent Sherfield: WR (1-year, $1.79M) - The Sherfield experiment didn't work out in Buffalo and now he takes his talents to Minnesota. He never really got on the field much with the Bills; however, in the biggest spot during the playoffs, he had an opportunity to step up. We all know the outcome of that.
Unsigned free agents
• Micah Hyde, S
• Deonte Harty, WR
• Jordan Phillips, DT
• Tyler Matakevich, LB
• Damien Harris, RB
• Linval Joseph, DT
• Latavius Murray, RB
• Shaq Lawson, DE
• Kyle Allen, QB