By Justin DiLoro / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills enter the offseason with several spots on their roster that need to be addressed over the next few months. The holes on the roster were apparent throughout the season, as Buffalo faced some issues with respect to a gap in talent between the Bills and their opponents.
The Bills have 43 players signed to next year’s roster, according to Over the Cap. Buffalo has several players who are pending free agents, including 2018 starters Lorenzo Alexander, Jordan Mills, and John Miller.
With approximately $88 million in cap space available for next season and 10 selections available at this disposal for the 2019 draft, the Bills have a great deal of flexibility filling out their roster.
As of now, there are still players who will declare for the draft. In addition, the list of free available free agents is far from finalized.
Even so, the Bills can prioritize their list of needs for this upcoming offseason. Here is a needs assessment for Buffalo’s management:
High priority
Wide receiver: The No. 1 priority on the roster focuses on the Bills wide receiver position. The team made some headway with Robert Foster and Isaiah McKenzie, as the pair added speed to a unit largely bereft of any game-breaking ability. However, the players do have their limitations, and they would benefit from not being trailed by the opponents top cover cornerback. Zay Jones had an up-and-down season, ultimately ending the year showing that he can be a reliable option in the short passing game. If Buffalo is to help Josh Allen take a major step forward next year, they need to acquire some top-end talent who will put consistent pressure on opposing defenses. Whether it is through the draft and/or free agency, general manager Brandon Beane must find relevant options to fill out this unit.
Offensive tackle: Buffalo should turn their attention to their offensive line next. Dion Dawkins has the flexibility to play multiple positions on the offensive line. While he performed admirably in his first season as a team’s left tackle, it may behoove management to shift him to a more comfortable position for him, whether that’s on the right side of the line or returning him to his guard position. If Buffalo were to draft a stud lineman such as Jonah Williams of Alabama in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, then he would take the lead as the blindside tackle. If Buffalo can find a solid right tackle, then Dawkins may stay pat on the left side. No matter what, an improvement is needed to help with the run game and pass protection.
Tight end: The Bills should continue to upgrade their offense this offseason, next turning their focus to the tight end position. Charles Clay is under contract for next season, but it was becoming increasingly apparent as the season continued that he would not be a focal point of this offense much longer. Clay’s production is nowhere close to justifying his $9 million cap hit for 2019. Jason Croom is the only other tight end signed for next year, so this position must be a point of emphasis. With the tight end position forcing the hand of many defenses in the league, it’s time for Buffalo to find an option who can help Allen over the middle of the field and cause matchup problems for secondaries.
Guard: The interior of the Bills offensive line needs to be fortified this spring as well. In particular, the guard position needs to be bolstered. Vlad Ducasse, Ike Boettger, and Wyatt Teller are signed through next season. John Miller is slated to be a free agent, but said to reporters at locker clean out day he’d like to return to Buffalo. The group, while there have been sparse moments of productivity, needs an instant upgrade. The run game needs a stronger presence from their guards. As of now, it’s a stretch to say any of the three can hold down a starting job for a full season. Teller had moments but went through some rookie growing pains as well.
Running back: The final spot which the Bills must place an emphasis on finding a replacement is the running back position. LeSean McCoy enters the final year of his contract. His 2018 campaign was quite forgettable as the six-time Pro-Bowler averaged only 3.2 yards per rush and totaled only 514 rushing yards on the season, both career lows. Chris Ivory, McCoy’s primary backup, will also turn 31 during the offseason. Marcus Murphy and Keith Ford are nice stories, but they are far from the every-down back that is needed in his offense. Thus, Beane must find the heir apparent to McCoy this offseason, most likely through the draft. Otherwise, the run game will spin its wheels for another season.
Medium priority
Defensive tackle: With the retirement of Kyle Williams, the Bills are in need of another big man to eat space on the interior of the defensive line. Jordan Phillips, Harrison Phillips, and Star Lotulelei all had decent moments thus far. However, the team could use a more dynamic player in the middle of this line. Head coach Sean McDermott is content to rotate his defensive tackles. Jordan Phillips is slated to become a free agent, but like Miller, told reporters at locker clean out day he’d like to return to Buffalo.
Still, there needs to be a player who can provide a stronger disruption against opponents’ offensive lines. In addition, someone to help eat space to give middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds space to work while also allowing edge rushers to operate one-on-one would greatly benefit this defense.
Center: Ryan Groy struggled in his starting duty this year. Russell Bodine stepped in and did a solid job in the middle, grading out as average by Pro Football Focus. Bodine could be a decent stop gap for the future. Groy is a free agent this spring. If Buffalo chooses to let him walk, they would need to find an insurance policy for Bodine, or even an upgrade.
Linebacker: Buffalo also should find their heir apparent to Lorenzo Alexander. While Alexander is a free agent this spring, there is talk that he and the Bills are looking at coming together for one more season. Alexander is tapping the Fountain of Youth right now, as he played every defensive snap in the final game of the season against Miami. Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano will patrol the remaining linebacker spots. However, reliable depth options should be looking at, as Milano’s injury did throw a loop into the linebacking corps late in the season.
Cornerback: Levi Wallace had a nice season, stepping up as an undrafted free agent to fill the void left by Philip Gaines and Vontae Davis. If he can continue to develop, Wallace will be quite the steal by the Bills. Nevertheless, if there is some uncertainty on whether Wallace can hold his own for a full season and he didn’t exactly play against much top NFL competition during the stretch run of the season. It would be beneficial for the Bills to find someone who can take some of the heat off of Tre’Davious White. If Buffalo were to bring in a veteran, a cornerback group of White, Wallace, Taron Johnson and player-to-be-named-later could be a strong crew.
Punter: It’s safe to say that Matt Darr’s days in Buffalo are over. The Bills seemed to like Corey Bojorquez, who unfortunately missed the final portion of the season due to an injury. Buffalo likes the strength of Bojorquez’s leg. He averaged 45.1 yards per punt, which is a plus. Bojorquez was injured on a botched field goal hold, so that’s a concern. If he can build a rapport with kicker Stephen Hauschka, Bojorquez has the attributes needed for the punting job. Bojorquez is also a unique kicker because he’s left footed. Returners will tell you that the ball will spin differently when kicked left-footed, causing difficulties, potentially a reason why McDermott targeted him at the end of the training camp.
If there’s concern that the 22-year-old may have consistency issues, then Buffalo needs to look elsewhere. Another season of anything similar to Darr and Colton Schmidt will lead to more special teams breakdowns.
Low priority
Defensive end: Both Shaq Lawson and Jerry Hughes each had solid seasons, with Hughes leading the team in sacks with seven and Lawson being a solid force against opponents’ rushing attacks. Trent Murphy showed flashes of what made him a “big” name free agent signing last year, but more consistency will be needed. Buffalo needs to make a decision on the depth of the position as well. Eddie Yarbrough is a nice piece, but the Bills may look elsewhere if they wish to save a little money.
Kicker: Stephen Hauschka will be the team’s kicker as long as he returns to full health. Hauschka was never the same after receiving a blindside hit during the New York Jets game. If somehow he does not return to full health, then this position becomes a high priority need really quickly.
Safety: The safety spots have been held down by Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer of the past two years, and there’s no reason to think differently coming into 2019. Rafael Bush and Dean Marlowe can provide depth in short spurts at this position. Siran Neal also provides a big body in the secondary for Buffalo.
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Matt Barkley, and Derek Anderson are signed for next season. After all of the changes to the position during the past 12 months, the quarterback position might be the most stable heading into the spring.