By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills and rest of the NFL can begin to talk to pending free agents starting Monday at noon as the NFL’s “legal tampering period” begins. The Bills can talk to players about signing on the dotted line, but they physically can’t do it until Wednesday.
But ahead of Wednesday at 4 p.m., what are the places that the Bills should shore up via free agency? Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has said on multiple occasions he wants to fill as many holes as possible on his roster during free agency.
Here’s the top five places the Bills should attack during free agency:
Wide receiver
Don’t mistake this being the first tabbed position as anything that bad. Robert Foster came out of nowhere to be a solid addition for the Bills while Zay Jones took positive steps in his second professional season at the wide receiver position.
Aside from them, Isaiah McKenzie was hit or miss and that’s about it. The Bills have a big need for a No. 1 wide receiver as recent news dictates. Buffalo all-but-added wideout Antonio Brown late last week, only for news to break too early. The Bills then pulled out of the deal and we’ve heard all different reasons why. Some say the 30-year-old wideout wanted too much money.
Regardless, the *attempted* trade shows the Bills want to add something big to their wide receiver room and would prefer to do so before the draft. They could also use some depth, too.
Tight end
Thanks to the departure of Charles Clay, who’s since signed with the Arizona Cardinals, the Bills have a massive need at tight end. Currently only Jason Croom, a former undrafted signing of the team in 2017, is the lone tight end signed by the Bills. Logan Thomas is a pending free agent.
Therefore, via numbers, Buffalo needs to add a tight end in free agency. The Bills were kicking the tires on Dwayne Allen, a former backup with the Patriots, but he’s since signed with the Dolphins. With 10 draft picks, a combo of a free agent signing and draft selection makes sense here.
Offensive line
There’s a realistic possibility that the Bills could have five brand new starters on the offensive line next season. Dion Dawkins wasn’t too bad at left tackle, but it certainly showed that Richie Incognito was no longer next to him. In addition, Russell Bodine was OK at center, too. Football analytics outlet Pro Football Focus graded those two out a 69.5 and 61.6, respectively in 2018. Average at best marks.
Still, new additions could move those two. Spencer Long was already signed and he’ll get a chance to compete for a job. If the Bills signed a new center, Bodine has experience playing guard. As does Dawkins if a new left tackle is brought in.
It’s safe to say that Josh Allen and LeSean McCoy will both likely have their fingers crossed all week for new additions in front of them.
Defensive line
The Bills’ defensive line is an interesting situation. Buffalo had 36 sacks, which was 26th best in the NFL. Not good, considering PFF named Jerry Hughes the NFL’s seventh-best EDGE defender, Shaq Lawson is a former first-round pick, and Trent Murphy was a free agent signing last season on a decent price tag. At the defensive end spot, it’s realistic to see the Bills bring in another player, considering the Bills’ head coach in Sean McDermott loves a rotation on his defensive line.
Speaking of which, the Bills also have a hole right in the middle of the defensive line. A big one. Their largest contributor on the defensive line, despite being in his 13th season last year, was Kyle Williams. With Williams retired and as things currently sit, it’ll be Harrison Phillips and Jordan Phillips fighting it out to fill his void. Unless someone else is brought in, which is likely one way or another.
Cornerback
McDermott raved about Levi Wallace at the No. 2 cornerback spot behind Tre’Davious White at the NFL Scouting Combine. Wallace could likely be the second starter, but that doesn’t mean Buffalo can’t add there.
Some have the Bills drafting a cornerback, but free agency seems more likely. While Vontae Davis didn’t workout, he was a veteran. The Bills are very, very young at the cornerback position. Even White is only in his third season. Adding a veteran via free agency on a modest deal, even as a backup, seems like a big key for the Bills.