By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Bills and Quinton Spain are going to reunite in 2020. According to the lineman himself, he’s going to re-sign with the once the NFL’s free agency period opens next week.
Spain signed a one-year “prove-it” deal last offseason and certainly proved it. In regard to the move, there’s a few things to consider for the Bills, including the trickle-down effect from it.
Here are five takeaways from the Bills’ decision to bring back Spain:
Man of his word
Before getting into the deep dive here, Spain said it and did it. Typically when a player is a pending free agent, he’ll say there’s interest in returning. Who ever really knows the truth, though? But not only did Spain say he would return to Buffalo, he said if the deal was right, he’d return even without testing free agency, which is exactly what happened.
Here’s what Spain said during locker cleanout day:
“I told my agent, if (the Bills) really, really want me and want me to be here, I would like to get something done before free agency started.”
And credit where credit is due, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane, not citing Spain specifically, is kind of a man of his word as well.
“If you have a guy that you want, whatever player it is, you’d love to go ahead and get something done before they get to free agency,” Beane said earlier this offseason. “Any guy that says, ‘I definitely want to be here,’ and we can be on the same page of their value that we want, we’d love to go ahead and get them done as soon as possible.”
Price tag is nice
While Spain might have wanted to return, he apparently did not want to nickel-and-dime the Bills to get him back. His contract is very reasonable.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Spain re-signed via a three-year, $15 million deal. Now that’s not bad for a starting lineman.
Overall, Spain was solid for the Bills. He was not perfect by any means. According to Pro Football Focus, Spain was the 59th best guard in the NFL last season. His overall grade was a 55.8. Most take the football analytics outlet with a grain of salt, but they weren’t overly mean to him.
The eye test and PFF agree with the idea that Spain was a better pass blocker than run blocker. PFF handed out some career-low numbers for him, but they also say he did not allow a since sack last season and only 29 QB pressures.
So back to the price tag, a fair deal. Spain’s yearly average of $5 million ranks him as the 32nd highest-paid offensive guard out there currently, per Spotrac. For reference, former Bills guard John Miller, 26, who Spain pretty much replaced, received an average of $5.5 million per year to join the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent last offseason.
Impact on Cody Ford
Well, if the Bills are keeping Spain, Cody Ford was going… no where, regardless. Still on his rookie contract, Ford’s going to be around at least a few more years. But Spain’s signature does affect Ford.
Last season as a rookie, Ford played a bunch at right tackle, making 15 starts and at times, sharing snaps with Ty Nsekhe there. There was some thought to Ford playing guard if Spain departed. Prior to being drafted in the second round by the Bills last spring, pre-draft analysis pegged Ford as a potential guard not tackle. Ford did play tackle in college, though.
With Spain re-signing, this likely means that Ford will continue to play at right tackle. For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques reported that the Bills have “not necessarily committed” to Ford at right tackle. But most signs point to Ford doing so, since they never moved him as a rookie.
Overall, Ford graded out as PFF’s 73rd best tackle in the NFL last season… not good. The Bills will hope that improves if they do stick with him there.
Continuity is key
The overriding factor here. Heading into last season, the Bills had one returning offensive lineman, Dion Dawkins at left tackle. Across the rest of the board, there were wholesale changes. From left to right, the Bills offensive line primarily last season was Dawkins, Spain, Mitch Morse, Jon Feliciano, and Cody Ford. In keeping Spain, the Bills keep continuity. Buffalo keeps that trust and chemistry built their offensive line built amongst each other. In addition, quarterback Josh Allen also has the same chemistry built with these guys, so keep Spain can even help him in a way.
From 2018 to 2019, the Bills clearly improved across their offensive line. Were they prefect? Not a chance and the whole group can continue to improve, together. Bringing in new faces might not have completely derailed some improvement either, but at the end of the 2018 season, the Bills’ offensive line ranked No. 26 in PFF’s final rankings. Their most recent rankings? No. 21. Top-half consideration should be the goal for this group in 2020.
Other needs can be addressed
With Spain coming back, the Bills don’t need to address that hole. Simple as that. Big for continuity and big for addressing other needs.
In terms of the upcoming draft, theiroffensive line is not high on the Bills’ board anymore. Sure, maybe a middle-tier concern? With nine draft picks, Buffalo will probably bring in at least one younger prospect for depth and competition, but don’t expect it in the first round or two anymore. Apply that same concept to next week’s opening of free agency. Maybe Buffalo adds, but it won’t be passing out starter-type of money. On the Bills’ needs and their offense, playmakers should now be their No. 1 target on that side of the ball, no questions asked.
Other needs can be addressed
With Spain coming back, the Bills don’t need to address that hole. Simple as that. Big for continuity and big for addressing other needs.
In terms of the upcoming draft, theiroffensive line is not high on the Bills’ board anymore. Sure, maybe a middle-tier concern? With nine draft picks, Buffalo will probably bring in at least one younger prospect for depth and competition, but don’t expect it in the first round or two anymore. Apply that same concept to next week’s opening of free agency. Maybe Buffalo adds, but it won’t be passing out starter-type of money. On the Bills’ needs and their offense, playmakers should now be their No. 1 target on that side of the ball, no questions asked.