1 - Where the Bills will draft this year
The NFL announced 32 compensatory draft picks for 14 teams on Friday, officially setting the order for the draft. The Bills did not receive any compensatory draft picks as expected, but still have 10 picks to use over April 25-27 in Nashville.
Round 1 - No. 9 overall
Round 2 - No. 40 overall
Round 3 - No. 74 overall
Round 4 - No. 112 overall, No. 131 (from Kansas City)
Round 5 - No. 147 overall, No. 158 (from Pittsburgh through Oakland)
Round 6 - No. 181 overall
Round 7 - No. 225 overall, No. 228 (from Carolina)
The Bills fourth-round pick is a result of a 2017 trade where Reggie Ragland was traded to Kansas City, the extra fifth round pick is a result of trading AJ McCarron and the seventh is from trading Kevon Seymour.
2 - Buffalo tied to Pittsburgh free agent
The Bills are trying to boost their production through the air this season and with 10 draft picks and as one of the teams with the most cap room they can be flexible on who to target. Buffalo moved on from Charles Clay after three seasons with the team and are now in search of a new starting tight end. One potential pickup could be from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jesse James is a free agent this season and could be looking for a change of scenery after the emergence of Vance McDonald as Ben Roethlisberger's new favorite target. James, 24, is the latest Pittsburgh player being tied to the Bills with Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell also being mentioned as possible options.
Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst said on his podcast that both the Bills and Jaguars are interested in James.
"I'm told that the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills are two teams very interested in James once he hits the open market," Pauline said.
James is viewed as an all-around tight end and someone the Steelers are keen on trying to keep. In four years, James has 120 catches for 1,189 yards and nine touchdowns. James had a yards per reception of 14.1 and has the build of a modern-day tight end at 6-7 and 261 pounds.
Currently, the only tight end on the Buffalo roster is Jason Croom.
3 - What is the Bills' biggest free agent decision?
Buffalo has already made its decision on its biggest free agent in Lorenzo Alexander and made another decision on a starter releasing Charles Clay. The Bills still have to figure out what to do with center Ryan Groy, tackle Jordan Mils, tackle Jordan Phillips, running back Taiwan jones, receiver Deonte Thompson and guard John Miller. ESPN’s Field Yates says the decision to re-sign Miller is the toughest one they have to make.
OG John Miller: When head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane were hired, the vision for the Bills' future called for a roster build. A surprise run to the playoffs in 2017 was exhilarating, but also ahead of schedule. The Bills now enter an offseason in the healthiest place during the McDermott/Beane tenure: equipped with cap space (estimated around $82 million), a young quarterback and a rock-solid defense. Miller is a fine player; he showed strides in 2018 and can be a starter. Ideally, however, he'd be a depth-level player along your line who can start in a pinch.
Verdict: Re-sign Miller to a modest deal.
Miller was ranked as the 25th best offensive guard in the NFL by Pro Football Focus this season, grading in at a 64.3. Miller who is only 25 is one of the last holdovers from before Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane arrived in Buffalo.
A year after losing his starting spot to Vlad Ducasse, Miller bounced back and regained the role with 15 starts this season. With his youth and rookie deal expiring, Miller can become someone to keep on the offensive line for good depth or to hopefully see him improve year in and year out as he has plenty of football left in him.
