1. Why Buffalo is one of the most interesting teams in free agency
The NFL is not delaying free agency and is set to begin on Monday at 12 noon with the start of the open negotiating window and player signings can be officially announced on Wednesday starting at 4 pm. With a couple of right moves, the Bills could topple the Patriots for the AFC East crown, says The Ringer.
Buffalo is in the rare position of having plenty of cap space (nearly $80 million, one of the five highest figures in the league) while also retaining most of its 2019 team. This week, Buffalo agreed to a three-year contract with guard Quinton Spain, ensuring the team will bring back all five of its starters on the offensive line, in addition to key contributors everywhere else on offense. Buffalo's main concern on offense is at receiver, but with such a deep draft class for receivers the Bills are likely to look at free agency for defenders.
The Bills could lose key defensive line players in Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson but the Bills have the money to keep them and even splurge on a free agent like Chris Harris Jr. to add to the secondary, writes The Ringer.
The Bills already have perhaps the best safety combo in football with Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, plus an elite cornerback in Tre'Davious White. Adding Harris to that secondary could improve what's already one of the best pass defenses in football. The team has already taken a one-year flier on former All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman, who signed this week after being cut by Washington earlier. Harris would give them four defensive backs capable of All-Pro-caliber play, and the team is hoping Norman could return to that level. The Bills could realistically have the best roster in the AFC East for the first time in decades.
With the free agency period opening this week, scroll through to see some of the most impactful free agent signings in team history.
Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer
Hyde and Poyer both came to the Bills prior the 2017 season, and have been one of the NFL's best safety duos since. They have started nearly every game since arriving in Buffalo, and have been massively important pieces on some of the NFL's best defenses since head coach Sean McDermott came to Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills strong safety Micah Hyde (23) and free safety Jordan Poyer (21) Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers,August 16, 2019 at Bank of America Stadium.
Photo by Gregg Forwerck
Sam Adams | DT | #95
Adams came to Buffalo prior to the 2003 after playing for the Raiders in the previous season. His first game as a Buffalo Bill included his memorable interception return for a touchdown. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2003, and anchored the defensive line during his three seasons in Buffalo.
Takeo Spikes | LB | #51
Spikes also came to Buffalo prior to the 2003 season, signing a six year contract worth up to $32 million. In his three seasons as a Bill, he was named to the Pro Bowl twice, and teamed up with London Fletcher to form one of the NFL's best LB duos.
Mario Williams | DE | #94
Williams signed with the Bills before the 2012 season on a six-year deal that was the largest in NFL history for a defensive player at the time. He holds many records in Buffalo, including sacks in a game (4.5 on 9/15/13 vs. CAR)
Terrell Owens | WR | #81
Owens signed a one-year contract with Buffalo, playing in the 2009 season. He started all 16 games for the Bills, catching 55 passes for 829 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also holds the record for the longest receiving touchdown in franchise history, after scoring on a 98-yard passing play with Ryan Fitzpatrick on 11/22/09 at Jacksonville.
Buffalo Bills' Terrell Owens celebrates his touchdown catch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of the NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/ Dean Duprey)
Doug Flutie | QB | #7
Flutie signed with the Bills in 1998 out of the CFL, and played three seasons for the Bills at QB, serving as the starter and the backup during those years.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie, (7), looks for a receiver against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter Sunday, Dec. 19, 1999 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Roy Dabner)
London Fletcher | LB | #59
Fletcher came to the Bills before the 2002 season after signing a five-year contract. He set a new franchise record for tackles in a season with 209 in 2002. He started all 16 regular season games for the Bills during each of his five seasons in Buffalo.
Rian Lindell | K | #9
Lindell came to the Bills via restricted free agency in 2003, and played 10 seasons in Buffalo after that. He is second in franchise history in points scored and field goals made.
ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 26: Rian Lindell #9 of the Buffalo Bills watches his 42 yard game winning field goal as teammate Brian Moorman #8 signals the result against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 26, 2006 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24.
James Lofton | WR | #80
Lofton came to the Bills in 1989 and played four seasons with the Bills, including appearing in the Super Bowl three times during his time in Buffalo. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. His 18.12 yards per catch as a Buffalo Bill are the most in franchise history.
The Buffalo Bills' wide receiver James Lofton flies into the end zone for a second quarter touchdown over the Los Angeles Raiders, Jan. 20, 1991, during the AFC Championship Game in Orchard Park, New York. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Sam Gash | FB | #33
A ferocious blocker, Gash signed with the Bills in 1998 and played for two seasons in Buffalo before signing another one year contract with Buffalo in 2003. In 1999, he became the first back in NFL history to be named to the Pro Bowl without recording a single carry.
Ted Washington | DT | #92
Washington came to the Bills in 1995 and played six seasons with the Bills. A dominant presence in the middle of Buffalo's defense, he anchored the DL and helped Bruce Smith get to quarterbacks in the 3-4 defense. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times during his time in Buffalo.
Buffalo Bills nose tackle Ted Washington (92) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (4) during the fourth quarter Sunday, Sept. 10, 2000, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Washington was one of three Bills selected to the Pro-Bowl.
Bryce Paup | LB | #95
Paup came to the Bills in 1995, and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press for the 1995 season. He had 17.5 sacks in the '95 season, which ranks second in franchise history today. He was named to the Pro Bowl in all three seasons as a Buffalo Bill.
Buffalo Bills Bryce Paup (95) during a game fro his 1997 season with the Buffalo Bills. Bryce Paup played for 11 years with four different teams and was a 4-time Pro Bowler.
Linebacker Tyler Matakevich came to Buffalo after spending four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matakevich led the Bills with 10 special teams tackles in 2020. The linebacker has played in 86 games including the playoffs since 2016.
Center Mitch Morse came to the Bills in 2019 after spending four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Morse was a second round pick in 2015 and has started 86 total games during his six seasons in the NFL.
Wide receiver Cole Beasley came to the Bills in 2019 after spending seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Beasley had instant success in his first season with quarterback Josh Allen. In 2020, he racked up a career-high 82 catches for 967 receiving yards and averaged 11.8 yards per reception.
Star Lotulelei (98). Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mario Addison (97) sack Buffalo Bills vs New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome, November 25, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1) touchdown. Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots - Wild Card Playoff game at Highmark Stadium, January 15, 2022. Photo by Ben Green
2. Milano, Wallace benefit from NFL's performance-based pay system
Buffalo Bills Matt Milano and Levi Wallace each earned a substantial raise form the NFL's performance-based pay benefit system in 2019.
NFL players will receive $147.952 million in "Performance-Based Pay" for their performance during the 2019 season, the NFL announced today. The Performance-Based Pay program is a collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players, including rookies, based upon their playing time and salary levels.
Under the Performance-Based Pay program, a fund is created and used as a supplemental form of player compensation based on a comparison of playing time to salary. Players become eligible to receive a bonus distribution in any regular season in which they play at least one official down. In general, players with higher playtime percentages and lower salaries benefit most from the pools.
Wallace and Milano were the ninth and 10th most compensated players, respectively. Wallace a 2018 UDFA earned $363,599 while Milano, a 2017 fifth-round pick, earned $360,498.
Kansas City cornerback Charvarius Ward earned the largest amount at $428,335.
3. Buffalo needs to "think" about running back room
NFL.com ran down the running back situation for all 32 NFL teams. The Bills have "much to think about" with only Devin Singletary, T.J. Yeldon, and Christian Wade under contract for next season.
Buffalo Bills: Buffalo experimented last summer with a veteran-heavy backfield of LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore, but neither graybeard is expected to be in Western New York this time around. 2019 third-round pick Devin Singletary was brought on slowly behind Gore and emerged as a back worth building around by season's end. He's currently flanked by T.J. Yeldon and Briton experiment Christian Wade in Buffalo's backfield. …. Buffalo can replace Gore with a thicker free agent like Melvin Gordon, Carlos Hyde, Jordan Howard or, well, Gore, if the Bills are open to another go with the 36-year-old.
