Fansided

Buffalo Bills front-runners for Jahri Evans if made available

By Will Osgood

Dec 28, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans (73) blocks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints guard Jahri Evans (73) blocks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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If offensive guard Jahri Evans is made available by the New Orleans Saints, it appears the Buffalo Bills would be a front-runner to acquire him. 

Jahri Evans was called by New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton his best offensive lineman all the way back in 2006–Payton’s first year as the Saints’ head coach and Evans’ rookie year after playing his college ball at Bloomsburg College, a school which plays in Division II of the NCAA.

Perhaps on that description alone, Evans has gone on to make six Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams with the Saints, despite his production dipping significantly in recent seasons. Because of that production, Evans signed a seven-year, $56.7 million contract back in 2010.

In the 2015 season, Evans is set to cost $11 million to the New Orleans Saints cap. Hence the reason the Saints have been rumored to be considering trading or releasing Evans. And if they do, the Buffalo Bills appear to be strong suitors for his services, according to ESPN’s Mike Rodak.

From a football perspective it represents a potential upgrade for the Buffalo Bills. They would of course love to not be on the line for an $11 million cap hit, though, so it’s likely they’ll try to wait things out with the Saints.

Because he’s not a free agent, Evans was not on Fansided’s top free agents list/tracker, comprised by Josh Sanchez. But he likely would be at the top if that list were amended with a Saints release of the former fourth-round pick.

As noted by Rodek, the Bills made news earlier this offseason by signing the controversial Richie Incognito to play on their interior line. Incognito is a body, whereas Evans has a chance to play in a Pro Bowl for the Bills, at least based on name recognition.

Bringing him in to play guard and block for LeSean “Shady” McCoy, Fred Jackson and whoever takes snaps under center for Buffalo under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman would seem like a heady move for Buffalo’s front office.

But the viability of a move, again, depends mostly on the cost. If the Bills can do so by giving away only a late round draft pick, or sign him as a free agent, it would be brilliant.

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