The Buffalo Bills could use another wide receiver, and running back LeSean McCoy is attempting to woo the now-available Jeremy Maclin.
It’s rare for any move by an NFL team to be surprising, but the Kansas City Chiefs did the unlikely by cutting wide receiver Jeremy Maclin on Friday and surprising NFL fans everywhere. He immediately becomes one of the best free agents available, just one season removed from an 87-catch, 1,000-yard campaign in 2015. Any team in need of a wide receiver will surely have some level of interest in Maclin.
After the free agent departures of Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, the Buffalo Bills look very thin at wide receiver. An injury-prone Sammy Watkins is the No. 1 option based on talent, and this year’s second-round pick Zay Jones is in line for a big role. So Maclin looks like a nice possible fit, assuming last year’s injury-hampered campaign is behind him.
Maclin is such a good fit in Buffalo, a former teammate with the Philadelphia Eagles is apparently attempting to play middle man.
LeSean McCoy, speaking Sunday at his charity softball game in Rochester, N.Y., says he has been recruiting WR... https://t.co/YlpAEa44VU
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) June 4, 2017
Bills running back LeSean McCoy and Maclin were both part of the Eagles’ 2009 draft class, and they played together in Philadelphia through the 2014 season. So it’s not too surprising McCoy is putting on a recruiting hat, and it should be noted Bills head coach Sean McDermott was secondary coach and defensive coordinator for the Eagles during the time McCoy and Maclin were there.
For what it’s worth, and not too surprisingly all things considered, Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is on board with a possible move to sign Maclin.
Tyrod Taylor says he will approach Bills' coaches this week about possibility of signing Jeremy Maclin. Taylor also wants Maclin's phone #.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) June 4, 2017
Bills QB Tyrod Taylor says he would "love to have" wide receiver Jeremy Maclin joining Buffalo and he plans on... https://t.co/hVPR3jpo5f
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) June 4, 2017
Next: 5 free agent destinations for Jeremy Maclin
In terms of opportunity, perhaps only the Baltimore Ravens can offer Maclin the kind of role the Bills can. Unless something beyond finances led to the Chiefs’ decision to cut him a such a late stage of the free agent cycle, he should not be available for all that long.