NFL free agency: Anquan Boldin set to visit Bills
As he searches for a new team before training camp, Anquan Boldin has a visit scheduled with the Buffalo Bills.
Last year around this time, Anquan Boldin signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions. Into his mid-30s with plenty of experience, offseason work has diminished returns in the big picture. But he delivered nice production for the Lions, with 67 receptions and a team-high eight touchdowns, and seemed to have his eye on signing with a team right at the start of training camp again this year.
Boldin had expressed a desire to play somewhere close to his Florida home, but he later backed off that a bit with a comment about finding the right situation. Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported earlier this week that Boldin has a visit scheduled with an undisclosed team on Sunday, and he wants to play for a contender.
It seems the day of Boldin’s upcoming visit has changed, and it might be a stretch to call the team a contender.
Source: Free-agent WR Anquan Boldin will visit the Buffalo Bills on Monday. https://t.co/I3GT24Ymf0
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) July 21, 2017
As ESPN’s Dan Graziano also noted, Boldin was with the Baltimore Ravens when Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was the backup there. After losing out on Jeremy Maclin after he was cut by the Chiefs, to the Ravens coincidentally, the Bills could also use an infusion of experience in their wide receiver group.
Entering what would be his 15th NFL season, Boldin is third among active players and ninth all-time in receptions with 1,076. He is also third among active players in receiving touchdowns (82), and fourth among active players (14th all-time) in receiving yards (13,779). A season like he had in 2016 would put him in the top-five all-time in receptions and top-10 all-time in receiving yards.
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Buffalo is obviously not close to Florida or the south, but along with an annual trip to Miami the Bills do play the Panthers and Falcons on the road this year. Add that to an opportunity to have a significant role, and Boldin’s only known visit may bring a quick contract agreement.