E.J. Gaines rumors: Top 3 landing spots

After a solid season with the Buffalo Bills, cornerback E.J. Gaines is an interesting player in the free-agent market.

E.J. Gaines just turned 26 years old, and he’s a corner with some upside. In other words, he’s going to both have a market and subsequently get paid. Gaines played with the Los Angeles Rams before being dealt last August to the Buffalo Bills as part of the Sammy Watkins deal. In his NFL career, Gaines has been injury-prone, appearing in 37 games over four seasons.

Last year, the former Missouri standout played in 11 contests and notched an interception, helping Buffalo reach the postseason for the first time this century. While the numbers aren’t impressive, the film shows a player who can help a secondary with good cover skills.

Best fits

1. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have so many needs it’s not funny, and the start of a full-blown rebuild could be a low-risk signing in Gaines. Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard shouldn’t break the proverbial bank for the corner, but he would instantly upgrade one of the worst units in the league.

2. Oakland Raiders

Oakland has to fix the defense after years of letting it erode. The Raiders have Gareon Conley coming off an injury-riddled rookie season, and Sean Smith isn’t getting any younger (or cheaper). With David Amerson already being released and T.J. Carrie being a free agent, the fit here is both solid and obvious. Oakland should be very involved in the defensive market.

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3. Detroit Lions

The Lions are trying to win before Matthew Stafford goes the way of the dinosaur, and helping out Darius Slay and Glover Quin in the secondary wouldn’t be the worst idea. General manager Bob Quinn could likely sign Gaines to a short-term, cost-friendly deal. In a division that includes some lethal receivers, that’s not a bad idea.