Buffalo Bills free agency 2019: Top 5 targets
The Buffalo Bills went from a playoff team in 2017 to six wins this past season. What five players could the team look to sign during free agency?
There was a sense that it was going to be an odd year in Orchard Park even before the season began. In 2017, The Buffalo Bills reached the playoffs for the first time this century. Led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, first-time NFL head coach Sean McDermott led the club to a 9-7 finish. But the year would end quickly with a 10-3 setback at Jacksonville in the wild card round.
Hence this was a team that entered ‘18 with plenty of changes. That included the departure of Taylor, dealt to the Cleveland Browns. The results were a 6-10 showing and third place in the AFC East. Now the franchise looks to rebound. And with plenty of salary cap room (via Spotrac) in 2019, Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane could be busy this season. So what five players could this franchise target over the next few months?
5. TE Luke Willson (Detroit Lions)
Buffalo’s passing game was ranked next to last in the league this past season in terms of yards gained per game. Regardless of who was pulling the trigger, McDermott’s team was shorthanded in terms of talent at both wide receiver and tight end. Second-year pro Zay Jones led the club with 56 catches, good for 652 yards and seven scores. He accounted for more than half of the club’s 13 touchdowns through the air. That latter figures was the lowest in the league in ‘18.
Meanwhile, veteran tight end Charles Clay finished sixth on the team with 21 receptions for 184 yards. And he failed to reach the end zone for the first time in eight NFL seasons. He and fellow tight ends Jason Croom (22) and Logan Thomas (12) combined for only 55 receptions and one TD.
Could the third place be the charm for six-year tight end Luke Willson? In his first season with the Detroit Lions, he played in 14 games and made eight starts. But there were only 13 catches for 87 yards and zero touchdowns. A bad fit for the former Seattle Seahawks’ performer? He could fare better in Orchard Park.
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