Bills: 3 backup plans after missing on DeAndre Hopkins

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 24: Head coach Sean McDermott of the Buffalo Bills speaks with Josh Allen #17 during warm ups prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – DECEMBER 18: Rashard Higgins #17 of the Carolina Panthers warms up prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Bank of America Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images) /

Sean McDermott’s team failed to land talented wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Do the Buffalo Bills have a backup plan to bolster their pass-catching corps?

It’s not secret that the reigning AFC East champions have been looking to add more offensive weapons to compliment talented Buffalo Bills field general Josh Allen. He and Stefon Diggs are one of the better quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league. Tight end Dawson Knox has emerged as a big-time performer.

Back to the wide receiving corps. Gabe Davis comes off a disappointing season after excelling in the 2021 playoffs. General manager Brandon Beane added journeyman Trent Sherfield in free agency and used a fifth-round pick on University of Florida product Justin Shorter.

Any aspirations of adding star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the lineup disappeared when he agreed to a two-year deal with the Tennessee Titans (via Ian Glendon of Full Press Coverage). Could any of the three veterans be shuffling off to Buffalo sooner than later?

3 backup plans for Bills after missing on DeAndre Hopkins

3. Rashard Higgins

A fifth-round draft choice of the Browns in 2016, former Colorado State wideout Rashard Higgins spent six seasons in Cleveland before signing a one-year deal with Carolina Panthers a year ago. There wasn’t much to his 2022 season. He played in a total of three games, saw nine offensive snaps, some time on special teams and didn’t catch a pass.

During his stay in Cleveland, Higgins totaled 137 catches for 1,890 yards and 12 scores. During the team’s two-game playoff run in 2020, he totaled seven receptions for 116 yards. Could he find new life with the Bills?

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