Buffalo Bills Potential Free Agent Targets and Priorities

The Buffalo Bills are a team that has a lot of cap room to work with approaching the 2012 NFL Free Agency and a lot of needs to fill. The major issue with Buffalo is a lack of definitive playmakers on both sides of the football. The Bills have a number of solid starters, but lack true impact players.  For instance if you were to take the Bills roster and say how many of these players would start on the Super bowl New York Giants, it’d be a depressing exercise for Bills fans.

Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams are play-makers. Guys that opposing teams must account for at all times. Fred Jackson was that this past season prior to his injury. The rest of the team is filled with good, solid players.

The Bills biggest needs are Strongside linebacker, A pass rushing defensive end, another WR to complement Steve Johnson (and they need to re-sign him), a LT (Demetrius Bell is a free agent and could be re-signed, perhaps the best LT on the market), an upgrade at RT, upgrade at TE, and depth everywhere.

The Bills should have about 32 million dollars of cap room according to this post.

The Bills should re-sign Demetrius Bell and Steve Johnson the rest of their free agents (player likes Scott Chandler, Roscoe Parrish, Scott) can be replaced, so signing them or letting them leave via free agency is ok. Sign those that don’t come too expensive, move on from the others.

Defensive End:

Targets

If the Bills are serious about winning any-time soon and have all this money, most of it which they must spend, they should be players for Major defensive ends. Not passive in their search, but aggressive to get a terrific pass rusher.

Mario Williams-Houston Texans

Williams will not come cheap, but the Bills should be in serious contention for Williams. They should explore adding Mario Williams. Williams is the type of defensive end whose presence alone can instantly improve a whole defensive unit. Adding Mario Williams to the team would give the Bills Williams, Williams, Dareus, and Chris Kelsay/Merriman/draft pick. This would take them from one of the worst front fours in football to instantly one of the better front fours on football on day. You cannot double team Williams, Dareus, and Kyle Williams. Leaving one of these players single blocked is asking for trouble. Will the Bills pursue Williams? I Don’t know. They should. And they should sign him.

Robert Mathis, DE, Colts

Mathis is not the type of two way defender that Williams is, and Mathis is close to the twilight of his career than Williams is, but still has plenty left in the tank. Mathis is one of the best players in football history at the strip-sack. His ability to not only get to the quarterback, but also create turnovers should be very appealing to the Bills whose biggest need is a pass rushing defensive end.

Jason Jones, Titans

Jason Jones is a bigger DE who also can give some reps as a defensive tackle in the right system. Jones is likely to enter free agency and is a good solid player. He’s not the dynamic pass rusher though so I would almost suggest the Bills pass on him.

John Abraham, Falcons

Abraham is a one-note defensive end who is a short term fix, but when he brings his A game he can wreck a football game. He’s a guy the Bills could use strictly on passing downs. Abraham also is going to initially price himself out of the market because he’s looking for a ridiculous contract (north of 12 million dollars a year I read), maybe the Bills are there at the end to scoop him up.

Prediction: Jeremy Mincey, Jacksonville Jaguars

I have no faith in the Bills here to make the right move. Mincey would be an upgrade at Defensive end for the Bills. A player who is a veteran player coming off his best year. Last year Mincey had 8 sacks and nearly 60 tackles. Mincey is a good solid NFL Player who is a value in the defensive end market. He can’t turn the fortunes of a defense like Mathis or Williams can, but he can be a foundation, and the kind of player the Bills always end up with.

Linebacker:

Targets:

Right now today the Bills have no starting SAM linebacker. They must address this position. The draft has some really good 43 linebackers, but not any terrific SAM linebackers.

Quentin Groves, Raiders

Groves has not been great after being chosen in the second round by the Jaguars, but he’s one of the few traditionally SAM linebackers. He could be a suitable starter to play on downs 1 and 2 perhaps.

Manny Lawson, Bengals

Lawson is a player who can play the SAM very effectively. While he was drafted as a pass rusher by the 49ers he was disappointing in that area. He is however, a good linebacker against the run and in pass coverage.  A player who is not expensive because he doesn’t offer game-changing ability. You can win often with him as a SAM Thought

Prediction: Keenan Robinson, Texas Longhorns in the draft.

I don’t think this is a position the Bills address in free agency. The class just isn’t that strong. The two options I just highlighted are the only two who might come in and play Sam linebacker next year for the Bills.

Offensive line:

The Bills should prioritize re-signing Bell. Bell is perhaps not a franchise LT so you don’t want to over-spend for him, but he’s a good solid LT and those are hard to find in the N.F.L.

Max Starks, Pittsburgh

The best OL on the market it Saints Carl Nicks. Nicks however is not a LT. G Evan Mathis is quality, but he is also not a tackle. Starks does play tackle.

Jared Gaither is also available, but he’s more expensive than Bell so if they don’t re-sign Bell why would I expect them to sign Gaither? I wouldn’t.

Prediction: re-sign Bell. If they don’t they  have to address this in the draft or hope Chris Hairston is good enough to play LT.

Wide Receiver:

If Steve Johnson gets free they could look at lower cost alternatives.

Targets:

Laurent Robinson, Cowboys

Robinson had a great year, but he’s a #3 WR for them. Is he satisfied being the #3 first of all and second of all are the Cowboys willing to pay a #3 WR enough money?

Also available in free agency: Reggie Wayne, Robert Meachem, Colston, Brandon Lloyd, Manningham, Pierre Garcon, Ted Ginn Jr., Jerome Simpson, Harry Douglas, Dieon Branch, Mike-Sims Walker, Hines Ward,  Derek Hagan, Anthony Gonzalez

I think it’s Johnson or a player like Robinson.