Buffalo Bills: Give up the first rounder for Ziggy Ansah in free agency
The Buffalo Bills need a pass rusher, and Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah could be a solution for them, no matter what the cost…
The Buffalo Bills’ leader in sacks in 2017 was a two-way tie…
…with four. Jerry Hughes and Shaq Lawson each had four sacks for the Bills in 2017, and a pass rush is desperately needed going into the 2018 season.
The Bills are in a really nice position with two selections back-to-back in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft (21 and 22 overall) and could potentially be able to sacrifice one of those selections if they really like a certain player in free agency.
If the Detroit Lions franchise tag defensive end Ziggy Ansah like they are expected to, the Bills should make Ansah a big offer and give up one of those first round picks to get him.
Unless they feel they can get a better rusher in the first round of this year’s draft, which I don’t think they can.
The only downside here is, Ansah is 28 years old. He’s not ancient by any means, but it’s not ideal to make a first-round investment in a player that is not 26 or younger.
That said, the talents of Ansah are absolutely necessary for Buffalo’s defense, and I think he’d be a great fit with Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier.
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The Bills have a fantastic secondary right now, so adding a pass rusher of Ansah’s caliber makes a lot of sense, because he would help create more opportunities for those guys to be successful. If the Lions franchise tag Ansah, it would cost the Bills a first rounder to get him off their hands in what would essentially amount to a sign-and-trade.
The franchise tag number for a defensive end is expected to come in around $17 million, and the Bills could look to sign Ansah to a six-year deal worth around $18-20 million on top of the $17 million franchise tag price in 2018.
With the tag, you could guarantee Ansah four of those years and re-evaluate where you are when he’s 32.
The Bills have made the mistake in the past of investing in a former high draft pick at defensive end, but I don’t think the investment in Mario Williams should scare them off of going after a player like Ansah.
They would still have another first round pick, and while they’ll have to free up some cap space I think this is an investment they — or one of the teams with multiple first round picks, should consider making.