Now that the Super Bowl has been played and free agency is approaching in early March, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team. In this article, the Buffalo Bills are the focus.
The Bills had flashes of brilliance during Rex Ryan’s first year as head coach. That said, nobody was happy with the fact the team finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for a 16th consecutive season, currently the longest drought in the NFL. The objective heading into the off-season clearly is centered around shedding this dubious distinction. Buffalo has the 19th pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft and will likely have to clear cap space between now and the start of free agency.
Buffalo Bills 2016 Off-Season: Top 3 Needs
Defensive End
After two seasons which saw Buffalo emerge with perhaps the top defensive front in the NFL, 2015 was a huge step back. The Bills struggled to implement first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman’s base 3-4 defensive schemes after having been in a 4-3 under the previous regime. It showed in the sack department, where they managed a paltry 21 sacks last season, good enough for second-worst in the league. To put that in perspective, they averaged 55.5 sacks the previous two years.
It got so bad that an unnamed player had accused high-priced defensive end Mario Williams of “checking out.” Then came news after the season concluded that the Bills were intending to release Williams at the start of the new league year. Doing so would enable them to realize $12.9 million in salary cap savings in a year where quite a few players on the roster are likely to become cap casualties.
General manager Doug Whaley has even admitted the team’s a bit constrained by their cap situation. Does that mean they’ll address this need via the draft? It’s certainly possible considering the depth of this year’s crop of defensive linemen prospects. Though it’s unlikely players such as Noah Spence and Emmanuel Ogbah will be available at 19 in the first round, Robert Nkemdiche of Ole Miss could be a target. Though he mostly played in the interior, he has the speed and versatility to move to the edge, particularly in a 3-4.
If the Bills do choose to go the free agency route, pay attention to two players: the Jets’ Muhammad Wilkerson and Denver’s Malik Jackson. Wilkerson would bring familiarity with Buffalo’s defense considering Ryan and Thurman’s previous coaching experience with the Jets, even though he won’t come cheap. The Super Bowl-winning Broncos also run a similar defense and Jackson was one of the more underrated players on the unit. He actually led all 3-4 defensive ends in quarterback hurries. The fifth-round pick in 2012 carried just a $1.595 million cap hit last season. Despite a breakout season, it’s possible he could be signed as a bargain compared to other high profile free agents on the defensive side of the football.
Outside Linebacker
Much like the defensive line, the Bills didn’t get the most stellar play in the world out of their linebackers last season. Nigel Bradham and Manny Lawson got the bulk of the snaps and neither set the world on fire with their play, tallying just a sack apiece and finishing fifth and eighth on the team in tackles respectively.
Bradham’s an impending free agent and it remains to be seen if the Bills will attempt to re-sign him. Lawson will enter his 11th season in 2016 and has one year left on his current deal. The Bills could release him and save $2.65 million in cap room.
How the Bills address this need might hinge on whether they decide to sign a new defensive end or use their first round pick on one. Yes, Von Miller would fill in nicely but that’s about as far-fetched of a dream as it gets given Buffalo’s cap situation. And there are a few talented prospects that could be available when Buffalo’s on the clock.
Alabama’s Reggie Ragland and Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith played more on the inside in college but could be shoehorned into a weak-side role on the outside of the Bills four linebacker formation. Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun, who played primarily at defensive end for the Spartans but might be better suited at linebacker at the next level, might be a good fit and could be available in the first round. But they also could wait and hope a player such as Joshua Perry of Ohio State or Dominique Alexander of Oklahoma falls into their lap. Both of those players are projected to go in the middle rounds.
Right Tackle
The Bills offensive line had its fair share of ups and downs last season. Right guard Richie Incognito and center Eric Wood both ended up playing in the Pro Bowl. Incognito will likely be on the high priority list in terms of re-signing along with left tackle Cordy Glenn, both of whom are free agents. But then there was right tackle position which was a revolving door between Cyrus Kouandjio, Jordan Mills and Seantrel Henderson, none of whom were particularly effective.
Considering the large number of talented tackle prospects this season, Buffalo could certainly try and upgrade via the draft. The only drawback is that many of the top players at the position played primarily as left tackles in college and would need to shift over to the right side. The Bills could have a look at Taylor Decker of Ohio State in the first round or possibly Jason Spriggs of Indiana when they make their next pick in round two.
Among possible targets in free agency might be Cleveland’s Mitchell Schwartz or the Falcons Ryan Schraeder, the latter of whom was one of the better pass blocking tackles in the NFL last year. The only challenge in getting Schraeder to sign is that he’s a restricted free agent, having gone undrafted as a rookie in 2013 and now at the end of a three-year deal. This means the Bills could possibly be looking at forking over a draft pick to Atlanta if they choose not to match a potential offer sheet extended by Buffalo.
