The Top 2 Free Agents The Bills Should Sign?

[BillsImpossible]

When it comes to the salary cap the Bills will have anywhere between $25-$70 million in cap space depending on who they keep or let go.

I think everyone here knows the Bills do not want to pay Tyrod Taylor big $ and he's not willing to renegotiate his contract...so he's gone.

EJ Manuel will be gone too, along with Dan Carpenter and a host of other players like Percy Harvin, Reggie Bush, Brandon Spikes, IK Enemkpali, Chris Gragg, etc.

Stephon Gilmore will likely get a huge contract the Bills will not match, so he's gone too.

Robert Woods is also likely to get a huge contract the Bills will not match either, so he's likely to be playing elsewhere in '17.

With a new coach in Sean McDermott along with a new coaching staff, a roster purge looks likely, especially on defense.

So what players should the Bills target in free agency?

First and foremost, I hope the Bills target a safety, and there are more than a few good safeties available.

http://mail.walterfootball.com/freeagents2017S.php

Eric Berry, John Cyprien, Tony Jefferson, or Barry Church?

Kicker

The Bills need a new kicker. Dan Carpenter is not worth his cap hit.

http://mail.walterfootball.com/freeagents2017KP.php

Cairo Santos, Brandon McManus, Steven Hauschka, or Caleb Sturgis?

Wide receiver

No way! I wouldn't pay the kind of money top free agent receivers will command, and they're all at or near the end of their NFL careers.

http://mail.walterfootball.com/freeagents2017WR.php

I'd rather draft Mike Williams or Corey Davis at #10.

Cornerback

With Gilmore as good as gone, there are plenty of free agent cornerbacks the Bills could sign to replace him if Seymour isn't ready.

http://mail.walterfootball.com/freeagents2017CB.php

Malcolm Butler, A.J. Bouye, Trumaine Johnson, Logan Ryan, Prince Amukamara, Morris Claiborne, Deshawn Shead, the return of Ross Cockrell?

Zone coverage is the new deal with McDermott, so a Revis Island style corner is not necessary.

Inside Linebacker

Zach Brown doesn't look like a fit for the Bills new 4-3 defense.

The Bills could replace him with a solid veteran in Perry Riley, but it's likely that Reggie Ragland will return in '17 to replace Brown.

http://mail.walterfootball.com/freeagents2017ILB.php

Lorenzo Alexander had a great year in 2016, but I don't think the Bills will resign him because Jerry Hughes or Shaq Lawson are more than capable to replace him.

Defensive Tackle

Kyle Williams was contemplating retirement this off-season, and the Bills will inevitably need to replace him sooner than later.

He has an $8.3 million cap hit in 2017, turns 34 years old in June, and suffered from a back injury last year that could flare up at any time.

I hate to say it, but the Bills would be wise to let Meatball go and target a new, younger DT for the same money.

http://mail.walterfootball.com/freeagents2017DT.php

Kawann Short, Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams or Chris Baker?

What UFA's/RFA's should the Bills resign?

http://overthecap.com/free-agency/buffalo-bills/

I would sign:

Corbin Bryant
Jordan Mills
Jerome Felton
Justin Hunter
Marquise Goodwin
Mike Gillislee
Colton Schmidt
Ryan Groy

All that being said, who would you prioritize as the Bills top 2 free agent targets?

#1 Eric Berry
#2 Kawaan Short

[Mouldsie]

If all that happens, I say none. Tank.

[YardRat]

http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php/236365-2017-Roster-Analysis?highlight=analysis


The only thing that really matters is the Quarterback.

Without a great QB, the rest of the team does not matter.

[Night Train]

I thought Shaq Lawson and Hughes would go back to being our DE's in a 4-3 with the rotation coming inside at DT (Kyle, Dareus, Douzable,Worthy are solid). Alexander would be a good pass rushing specialist under a new 2 year deal. Don't know about Zach Brown. Preston Brown is insurance inside in case Ragland is hurt.

OLB's are the need. Safety. CB depth. WR. RT...oh and a slight need at QB !

I'm not worried about the Kyle $$ because he's the captain of this team. TT,Gilmore,Woods and possibly Zach Brown may be gone. Could release Eric Wood,( Groy played better ) FS Graham and our Kicker. Suddenly, you have tons of cap room and a great deal of the roster can be rebuilt to fit the new coach and his schemes.

This thinking triggered my draft trade down thread. Need the bodies and the proper rebuild.

[YardRat]

Potential Free Agent targets--defense-

ILB-AJ Klein, Carolina
OLB-Gerald Hodges, San Fran...Sio Moore, Arizona
S-Micah Hyde, Green Bay...Nate Allen, Oakland
CB-Captain Munnerlyn, Minnesota...Logan Ryan, New England
Dline-Bennie Logan, Philadelphia...Kyle Love, Carolina...Jarvis Jenkins, Kansas City...Justin Trattou, Minnesota

Potential free agent targets - offense

OT - Earl Watford, Arizona...Nick Becton, Chicago
OG - Larry Warford, Detroit...Vlad Ducasse, Baltimore
WR - Aldrick Robinson, Atlanta...Jordan Norwood, Denver...Jeremy Ross, Arizona

I would go after Klein and Hyde.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Inside Linebacker

Zach Brown doesn't look like a fit for the Bills new 4-3 defense.
I was following along OK until you lost credibility with me with this statement.

Zach Brown is the fastest LB we have and in a Cover 2 zone defense he's what we need to cover RBs and slot WRs at times. He won't be super expensive and should be resigned.

[BillsImpossible]

I was following along OK until you lost credibility with me with this statement.

Zach Brown is the fastest LB we have and in a Cover 2 zone defense he's what we need to cover RBs and slot WRs at times. He won't be super expensive and should be resigned.

So where does Reggie Ragland play?

[Mace]

So where does Reggie Ragland play?

Cleveland for a couple picks.

[Mace]

I was following along OK until you lost credibility with me with this statement.

Zach Brown is the fastest LB we have and in a Cover 2 zone defense he's what we need to cover RBs and slot WRs at times. He won't be super expensive and should be resigned.

Yes, I have to agree. Zach Brown for his pursuit is probably the guy I want to sign the most. He'd be perfect for a Tampa-2. Lots of teams have more cap space though, I don't think we can afford his price.

[YardRat]

Cleveland for a couple picks.

OK I'm a Bama/Ragland fan but that was funny.

[Mace]

OK I'm a Bama/Ragland fan but that was funny.

I'm a big Ragland fan too. Might have been funny but makes me want to cry. I just can't see him in a Tampa-2.

[sudzy]

Cleveland for a couple picks.

When you change defenses every other year, you end up with some 2nd round picks that don't fit your team anymore.

[Mace]

When you change defenses every other year, you end up with some 2nd round picks that don't fit your team anymore.

I still sincerely believe he's going to be an awesome linebacker somewhere.

[Lone Stranger]

For all intents and purposes Zach Brown and Robert Woods are free agents. I think we can sign them for the $ Gillmore is expecting. And if we are lucky maybe we an fit Alexander is the $ number. Wishful thinking but you never know.

My thought is that two quality players are better than one.

[jamze132]

Zach Brown doesn't look like a fit for the Bills new 4-3 defense.

The Bills could replace him with a solid veteran in Perry Riley, but it's likely that Reggie Ragland will return in '17

I think Z. Brown was rated as one of the best LB in the league last year and would be great at OLB. I'm pretty sure that Ragland was drafted to be in a 3-4 so that makes him a mystery coming back from injury as well.

[Topas]

I still hope that we dont play Tampa 2

[Night Train]

I was following along OK until you lost credibility with me with this statement.

Zach Brown is the fastest LB we have and in a Cover 2 zone defense he's what we need to cover RBs and slot WRs at times. He won't be super expensive and should be resigned.


Don't disagree.

I know someone at OBD that's fairly spot on with his predictions. He believes the Bills won't offer Zach Brown big $$ and he'll walk.

I just try to figure out why they think this. Do they see him as strictly an ILB in a 3-4 or not a true OLB ? Questioning his coverage skills ? Agent issues ? Scheme fit ?

I don't know what the Bills are running on D yet, despite all the Tampa 2 unfounded catcalls. I don't mind having Zach Brown at all.. but I'll let the off-season play out and observe the depth chart come June before having any true thoughts on strengths vs. weaknesses.

Too early and a ton of questions on roster and schemes need to be answered.

[Bill Cody]

I still hope that we dont play Tampa 2

Why just because it's outdated and won't work and we don't have the players for it? Talk about nit picking

[Turf]

I just saw a link that Rainman has 23 Fa's to sign, and add to that no QB, losing his #1 CB, and #2 WR. Yeah Whaley, how bout that guy?

[ublinkwescore]

We are in a perfect tank situation. Build up our lines and weak skill positions I'd even let Dareus walk this year... then draft our qb of the future in next year's draft and see what cardale can do this year.. then if cardale isn't even a stopgap/backup, bring in a Romo type next year to groom our guy. Maybe by the time our guy is ready to start, Brady will have retired and we will be ready to reclaim our throne atop the east.