Free Agency: It feels so good to spend cash wisely
Free Agency: It feels so good to spend cash wisely
“Nobody wants to go to Buffalo”
That’s the narrative that surrounds the Bills after their inability to haul in Antonio Brown. While letting Brown slip away has stung, I was quick to get over it. Besides, the Bills have reacted by spending their money in the wisest way I think I’ve ever seen a manager spend money here.
I can’t recall the last time the Bills have been able to sign players the way they have this offseason. Sure, we’ve made big splashes in the past with players like Terrell Owens and Mario Williams but even those signings fail in comparison to the buzz surrounding this team right about now. The Bills knew what they needed to do to improve this offseason and they’ve done it to a T.
Our offense, which I will be solely covering in this post, was in need of the biggest haul and the Bills have answered the call. I’m very pleased with their moves thus far. Cole Beasley is the biggest one and a move I didn’t see coming. He may stand only 5’8 but slot receivers never have been known for their tallness. They’re known (and in fact, the position was enhanced for) their speed and Beasley has speed to burn for those shorter throws.
Alas, a team cannot live on short throws alone. The Bills understand this, which is why they also brought in John Brown, who ran a 4.34 at the 2014-scouting combine. That kind of speed will certainly help the cannon arm that Josh Allen has been blessed with. We all know that Allen needs to work on his accuracy but it was damn near impossible for him to do so last year. The signings of a short threat (Beasley) and a deep threat (Brown) will make Allen’s progression that much smoother.
But wait, it gets better.
The biggest disappointment for the Bills in 2018 was the fall from grace of Charles Clay. Once considered among the better half of Tight Ends, Clay was a disaster. The Bills ridded themselves of his mediocrity and trusted their faith into Tyler Kroft. Standing at 6’6 and weighing 240 pounds, Kroft has the size and ability to be a real force for the Bills at that position.
The only thing that troubles me about this signing is Kroft’s injury history but that’s something that can’t truly be controlled so I’ll just have to let it go. There’s also the apparent lack of production that Kroft conjured up as a Bengal but the Bills do have the option to axe him at the end of this year should he fail to hold the candle. The way I see it, anything is an upgrade over Charles Clay but he wasn’t the only Bill to have an off year in 2018 as LeSean McCoy…I went over that.
The biggest surprise for me was the signing of Frank Gore, though it really shouldn’t have been as the Bills have always been a gold mine for running backs. Frank Gore is going to the Hall of Fame; at least he should be but he’s long past his prime. In fact, he’s the oldest halfback in the NFL. That’s all right, it’s still cool to have him on our roster and it would be even cooler if he and Shady can both have a drink from the fountain of youth.
Not that I’m expecting it but it would be nice.
Speaking of nice, another acquisition made by the Bills was the signing of Mitch Morse, who’s already given the Bills a drastic upgrade at the center position. The signings of Ty Nsekhe and Jon Feliciano should help fill the void that the loss of Eric Wood and Richie Incognito left. It’s been a long time since the Bills have had a solid line but these signings have brought hope back to a franchise that was in desperate need of it.
As we all know, signings in free agency can either be good or bad. The Bills have had plenty of experience in both regards but signings over the past few years have leaned more toward the bad side of the pendulum. I don’t feel it this time around. I feel the Bills spent their money wisely and have set themselves up nicely for the draft. Now the question is, what will the Bills do with the picks they have? The signings have clouded the judgment of others…
Which is exactly what Brandon Beane wanted.