Buffalo Bills Offseason Simulation: Offense
The NFL Offseason, a time of unwarranted optimism and a place where the grass is always green, the sun is always shining and the beer is always cold! Ask any fan this time of year and they will tell you that this is their year. Their team is going to draft the best QB prospect since forever and he will lead them to the promise land. Sophomore slump? Kyler Murray will be better than Russel Wilson this year mark my words and Tom Brady is obviously coming to Tampa Bay, SUPER BOWL BABY!
All jokes aside, the off-season has always been my favorite time of year. I've already consumed and completed more mock drafts than anyone who isn't getting paid to should (I seriously have a problem). When I play franchise mode on Madden the regular season is just a bore that I have to drag myself through so I can get to the good stuff and play GM. I will sometimes lose in the playoffs on purpose just to give myself some "adversity" going into the off-season. Signing a bargain bin free agent that goes crazy, fleecing another GM out of some serious draft capital, I feel like a mad scientist in his lab. (I told you I have a problem) Everyone has an opinion on what their team should do. In this series I'll be giving you mine. We'll go over the state of each position discussing what the Bills can, will and should do this offseason. Today we tackle the offense.
Last off-season improving the offense was the biggest topic of discussion. Despite investing in plenty of pieces on that side of the ball (Singletary, Brown, Beasley, Kroft, Knox, Morse, Spain, Ford) not much has changed. Improving the offense is still the number one priority for GM Brandon Beane this offseason. This is how they can get it done.
QUARTERBACK
I don't expect there to be much action at QB. As much as I would like to see an upgrade to our backup situation because Barkley is bad, he carries such a low cap hit at 2Million, I don't see us spending money to only make a marginal improvement at that position. Expect us to bring in some younger bodies to challenge Barkley in camp but not much more than that.
Tech Sports Take: Stand Pat
RUNNING BACK
The Bills hit on last year's 3rd round pick Devin Singletary and he will enter the year as our lead back. But we are by no means set at the running back position as the depth behind him is questionable at best. It doesn't look like Frank Gore will be brought back by the team. While he was a great mentor to Singletary and provided us with decent production I think that's the right call. TJ Yeldon should be cut as he was barely used and his fumbling issues followed him to Buffalo. RB is a spot where I think the Bills should invest in both free agency and the draft. One name to look at is Jordan Howard who could be a good between the tackles complement to Singletary. It shouldn't take much money to bring him in as he fell out of favor with the Bears and only played a supporting role for the Eagles. The one player I would LOVE the Bills to make a run at is Matt Breida. Pairing him with Singletary would give our backfield so much versatility to cause headaches for opposing defenses. We could even play them on the field together. One thing to note is that Breida is a restricted FA so San Fran could match an offer thrown his way. But the Niners have a crowded backfield and are working with very little cap space so it shouldn't take too big of an offer for them to let him walk. Drafting a power back to compliment them would round out the position group headed into the season.
Tech Sports Take:
-Cut TJ Yeldon
-Sign Matt Breida 3yr/4-5M per
-Draft a power back (ex. Zach Moss)
WIDE RECEIVER
WR is a position that I see many Bills fans clamoring for Beane to spend significant dollars in free agency. The most common names I see are AJ Green and Amari Cooper. While adding those players would obviously be big additions to the offense, I can't see Beane investing the money it would take to bring that caliber of player in the fold. Beane believes in building a team through the draft and being frugal in free agency. Spending smart dollars to fill out the roster with players that fit both scheme and culture. With that being said WR is a spot like RB, that I think we should spend both FA dollars and draft capital to add some juice to the offense. Last offseason we added John Brown and Cole Beasley, who both turned in productive seasons. But we still lack a true difference maker to go to in key situations. I think the perfect FA to go after would be DeMarcus Robinson. He would give Josh Allen a bigger bodied WR who can also stretch the field. He's coming off of his rookie contract so he is only just entering his prime. Also since he played a limited role in the Chiefs offense he shouldn't come at a high cost as he hasn't been able to truly breakout yet. Going into camp with Brown, Beasley, Robinson and a premium draft pick from a very deep WR class locked in to roster spots. Then having guys like McKenzie, Williams, Roberts and Foster fighting for final roster spots should have Bills fans excited about the position group.
Tech Sports Take:
-Sign DeMarcus Robinson 3yr/4-5M per
-Draft WR (ex. Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Denzel Mims)
TIGHT END
With Greg Olsen reportedly deciding to sign with the Seahawks, that takes away the only real roster move I foresaw the Bill's making at tight end. Tyler Kroft (who missed most of the year to injury) and Lee Smith (who had a penchant for bad penalties) are both considered to be potential cap casualties. But the Bills would presumably sign players of similar skill level to contracts that would be about the same cost as the cap savings making those moves a wash. An improved Dawson Knox and a healthy Tyler Kroft should provide the Bills with organic improvement at tight end next season.
Tech Sports Take: Stand Pat
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
The Bills completely revamped their offensive line last offseason. Adding four new starters and depth pieces behind them. All in all I would say the investments made in this unit paid off as it showed drastic improvement from the year before. This off-season should be about continuity and filing out this roster group. Starting LG Quinton Spain is a free agent and the Bills would be wise to bring him back as he was arguably the Bills most consistent offensive lineman last season. One decision we do have to make is on Spencer Long as the team can opt out of his contract, saving the team 4M against the cap. Long however, played well when he was asked to step on the field. He also brings versatility as he can play either guard spot and center. This probably keeps him on the roster as the cap savings most likely won't be needed as the Bills have plenty of cap space. Adding a mid to late round pick to compete for a roster spot should complete their moves.
Tech Sports Take:
-Sign Dion Dawkins to an extension 5yr/14m per
-Resign Quinton Spain 3yr/7-8m per
-Draft prospect
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Starting LT Dion "Schnowman" Dawkins is in the final year of his rookie deal and should be given an extension. Dawkins' play was up and down in his first three seasons but he really rounded out his game this past year and was even elected as a team captain. He is at worst an above average T who is only entering his prime. In a league starving for competent OT play you don't let these guys hit free agency. STIR DAT MAC N CHEESE UH!!!! The only scenario where I see any major changes at tackle is if the Bills decide not to bring back Spain. That would most likely signal moving Cody Ford inside to guard where many believe he is better suited. That would immediately make OT a major need going into the draft where the Bills could take advantage of what's shaping up to be a very talented OT class with a high draft pick. That would put Ty Nsekhe back into a high end swing tackle role where he has excelled his entire career.
Tech Sports Take: Stand Pat