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The Buffalo Bills on Thursday evening announced the signings of five players to reserve/future contracts. We'll get to the names in a minute, but let's take a step back and note the bigger-picture trend here: the Bills have now signed a whopping 15 players to reserve/future deals since the season ended nearly three weeks ago.
It started by retaining the entirety of their practice squad, which held seven players at the end of the season (wide receiver Cordell Roberson had just been promoted to the active roster; otherwise, he'd have been counted among the crew): quarterback Dennis Dixon, wide receiver Brandon Kaufman, offensive linemen Edawn Coughman and Jamaal Johnson-Webb, defensive lineman Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, outside linebacker Jacquies Smith, and cornerback Mario Butler were all brought back.
Earlier this week, three more players that were not on NFL active rosters in 2013 were signed by the Bills: running back Anthony Allen, guard Randy Colling and outside linebacker Kourtnei Brown.
Then tonight, the biggest name of the group headlined a most recent wave of signings: wide receiver Ramses Barden, who measures in at 6'6", was a former third-round pick of the Giants, and easily the most notable reserve/future signing thus far. Also signed on Thursday: wide receiver Chris Summers, outside linebackers Willie Jefferson and Nathan Williams, and safety Jajuan Harley.
In all, the Bills' large group of winter signings includes three former draft picks: Dixon, a fifth-round pick of Pittsburgh in 2008; Allen, a seventh-round pick for Baltimore in 2011; and Barden, the 2009 third-round pick that never did pan out in New York, registering 29 receptions in 29 career appearances. The 28-year-old becomes the latest in a string of receiver additions - including Roberson, Kaufman and Summers - that stand 6'4" or taller.
Counting the team's list of forthcoming free agents, Buffalo's roster now stands at 75 players.
