Let’s take a look at the Buffalo Bills free-agent class of 2017.
DB Micah Hyde
26 years old. 6’0”, 197 pounds. Has played basically every secondary position. Missed one game in four years with Packers. Six interceptions, 15 defended passes, and two forced fumbles the past two seasons combined. Will be a starter / full-time player for Buffalo’s defense. Signed five-year, $30.5 million contract.
WR Andre Holmes
29 years old. 6’4”, 210 pounds. Has made 100 catches for 1,451 yards with 12 touchdowns in four year with Raiders. Appeared in 48 straight games. Made 47 receptions for 693 yards an four touchdowns as full-time player in 2014. Last year, was situational role player and had 14 catches for 126 yards with three scores. Projects to be Buffalo’s No. 2 or No. 3 receiver. Signed three-year, $6.5 million contract.
S Jordan Poyer
26 years old. 6’0”, 191 pounds. As part-time starter with Browns in 2015, he had four defended passes, and two interceptions in 14 games. Defended two passes in six games last year before a lacerated kidney ended his season. For the time being, he can be penciled in as one of the Bills starting safeties. Played cornerback in college. Signed a four-year, $13 million contract.
FB Patrick DiMarco
28 years old. 6’1”, 240 pounds. Served as the primary lead-blocking fullbacks for the Falcons over the past two seasons. Named as First-Team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus in 2015. Not used often as a receiver, he has 37 catches for 273 yards and four touchdowns in his career. He will be Buffalo’s “full-time” fullback in 2017. Expect to see him on around 30% of the offensive snaps. Signed a four-year, $8.4 million contract.
K Stephen Hauschka
32 years old. 6’1”, 185 pounds. Made 90.0% of his field goals over the past four seasons with the Seahawks, including his last seven from 50+ yards. Made 82.9% of his extra points in 2016, which was the second-lowest percentage in the league. His 89.2% field-goal percentage was the fourth-highest in the NFL in 2016 for kickers who attempted at least 20 field goals. He also handles kickoffs. He’ll be the Bills full-time kicker. Signed a three-year, $8.85 million contract.
WR Philly Brown
26 years old. 6’0”, 190 pounds. Has appeared in 43 of a possible 48 regular-season games in his career. Has 79 catches, 1,019 yards, and seven touchdowns as a pro. In 2015, he made 31 receptions, 447 yards, and four scores. A season ago, he had 27 catches, 276 yards and one score. In the 2015-2016 playoffs, he had 10 grabs for 215 yards and one touchdown in three games. He projects to be Buffalo’s No. 3 or No. 4 receiver. Contract details unknown at this time.
DE Ryan Davis
28 years old. 6’2”, 260 pounds. In 2014 with Jaguars, he totaled 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in all 16 games. Did not register a sack in nine games with the Cowboys last season. Has experience playing every defensive front position, from stand up outside linebacker to interior pass-rusher. He’ll likely be a sub-package pass-rusher and defensive end depth. Signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract.
OL Vlad Ducasse
29 years old. 6’5”, 326 pounds. Has appeared in 88 NFL games with 30 starts. Has mostly played guard. Projects to be a backup interior lineman and swing tackle in a pinch. Was in Baltimore with Buffalo’s offensive line coach / run-game coordinator Juan Castillo. Signed three-year, $3.5 million contract.
WR Jeremy Butler
26 years old. 6’2”, 224 pounds. Has appeared in 12 regular-season games in two seasons. On 44 targets in 2015 with Ravens, he made 31 receptions for 363 yards. Spent 2016 with Chargers. Made two grabs for 11 yards. Was with Tyrod Taylor in Baltimore in 2014. Projects to be the Bills No. 4 or No. 5 receiver. Signed a one-year, $625k contract.
FB Mike Tolbert
31 years old. 5’9”, 243 pounds. Has 630 carries for 2,402 yards and 33 touchdowns in his nine-year career. More of a running / receiving fullback than a lead-blocker. Named First-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2015. Last year, he accumulated 114 yards on 33 rushing attempts. Will likely have to make a major impression in the summer to make the team. Signed a one-year contract for the veteran minimum.
CB Leonard Johnson
27 years old. 5’10”, 198 pounds. Has played in 62 games with 20 starts in his NFL career. Has five interceptions and 25 defended passes as a professional. Appeared in 10 games with the Panthers a year ago, defending one pass. Projects as Buffalo’s No. 4 or No. 5 cornerback. Contract details are unknown at this time.
WR Corey Washington
25 years old. 6’4”, 200 pounds. Has five catches for 52 yards in his career. Registered those stats with the Giants in 2014. Spent part of the 2016 season on Buffalo’s practice squad. Projects as a camp body for the Bills. Contract details are unknown at this time.
RB Joe Banyard
28 years old. 5’11’, 213 pounds. Has 23 carries for 95 yards in his five-year NFL career. Tie is to Buffalo’s defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, who had Banyard on his roster in 2012 and 2013 with the Vikings. Projects as a camp body for the Bills. Contract details are unknown at this time.