During this offseason, the Buffalo Bills lost Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin to big-money free agent contracts. They were able to sign a few receivers for less money, but head coach Sean McDermott doesn’t seem to think that will be a problem.
At the NFL owner meetings, AFC coaches had breakfast with the media on Tuesday and one answer from McDermott raising eyebrows is his take on the wide receiver position. He told the assembled media that Buffalo’s number two receiver is already on the roster.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for Bills fans. Woods (first) and Goodwin (third) paced the Bills in receiving yards last year while Sammy Watkins dealt with injury. The Bills still have Dezmin Lewis, Walter Powell, Kolby Listenbee, and Brandon Tate and added Philly Brown, Andre Holmes, Jeremy Butler, and Corey Washington this offseason, but they haven’t exactly set the world on fire.
The best season among the bunch is Holmes’ 2014 season in Oakland. He caught 47 passes for 693 yards and 4 touchdowns opposite that team’s number 1 receiver, James Jones. Next is Philly Brown’s 31 catches for 447 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2015 for the Carolina Panthers. Neither were able to come close to their production the next year.
There is also the chance that McDermott is bluffing during pre-draft season to get other teams to think they won’t take a receiver. We will have to wait and see for April’s NFL Draft.