Lost in the shuffle of updates regarding the defensive tackles on the Buffalo Bills’ roster was some news from ESPN’s Mike Rodak. The Bills tendered four exclusive rights free agents on Tuesday, ensuring that they will have continuity at three positions on the roster heading into training camp.
Tight ends Nick O’Leary and Logan Thomas, cornerback Lafayette Pitts, and defensive end Eddie Yarbrough were all tendered on Tuesday, which ensures that the Bills will retain their rights for the 2018 NFL season.
Of course, the Bills could choose to part ways with any of the four players, but such a decision would appear to be unlikely based on last season’s usage and the current roster. Pitts joins Tre’Davious White, Vontae Davis, and Breon Borders as the only corners under contract right now. Yarbrough was a solid rotational player last season, and he fits well with Jerry Hughes and Ryan Davis. O’Leary and Thomas give the Bills the same tight end group as they had heading into last season.
Exclusive rights free agents are players who have a total of zero to two years of service accrued. The tender is equivalent to the league’s minimum salary at their experience level as dictated by the collective bargaining agreement. They must sign the tender; otherwise, they are forced to sit out a year. They would not gain an additional year of service time by sitting out.
- TE Nick O’Leary (two seasons): $630,000
- CB Lafayette Pitts (two seasons): $630,000
- TE Logan Thomas (two seasons): $630,000
- DE Eddie Yarbrough (one season): $555,000
Bringing all four players back into the fold gives the Bills some solid roster depth at an incredibly cheap price. The low impact to the salary cap helps general manager Brandon Beane to continue wheeling and dealing as he retools Buffalo’s roster.