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Sports Illustrated has named the Buffalo Bills one of the “winners” in free-agency so far in 2018.
Buffalo made a flurry of moves even before free agency began, trading quarterback Tyrod Taylor and tackle Cordy Glenn, moving up in the first round, and signing veteran DB Vontae Davis. The Bills also got people's attention with their ‘prove it’ contract to AJ McCarron which is very friendly to the team.
Here’s what SI had to say in full:
A big few weeks for the Bills because lest you forget they agreed to terms with Vontae Davis at the end of February. Also, the team shipped left tackle Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and swapped first-round draft picks, which allows Buffalo to move in position to strike for a top-five pick in the NFL draft. Now the Bills hold picks 12 and 22 (along with two picks in rounds two and three each), so all signs point to them using that capital to trade up and grab a top-five pick, allowing them to draft the quarterback of their future.
No, that QB is not A.J. McCarron, who the Bills signed to a low-risk, two-year deal. This allows Buffalo to see if the quarterback they draft in April is the real deal. Wise were the Bills to not reach and overpay for a quarterback in this free-agent class after Kirk Cousins and Case Keenum were off the board.
The draft capital was the best free-agent acquisition the Bills had, but they got plenty more, too. They re-upped veteran defensive tackle Kyle Williams a day after they agreed to sign tackle Star Lotulelei to a five-year deal. Shortly after the Williams’ signing they got Trent Murphy on a three-year deal to really strength their pass rush across the line.
They even got some insurance for Shady McCoy by getting Chris Ivory. Indeed, the Bills have to pick their rookie quarterback correctly for any of this to matter, but the draft isn’t for another six weeks, making them winners today.
Lets see if Brandon Beane can take this momentum from free agency and continue it on into his first draft as an NFL general manager.