While the NFL’s free-agency period doesn’t begin until March 16 with “legal tampering,” the Buffalo Bills are continuing to tinker with their roster in an effort to retain talent and improve on-field performance in 2020. A day after the announced signing of former Carolina Panthers and Washington cornerback Josh Norman to a 1-year deal, the Bills decided to keep three of their own around.
On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Field Yates reported that Buffalo exercised Spencer Long’s option, keeping the offensive lineman around for 2020. Long played in 14 games in 2019 for Buffalo, but didn’t start a game. Still, 83% of respondents at BuffaloRumblings.com thought the team should keep Long in 2020 along with his approximately $3 million salary.
In addition to those two moves, the Bills re-signed cornerback Levi Wallace and wide receiver Robert Foster. Because both were exclusive rights free agents, Buffalo just needed to offer them a league minimum contract and they wouldn’t be allowed to sign with another team. That’s exactly what they did according to Sal Capaccio of WGR 550.
Wallace started all 16 games last year and came up with two interceptions, nine passes defended, and 76 tackles. Robert Foster only had 3 catches for 64 yards during his sophomore campaign, but he was a steady player on special teams.
The team is still working on the ERFA status of tight end Jason Croom. Surely, they’d like to have him at the league minimum but apparently they may not be able to do that.