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Buffalo Bills Links, 5/24: Will the Bills make a push for Julio Jones?

Plus, setting expectations for Buffalo’s rookie draft class.

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The Buffalo Bills already appear set at the top of their wide receiver depth chart led by All-Pros Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley, along with veteran Emanuel Sanders and emerging second-year pro Gabriel Davis.

But despite this wealth of talent, in today’s edition of the Bills daily links, we speculate on whether general manager Brandon Beane and the Bills should make a play for future Hall of Fame wide receiver Julio Jones, including examining the cap hit that would come with trading for Jones.

We also set the expectations for Buffalo’s eight-man draft class as they head into their rookie seasons and hear from seventh-round draft pick Jack Anderson, who faces an uphill battle to earn a roster spot on a crowded offensive line.

We examine whether the Bills are done adding competition at cornerback, learn about how Buffalo has come to terms with another one of its rookies, run down the lessons learned from Beane’s first four draft classes, analyze how the Bills have found stability and success while the Buffalo Sabres have foundered under the ownership of Terry and Kim Pegula, and more!


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Four Downs: What about cornerback depth for the Buffalo Bills? - Buffalo Rumblings
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Buffalo Bills sign sixth-round pick Damar Hamlin - Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills are inching closer to signing their entire rookie class by finalizing a deal with sixth-round safety Damar Hamlin.

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The versatile piece has become a valuable depth player along the offensive line.

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Comparing Douglas and Lamp, Lamp is clearly the more valued player.

90 Buffalo Bills scouting reports in 90 days: defensive end Mike Love - Buffalo Rumblings
The long-time backup faces an uphill climb to a roster spot.

90 Buffalo Bills scouting reports in 90 days: tight end Nate Becker - Buffalo Rumblings
Lee Smith version 2.0?

Plays that defined 2020: Week 5—Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans - Buffalo Rumblings
The first taste of defeat.

Additional Bills news from around the web

Does it make sense for the Bills to pursue WR Julio Jones?

Is there any chance Buffalo goes after Julio Jones? Offseason mailbag – The Athletic
The Julio Jones question becomes a philosophical discussion of long-term vs. short-term thinking. (Subscription required).

Bills Digest: OTA Attendance Good, Top Priority identified, Odds on Julio Jones and More - Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills News, Analysis and More
Bills’ healthy OTA attendance one of many reasons to feel good about their immediate future.

Expectations for Buffalo’s rookies in 2021

Setting the floor and ceiling for 2021 Bills’ rookie draft picks | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“This year’s rookies come in with an advantage over the 2020 class in that the Bills were able to conduct a rookie minicamp this season,” writes Jay Skurski.

Bills’ seventh-round pick Jack Anderson is ready for a fight - Democrat & Chronicle
Anderson’s best path to making the roster won’t be beating out a starter, it will be proving that he can play multiple positions.

Lessons learned from Brandon Beane’s draft classes

What we’ve learned about Brandon Beane and the NFL Draft in 4 years as Bills GM – The Athletic
Bills GM Brandon Beane just completed his fourth NFL Draft in Buffalo, and some interesting trends have started to emerge. (Subscription required).

While Sabres have foundered, Bills have found stability under Pegulas

Stability and turmoil: Why the Bills have built a championship contender, and why the Sabres have not | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“The Buffalo sports landscape is unique in that its two major league sports franchises are owned by the same people – Terry and Kim Pegula.”

In Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott, Pegulas found stability, responsibility with Bills | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“The Buffalo Bills’ coaching staff is a model of stability. Written five years ago, that sentence would have been laughable,” writes Jay Skurski.

How Bills and Sabres have fared under the Pegulas’ ownership | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“The Bills are 59-48 in the regular season with one division title and three playoff appearances under the Pegulas.”

Landing on Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott wasn’t just dumb luck | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“For all of the heat they’ve taken for repeated missteps with the Sabres, the Pegulas have navigated their football investment exceptionally well – on and off the field,” writes Vic Carucci.

Sixth-round draft pick Damar Hamlin signs with Bills

Bills sign Damar Hamlin to his rookie contract - WGR 550
“The Buffalo Bills have signed safety Damar Hamlin to his four-year rookie contract, the team announced on Friday,” writes Sal Capaccio.

Bills sign rookie safety Damar Hamlin - BuffaloBills.com
Hamlin becomes the sixth rookie to sign his contract.

Odds and ends

Bills Mailbag: What impact will full stadiums have on Josh Allen's performance? | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Jay Skurski answers questions about the tight end situation, the Bills’ depth at linebacker, Ed Oliver's future with the team and more.

Travis Etienne believed Buffalo Bills were planning to draft him at pick 30 - newyorkupstate.com
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the Clemson RB with their second pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Washington: Rousseau was ‘best pre-draft interview’ in years - WGR 550
Buffalo Bills defensive line coach Eric Washington says Gregory Rousseau was the team’s best pre-NFL Draft interview in “several years.” The clip is from the Bills’ YouTube series, “Bills Embedded.”

The softer side of a Bills defensive lineman - WKBW TV
“A member of the Buffalo Bills is keeping busy helping local children during the offseason.”