Buffalo Bills training camp roster preview: Specialists

The Buffalo Bills entered the 2020 season with some question marks in the kicking game. They don’t have those same question marks in 2021, but there is a new face in the meeting room.

In our latest look at the State of the Buffalo Bills roster, we profile the specialists.

Tyler Bass

Contract status for 2021: Signed; second year of rookie contract ($826,054 cap hit; $138,164 if cut)
Age: Turned 25 on 2/14/2022
2020 Playing time: 16 games, 184 ST snaps (40.98 percent)
Key 2020 statistics: 28/34 field goals made (82.4 percent), 57/59 extra points made (96.6 percent), 141 total points, 101 kickoffs, 71 touchbacks, 64 yards per kickoff, 30 returns allowed, 537 return yards allowed, one tackle

After a slow start, Bass settled in and had not only a historic rookie season for a Bills rookie, but a historic season period, as he set franchise records in made extra-points and total points scored. Bass began the year by missing five of his first 17 field goals in Buffalo’s first seven contests. From that point forward, including the playoffs, Bass missed just three of 26 attempts. He was consistently excellent on kickoffs and, as he became more confident and comfortable, he became essentially automatic on field goals from nearly any distance. It took a little time, but it’s clear that the Bills found a good one.

Reid Ferguson

Contract status for 2021: Signed three-year contract extension this offseason ($1.284 million cap hit, $800k dead money if cut)
Age: Turned 27 on 3/24/2021
2020 Playing time: 16 games, 128 ST snaps (28.51 percent)
Key 2020 statistics: Two tackles, zero snaps mishandled, zero errant snaps

Mr. Snap Flow himself was excellent again in 2020, showing that the best long-snappers are the ones you don’t notice on game day. Ferguson is great at what he does and the Bills made him the highest-paid snapper in the NFL this offseason.

Matt Haack

Contract status for 2021: Signed three-year free agent deal this offseason ($1.575 million cap hit, $2.25 million dead cap)
Age: 26 (27 on 7/25/21)
2020 Playing time: 16 games, 152 ST snaps (33.55 percent) for Miami Dolphins
Key 2020 statistics: 68 punts, 44.7 yards per punt, 1 kickoff

Haack was signed this offseason to replace Corey Bojorquez, who may have priced himself out of the Bills’ locker room based on reports. Haack is more of a placement punter than a big leg. With guaranteed money into the second year of the deal, he would have to fall flat on his face to not make the roster this fall.

Players who left this offseason

• Punter Corey Bojorquez (Signed with Los Angeles Rams)

Ferguson is steadfast and says he wants to set the Bills’ franchise record for games played in the future. Bass got over his early growing pains to become a solid contributor. Haack is the question mark, but after four solid seasons for the Dolphins, he’s not much of one. General manager Brandon Beane put together a nice trio of specialists and they haven’t felt the need to bring in any training camp bodies.