Offseason Priorities: Addressing the CB and WR Rooms
The Buffalo Bills need to make some additions at the cornerback and wide receiver positions in free agency or the draft. If they do it this week, there are a few players I like, but the price will be a major deciding factor in who they bring in.
The cornerback position has some premier names available, some relatively young to hit the free agent market. Buffalo needs to decide on how they want to proceed with their CB2 position with the assumed departure of Rasul Douglas and the trade rumors surrounding Kaiir Elam. Will Buffalo bring in veteran help on a one-year deal or look for a young player to fill the spot for the foreseeable future?
Wide receiver is a position of need again as Buffalo currently has six receivers under contract, three of whom were practice squad regulars. With the unknown status of Mack Hollins and the assumed departure of Amari Cooper, the Bills need to bring in at least one outside receiver, preferably with speed. They must also add receivers who can separate and improve the offense’s ability to beat man coverage. There are a couple of receivers in free agency who I believe can bring these skills, but I expect Buffalo will be looking at the receiver position early in the draft again.
Below are some players at both positions that I like in free agency and some that I view as higher-risk signings. I would prefer to see Buffalo avoid the higher-risk group, so I highlighted a few players I believe can be signed in free agency and immediately impact the team. I will use the Spotracs market value tool for each player's contract numbers. All signings are meant to be viewed independently as potential fits for the Bills.
Cornerbacks I Like
Asante Samuel Jr. - Samuel is a player I liked out of college and is hitting free agency after an injury plagued 2024 season. His market value is around $11.5 million, a reasonable price for a young corner that could be here for a few years lined up next to Christian Benford. Having Samuel slide into a CB2 role in the Buffalo secondary would be an instant upgrade.
Darius Slay - Slay only makes sense on a one-year deal if he’s open to much lower salary than the $14 million AAV he was under contract with in Philadelphia. He would be a good veteran to have compete for the CB2 spot in training camp and allow a draft pick to learn behind him.
Charvarius Ward - Like Samuel, signing Ward would be an immediate upgrade to the Bills secondary. He has played in three Super Bowls, winning the 2019 Championship with the Chiefs. His playoff experience, on top of his coverage skills, would be a great asset to the CB2 spot. With a market value of $15 million AAV, this would be an expensive investment that would need to be considered in the contract the team offers to Benford, who should remain their top corner.
Signed a 3-year/$60 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts on March 10th
Wide Receivers I Like
Dyami Brown - Brown came into his own this past season in the Commanders’ offense and has the speed to stretch the field. Something that the Buffalo offense needs to add this offseason. At 25 years old with a current market value of $2 million AAV, he could be a cheap option with a lot of upside for Buffalo to take a flier on.
Signed a 1-year/$10 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 10th
Greg Dortch - Dortch is a small shifty receiver but he gets open quickly because of his elite route running. This would be a signing to compliment the group as a WR4 or WR5. His market value is $3.3 million AAV and will only be 27 at the start of the season.
Cooper Kupp - I assume Kupp is cut before the league year starts. If he is, I would love to see him come to Buffalo. His market value is $11 million AAV and he will be 32 at the start of the season. I believe he is eager to prove his doubters wrong, and gives the receiver group a dynamic pass catcher for a year or two.
High Risk Signings
D.J. Reed - Reed is going to be an expensive player with a market value of $14.7 million AAV. There may be some bias on my end as I recall Reed being penalized frequently in his matchups vs the Bills since joining the Jets. He will also be turning 30 this season and I am assuming he will be looking for another big contract to finish his career on. All of these along with the culture clash of the Bills and Jets has me out on him being signed.
Signed a 3-year/$48 million contract with the Detroit Lions on March 10th
Darius Slayton - Slayton has the field stretching ability that the Bills covet, but his market value of nearly $16 million AAV scares me away. That’s top 25 receiver money for a player who hasn’t eclipsed 50 receptions or 775 receiving yards in a season. Inconsistent quarterback play in New York could play a role in this but I would rather play it safe if I am the Bills.
Re-signed a 3-year/$36 million contract with the New York Giants March 10th
Ideal Scenario
Sign Asante Samuel to a 3-year deal and extend Christian Benford to have a young cornerback duo locked up in the prime of their careers. If Kupp is released, add him on a 2-year deal to finish his career in Buffalo and sign Dyami Brown to a one-year deal with the plan to draft another receiver in the upcoming draft. Go Bills!
