Niagara Gazette

‘Buffalo, like most teams, have kept special teams-only players on the roster like linebacker Tyler Matakevich and cornerback Siran Neal. Two years ago, running back Taiwan Jones played on the team in two stints over five seasons as a special teams ace. More than 75% of Neal’s career snaps came on special teams since being drafted by the Bills in 2018. After signing with Buffalo in 2020, Matakevich appeared in every game, playing 1,490 snaps and only 2.8% came on defense, while only five of Jones’ 820 snaps from 2020-2022 came on offense.’

‘“I think we’re a work in progress roster wise when you look at it,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said Monday at the NFL owners meetings. “… We’re not content with being where we are and you’ve constantly got to reinvent yourself, evolve both schematically and roster-wise, trying to stay ahead of it. When people want you to zig, you zag and I think that’s the importance of evolving in this situation.”’

‘Johnson will turn 30 years old in May and has made 241 tackles and eight sacks over eight NFL seasons with the Titans, New York Giants and the last two with the Los Angeles Chargers. At 6-foot-4, 314 pounds, Johnson has started all 42 games played over the last three seasons.’

‘The Bills announced Edwards signed a one-year deal with the team Wednesday after winning Super Bowls with the Chiefs and Buccaneers during his five-year career. But Edwards has been a full-time starter once in his career and it led to a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chiefs last season.’

‘PSLs are something fans purchase in order to eventually purchase season tickets. The Bills have more than 60,000 season ticket holders and thousands more on a waiting list, but the PSL numbers have not been released, which could impact who follows through on season tickets.’

‘Seven of Buffalo’s 12 signings during free agency have been re-signings. They also gave Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins a three-year extension to free up cap space, while giving All-Pro cornerback Taron Johnson a three-year, $31 million extension Monday that should create more than $4 million in salary cap space. Meanwhile, two key players with a year left on their contracts are now signed through 2027.’

‘Each offseason since being drafted in the fourth round in 2018, Johnson rarely had to question who was going to start alongside him. Four of Buffalo’s five starting defensive backs on opening day last year had been with the team since 2018, but now he’s the last man left.’

‘Samuel is predominantly a slot receiver, but he also has the tools to be the jig-saw player the Bills thought Harty could be after signing him to a two-year, $9 million deal last season. A high school running back, Samuel can play in the slot, wide and in the backfield, something he did often at Ohio State and more frequently over the last four years of his pro career.’

‘Used frequently in the slot at 5-feet-11, 195 pounds, the 27-year-old has 317 receptions for 3,383 yards and 22 touchdowns. He played his first four seasons in Carolina and the last four in Washington.’

‘At 6-foot-4, 221 pounds, Hollins has 131 receptions for 1,691 yards and 10 touchdowns during stints with the Eagles, Dolphins, Raiders and Falcons. He played 94% of the offensive snaps with the Raiders in 2022, but has never reached 50% in any other season, although he has been a special teams ace, making 27 career tackles.’

‘Epenesa, 25, didn’t know what to expect or who was going to be interested, while the 32-year-old Jones entered free agency for the fourth time in his career. Now one player is looking to take the next step in his career, while the other is attempting to bounce back from an injury and close his career with a championship.’

‘The reality was that Dawkins was owed $16.609 million in the final year of his contract and it would have cost the Bills $11.739 million to cut him. Now Dawkins, who says he had the best year of his career last year at 29 years old, is locked in until 2027 and saves the Bills roughly $7 million in cap space for 2024.’

‘Rapp re-signed on a three-year contract worth $10.625 million, with $4.85 million guaranteed and a $2 million signing bonus. He joined the Bills on a one-year deal last season, making 50 tackles in 16 games and four starts.’

‘1. Cookie Gilchrist, 1962.’

‘None of the players released had equal or greater value than they did a year ago and three are already over 30 or will be by the start of training camp, while White would turn 30 by season’s end. Injuries caught up to some like Poyer and White, while others like Deonte Harty and Nyheim Hines never found roles in the offense.’