Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Samuel, Diggs and Shakir could be a dynamic threesome, and signing free agent Mack Hollins adds to the depth, plus gives the Bills a big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds. If 2023 fifth-round pick Justin Shorter, who missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, turns out to be useful, the Bills are in good shape for 2024, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t draft a receiver.’

‘The deal is reportedly three years in length and worth up to $24 million with $15 million guaranteed, and it could climb to $30 million through incentives, a pretty big expenditure for a team that remains hard against the NFL’s salary cap.’

‘Hollins is 30 years old and has had only one season in his NFL career which began in 2017 where he was a productive member of an offense. That came in 2022 in his one season with the Raiders when he caught 57 passes for 690 yards and four touchdowns.’

‘General manager Brandon Beane made it clear that he was prioritizing getting some of Buffalo’s own free agents back in the fold and he has succeeded with six – defensive linemen A.J. Epenesa and DaQuan Jones, defensive backs Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis, offensive lineman David Edwards, and tight end Quintin Morris.’

‘Buffalo got an up close look at Morrow in each of the last two seasons. Last year he was in on 12 tackles in helping Philadelphia defeat the Bills 37-34 in overtime. In 2022, Morrow made a team-high eight tackles and intercepted Josh Allen during the Bears’ 35-13 loss to the Bills. He also played as a backup against the Bills as a member of the Raiders in 2020.’

‘The big announcement was a three-year, $60.5 million contract extension for left tackle Dion Dawkins, a move that served the dual purpose of locking him up through 2027 while also freeing up what could be as much as $7 million in cap space.’

‘Now the Bills are very close and there are still moves to make – specifically re-working quarterback Josh Allen who will provide more $22 million in cap relief when Beane inevitably converts most of his base salary to bonus. That alone will get them comfortably under with money to make signings, but more restructures – possibly offensive lineman Dion Dawkins and nickel corner Taron Johnson – could still come.’

‘The Bills can’t dip into the top end of the edge rusher market, but Uche would be an intriguing and potentially affordable option. The 26-year-old Patriots’ 2020 second-round pick is 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, and he’s a bit of a hybrid edge rusher/outside linebacker which could present some interesting usage options for defensive coordinator Bobby Babich.’

‘Trading Ryan Bates cut into the Bills’ interior line depth, so bringing back Edwards makes sense. He hardly played at all in the traditional guard spot, but he was used for more than 130 snaps as a blocking tight end. He made $1.7 million last year, so with an increase, the Bills might go a different way (they seem to like Alec Anderson), but I think quality veteran depth is worth it, especially since it’s unlikely the Bills’ line will have the same incredibly good luck regarding injuries as it did in 2023.’

‘The big move, and the most obvious, will be converting most of Josh Allen’s scheduled base salary of $23.5 million into a bonus and push that money into the future, a transaction that will open up around $22.7 million. This has become a necessary evil with the Allen contract because his cap hits are enormous now that his $258 million extension signed in 2021 is in full bloom.’

‘So Diggs remains the No. 1 receiver, but the Bills have a dearth on the depth chart. They are prepared to lose Gabe Davis in free agency, Trent Sherfield is also a free agent who likely won’t return, and it’s very possible they cut Deonte Harty in order to save about $4.2 million on their tight salary cap.’

‘If not one of them, the free agent QB market is filled with veterans who would fit well behind a QB who never misses games, guys like Sam Darnold, Jacoby Brissett, Tyler Huntley, Carson Wentz, Gardner Minschew, Jake Browning, Tyrod Taylor and Marcus Mariota. But the salary range for them would likely land between $1.5 million and $5 million on a one-year deal.’

‘They really like coach Sean McDermott and owner Terry Pegula (these were new categories this year) and they really don’t like the team’s travel situation, and the job it does advising on nutrition and diet.’

‘Brandon Beane, about to conduct his seventh draft as the Bills’ GM, knows this, too, which is why he is facing so much pressure in 2024 because with his team in such a difficult position because of its bloated salary cap, he acknowledged, “We’re going to need to hit this draft and we need to hit every draft.”’

‘But the NFL Draft has become a cottage industry and mock drafts drive traffic to content sites, and I know there are many of you out there who are fascinated by what draft experts think the Buffalo Bills will do in the first round come late April, even right now. So in that vein, here are a few of the guesses that are being made regarding what Brandon Beane will do with the 28th overall pick.’