Archives for April 2017

'Yes, the Bills have Mike Tolbert, Joe Banyard and Cedric O'Neal behind LeSean McCoy, but letting Gillislee go to the Patriots may speak to the confidence the team has second year running back Jonathan Williams. Williams only had 24 carries in his rookie season, but it wasn't long ago that Williams was among the best running backs in the SEC. A foot injury sidelined Williams in his final season at Arkansas, but in 2014 he rushed for 1,190 yards and 12 touchdowns while forcing 44 missed tackles.'

'With the Bills' added pick and the draft just a few days away, here is our latest crack at guessing which NFL Draft prospects will become Buffalo Bills this weekend.'

'Without Gillislee, the Bills now have a need for depth at running back. LeSean McCoy is one of the best running backs in the league, but the depth chart is thin behind him. Veteran Mike Tolbert will get some time at running back as will Jonathan Williams, a fifth-round pick in 2016. Behind them, Joe Banyard and Cedric O'Neil are the only two running backs on the roster.'

'Sean McDermott has preached character early on in his tenure as Bills head coach. He wants to change the culture by bringing in the right type of people. Kelly doesn't fit.'

'Buffalo will receive a fifth-round pick from the Patriots, the 163d overall, in this week’s draft as compensation for the 26-year-old Gillislee.'

'Gillislee signed his offer sheet last Tuesday, and the deal includes $4 million for the 2017 season. Shortly thereafter, a source told the Herald the Bills indicated they wouldn’t match the offer, but they held off until yesterday’s deadline before informing Gillislee of their final decision. It was almost certainly a tactic to prevent Gillislee from joining the Patriots as quickly as possible, especially a year after the Bills immediately declined to match wide receiver Chris Hogan’s offer sheet.'

'In Gillislee, the Patriots land one of the most efficient running backs (success on a per-carry basis) last season, completing a now-crowded backfield that consists of Dion Lewis, James White and free agent signing Rex Burkhead.'

'The Patriots structured this deal in a way that made it tough for the Bills to match. Buffalo has around $10.7 million in cap space and since the Patriots’ offer gives Gillislee $4 million this season, it would’ve left their division foes with little cap space heading into the draft.'

'The bulk of Gillislee’s production came last season when he appeared in 15 games, starting one, gaining 577 yards on 101 carries (a 5.7-yard average) and eight touchdowns, and caught nine passes for 50 yards and one TD as a complement to LeSean McCoy.'

'This marks the second straight year that the Patriots have plucked a talented player away from Buffalo. Last March, the Patriots signed restricted free agent Chris Hogan away from the Bills with an offer that would have been salary-cap poison in Orchard Park.'

'Those poor Bills. Buffalo declined to match the Patriots’ offer to Gillislee (two years, $6.4 million), making him the latest in an ever-growing line of players to change sides in the AFC East rivalry. Wide receiver Chris Hogan swapped Bills Mafia for Patriots Nation when he signed with New England last offseason, and highly touted cornerback Stephon Gilmore followed suit when he inked a five-year, $65 million contract last month. Hogan, like Gillislee, was a restricted free agent, while Gilmore was unrestricted.'

'Gillislee was reportedly extended an offer sheet by the Patriots that is worth $6.4 million and $4 million in the first year. The Bills had the cap space to match the offer, but with LeSean McCoy already atop their depth chart, the price tag may have been too rich for them to choose to hold onto the 26-year-old.'

'Gillislee is the only true in between the tackles back and figures to get most of the carries in obvious running situations.'

'Overall, Gillislee has played in 23 NFL games with two starts and has 154 rushing attempts for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns and 15 receptions for 79 yards with one touchdown.'

'Gillislee's addition increases the likelihood unrestricted free agent LeGarrette Blount won't be re-signed after leading New England in rushing last season. The Patriots now have six running backs under contract.'