‘“Those are necessary evils, if you will, that you’ve got to go through sometimes,” McDermott said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. “You’d like to have more flexibility — whether it’s cap, draft capital, so it is nice to be in a position now where we can move forward and continue to climb and get this organization where we’re trying to get it to and give the fans what they so much desire in Western New York.”’
Archives for March 10, 2019
Free agency preview: Tight end addition would give Bills versatility
‘The tight end crop in free agency is thin. The tight end crop in the draft is deep, especially with pass-catching prospects.’
Bills’ free-agent shopping list: LB, CB might be best of what remaining positions offer
‘An obvious candidate is Anthony Barr of the Minnesota Vikings. While his early tenure might be spent answering questions about when Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdled him to pick up a first down last September, Barr could be a good fit in Buffalo. He has shown effectiveness in rushing the quarterback, where Alexander has excelled in his time with the Bills, and in pass coverage.’
One-on-One Coverage: Micah Hyde ready to help Bills find focus, identity
‘“Defensively, we had some ups and downs,” Hyde said. “Offensively, we were trying to find a quarterback. And special teams, it was the same thing; we weren’t really sure what our identity was. So I think, going into this season, we need to find that identity quicker, in training camp, so in Week 1 we’re ready to go.”’
With 1 TE on the roster, the Bills need to upgrade; here are 8 free agents to consider
‘“You want to make sure you’ve got the young quarterback, or any quarterback, protected,” McDermott said, referring to tight ends who can block. “If you start there and start building out from there, the tight end is an important position for a quarterback. You see how that helps a young quarterback whether he becomes a security blanket, he can turn a 5-yard completion into a 15-yard gain. Obviously, the work on third down and in the red zone, I think it goes without saying how important the position is.”’
Ralph Wilson’s local impact
‘The foundation’s generous grants have helped grow both the community garden and STEM education at Wellsville Secondary School with its STEM 2035 grant. The foundation started with a total of $1.3 billion to spend-down over 20 years (by 2035) and focuses its impact on Western New York and Southeast Michigan.’
What Bills fans can look for in the 2019 free agency period
‘“We have money, but we have to be judicious and cautious with it,” Beane said. “You can’t go on spending sprees for two reasons. You don’t want to overpay guys because then they can’t live up to expectations and two you don’t want to get into the cap hole we were in before. We also want to grow our own, so we have to be smart.”’