Niagara Gazette

‘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.’

‘The moves are projected to save Buffalo $36.283 million in cap space and are now roughly $6 million over the cap.’

‘Brian Thomas Jr., LSU: Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and Washington’s Rome Odunze — the first two didn’t partake in drills — are still separate from the rest of the receiver class, but Thomas may have inched closer to the pack and further from being available late in the first round.’

‘Hines is set to be owed $5.16 million next season and the Bills can save $4.66 million by releasing him prior to June 1, according to overthecap.com. Hines was acquired by the Bills from Indianapolis before the trade deadline in 2022, but never became a major part of the offense.’

‘Florida State’s Keon Coleman, Oregon’s Troy Franklin, Texas’ Adonai Mitchell and LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. all have a chance to be first-round picks and all of them confirmed meeting with Buffalo, as did South Carolina’s Xavier Legette and Texas’ Xavier Worthy.’

‘Hyde and Poyer are coach Sean McDermott’s most beloved players and not just because they’ve been with him since he arrived in Buffalo in 2017 nor because the Bills have played without both just four times since then. The duo has the instincts, intelligence and toughness McDermott covets in safeties.’