It didn’t take long for Brian Winters to find a new gig. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the veteran offensive lineman has signed with the Bills. He’ll receive a one-year deal worth $3MM, including $2MM guaranteed.
Winters joins Buffalo after getting surprisingly cut by the rival Jets yesterday. The veteran had been the Jets’ starting right guard since 2013, but it was clear that Greg Van Roten had the inside track at the starting job. In an act of good faith, the Jets let go of Winters so he could find a starting gig elsewhere (as ESPN’s Rich Cimini passed along yesterday). Of course, the move also cleared more than $7MM on the Jets’ books.
Winters will have a good chance to start in Buffalo, especially following news that Jon Feliciano has been sidelined with a pectoral tear. Winters was limited to only nine games last season after suffering a shoulder injury, but he averaged 14.5 games per season between 2015 and 2018. While Buffalo could turn to the likes of Spencer Long or Daryl Williams to fill in for Feliciano, Winters’ experience and dependability will likely earn him the bulk of playing time.
Feliciano suffered a torn pectoral muscle and underwent surgery Friday, the team announced. Feliciano started in all 17 Bills games for the Bills last season. The former fourth-round pick will be a free agent in 2021.
Rapoport notes that Winters had a number of suitors, but the Bills moved quickly to sign the 29-year-old.
One mans mans garbage is another mans garbage
You’re still around?
Yep COVID didn’t kill me
An interesting interpretation of the word “ghost” I see.
Buffalo Bills SPRING into action and this SUMMER add WINTERS for FALL.
Winters was surprisingly cut? You guys have written several articles about how the Jets needed to cut him and it was surprising they were keeping him.
I know, I never particularly understood that. The Jets were insistent on cutting Winters despite being in need of quality linemen and Winters has been their best one lately. His cap hit was higher than they would have liked, but I never quite understood the “need” to be rid of him. I suppose that it was surprising that they ended up doing it now after appearing to have changed their minds about it?
Excellent move by the Bills in the wake of Feliciano’s injury. Winters is nothing special by any means, but he can provide average protection on the interior and allow the Bills to preserve Williams and Long as depth pieces. Plus, they nabbed him from a division rival. Maybe that’ll serve as extra motivation when battling the Jets
Last few years he’s had health issues. Wasn’t worth the 7 mil the Jets would have had to pay him but I’m sure the Bills are patting him much less.