The Bills face a number of tough decisions this offseason as they try to keep one of the league’s most complete rosters intact. One key piece to their league-leading defense is cornerback Levi Wallace, who is a pending free agent. As ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg writes, though, the Bills will look to re-sign him. 
[Related: Tre’Davious White On Track To Return In 2022]
Wallace joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has started every game he’s appeared in since, however, proving his value to the team. He was counted on in the latter portion of this season in particular, after losing two-time Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White to a torn ACL in November.
Wallace stepped up in White’s absence, putting together arguably the best season of his career. He totalled 58 tackles, two interceptions and a personal-best 10 pass breakups. In coverage, he allowed a completion percentage of 58%, and a passer rating of 72.6, also the best mark of his NFL tenure to date. Overall, Wallace contributed to the Bills defense topping the league in both points (17) and yards (273) allowed per game in 2021.
When asked about the 26-year-old, general manager Brandon Beane said, “he’s a guy we’ll definitely talk to and would love to get him back if he wants to be back”. Even if White does return to full strength, both Wallace and backup Siran Neal are pending free agents, so Beane acknowledged that “cornerback is an area he would look at in free agency”. With the 25th pick in the draft, Buffalo could also be well suited to add a corner, given the depth of that position in this year’s class.
With Buffalo’s limited cap space, and other financial moves which need to be made – including with Stefon Diggs – Wallace could very well find better offers elsewhere. If the Bills are able to keep him, though, he would help the team maintain a highly productive CB tandem, and stay in Super Bowl contention.
He’s a second-line player at best, but my guess is some other team will pony up the big bucks and tell fans he’s a starter. Not a terrible player for the right price, but no hall of famer, either.
Bold take. You could say that about 90% of the league.
I’m afraid the Bills missed their best chance at a championship this year. They were a squib kick away from playing in the AFC Championship game and they matched up much better against the Bengals than the Chiefs did. Allen would have undressed the Rams D-Line with his running abilities too.
Now the Bills are in cap purgatory with a lot of talented players up for new deals. They are definitely going to lose some key pieces from their 2021 team, so they’ll either need to re-do a bunch of existing deals to free up some cap space or draft extremely well in order to repeat their 2021 success. They should still win the AFC East and will still be a tough out in the playoffs but it sure feels like they had their chance to win it all this year and they let it slip through their fingers.
Disagreed. Sure, they missed a great shot. But Allen’s high end play is about as good as anyone’s in the NFL right now, so he can certainly catch fire in the playoffs enough to go all the way. They have a bunch of free agents, but most of them are of replaceable quality. Who needs a new deal this offseason that’s really good and hard to replace? We’re not talking about their highest-level contributors. They could use some youth and depth in the secondary, offensive line, and receiving corps, but it’s not like they’re bad in any of those areas. They have a great WR1 and CB1 and a bunch of cost-controlled young pass rushing talent in addition to Allen, plus a full slate of draft picks. That should buy them more shots unless the loss of Daboll kneecaps the offense, which I doubt. They could use some guard and defensive tackle help, but those are positions you can find with middle round picks.
That looks like a really well run and well set up franchise to me. And I’m a Jets fan, so none of this is homerism.