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Buffalo Bills News & Rumors

Patriots To Sign WR Jordan Matthews

April 5th, 2018 at 7:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots are signing former Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews to a one-year deal, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Matthews had a down year due to injury, but Schefter hears that Matthews is now back to full health. 

Matthews met with the Patriots on Monday and left town without signing a deal. He met with the Titans later on in the week, but he has circled back to New England for a prove-it contract. Matthews also had a visit with the Packers in this free agency cycle and drew interest from the Cardinals.

From 2014-16, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns per season for the Eagles. He had just 25 catches for Buffalo last season, but he could be primed for big numbers once again in the Patriots’ potent offense. He’ll help the Pats in their bid to replace Danny Amendola‘s production, though he offers a decidedly different skill set.

The Patriots shook up their WR depth chart this week by trading No. 1 receiver Brandin Cooks to the Rams for a first-round pick. For now, the Pats’ WR group consists of Chris Hogan, Julian Edelman, Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, Malcolm Mitchell, and Matthews. All of those players are solid in their own right, but the Pats will probably continue to evaluate high-potential receivers in this month’s draft.

Texans Sign QB Joe Webb

April 5th, 2018 at 3:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans have signed quarterback Joe Webb, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s a one-year deal worth $1.015MM. 

The Texans already had Brandon Weeden and Taylor Heinicke under contract as backups to Deshaun Watson, but Webb gives them an additional option to look at. In theory, Webb could also stick as a special teams contributor and/or a wide receiver given his past experience.

Last year, the 31-year-old appeared in all 16 games for the Bills, plus their Wild Card loss to the Jaguars. He played 39 snaps on offense during the regular season and 278 special teams snaps. His last significant action as a quarterback came in 2010 with the Vikings when he filled in for an injured Brett Favre.

The departure of Webb marks the sixth unrestricted free agent loss for the Bills this offseason.

Bills OL Richie Incognito Fires Agent

April 5th, 2018 at 11:01am CST by Zachary Links

Richie Incognito has fired his agent in unusual fashion. The Bills guard, apparently, dismissed his representative via Twitter on Thursday.

“You are fired!,” Incognito wrote in a tweet at-mentioning agency Athletes First. “I wish you guys nothing but the best moving forward. Thank you for all of your help and guidance along the way. It’s time for me to go in a new direction.”

The fashion in which Incognito has chosen to dismiss his agency is notable, but so is the timing. After delivering three straight Pro Bowl seasons since landing in Buffalo, Incognito agreed to rework his contract in March to reduce his base salary from $6.325MM to $3.65MM. In the process, he picked up a $1MM bonus, though that doesn’t quite bridge the full gap. The move allowed the team to create an additional $1.675MM in cap space.

It’s possible that Incognito feels that he received poor advice from his agents this offseason. Last year, Incognito graded out as the 12th best guard in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, which doesn’t exactly scream pay cut. In any case, the 34-year-old (35 in July) will enter his contract year with new representation.

NFL Draft Rumors: Vander Esch, Steelers, Bills

April 4th, 2018 at 5:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest NFL Draft news:

  • Linked to Leighton Vander Esch for several weeks this offseason, the Steelers met with the Boise State outside linebacker on Monday night, Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst reports. Pittsburgh has used first-round picks on either inside or outside ‘backers in four of its past five drafts. Three of those players remain on the team, but only two will be able to play this season. Ryan Shazier has been declared out as he attempts to recover from his frightening spine injury. Pauline wrote in March that Vander Esch won’t get past Pittsburgh at No. 28.
  • Next up for Vander Esch met the Cowboys on Wednesday morning, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. After that, he has the Cardinals and every team picking between No. 12 to No. 24, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Aside from the aforementioned clubs, the teams picking from No. 12-24 are the Bills (twice), Redskins, Packers, Ravens, Chargers, Seahawks, Lions, Bengals, Bills, Patriots, and Panthers.
  • LSU pass-rusher Arden Key met with the Saints and Lions before his pro day on Wednesday and will visit with the Bengals on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Due to injuries, key only started in eight games last year, but he still finished out with 33 tackles, 5.5 for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. He is widely projected to be a first round pick later this month.

Bills Still Eyeing Trade-Up For QB

April 4th, 2018 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Additionally, Mehta notes the Patriots are fans of Mayfield. And after their Brandin Cooks trade, they have a major additional resource — the Rams’ No. 23 overall pick — to attempt a possible trade-up to acquire a quarterback. Said passer, investment-wise, would be the franchise’s most significant effort to appoint a Tom Brady successor. Mehta adds the Bills remain in hot pursuit of a trade into the franchise-quarterback sector of the draft. And Buffalo’s stockpile of picks may be enough to outflank the Patriots, whom Mehta does not expect to be able to strike a deal with the Giants for the No. 2 selection.

Bills Sign DE Terrence Fede

April 4th, 2018 at 9:25am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills have signed free agent defensive end Terrence Fede, the club announced today. It’s a one-year deal, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

Buffalo already has a good deal of depth on the edge, as the team signed former Redskins pass rusher Trent Murphy earlier this offseason, adding him to a rotation that also includes Jerry Hughes and Shaq Lawson. Fede, then, isn’t likely to see much time as a rotational option, but the Bills should be familiar with what they’re getting. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald notes (Twitter link), former Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey drafted Fede in 2014, and now works in Buffalo’s scouting department.

While Fede has never started a contest during his four-year career, the 26-year-old does offer 51 games of reserve experience. In 2017, Fede played on just 16% of Miami’s defensive snaps, but saw action on a whopping 75% of the club’s special teams snaps. In total, Fede — a former seventh-round pick — managed seven tackles and one fumble recovery a season ago.

Titans Meet With Jordan Matthews

April 3rd, 2018 at 10:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans will meet with wide receiver Jordan Matthews, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Matthews previously visited with the Packers and Patriots and, at least at one point, had an offer from the Cardinals. 

The former Bills and Eagles receiver made a name for himself at Vanderbilt, which is a stone’s throw away from Nissan Stadium, so a return to Tennessee could hold appeal for him. The Titans would also give him an opportunity to shine with alongside Rishard Matthews and 2017 first-round pick Corey Davis.

From 2014-16, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns for the Eagles. Last year, however, he had only 25 catches in ten games for the Bills last year thanks to knee and ankle injuries. A one-year deal would make sense for him since he could restore his value with a big 2018.

Last year, the Titans posted the eighth-fewest receiving yards in the NFL and they’re looking to improve on that figure in the fall. With dynamic rusher Derrick Henry keeping defenses honest, that won’t be hard to do with the right personnel at wide receiver.

Contract Details: Texans, Weeden, Bills

April 3rd, 2018 at 7:21pm CST by Zachary Links

A deeper look at some recent free agent deals:

  • Quarterback Brandon Weeden‘s contract with the Texans is for one year at a rate of $880K. The deal includes $230K in guaranteed cash between $140K of his base being assured and a $90K signing bonus. Weeden has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for Dallas and two for the Texans. The 34-year-old (35 in October) has a career 6-19 record.
  • Linebacker Will Compton’s one-year deal with the Titans can be worth up to $2MM, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. The deal included a $250K signing bonus. As Keim notes, that’s a solid contract for Compton considering that shoulder and Lisfranc injuries held him back in 2017. With the Titans, he’ll have an opportunity to reassert himself and potentially start.
  • The Bills’ contracts signed last week with cornerback Phillip Gaines and wide receiver/punt returner Kaelin Clay were both for one year at minimum salaries, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. Gaines is not well regarded by the advanced metrics, but he was a pivotal reserve for Kansas City from 2014-2017 and started some games last year due to Steven Nelson‘s injury.

Patriots To Meet With WR Jordan Matthews

April 2nd, 2018 at 4:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews will meet with the Patriots on Monday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Cardinals free agent tight end Troy Niklas is also meeting with the Pats, Yates adds. 

Matthews met with the Packers and Cardinals in March, but left both visits without signing a deal. This time last year, the 25-year-old (26 in July) projected to be a high-end commodity in this year’s free agent market. Unfortunately, he had only 25 catches in ten games for the Bills last year thanks to knee and ankle injuries, so he’s probably looking at a one-year deal to restore his value.

From 2014-16, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns for the Eagles. He says he’s healthy now, so he could prove to be a valuable pickup for the Pats as they look to replace Danny Amendola‘s production.

Niklas, 26 in September, saw time in 414 snaps for the Cardinals last year and served primarily as a blocker. He hasn’t exactly lived up to his second-round draft status, but the Patriots may see potential in the athletic Notre Dame product.

Baker Mayfield To Meet With Seven Teams

April 2nd, 2018 at 11:42am CST by Zachary Links

Baker Mayfield‘s April figures to be busy. The Oklahoma signal caller will meet with the Browns, Bills, Jets, Giants, Dolphins, Broncos, and Cardinals, Robert Klemko of The MMQB reports. 

The Giants will sit down with Mayfield before the Jets, Manish Mehta of the Daily News adds. He’ll meet with the G-Men on April 8 and 9 before continuing his pre-draft tour with the Jets on April 9 and 10. The Jets conducted a private workout with Mayfield in Oklahoma on March 24, fueling speculation that he could be among the QBs in consideration for them at No. 3 overall.

Mayfield was last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, but some evaluators question whether he has the height to succeed at the next level. There are also some character concerns thanks to his actions during games against Ohio State and Kansas and a public intoxication arrest.

Most of the teams in this bunch were expected to show interest in Mayfield, but the Dolphins and Broncos are not obvious fits for him given the presence of Ryan Tannehill and Case Keenum, respectively. The Cardinals make more sense for Mayfield since Sam Bradford is not necessarily a long-term answer under center and the Bills are also a logical fit since they are not completely locked in on A.J. McCarron as their starter for 2018. Unlike the Dolphins and Cardinals, the Bills have ample ammo to move up for Mayfield with the Nos. 12 and No 22 picks in their possession.

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