Bills More Likely To Trade Tyrod Taylor Than Cut Him
- Tyrod Taylor is a release candidate for the Bills, but Rapoport rightly notes that the team is more likely to trade him given the need for quarterbacks around the league.
Bills Hire Terry Robiskie As WRs Coach
The Bills have hired former Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie as wide receivers coach, the club announced today.
Robiskie, 63, produced middling results as Tennessee’s offensive play-caller during the past two seasons, and it’s believed former Titans head coach Mike Mularkey‘s refusal to fire Robiskie led to Mularkey’s own dismissal. While Robiskie may have a lackluster track record as an offensive coordinator, he does offer years of experience as a wide receivers coach. He’s led wideouts in Washington, Cleveland, Miami, and Atlanta over the past 30 years, and experienced great success with the Falcons, with whom he coached stars such as Roddy White and Julio Jones.
In Buffalo, Robiskie won’t quite be working with another White/Jones combination, as the Bills currently possess one of the least inspiring wide receiver depth charts in the league. 2017 trade acquisition Kelvin Benjamin and 2017 second-round pick Zay Jones are the club’s top two pass-catchers, while Buffalo has five wideouts — including Jordan Matthews and Deonte Thompson — headed for free agency.
Before signing on with the Bills, Robiskie also discussed a reunion with the Falcons, with whom he would have become a running backs coach, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
Opinion: Bills Should Re-Sign E.J. Gaines
ESPN’s NFL Nation identified each team’s biggest decision in free agency and Field Yates of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) took a crack at determining what each team should do with their decision. Of note, Yates believes the Bills should pay what it takes to retain free-agent cornerback E.J. Gaines. The Bills acquired the 25-year-old defensive back from the Rams prior to last season as part of a package for wide receiver Sammy Watkins and Pro Football Focus ranked him as the league’s 13th-best cornerback last season. Gaines was one of several pieces the Bills added last year to improve their secondary, including first-round selection TreDavious White and signing Micah Hyde.
Bills Hope To Re-Sign LB Preston Brown?
The Bills have suggested they’d like to re-sign free agent linebacker Preston Brown, as Brown himself details to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.
“In the exit meeting [after Buffalo’s playoff loss to Jacksonville], coach made it sound like they wanted me back,” Brown tells Rodak. “He said some things that sounded like that. But you never know what’s going to happen during free agency. I would love to go back to Buffalo. That’s the No. 1 choice for me.”
Brown, 25, has been a full-time starter since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2014. Given the staff turnover in Buffalo, Brown has played under three head coaches, and thus, three defensive schemes: 2014 and 2017 were spent in 4-3 fronts, while Brown was deployed in a 3-4 look during Rex Ryan‘s two years as the Bills’ coach.
Brown is clearly more productive in a 4-3 front, as he’s graded as a league-average linebacker in that scheme while registering barely roster-able play while in a 3-4, per Pro Football Focus. He won’t have to learn a new defense if he stays in Buffalo, as head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will both return.
With free agency scheduled to open next month, Brown is likely searching for a multi-year deal that pays him in the neighborhood of $5-6MM annually. If he does reach free agency, Brown will find an open market that is well-stocked with linebackers, which could potentially limit his suitors. Zach Brown, NaVorro Bowman, Avery Williamson, Preston Brown, Demario Davis, Anthony Hitchens and Derrick Johnson are just a few of the off-ball ‘backers who are scheduled to be available next month.
Bills Interview Ex-Titans OC Terry Robiskie
The Bills have interviewed former Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie for their now vacant wide receivers position, according to Alex Marvez of the Sporting News (Twitter link). Longtime NFL wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson has also met with Buffalo, per Marvez.
Under Robiskie, the 2017 Titans offense ranked 13th in yards, 17th in points, and 18th in DVOA. But the club’s play-calling and handling of mobile quarterback Marcus Mariota was often questioned, as Robiskie & Co. seemingly failed to put the former No. 2 overall pick in the best situations. Tennessee finished just 28th in situation neutral offensive pace, a notably slow speed given Mariota’s collegiate success in Chip Kelly’s quick-game offense.
The 63-year-old Robiskie has been since an NFL coach since 1982, and wide receivers have been his calling card. He’s led wideouts in Washington, Cleveland, Miami, and Atlanta over the past 30 years, and experienced great success with the Falcons, with whom he coached stars such as Roddy White and Julio Jones.
Robinson’s coaching career dates back almost as far as Robiskie’s, but the 65-year-old has been out of the league for the past two seasons. After stops with Atlanta, Indianapolis, New York, New Orleans, and Green Bay, Robinson spent the 2011-15 campaigns with the Cowboys before transitioning into a consultant role.
The Bills are seeking to replace former wide receivers coach Phil McGeoghan, who today took the same position with the Chargers. McGeoghan and Buffalo reached a “mutual decision” to let him out of his contract, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.
Bills Hire Two Alabama Assistants
- Two Alabama assistants will be part of Sean McDermott‘s second Bills staff. William Vlachos and Shea Tierney will make their way from Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Buffalo to become Bills offensive assistants, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. These two will follow Brian Daboll, the Bills’ new OC, in making this move.
- While John Butler was hired to replace secondary coach Gill Byrd, the Bills have shifted assistant DBs coach Bobby Babich‘s title to safeties coach, Rodak notes (on Twitter). Rodak expects Butler to focus more on corners this year.
Colts Request Interview With Leslie Frazier
The Colts have officially requested an interview with Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier for their vacant head coaching position, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Rapoport hears that owner Jim Irsay is a big fan and he is of the belief that Frazier might restore normalcy in Indianapolis following the bizarre chain of events that have taken place. 
Frazier is now the third confirmed candidate for the Colts’ head coaching job. On Wednesday, the Colts lined up interviews with Saints assistant Dan Campbell and Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich. Campbell will interview with the team on Thursday while Reich’s meeting will take place on Friday.
Frazier previously served as the Vikings’ head coach and just wrapped up his first season as the Bills’ defensive coordinator. He also offers familiarity with the organization thanks to two years as a Colts staffer.
The Bills’ D didn’t light the world on fire, but the unit did okay considering that they traded away core players such as cornerback Ronald Darby and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.
Colts Could Consider Leslie Frazier For HC?
As the Colts restart their head coaching search in the wake of Josh McDaniels‘ rejection, one name that “could come up” is that of Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
As Rapoport notes, Frazier has worked in Indianapolis before, as he served as the club’s assistant head coach/defensive backs from 2005-06, winning a Super Bowl title in the process. As such, Frazier enjoys a close relationship with Colts owner Jim Irsay, and would help Indianapolis “return to normalcy” following the McDaniels debacle. Frazier, 58, also offers the benefit of having been a head coach before, as he led the Vikings from 2010-13.
In 2017, Frazier spent his first season as the Bills’ defensive coordinator under head coach Sean McDermott, and helped the unit finish middle of the pack in most defensive statistics despite the club having traded away key players such as cornerback Ronald Darby and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. In addition to Buffalo, Minnesota, and Indianapolis, Frazier has also worked in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore.
Updated 2018 NFL Draft Order
With the Super Bowl in the books, we now know the draft order for the entire first round of the 2018 draft. Here’s the rundown:
1. Cleveland Browns (0-16)
2. New York Giants (3-13)
3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12)
4. Cleveland Browns (via the 4-12 Houston Texans)
5. Denver Broncos (5-11)
6. New York Jets (5-11)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11)
8. Chicago Bears (5-11)
T-9. Oakland Raiders (6-10)
T-9. San Francisco 49ers (6-10) (Note: The Raiders and 49ers have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broken by a coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 9 and the other club receiving the No. 10 pick.)
11. Miami Dolphins (6-10)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
13. Washington Redskins (7-9)
14. Green Bay Packers (7-9)
15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7)
17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7)
18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
20. Detroit Lions (9-7)
21. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
22. Buffalo Bills (via the 10-6 Kansas City Chiefs)
23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
24. Carolina Panthers (11-5)
25. Tennessee Titans (9-7)
26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6)
27. New Orleans Saints (11-5)
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3)
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3)
31. New England Patriots (13-3)
32. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Bills QB Tyrod Taylor Won’t Accept Pay Cut
Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor accepted a pay cut in order to remain in Buffalo a season ago, but he’s not prepared to do the same in 2018, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Bills Unlikely To Pursue Kirk Cousins?]
Taylor is technically under contract through the 2021 campaign, but the 2019-2021 seasons are void years, designed to allow the Bills to spread out Taylor’s signing bonuses. For all practical purposes, Buffalo owns Taylor’s rights through 2018: he’s scheduled to earn a $10MM base salary and a $6MM roster bonus, and count for $18.08MM on the Bills’ salary cap. If Taylor is released, Buffalo would be on the hook for $8.64MM in dead money but save $9.44MM in cap space.
The Bills aren’t necessarily committed to releasing Taylor, as they could allow him to compete with another signal-caller for the club’s starting job in 2018. Theoretically, Buffalo could also seek to trade Taylor, but given that the 2018 quarterback market is suddenly flush with options (Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum, Nick Foles, at least four viable first-round draft candidates), the Bills could struggle to find a taker. If Buffalo does deal Taylor, it will create $10.4MM in cap space.
Taylor, 28, has been the Bills’ starting quarterback for the past three seasons. In 2017, Taylor started 14 games while completing 62.6% of his passes four 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. Taylor ranked 15th in both passer rating and adjusted net yards per pass attempt, and finished 22nd in DVOA, Football Outsiders‘ per-play value metric. He also added another 427 yards and four scores on the ground, and ranked as the fifth-most effective rushing quarterback, per FO.