Buffalo Bills Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Bills Intend To Keep RB LeSean McCoy

March 1st, 2017 at 11:15am CST by Zachary Links

Even though he might have the highest cap hit of any running back in 2017, it doesn’t sound like the Bills want to move on from LeSean McCoy. New coach Sean McDermott thinks highly of the veteran and says he’s looking forward to working together in a new city.

“LeSean is going to be with the Buffalo Bills moving forward,” McDermott said (via PFT). “He’s a great player. We worked together in Philadelphia and when you look at the skill set LeSean brings to the table, we’re excited to be working with him.”

This week, agent Drew Rosenhaus said that he has had any discussions with Buffalo about the team possibly moving on from McCoy. It appears he was telling the truth. McCoy might be approaching the age where running backs tend to slow down, but he is coming off one of his best campaigns to date and he is a proven difference-maker. In 2016, he amassed 1,623 total yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 14 touchdowns, and 50 receptions.

McCoy is due to count $8.875MM against the cap in 2017 and will turn 29 in July. In theory, the Bills could have dropped McCoy and given the starting job to understudy Mike Gillislee, but the Florida product will have to wait a bit longer before getting his shot at a starting job.

Bills’ Kyle Williams To Return In 2017

March 1st, 2017 at 8:38am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced that defensive tackle Kyle Williams will return next season. Presumably, that means Williams has confirmed he will not retire this offseason, nor will the Bills release him to save money against the cap.

Williams, 34 in June, has spent his entire career in Buffalo. He’s slated to carry a $8.3MM cap number this season, but it’s not immediately clear whether the two sides have an agreement in place to re-work that number. Last year, Williams accepted a pay cut which trimmed his base salary from $6MM to $4.25MM, reducing his cap charge from $8MM to $6.25MM.

Williams missed more than half of the 2015 season, but last year he appeared in 15 regular season games. With 64 total tackles and five sacks in 2016, Williams earned his fifth career Pro Bowl selection.

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Drew Rosenhaus Expects Bills To Keep LeSean McCoy

February 28th, 2017 at 8:22pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk speculated over the weekend that the Bills could cut running back LeSean McCoy, but the five-time Pro Bowler’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, shot down that possibility Tuesday. Rosenhaus told PFT that he hasn’t had any discussions with the Bills about moving on from McCoy. Moreover, he expects the two-year Bill to remain in Buffalo for “many years to come” (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). McCoy is coming off one of his best campaigns – 1,623 total yards, 5.4 yards per carry, 14 touchdowns and 50 receptions – and is due to count $8.875MM against the cap in 2017, his age-29 season.

Bills Won’t Franchise Stephon Gilmore

February 28th, 2017 at 6:12pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore said in January that he “wouldn’t want” the franchise tag, and with Wednesday’s deadline looming, he’s going to get his wish. There’s “no chance” the Bills will place the estimated $14.297MM tag on Gilmore, a league source told Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News. Barring a long-term agreement between the Bills and Gilmore by March 9, the 26-year-old will soon become one of the most sought-after players on this year’s open market.

With the Rams likely to tag Trumaine Johnson, Gilmore should join the Texans’ A.J. Bouye and the Patriots’ Logan Ryan as the top three corners available in the 2017 free agent class. Gilmore, who will turn 27 in September, is a five-year pro who started in each of his appearances (15) for the third straight season and notched a career-high five interceptions in 2016. However, after ranking as one of Pro Football Focus’ 10 best corners in 2015, Gilmore dropped to 61st (among 112 qualifiers) last season.

Since entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 2012, Gilmore has amassed 68 appearances, 66 starts and 14 picks. Gilmore’s track record should be enough to make him one of the league’s highest-paid corners, and with only around $21MM in cap space, the Bills will have difficulty retaining him. For his part, Gilmore seems open to staying in Buffalo, as he indicated last month that whether he will is “all up to” the Bills.

Bills Trying To Re-Sign Lorenzo Alexander

February 28th, 2017 at 5:39pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

As of earlier this month, impending free agent linebacker Lorenzo Alexander seemed eager to test the open market beginning March 9, but the Bills will first make an attempt to re-sign the 33-year-old off a breakout season. Alexander’s agent, Peter Schaffer, will meet with the club Saturday, reports Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News.

After serving as primarily a special teamer with the Redskins, Cardinals and Raiders from 2007-15, Alexander stunningly emerged as a top pass-rushing option last season in Buffalo. Alexander racked up 76 tackles, 12.5 sacks – 3.5 more than he totaled over the first nine years of his career – three forced fumbles and an interception across 16 starts en route to second-team All-Pro honors. Thanks to that, and the franchise tags given to Chandler Jones, Jason Pierre-Paul and Melvin Ingram, Alexander stands as PFR’s sixth-ranked unsigned edge defender.

Schaffer posited earlier this month that Alexander, who was a minimum salary benefit player in 2016, could garner anywhere from $5MM to $10MM per year on his next contract. In addition to considering the Bills’ offer – if they make one – Alexander will have to mull how he’d fit in their new defensive system in 2017. Alexander’s success last year came under then-head coach Rex Ryan, whom the Bills replaced with another defensive mind, Sean McDermott, in January.

LeSean McCoy Staying Put For Now, Could Still Be Released?

February 26th, 2017 at 11:36am CST by Rory Parks

LeSean McCoy set off alarm bells in Buffalo this morning — probably unintentionally — with an Instagram post that said “Buffalo was so special … thanks for everything.” Multiple sources later clarified that the Bills running back simply meant that he appreciated his time at an autograph signing in Buffalo on Saturday, and that he was heading back home. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk speculates that McCoy could still be cut, as his running style may not mesh with new OC Rick Dennison‘s one-cut zone scheme. Buffalo would save only $1MM against the cap by releasing him this year, but they could create more savings and spread out the dead money hit of $7.875MM if they designate him a post-June 1 release.

Robert Woods Open To Re-Signing With Bills

February 25th, 2017 at 8:49am CST by Ben Levine

Impending free agent wide receiver Robert Woods is open to re-signing with the Bills this offseason. However, the four-year veteran acknowledged that he wants some clarity on the team’s quarterback position before he makes a final decision.

“I think there’s always hope,” Woods told Bruce Murray and A.J. Hawk on SiriusXM. “I finished out well with them. I had a good talk with (general manager) Doug Whaley upstairs. It’s a whole new coaching staff coming in, so could be different plans. I’ve got to speak with them and see their plans, as well as see what happens with the quarterback decision there.”

After receiving medical clearance following last month’s groin surgery, the Bills could now easily move on from quarterback Tyrod Taylor and his $27.5MM option. Backup EJ Manuel is set to hit free agency, meaning the team could be left with former Ohio State standout Cardale Jones or 24-year-old rookie Josh Woodrum. Considering all of the question marks at the position, it’s logical why Woods would prefer to see how it all plays out.

“Everything factors in,” Woods said on SiriusXM. “It has to be the right amount as well as quarterback decision. Yes, they don’t have a quarterback right now. Tyrod is a pending free agent. EJ Manuel is coming up as a free agent and there also are many quarterbacks on the market as well. Who knows what the decision is going on upstairs, but in a few weeks, we’ll all find out.”

For what it’s worth, the 24-year-old acknowledged that he thinks Taylor is staying put.

A knee injury forced Woods to miss three games this season, but the wideout still finished with a team-leading 613 receiving yards, 51 receptions, and one touchdown. Since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2013, Woods hasn’t surpassed 700 receiving yards in a single season. If he does re-sign with the Bills, Woods figures to be the second wideout behind Sammy Watkins.

Sean McDermott To Influence Bills' Tyrod Taylor Decision

February 24th, 2017 at 9:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Bills general manager Doug Whaley might be content to go into 2017 with Cardale Jones at quarterback, but the team is only going to release Tyrod Taylor if rookie head coach Sean McDermott signs off on it, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. Whaley and McDermott have equal say in how the Bills assemble their roster, per Carucci, who notes the coach hired an offensive coordinator, Rick Dennison, who might be able to get more out of Taylor. Dennison is a Taylor fan, having previously coached him in Baltimore, and Albert Breer of The MMQB senses that the coordinator would like for Buffalo to continue with Taylor under center.

Bills' Tyrod Taylor Decision Will Affect Rest Of Roster

February 22nd, 2017 at 9:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bills are still deciding whether to move on from quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and the club’s upcoming decision will have far-reaching effects on the rest of the Buffalo roster, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Taylor received medical clearance today, so the Bills can freely choose to release him before a $27.5MM option bonus is due on March 11. If Buffalo goes that route, the franchise would essentially be hitting the reset button, opines Rodak, meaning the Bills could explore a LeSean McCoy trade. If Taylor sticks around, however, the Bills likely won’t have enough cap space to retain players such as cornerback Stephon Gilmore without restructuring other contracts.

Bills’ Tyrod Taylor Gets Medical Clearance

February 22nd, 2017 at 8:52am CST by Zachary Links

Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been medically cleared from last month’s groin surgery, a team source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Taylor has a $27.5MM option bonus due on March 11th. Now that he has been given the greenlight from doctors, the Bills are now free to release him without having to worry about triggering an injury guarantee.

It has long been speculated that the Bills would move on from Taylor this offseason. When coach Rex Ryan and the Bills parted ways, Taylor lost his No. 1 advocate in Buffalo and that was underscored by his benching in Week 17. Now, it seems that GM Doug Whaley may push for rising sophomore Cardale Jones to take over as the starter in 2017. The 2016 fourth-round pick may or may not be elevated to the starting role, but it almost certainly won’t be Taylor under center.

When Taylor hits the open market, he’ll stand as one of the top quarterbacks available. The Browns have been connected to the mobile QB – particularly since hiring his former quarterbacks coach David Lee – though they are probably prioritizing a Jimmy Garoppolo trade. The Jets and 49ers also face major uncertainty at QB, though we haven’t heard much about those two particular teams making a run at him.

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