Bills OL Ryan Groy Drawing Interest
Bills restricted free agent Ryan Groy is drawing interest from at least four teams, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). A few of those teams, Caplan adds, believe that the guard/center could start for them. 
Groy, 27 in September, wound up starting in the middle for Buffalo after Ryan Wood suffered a broken leg last season. All in all, he had an alright showing, placing as Pro Football Focus’ 23rd best center out of 38 qualified players. At minimum, Groy would make sense for teams as a sub who could play in three different spots on the offensive line.
Groy was undrafted, so under the terms of his “original round” tender, the Bills would not be entitled to any draft compensation from a club if they choose not to match an offer sheet.
Contract Details: Jackson, Whitworth, Hyde
Let’s take a look at details of some recent free agent contracts:
- Wide receiver DeSean Jackson‘s deal with the Buccaneers is a three-year, $33.5MM pact that features $20MM in guarantees and $23.5MM over the first two seasons, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link).
- Safety D.J. Swearinger‘s new deal with the Redskins includes $9MM in guaranteed money, reports Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post (via Twitter). The journeyman will earn $3MM in 2018 and $4.25MM in 2019.
- Tackle Andrew Whitworth‘s new deal with the Rams is worth $36MM with $15MM guaranteed, but a big chunk of that $15MM could be realized in 2017. As Jason La Canfora tweets, the lineman’s $12.5MM 2017 salary is guaranteed, and he’s owed another $2.5MM bonus. Therefore, the contract could be interpreted as a one-year deal worth $15MM.
- Micah Hyde‘s new contract will count $4MM against the Bills salary cap next season, reports ESPN’s Mike Rodak. The safety’s 2017 salary is guaranteed, while the 2018 salary is guaranteed for injury (it becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2018 league year).
Latest On LB Zach Brown
It sounds like Zach Brown‘s time with the Bills has come to an end. The linebacker indicated on Twitter tonight that he won’t be returning to Buffalo next season. Meanwhile, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets that the Dolphins are attempting to secure a meeting with the 27-year-old. The reporter notes that nothing is “set in stone,” but the organization is “hopeful.”
The former second-round pick joined the Bills last offseason following four seasons with the Titans. The linebacker ended up setting career-highs in tackles (149) and forced fumbles (two), and he added another four sacks and four passes defended. Pro Football Focus graded Brown as the 17th-best linebacker last season.
Thanks to his 2016 performance, PFR named Brown as the second-best free agent linebacker, while Zach Links predicted he’d earn the 25th-largest contract this offseason.
The Dolphins could use some depth at the position, as the team is currently rostering Koa Misi, Mike Hull, Neville Hewitt, and Trevor Reilly.
Bills Sign S Micah Hyde
The Bills have signed safety Micah Hyde, according to a team announcement. Within the release, they also announced the signing of fellow safety Jordan Poyer, formerly of Cleveland. Hyde will receive $30MM over a five-year term, with the chance to earn as much as $32.5MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. $14MM is guaranteed.
Hyde had spent his entire four-year career in Green Bay, though its interest in bringing him back for a fifth season never seemed all that high. The team may have not even made Hyde an offer. If the 26-year-old’s career with the Packers is over, it’ll end with 63 regular-season appearances out of a possible 64, 33 starts, eight interceptions, five forced fumbles and four sacks.
Hyde is coming off a 16-game, 11-start season, in which he tied a career high with three picks and ranked a decent 53rd among Pro Football Focus’ 112 qualified cornerbacks. Hyde also has experience at safety, so his track record of versatility, productivity and durability should enable him to land an appreciable raise over his $1.671MM base salary from 2016.
Hyde was among my Top 50 Free Agents, a list built on projected earning power.
FA Rumors: Charles, Hightower, Cutler, Bills
The latest free agency rumors from around the league:
- Jamaal Charles will visit the Seahawks next week, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. The Seahawks’ interest in Charles was first reported on Thursday morning. If he signs with Seattle, he’ll join Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise on the RB depth chart.
- A Dont’a Hightower/Patriots re-up remains on the table, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (on Twitter) the parties remain in good communication about keeping Hightower in New England.
- The Jets‘ interest in Jay Cutler is being reciprocated by the veteran quarterback, Rapoport notes (on Twitter). The Bears released Cutler today after eight seasons.
- Malcolm Smith will receive a raise from the 49ers after his two years with the Raiders. Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets it’s a five-year, $26.5MM deal for the outside ‘backer, with $13MM guaranteed. This $5.3MM-AAV pact represents quite the bump from his $3.5MM deal in Oakland, one that didn’t come with rave reviews from the advanced metrics community.
- The Bills remain interested in retaining Lorenzo Alexander, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News tweets. The sides are continuing to work at completing a deal for the edge defender. Although the Bills are moving to a 4-3 scheme, Alexander — who thrived as a 3-4 outside ‘backer in the form of 12.5 sacks in 2016 — looks to still be part of their plans.
- It sounds like the Bills and Lions are in the lead for wide receiver Russell Shepard (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler). He could still wind up returning to the Buccaneers.
Sam Robinson contributed to this report.
Contract Details: Jones, Taylor, Branch, D-Jax, Bitonio, Davis
Here’s the latest on some of the latest contracts agreed to this week.
- Chandler Jones‘ five-year Cardinals extension will pay him $16.5MM per year, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com tweets. Jones will make $53MM in guaranteed money from his second NFL contract, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports adds (on Twitter).
- Tyrod Taylor‘s restructured Bills deal is a two-year, $30.5MM pact, La Canfora reports (on Twitter), adding that the rest of it voids after 2018. Taylor will make $15.5MM in guarantees as a result of the re-done pact and $14.5MM in 2017. La Canfora adds the quarterback stands to collect $16MM in ’18.
- Andre Branch‘s three-year Dolphins deal is worth $24MM, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter). Volin adds the contract includes two fully guaranteed years– at $17MM — for the 27-year-old pass-rusher. Volin adds that Branch could see $3.75MM more via incentives. Branch will receive a $6MM signing bonus, make $2.9MM in base salary in 2017, $7.9MM in ’18 and $6.9MM in ’19, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
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DeSean Jackson‘s Buccaneers pact will be worth approximately $11MM per year, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
- Joel Bitonio‘s five-year Browns extension will pay out $47.5MM in base salary, Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com tweets, adding $23MM in guarantees are included. The new deal kicks in after Bitonio’s 2017 season, so he’s under contract in Cleveland through 2022.
- Vernon Davis‘ second Redskins contract will include a $4MM signing bonus and $7.5MM guaranteed, Wilson tweets. His base salaries from 2017-19, respectively, are $2MM, $3.75MM and $4.75MM.
- Courtney Upshaw re-signing with the Falcons on a one-year deal will result in $1.15MM coming his way in 2017, Wilson tweets. The defender gets a $125K signing bonus and will make $775K in base salary this season.
Extra Points: Bears, Cutler, Bills, Gilmore, Kendricks, Eagles
No surprise here, but the Bears tried to trade Jay Cutler before releasing him on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. After his 2016 struggles, teams were not willing to take on his contract. He’s now a free agent.
Here’s more from around the NFL:.
- Bills brass decided well before the 2016 season they wouldn’t pay Stephon Gilmore anything close to the $14MM/year figure he’ll reportedly get from the Patriots, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets.
- There has been no movement on a potential Mychal Kendricks trade for the Eagles, a source tells Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). He’ll see his $4.35MM salary guaranteed if he remains on the roster on Saturday.
- The Falcons had talks about defensive tackle Terrell McClain, according to source who spoke with Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, McClain will be joining up with Washington on a multi-year deal.
- The Eagles have some interest in bringing back Stefen Wisniewski, Mike Kaye of First Coast News tweets. Wisniewski has the ability to play either guard or center and did well in starts at left guard last season.
Bills To Release Aaron Williams
The Bills are set to release Aaron Williams after six seasons, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This comes a few months after the safety’s season ended due to a neck injury.
This move stands to cost the Bills nearly $5MM in dead money since Williams has two years and some guaranteed money left on the four-year contract he signed to stay in Buffalo. The team will save just $1.775MM by making this move, perhaps illustrating the franchise’s feeling about future Williams contributions. The Bills may designate Williams as a post-June 1 cut to split up the dead money hits. Said move would allow them to save $4.2MM in 2017, but the extra cash wouldn’t be available until June begins.
Williams has incurred consistent neck scares during his career, seeing this type of injury sideline him for most of the 2015 season as well. He played in just 10 games in 2015-16 combined and now faces questions about his future. The 26-year-old Williams started 52 games for the Bills after coming to Buffalo as a second-round pick in 2011.
Bills, Lions Leading Jared Cook Race?
As Jared Cook prepares for his third voyage into free agency, he could again have a new home. The Bills and Lions are leading the race for the veteran tight end hours before the official start of 2017 free agency, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
Both have shown the most interest in the resurgent pass-catcher, although both have made big investments at tight end in the recent past. The Lions drafted Eric Ebron in the first round in 2014 and have a fifth-year option decision on him coming soon, and the Bills signed Charles Clay to a notable deal in 2015. Cook, though, showed more chops as a receiver than each during the Packers’ stretch run.
The latest coming out of Green Bay did not reveal much progress between the Packers and Cook on a reunion Aaron Rodgers requested after the season. While Cook did not move the needle much with the Rams on his last major free agent signing prior to re-establishing himself in one of the most pass-catcher-friendly offenses in football, he totaled more than 600 receiving yards in both 2013 and ’14 with substandard quarterback situations.
Bills To Sign K Steven Hauschka
The Bills have a new kicker. Buffalo is expected to sign Steven Hauschka today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a four-year deal for the 31-year-old kicker, per ESPN.com.
The Bills dropped Dan Carpenter earlier this month, leaving them with a vacancy. Hauschka spent the past six seasons as the Seahawks’ kicker and has connected on 87 percent of his field goals throughout his nine-year career, one that didn’t stabilize until he ventured to Seattle in 2011.
Hauschka became expendable recently when the Seahawks added Blair Walsh. And a voyage to Buffalo will come after Hauschka struggled with the NFL’s new extra-point rule. He’s missed 10 at the new distance over the past two seasons — including six last year.