No Extension “Imminent” For Stephon Gilmore
A long-term extension between the Bills and cornerback Stephon Gilmore does not appear close, Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News reports. Gilmore sat out OTAs while angling for a new contract, but he’ll be in attendance for mandatory minicamp next week, according to Dunne’s BN colleague Vic Carrucci.
Back in February, Bills general manager Doug Whaley said that extending Gilmore, who is scheduled to play the 2016 season under his fifth-year option at a cost of $11.082MM, was a priority, and later indicated that inking long-term deals with core players like Gilmore would become the club’s focus following the draft. More than a month has passed since the draft concluded, and though no agreement has yet been reached, Carrucci reports that Buffalo will be “persistent” in trying to ink a new deal with Gilmore.
Given the rising salary cap, and the fact that he’ll be among the top corners available in free agency in 2017 (along with Trumaine Johnson and hybrid defender Tyrann Mathieu), Gilmore and his camp can make the argument that he deserves to be the highest-paid corner in the league, topping Josh Norman, who will make $15MM annually with the Redskins. The Bills, meanwhile, have incentive to extend Gilmore — by lowering his 2016 cap charge, the club will have extra money to possibly ink quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a new deal, as Carrucci observes.
Gilmore, the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft, had another strong season in 2015, recording 36 tackles, three interceptions, and 18 passes defended. Despite only playing 12 games, the 25-year-old ranked as a top-10 cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required).
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La Canfora: Rex Ryan Is On The Hot Seat
- Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports examined the job security of each NFL head coach entering the season. In La Canfora’s estimation, Rex Ryan (Bills), Gus Bradley (Jaguars), Jim Caldwell (Lions), Mike McCoy (Chargers), Marvin Lewis (Bengals), Bill O’Brien (Texans) and Jason Garrett (Cowboys) are the least secure coaches going into this year. Of that group, two (Lewis and O’Brien) were at the helm of playoff teams last season. Ryan has only been in Buffalo for a year, making him the shortest-tenured member of the septet.
Bills Notes: Kelly, Ryan, Dobson
Recently, Bills coach Rex Ryan denied that he has been given an ultimatum by ownership to make the playoffs in 2016. Count Bills legend Jim Kelly among those who don’t buy it.
- If track paid as well as the NFL, Bills wide receiver and Olympic hopeful Marquise Goodwin told The MMQB’s Emily Kaplan (Facebook link) that it would be an easy choice. “I would definitely do track and field, man,” Goodwin said (transcript from Buscaglia). “Football was my opportunity to advance my life… kind of get a head start on life and put my family in a position to where they wouldn’t want for as much. I felt like track and field wouldn’t grant me that opportunity, being that I had a greater chance at making the amount of money that I do playing football, as opposed to going to track and field, and I would make it a lot sooner. Not saying I wouldn’t make it in track and field, but, I would make it pretty much at a guaranteed rate in football.” Goodwin is hoping to be a part of the 2016 games in Rio and the Bills have been supportive of his pursuit. If Goodwin gets to the Olympics and qualifies for the finals, the earliest he could get back to the team would be on August 15, which may not be enough time to show the team he is worthy of a roster spot. Goodwin is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is slated to hit the open market after the ’16 season.
Bills To Work Out Bowling Green QB Matt Johnson
- The Bills will have former Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson in for a workout on Monday, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets. He adds that if all goes well, Johnson will participate in minicamp next week.
Bills Sign Boom Herron
The Bills announced that they have signed running back Dan Herron. To make room, the Bills released cornerback Julian Whigham. 
Herron spent time with Buffalo during the 2015 season when the team was ravaged by injuries in the backfield. Now, he could once again provide some depth as LeSean McCoy deals with a hamstring injury. Last year was a somewhat tumultuous year for Herron, who was waived off the Colts’ injured reserve at the beginning of the season. After working out for the Patriots, Herron latched on with the Bills, appearing in four games and registering 11 rushing attempts. Buffalo cut bait with Herron relatively quickly, but Indianapolis, once again the market for a back, claimed him off waivers in order to secure a reunion with the former Ohio State Buckeye. Herron didn’t play much down the stretch, and was let go during the restricted free agent tender period.
Herron auditioned for the rival Dolphins on Monday, but he left without the team making an offer. Miami planned on keeping Herron on their “just in case” list, but Buffalo was ready to scoop him up immediately.
Whigham was struggling in OTAs, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News tweets. Whigham, a Syracuse product, was originally signed as a UDFA on May 2nd.
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Bills Sign Rookie Cardale Jones
The Bills have now signed every rookie in their 2016 class after inking fourth-round pick Cardale Jones. The Ohio State quarterback, who was taken with the No. 139 overall selection, knows that he may have to wait awhile before he can see real playing time. 
“I am going in here knowing that that Tyrod [Taylor] is our starter,” Jones told Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com. “I am going in here knowing that EJ [Manuel] is our backup. I am going in here learning, working as hard as I can working with Coach [David] Lee in the film room, on and off the field. Whatever happens after that I guess is just a product of great circumstances.”
Jones is undefeated as a college starter with a perfect 11-0 record, but he only threw a total of 270 passes while with the Buckeyes. Prior to the draft, one NFL offensive coordinator told NFL.com that Jones has more physical tools than Teddy Bridgewater and Derek Carr, but he “can’t touch their poise and leadership as young quarterbacks.”
Here’s the complete rundown of the Bills’ 2016 draft class:
- 1-19: Shaq Lawson, DE/OLB (Clemson)
- 2-41: Reggie Ragland, LB (Alabama)
- 3-80: Adolphus Washington, DT (Ohio State)
- 4-139: Cardale Jones, QB (Ohio State)
- 5-156: Jonathan Williams, RB (Arkansas)
- 6-192: Kolby Listenbee, WR (TCU)
- 6-218: Kevon Seymour, DB (USC)
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Bills Sign First-Round Pick Shaq Lawson
The Bills announced that they have officially inked first-round pick Shaq Lawson. The Bills selected the Clemson product with the No. 19 overall pick in the 2016 Draft. 
Lawson’s shoulder issues were known coming into the draft, but that didn’t stop the Bills from taking him high in the draft or allowing him to partake in their three-day rookie minicamp, when Lawson aggravated his shoulder. Unfortunately for Buffalo, Lawson had to go under the knife and he’ll now miss the start of the 2016 season. The Bills have not announced a timetable for the Clemson product’s recovery, though the expectation is that he’ll start the preseason on the PUP list and miss 4-5 games.
Lawson’s surgery was a big blow for Buffalo as they anticipated giving him a major role on defense right from the get go. Earlier this offseason, Bills GM Doug Whaley said that he was anticipating three rookies in the team’s starting lineup to start the season.
“At least three,” Whaley said when asked how many of his rookies will be on the field in Week 1. “[First-round defensive end] Shaq Lawson is going to walk in off the bus starting. [Second-round linebacker] Reggie Ragland, and then [third-round defensive tackle] Adolphus Washington— all three of those guys will start right off the bus. And we’re excited for some guys from the fourth through sixth rounds that will contribute for us.”
With Lawson under contract, fourth-round pick Cardale Jones stands as the only unsigned player left in Buffalo’s 2016 class.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Could Rex Ryan End Up On The Hot Seat?
- Bills coach Rex Ryan and his staff are “operating under the premise that they have to “get it right” this year,” writes Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News. While the writer wouldn’t definitively say if Ryan could end up on the hot seat, he did note that fans have started to recognize the weaknesses in his coaching style, allowing them to question whether he’s actually “the right man for the job.” With a lack of a coach’s salary cap and with more money to use, Carucci does acknowledge that NFL owners are justified in having a quick “trigger finger,” which might not bode well for Ryan.
- Bills undrafted free agent Glenn Gronkowski isn’t necessarily competing for a tight end spot, notes Carucci. Instead, Ryan has been using him as more of a fullback, so Rob Gronkowski‘s brother would need to unseat Jerome Felton in order to make the roster.
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Corey Graham Likely To Start At Safety
- Joe Buscalgia of WKBW takes a look at several intriguing roster questions that face the Bills this summer, including who will be lining up to safety Aaron Williams when the season begins. While there was some thought that free agent signee Robert Blanton might push for the starting job, head coach Rex Ryan made it clear that veteran Corey Graham is viewed as the other starting safety opposite Williams. Buscaglia also touches on several areas of note, including how edge rusher IK Enemkpali will fit a 3-4 defense, and how former second-round pick Javier Arenas can make the squad.
Bills Notes: Incognito, Ryan, Lewis
- In March, Richie Incognito signed a three-year, $15.75MM deal to remain with the Bills. When the Bills first brought the lineman in, he was considered damaged goods following the bullying scandal in Miami. Now, head coach Rex Ryan says he couldn’t be happier to have him in the fold. “He was looked at as a bully, and that’s almost as bad a thing as you can be in today’s culture. But I didn’t believe he was that person and now I know he’s not. He got a second chance and the guy’s making the most of it. I wish I had a whole bunch of Richie Incognitos, and I can tell you I’m super happy I have one,” Ryan said (via Don Banks of SI.com).
- After spending the bulk of 2015 on the Bills‘ practice squad, wide receiver Dezmin Lewis is poised to push for a 53-man roster spot, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW.com writes.