Bills Assistant "Loves" Paxton Lynch
- One source tells Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News (Twitter link) that Bills senior offensive assistant Chris Palmer “loves” quarterback Paxton Lynch. However, it’s very possible the Memphis product will be off the board by the time Buffalo picks at No. 19. On Tuesday, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reported that the Bills are quite high on the QB.
Bills Eyeing Paxton Lynch
- The Bills and Jets are “extremely” interested in quarterback Paxton Lynch, according to multiple NFL executives who spoke with Cole. Both teams see Lynch as a future star in the NFL and know that they will have to move up into the high teens to possibly land him. The Browns pick at No. 8 and are said to be fond of the Memphis product, though that’s probably a little too high to pull the trigger on him. By the same token, the belief is that Lynch will move up the board with Jared Goff and Carson Wentz going in the top two.
Latest On Sam Bradford, Trade Request
After a report surfaced on Monday suggesting that Sam Bradford – or his agent – had asked for a trade out of Philadelphia, agent Tom Condon appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio confirming as much. According to Condon, the Eagles haven’t given him permission to seek out possible trades for Bradford, and his client won’t be at voluntary workouts (Twitter link via Alex Marvez of FOX Sports).
As Condon explained, Bradford was “very happy” with the contract he signed in March with the Eagles, but became less thrilled about his situation when the team also added Chase Daniel and traded for the No. 2 overall pick (Twitter link via SiriusXM NFL Radio).
“From our perspective… Sam wants the opportunity to try to go some place and not only be the starter, but be the starter there long-term,” Condon said, per Josh Paunil of PhillyMag.com. “He doesn’t view himself as somebody that’s a stop-gap kind of quarterback and he wants to go some place and take a chance on being with a team for a long time and I can’t blame him for that.”
Here’s more on the Bradford situation, which we’ll be monitoring closely this week:
- As we heard yesterday, in spite of Bradford’s trade request, the Eagles aren’t seriously considering trading the former first overall pick, a source tells Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Of course, in these situations, a team is generally always willing to trade the player if the price is right, but the Eagles appear just as willing to move forward with Bradford on the roster.
- The Bills and Browns were among the teams to express interest in Bradford last year, and could join the Broncos among the potential landing spots for the veteran signal-caller if the Eagles do decide to make a move, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). As Cole notes, the $11MM signing bonus that was part of Bradford’s new contract makes a potential trade very tricky for the Eagles, since it will be hard to extract fair value.
- Mike Klis of 9NEWS is extremely skeptical that the 49ers will become a viable suitor for Bradford, suggesting (via Twitter) that Howie Roseman would have no interest in helping Chip Kelly.
Bills Traveling To Meet With Alabama DT Jarran Reed
- Bills officials are traveling to Alabama today to meet with defensive tackle Jarran Reed, multiple sources tell John Wawrow of The Associated Press. Reed had previously been scheduled to visit Buffalo, but had to cancel due to the birth of his child, says Wawrow. Since teams can no longer host players on pre-draft visits, the Bills will travel to Reed, rather than vice versa.
Bills Rumors: Draft, Taylor, Whaley
Before today’s big trade went down between the Eagles and the Browns for the No. 2 pick, Cleveland ostensibly fielded calls from several clubs with interest in moving up. Only the Browns know the full list of suitors, but we can rule out one team. Geoff Mosher of 97.5 The Fanatic (Twitter link) asked a Bills source if the team was ever in talks with the Browns for the No. 2 pick, to which the team source succinctly replied, “Hell no.”
Here’s latest out of Buffalo:
- The Bills have yet to call other teams about possible draft trades, GM Doug Whaley says (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News). Whaley added that calls will be made next week.
- Whaley says trading down would be “more intriguing” than trading up, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes. The Bills currently hold the No. 19 pick in the first round.
- The Bills GM says there’s a “very, very good” chance that the team will be taking a quarterback at some point in the draft, as Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets.
- For what it’s worth, it sounds like Whaley did not take the public comments made by Tyrod Taylor‘s agent to heart, as Carucci tweets. “He’s doing what he’s getting paid to do. If he was my agent, I’d hope he’d do the same,” Whaley said. Whaley added that he has yet to receive trade interest in Taylor (link).
- When asked if a first-round selection at QB would compete for the starting job, Whaley said no and reaffirmed that Taylor is the unquestioned starter (via Rodak).
- TCU wide receiver Kolby Listenbee made his final pre-draft visit today with the Bills, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
Whaley Talks Draft, Glenn, Gilmore, Taylor
- The Bills have been mentioned once or twice as possible candidates to trade up to No. 2 in the draft, and general manager Doug Whaley didn’t rule out the possibility today, telling WGR 550AM that Buffalo is “open to do anything” (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News). However, the Bills have the 19th overall pick, which makes a move into the top five a long shot. And after sacrificing a 2015 first-rounder to trade up in 2014, it seems improbable that Whaley would make the same sort of deal again this year.
- In his conversation with WGR 550AM, Whaley also said it’s possible that the Bills can get long-term deals done with left tckle Cordy Glenn, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. In fact, the Bills GM suggested he’s “more optimistic than pessimistic” about locking up Glenn and Gilmore (Twitter links via Carucci).
Bills Interested In Michigan State OT Jack Conklin
- Michigan State offensive tackle and prospective first-rounder Jack Conklin has met with or worked out for the Titans, Bills, Chargers, Steelers, Falcons, Jets, Colts, Buccaneers and Lions, he told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
Bills Release Tony Steward
- The Bills have released linebacker Tony Steward, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Steward, whom the Bills took in the sixth round of last year’s draft, appeared in seven games and made two tackles as a rookie.
Bills Release CB Cam Thomas
- The Bills announced (via Twitter) that they’ve released defensive back Cam Thomas (not to be confused with the defensive tackle of the same name). This Cam Thomas — a Western Kentucky product — has never appeared in an NFL contest.
Corbin Bryant Signs Tender
- Bills defensive tackle Corbin Bryant has signed his RFA tender, tweets Joe Buscaglia of WKBW. Bryant said in February that he was hoping to be retained by Buffalo, and for now, he’ll get his wish.