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Bills Not Concerned Over Stefon Diggs’ Contract

March 27th, 2022 at 2:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills’ wide receiver room has seen some turnover this offseason, but the player at the top of the depth chart remains in place. Stefon Diggs has two years remaining on his current contract, the relative value of which has changed dramatically given the recent extensions handed out to the likes of Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill. 

As noted by Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith, however, Bills general manager Brandon Beane isn’t concerned with the 28-year-old’s financial status. Diggs signed a five-year, $72MM extension with the Vikings ahead of the 2018 season, good for an annual average of $14.4MM per season. Especially considering his production since being traded to Buffalo in 2020 (230 catches, 2,760 yards, 18 touchdowns), that figure pales in comparison to those of other receivers at the top of the position’s market.

Diggs’ current deal places him 21st in the league in terms of compensation per annum. The new contracts signed by not only Adams and Hill, but also the likes of D.J. Moore, Chris Godwin and Allen Robinson have drastically elevated the value of All-Pro receivers such as Diggs. As Smith notes, however, Beane “doesn’t believe there’s any concern that Diggs is unhappy” regarding a potential new deal.

“At the right time we’ll work with his reps and see if there’s something to be done that works for him”, Beane said. “He’s all in on winning and, sure, everybody wants to be paid but he wants to be on a winning team. I think he’s been the best version of himself. So I don’t see that being an issue.”

Another reason Diggs may be in line for an extension soon is the difference between his salary and cap hit. As a result of a restructure from last year, he is scheduled to count roughly $18MM against the cap for the two remaining years on his deal. In any event, there doesn’t appear to be much urgency or cause for concern to prolong his stay in Buffalo.

Bills Re-Sign Taiwan Jones

March 24th, 2022 at 5:10pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills are re-signing their special teams captain. Veteran Taiwan Jones is re-signing with Buffalo, agent Doug Hendrickson announced on Twitter.

The 33-year-old has spent the past two seasons in Buffalo, seeing time in 30 total games. He’s had very brief cameos on offense but has played a major role on special teams, collecting 12 tackles over the past two years. Jones also had a key fumble recovery during the 2020 postseason. The veteran had a previous stint with the organization, getting into 14 games between 2017 and 2018.

Since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2011, Jones has held a variety of different roles. Jones switched from cornerback to running back in college, but after getting selected by the Raiders, he was asked to switch back to defensive back…which didn’t end up working out. Other than a brief defensive stint during his rookie season, the player has exclusively played special teams with a sprinkling of offense.

In 121 games with the Raiders, Bills, and Texans, Jones has collected 74 tackles. He’s also generated 72 touches on offense, collecting 483 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. He’s even seen time in the return game, returning 83 kickoffs throughout his career.

Ryan Bates Signing Offer Sheet From Bears

March 24th, 2022 at 10:53am CST by Adam La Rose

After his impressive performance with the Bills down the stretch this past season, guard Ryan Bates was thought to be one of the most sought-after restricted free agents. It’s not surprising, then, that Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune reports (on Twitter) that he “intends to sign an offer sheet” from the Bears. 

Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson tweets that Bates is indeed signing with Chicago. As a result, the Bills now have five days to decide whether or not they will match the Bears’ offer. Bates, 25 was given an original-round tender of $2.433MM by Buffalo. Because he was a UDFA, however, the Bills would not receive any draft pick compensation should they decline to match (as opposed to, for instance, the second-round pick they would be in line for had they tendered him at just under $4MM).

Bates took over the starting left guard spot in Week 15 of the 2021 campaign, and held on to it for the remainder of the season. While his time as a starter was limited to that stretch, his play generated plenty of interest. It was reported last week that Chicago was among three teams – the others being the Vikings and Patriots – who met with the Penn State alum. It became clear early on in that process that an offer sheet was a distinct possibility.

Now, the Bills face a decision which wouldn’t have seemed likely after Bates’ first two (start-less) seasons in the NFL. Much of their next move will, of course, depend on the specifics of Chicago’s offer. In any event, this will remain a key storyline for both teams for the next few days.

Contract Details: Koo, Armstrong, Whitehead, McKissic, Seahawks, Gladney

March 23rd, 2022 at 10:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the details from the latest agreed-upon contracts around the league:

  • Younghoe Koo, K (Falcons): Five years, $24.25MM. Koo received a $6.25MM signing bonus and will earn a fully guaranteed $1.75MM 2022 base salary, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. The final three years of Koo’s deal are nonguaranteed; none of Koo’s cap hits exceed $6MM.
  • Jordan Whitehead, S (Jets): Two years, $14.5MM. The Jets fully guaranteed Whitehead $7MM and, according to OverTheCap.com, the veteran safety’s cap hits will be $4.2MM and $10.2MM.
  • Austin Johnson, DL (Chargers): Two years, $14MM. Initially reported as having a max value of $14MM, Johnson’s deal carries a base value of that amount. It comes with $10.6MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets.
  • Dorance Armstrong, DE (Cowboys): Two years, $12MM. The Cowboys fully guaranteed Armstrong $6MM, and Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets his 2022 cap figure checks in at $3.38MM. The deal also features a $1MM sack incentive.
  • Quinton Jefferson, DL (Seahawks): Two years, $9.5MM. The Seahawks guaranteed Jefferson $5.2MM to return. This includes a $1.2MM 2022 base salary, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.
  • J.D. McKissic, RB (Commanders): Two years, $7MM. Enticing him to renege on a Bills agreement, the Commanders guaranteed McKissic $3.6MM. The deal includes $1.5MM in performance incentives for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.
  • Jeff Gladney, CB (Cardinals): Two years, $6.5MM. The former first-round pick will receive $4MM guaranteed, SI.com’s Howard Balzer tweets. In addition to his $2MM signing bonus, the Cards guaranteed Gladney’s 2022 base salary ($1.5MM) and $500K of his 2023 base ($2.5MM). Gladney will count just $2.5MM against Arizona’s cap this year.
  • Rashaad Penny, RB (Seahawks): One year, $5.75MM. To keep Penny, the Seahawks guaranteed him $5.07MM. Penny will carry a $5.51MM cap number, Henderson tweets. Incentives for rushing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns could take the deal to $6.5MM.

Contract Details: Miller, Robinson, Reddick, Mariota, Jensen, Collins, Brown, Norwell

March 22nd, 2022 at 4:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest details from contracts recently agreed to across the league, starting with the Bills’ big-ticket deal for a future Hall of Fame edge rusher:

  • Von Miller, LB (Bills): Six years, $120MM. Miller’s deal includes $51.44MM guaranteed. The Bills will keep Miller’s early base salaries low; he is tied to $1.1MM (2022) and $1.3MM (’23) salaries, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Miller has a $13.34MM roster bonus due in 2023, and Albert Breer of SI.com tweets his deal includes $50MM over the first two years. His $17.1MM, $19.6MM and $29.6MM salaries from 2025-27 are nonguaranteed.
  • Allen Robinson, WR (Rams): Three years, $46.5MM. Robinson is attached to guaranteed base salaries of $1.5MM and $10MM in 2022 and ’23, respectively, per Wilson (on Twitter). The contract includes a $5.75MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2024 league year. If Robinson surpasses 2,200 receiving yards in the regular season and playoffs during the 2022 or ’23 seasons, Wilson adds his 2024 year will void (Twitter link). Only Cooper Kupp has accomplished that feat in a season.
  • Haason Reddick, DE (Eagles): Three years, $45MM. Reddick, who is guaranteed $30MM, is tethered to base salaries of just $1MM and $1.1MM in 2022 and 2023, per Wilson (on Twitter). His $13.75MM 2024 salary is nonguaranteed. The Eagles tacked three void years onto the deal for cap purposes. Reddick will collect a $13.7MM roster bonus in 2023.
  • Ryan Jensen, C (Buccaneers): Three years, $39MM. Jensen’s deal includes $26.5MM guaranteed. The Bucs center is tied to a $1.5MM base salary in 2022 and a $12.5MM base in 2023, Wilson tweets. Jensen’s 2023 salary is partially guaranteed at signing; it will become fully guaranteed if he is on Tampa Bay’s roster by Day 5 of the 2023 league year. A $1.5MM 2024 roster bonus resides in this deal as well. The Bucs included two void years here for cap purposes.
  • La’el Collins, T (Bengals): Three years, $30MM. The contract is closer to a two-year, $20MM pact, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, with Year 3 being included for cap purposes (Twitter link). It appears Cincinnati has dipped into the void-year realm, though is not clear just yet how this contract is structured.
  • Marcus Mariota, QB (Falcons): Two years, $18.75MM. This deal veers closer to a one-year pact. Mariota is due $6.75MM in 2022, but NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes (on Twitter) a $12MM 2023 option is included in this contract. A key point for Mariota’s Atlanta future will arrive on Day 5 of the 2023 league year, when a $3MM roster bonus is due.
  • Trent Brown, T (Patriots): Two years, $13MM. Brown will see $4MM guaranteed, Pelissero tweets. The veteran right tackle can earn up to $22MM on the contract.
  • Andrew Norwell, G (Commanders): Two years, $10MM. Norwell will collect $5.7MM guaranteed, Wilson tweets. He is set to earn $1.2MM and $3.54MM in base salary, with Wilson adding Washington added three void years onto this deal.

Restructured Deals: Packers, Broncos, Bills, Patriots, Giants

March 21st, 2022 at 10:29pm CST by Ben Levine

As free agency continues, teams will keep finding ways to open up additional cap. We’ve had a handful of reworked contracts in recent days, which we’ve compiled below:

  • The Packers opened $10.15MM in cap space by restructuring the contracts of wideout Randall Cobb (which was previously reported) and safety Adrian Amos, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). ESPN’s Rob Demovsky tweets that Green Bay turned $5.88MM of Amos’ $7MM base salary into a signing bonus and added four void years.
  • The Broncos opened up some space via a pair of restructured deals. Wideout Tim Patrick converted $6.9MM of his roster bonus into a signing bonus, creating around $4.6MM in cap space, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (on Twitter). The Broncos also converted receiver Courtland Sutton‘s $10.5MM roster bonus into a signing bonus, saving $7.875MM in 2022 cap space, per Klis (on Twitter).
  • The Panthers converted $11.765MM of wideout Robby Anderson’s 2022 pay into a signing bonus, creating $5.88MM in cap space, per Yates (on Twitter). Staying in the NFC, Yates also tweets that the Eagles converted $14.88MM of cornerback Darius Slay’s salary into a signing bonus, creating $11.90MM in 2022 cap space.
  • The Giants converted $2.63MM of kicker Graham Gano’s salary into a bonus, creating $1.753MM in cap space, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (on Twitter). The team also added a void year to the contract, something GM Joe Schoen was trying to avoid (per Raanan).
  • After getting traded to the Bills, quarterback Case Keenum agreed to rework his contract. Per Yates (on Twitter), Keenum reduced his base salary to $3.5MM. Another AFC East team, the Patriots, also got into the game, reducing defensive end Henry Anderson‘s base salary from $2.5MM to $1.25MM (per Yates).
  • Yates passes along three more restructures (on Twitter): the Vikings opened $6MM in cap space by reworking safety Harrison Smith‘s contract, the Bills opened $5.172MM via linebacker Matt Milano‘s contract, and the Titans opened $6.45MM via linebacker Zach Cunningham‘s contract.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/22

March 21st, 2022 at 9:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Tennessee Titans

Bills Sign WR Jamison Crowder

March 21st, 2022 at 6:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Jamison Crowder is switching AFC East teams. After spending three season with the Jets, the veteran wideout is signing a one-year deal with the Bills, reports Josina Anderson (on Twitter). NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the deal has a max value of $4MM.

After spending four seasons in Washington to start his career, Crowder inked a three-year, $28.5MM deal with the Jets in 2019. He ended up seeing time in 40 games (23 starts) during his three seasons in New York, hauling in 10 receiving touchdowns.

Between five missed games and the team making investments in Corey Davis and Elijah Moore via free agency and the draft, respectively, Crowder’s production fell off in 2021. The receiver finished last season with 51 receptions for 447 yards and two touchdowns, his lowest output during his stint with the Jets.

In Buffalo, Crowder will be joining a depth chart that lost a major piece following the release of Cole Beasley. Still, the Bills have plenty of depth at the position in Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, and Emmanuel Sanders.

Bills Sign QB Matt Barkley

March 21st, 2022 at 4:30pm CST by Ben Levine

After spending the 2021 season playing elsewhere, Matt Barkley has landed back in Buffalo. The Bills announced that they’ve signed the quarterback to a one-year contract.

[RELATED: Bills To Acquire Browns QB Case Keenum]

The journeyman had his longest career stint with the Bills, spending two-plus seasons with the organization. He saw time in eight games (one start) during his time in Buffalo, completing 54.6 percent of his passes for 788 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions.

He signed a two-year contract with the Titans last offseason but didn’t make it to the regular season, and he later spent the 2021 campaign with the Panthers and Falcons. Barkley previously spent time with the Eagles, Cardinals (two stints), Bears, 49ers, and Bengals.

The Bills have Josh Allen sitting atop their depth chart, and they acquired veteran Case Keenum from the Browns last week. However, as Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic tweeted at the time, a Barkley move was anticipated even when the organization acquired Keenum. In other words, it sounds like the two acquisitions will be fighting it out to replace Mitchell Trubisky as the No. 2 QB in Buffalo next season.

Giants Sign Matt Breida

March 21st, 2022 at 2:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants have added a veteran to their running back room. The team announced the signing of Matt Breida on Monday. 

[RELATED: Giants Cut RB Booker]

Breida, 27, started his career with the 49ers as a UDFA. He spent three seasons there, with his best campaign coming in 2018. He totalled 814 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, along with 261 yards and two more scores in the passing game.

San Francisco then traded him to the Dolphins as part of a draft-day deal. In his lone season in Miami, he started only one of 12 games played, recording 350 scrimmage yards. He then signed with the Bills one year ago, though again he was simply a depth piece. He played only 81 snaps, meaning it doesn’t come as a surprise he is on the move for the third consecutive offseason. Given the presence of Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll in New York, though, Breida will be a familiar face for his new employers.

There are plenty of question marks surrounding the Giants’ RB room at the moment. The most important storyline with regards to the position – if not the team as a whole – is the future of Saquon Barkley. While a trade of the former No. 2 overall pick isn’t imminent, it is still a possibility. Regardless of whether or not Barkley stays in the Big Apple, there should be playing time available for Breida given the recent release of fellow veteran Devontae Booker. The speedster will look to improve a Giants offense which averaged less than 100 yards per game on the ground in 2022.

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