This is the time of year where we are going to hear rumors of players’ and teams’ interest. Less than a week away from the start of free agency, let’s look at the rumors linked to the Bills and see if any would make sense.
Dwayne Allen was recently released by the New England Patriots. Reports indicate that Allen and the Bills had a meeting in Buffalo on March 6. In Allen’s first five seasons with the Colts, he showed that he could be a reliable target for their young quarterback in Andrew Luck. In those seasons, he showed he could find the end zone with 19 touchdowns, but you also have to keep in mind that, in 2013, he only played one game. These past two seasons, Allen was used mostly for blocking.
Allen makes a ton of sense for the Bills. Right now, the only tight end on the roster is Jason Croom. Allen is a proven run blocker which Buffalo needs. It’s a bit unclear why he wasn’t utilized more in a receiving role with the Patriots, but he has a track record with the Colts that proves he can be a good target for a young quarterback.
Buffalo should be cautious with the length of the deal and try to stay with a one- or two- year deal.
Daryl Williams was with the Carolina Panthers in 2018. Coming off an All-Pro season in 2017, Williams suffered an injury in the first game of the 2018 campaign. Williams, in his first three years, was given a 75 percent grade by Pro Football Focus, which was in the Top 15 for his position during that time frame.
Williams makes sense for the Bills, who had to have one of the worse offensive lines in the league last season. He would replace Jordan Mills, who fans have wanted to move on from for the past two seasons. There will be competition for Williams once free agency starts which may drive the price up.
Recent comparisons for a contract last three years, paying the player $42 million.
Matt Paradis was with the Denver Broncos. Paradis has been with the Broncos his whole career and was their starting center with Peyton Manning when they won the Super Bowl. He started every game for the Broncos from 2015 until the midway point this past season, when he was injured and missed the rest of the season.
Paradis is the player most fans want the Bills to sign, and has been since the end of last season. He would replace Russell Bodine and Ryan Groy, who both started for the Bills at center last season. He is the best center to hit the open market in the past couple of off-seasons. The same with Williams, other teams will be in the mix.
A potential contract could pay Paradis $54 million over five campaigns.
Kevin Johnson was with the Houston Texans last season. Johnson was released last week, which made him a free agent before the new league year kicks off. There are reports that he met with the Bills last week. Johnson hasn’t made it through a full season since his rookie year, but he wasn’t even a starter until the mid-point of that season.
Johnson was a high draft pick and has shown the ability to be a valuable player in the league. The injury concerns have to be considered when offering him a contract. This move would be more of a depth move with Tre’Davious White and Levi Wallace on the outside and Taron Johnson in the slot.
You’d imagine Buffalo would be cautious with a contract and try to convince him to sign a one-year prove-it deal for $3 million.
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