The Bills are making headlines. Moments have news broke that Buffalo is signing Von Miller, we’re learning that they’ve also added a notable name on the offensive side of the ball. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the Bills are signing tight end O.J. Howard.
[RELATED: Bills To Sign Von Miller]
Howard will get a one-year, $3.5MM deal from Buffalo, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The deal could be worth up to $5MM.
The Alabama product was a first-round pick by the Buccaneers in 2017, but injuries and an uncertain depth chart kept him from reaching his full potential. Howard has had three stints to the IR during his five-year career, limiting him to only 59 career games.
2021 was one of the lone seasons when Howard was fully healthy, but despite getting an entire season with Tom Brady, he struggled to put up numbers. Howard ultimately finished the season having hauled in only 14 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown. This was a far cry from his first three seasons in the NFL when he averaged 31 receptions and close to 500 yards per year despite averaging only 12 games.
Howard will be joining a Bills depth chart that’s led by Dawson Knox, who had a career year in 2021 (587 receiving yards, nine touchdowns). Howard will likely slide in ahead of Tommy Sweeney and Quintin Morris on the depth chart.
Buffalo boosts offense by bringing in OJ !!
Great flyer to take. In a world where Ian Thomas is getting $8 million guaranteed, this is a no brainer.
Exactly. Evan Engram got $9 million guaranteed and he’s awful.
I don’t think Engram is bad. I just think he was in a terrible situation.
$3.5 million for 14 receptions. Brilliant. That and Von Miller overpay. Bills will be the Bills
Miller got roughly the same deal as Chandler Jones if you look at the real money. Howard is a former top ten pick who got injured and then buried in the best tight end group in football. $3.5 million to see what he can do with a change of scenery is a cinch in an off-season when guys like Ian Thomas are getting paid much more. This is an increment more than Pharaoh Brown got.
The Bills are a very strange organization to treat like they’re foolish these days.
Not a former top 10 pick. Do your research
My bad. Brain fart. Stand by everything I said but make it top 20. He’s making high end punter money at the scarcest skill position in football. It’s well worth a shot.
Top 20. Go to charm school
They aren’t paying $3.5M for 14 receptions because smart organizations don’t pay for past performance, they pay for future performance. That $3.5M is for a performance they expect to be better than his 2021, obviously.
Btw, Miller only got $51M guaranteed, so I doubt he sees $120M. Beane is one of the better GMs in the league. Weird to doubt him.
Cry somewhere else lol
I’m a Jets fan. If I’m doing any crying, it’s because my team doesn’t have a GM like Buffalo’s.
Meant for emt, not you account.
Apologies! It gave me a notification so I thought it was meant for me.
Yeah, that happens all the time. This comments system really needs to show who you are replying to.
Wa hoping Bengals would get him
This is a solid deal. Allen did great getting the ball to Knox especially in the red zone. I think if OJ can stay healthy he and Knox will have big years