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Buffalo Bills News & Rumors

Latest On DeAndre Hopkins

April 16th, 2023 at 10:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

With most veteran receivers now off the free agent market, the fate of DeAndre Hopkins is one of the top storylines at the position. The Cardinals star has frequently been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason, and he provided the latest updates on his situation earlier today.

During an appearance on the All Things Covered Podcast, Hopkins was asked about specific landing spots in a potential trade. Having been told to only answer with body language, the 30-year-old responded positively to the suggestion of joining the Chiefs and Bills, while the opposite was true of the Jets and Patriots (video link).

While there is certainly a limit to how much one should read into his answers, Hopkins’ responses come as little surprise. Both Kansas City and Buffalo have reportedly shown interest in acquiring the five-time Pro Bowler. The Super Bowl champions fielded a WR unit without Tyreek Hill in 2022 and achieved success in doing so, but they have lost JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman in free agency. The Bills, meanwhile, have a need for a compliment to Stefon Diggs, something which could come in the draft but would also be accomplished by a Hopkins acquisition.

New England, meanwhile, was named as a team unlikely to have much success in trading for the three-time All-Pro. The presence of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien – the head coach and de facto general manager of the Texans when Hopkins was traded to Arizona in 2020 – would no doubt create an uneasy situation for the Patriots. New England signed Smith-Schuster, but could still stand to add an impact pass catcher, be it a veteran or a rookie.

The Jets have been busy remaking their WR corps in anticipation of acquiring Aaron Rodgers. That process has included the signings of Hardman and Allen Lazard, as well as a pursuit of Odell Beckham Jr. With the latter having joined the Ravens (on a deal worth far more than what the Jets, or any other team, appeared willing to offer), speculation connecting them to Hopkins could intensify. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes, however, a deal for Hopkins remains unlikely at this point.

Financials are at the heart of trade talks between the Cardinals and interested teams. Hopkins has massive cap hits on each of the final two years of his current contract, with Arizona’s willingness to eat some of his compensation likely to affect the trade return they receive. According to Hopkins himself, an adjusted contract upon arrival with a new team will not require a raise from his currently scheduled compensation (Twitter link).

That falls in line with previous reporting on the matter, and comes as little surprise given Hopkins’ recent decision to hire an agent amidst his willingness to rework his contract. After the draft in particular, it will be interesting to see if his apparent interest in joining an AFC heavyweight will be reciprocated.

Several Teams Interested In C John Michael Schmitz

April 16th, 2023 at 8:12pm CST by Ely Allen

Center is an intriguing position when determining draft value, as the top centers can be extremely valuable but aren’t always considered first rounders. The most recent example saw the Ravens draft Tyler Linderbaum last year to be rewarded with a top-six center, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

While this year’s top centers, Joe Tippmann of Wisconsin and John Michael Schmitz of Minnesota, aren’t entirely expected to go in the first round, Schmitz has been receiving plenty of interest and shouldn’t last long into the second round, if he’s still available by then.

We had noted a private workout with the Steelers weeks ago. Since then, Schmitz has participated in a private workout and dinner with the Jets, a top 30 visit and dinner with the Seahawks, a top 30 visit with the Vikings, and a coach workout and dinner with the Giants, according to Pat Leonard of New York Daily News. Additionally, the 24-year-old has had Zoom contact with the Texans, Titans, Colts, Bills, and Packers.

Seattle has reportedly been “all over” Schmitz, according to Leonard. After the retirement announcement of center Austin Blythe, the Seahawks certainly could use a strong new potential starter to anchor their line. The only center currently on the roster is career backup Joey Hunt, who returned to Seattle last year after two seasons with the Colts. The other team that has shown a lot of love towards Schmitz is the Jets, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. With Connor McGovern‘s contract expiring this offseason, New York could also use a young, new center for presumed quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

While center can be a tough position to pinpoint and Tippmann remains as competition for the best center prospect, the sheer amount of interest in Schmitz leads to the belief that he won’t last long into Day 2 of the draft later this month. That’s if he even makes it past Day 1.

Contract Details: Phillips, Green, Buckner

April 15th, 2023 at 1:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some of the details on a few deals reached recently around the league:

  • Jordan Phillips, DE (Bills): One-year, $3MM. We received some new details on the deal, thanks to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. We now see that the $1.22MM of guaranteed money is composed of a $500,000 signing bonus and $720,000 of Phillps’s base salary (worth a total of $1.81MM). He’ll receive a per game active roster bonus of $35,000 for a potential season total of $595,000, as well as a $100,000 offseason workout bonus. Additional money can come through incentives based on playing time ($750,000) and sacks ($850,000). The sacks incentive is broken down as follows: $200,000 for 3.0-4.5 sacks, $600,000 for 5.0-7.5 sacks, and $850,000 for eight sacks or more.
  • Rasheem Green, DE (Bears): One-year, $2.5MM. The deal, according to Wilson, has a guaranteed amount of $850,000 consisting of a $350,000 signing bonus and $500,000 of Green’s base salary (worth a total of $1.5MM). He can make an additional $250,000 through incentives and $150,000 in a workout bonus. A per game active roster bonus of $29,411, worth a potential season total of $500,000, pushes the maximum potential value of the contract to $2.75MM.

We also got some details recently on a newly restructured deal:

  • The Colts reached an agreement with defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to reduce his salary cap impact for the coming season, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team converted $5MM of salary into a signing bonus in order to clear $2.5MM of cap space. Buckner is reportedly still set to earn $19.75MM in 2023, all of which is fully guaranteed.

WR Draft Rumors: Smith-Njigba, Flowers, Downs, Giants

April 14th, 2023 at 9:23pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve recorded a number of visits for Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, one of the 2023 NFL Draft’s top wide receivers. So far, he’s visited (or reportedly made plans to visit) the Giants, Falcons, Ravens, Texans, Bills, and Cowboys. A new report, from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, adds the Cardinals, Bears, Saints, and Panthers to that list.

Several NFL teams are looking past an injury-plagued final season at Ohio State and focusing on an outstanding sophomore season that saw Smith-Njigba vastly outperform last year’s first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. In the 21-year-old’s strongest season, he led the team in receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606) while reeling in nine touchdowns.

All four teams currently have some strong players in the receivers room, but Arizona could likely use the most help at the position with DeAndre Hopkins likely on his way out. The Saints currently roster Smith-Njigba’s former teammate, Olave, along with Michael Thomas and last year’s other rookie Rashid Shaheed. The Bears brought in D.J. Moore from Carolina and hope he will supplement Darnell Mooney and Chase Claypool, who both had disappointing seasons in 2022. Carolina won’t miss Moore too much after bringing in Adam Thielen and DJ Chark to play with Terrace Marshall.

Smith-Njigba could potentially play an exclusive role in the slot as a pro, which would really open up the playing opportunities on the outside for the players mentioned above. Regardless, it’s become clear to see that Smith-Njigba has been a hot name in the weeks leading up to the draft.

Here are some rumors concerning other top wideouts in the upcoming draft:

  • Likewise to Smith-Njigba, Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers has already had a number of reported visits including the Patriots, Giants, Cowboys, Raiders, and Saints. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the 22-year-old will be adding the Bills to that list. Buffalo currently boasts a strong top-two in Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis, but with the departure of Isaiah McKenzie in free agency, they could use a strong WR3. At 5-foot-10, Flowers would be a perfect fit alongside Diggs and Davis, who excel on the outside.
  • In a strange sequence of events, North Carolina wide receiver Josh Downs, who is expected to be a Day 2 draft pick, has reportedly not set up any official visits, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Over the past two years with Drake Maye at quarterback, Downs racked up 195 receptions for 2,364 yards and 19 touchdowns, leading the team in both categories both seasons. The lack of visits certainly doesn’t mean a lack of interest, but it likely won’t help convince teams to move him up their boards.
  • As for what teams may be interested in drafting these top prospects, we’ve heard the common teams like Baltimore, Green Bay, and Houston, but another team to watch is the Giants, according to Matt Miller of ESPN.com. Miller posits that, despite adding Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder and re-signing Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard, the wide receiver position is still dominating conversations around New York. He links Big Blue to Flowers and USC wide receiver Jordan Addison, specifically. The Giants have been connected to just about every top wide receiver in this draft, and it will certainly be interesting to see if the Joe Schoen–Brian Daboll regime takes that route months after trading Kadarius Toney.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/14/23

April 14th, 2023 at 7:40pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: OL Kevin Jarvis

Green Bay Packers

Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Muse’s career was in doubt early when the former third-round pick was waived by the Raiders just before his second year without him ever having played a snap for the team that drafted him. After joining the Seahawks practice squad in 2021, Muse worked to get back on track after an injury-riddled rookie season.

After working his way onto the active roster late into his first season in Seattle, Muse played in every game for the Seahawks in 2022. Serving primarily as a core special teamer, Muse even began to earn some playing time on defense late in the year.

Latest On Michigan DL Mazi Smith’s Draft Stock

April 12th, 2023 at 9:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Mazi Smith is turning into a popular name leading up to the draft. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Michigan defensive lineman has had more than 20 meetings or visits with teams.

The Bills were one of the most recent teams to meet with Smith, with Rapoport noting that the team had a top-30 visit with the prospect today. The Chiefs and Steelers previously met with the defensive lineman at Michigan, and Rapoport also connects the Bears, Eagles, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Saints to the player.

Over the past two years, Smith had 85 tackles and five tackles for loss in 28 games for the Wolverines. The 2022 campaign had majors ups and downs for the player. He was arrested in October after being found to be in possession of a gun without a license. The ensuing felony charge was later dismissed in favor of a guilty plea on a misdemeanor. Then, following the season, Smith earned first-team All-Big Ten honors, putting him firmly on the NFL map.

The six-foot-three, 323-pound lineman has been lauded for his size and athleticism. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com previously compared Smith’s “rough-and-tumble style” to that of fellow defensive line prospect Bryan Bresee‘s “finesse.” NFL.com ultimately gave him the third-highest combine grade among defensive tackles, although the site questioned his ability to produce behind the line of scrimmage. That lack of pass-rushing prowess could end up forcing Smith into the second round, but his growing collection of top-3o visits certainly bodes well for his chances of being selected on the first day of the draft.

Bills Meet With RB Latavius Murray

April 12th, 2023 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hours after losing Devin Singletary to the Texans, the Bills agreed to terms with Damien Harris. The former Patriot appeared to fill the Singletary void, with the signing coming shortly after GM Brandon Beane said the team was looking to add at the position.

Buffalo might not be done with backfield augmentations. The team brought in Latavius Murray on a free agency visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Most recently with the Broncos, Murray has managed to play 10 NFL seasons despite being a sixth-round pick.

The Broncos appeared to be a potential spot for Murray, who led them in rushing last season. Javonte Williams‘ ACL recovery timetable may bleed into the regular season — or at least into training camp — and former Murray coach Sean Payton is now at the helm. Payton also referenced a Murray text exchange ahead of his Denver courtship, seemingly indicating a return could be in play for the ex-Alvin Kamara change-of-pace back. But Samaje Perine signed with the Broncos, potentially removing Murray from the equation. Even after the Broncos’ Perine add, Murray return rumors persisted. But nothing has developed on that front.

Murray, 33, quickly leapfrogged Melvin Gordon upon arriving in Denver from New Orleans’ practice squad. Despite the in-season arrival, the former Raiders sixth-rounder more than doubled Gordon’s yardage output and finished with 703 (4.4 per carry). Murray’s contract expired in March. If Murray were to play an age-33 season, he would join a select group of modern backs to do so. Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson are the only pure running backs to be on a team’s Week 1 roster at 33 or older over the past six years. Ex-Murray Saints teammate Mark Ingram, who turned 33 in December, will try to join this club as well.

The Bills added Harris to a backfield corps that includes 2022 second-round pick James Cook and deadline acquisition Nyheim Hines. While Hines contributes regularly as a return specialist, he also has passing-game chops. Murray would stand to overlap with the Harris as a between-the-tackles threat, but the Bills are taking a look anyway. Murray is from central New York, though he went to college at Central Florida.

The Syracuse-area native has played for five teams and has a 1,000-yard season — back in 2015 with Oakland — on his resume. Murray has mostly worked as an off-the-bench back, playing alongside the likes of Kamara and Dalvin Cook. But the Broncos turned to him as a near-full-timer last season, with Williams on the shelf and Gordon again struggling with ball security. Murray topped 100 rushing yards in two of Denver’s final four games, including a 130-yard showing against the Cardinals in Week 15.

Draft Rumors: Murphy, Banks, Branch, Forbes, Torrence

April 12th, 2023 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top edge defenders available in the draft, Clemson’s Myles Murphy will have a busy week. The 6-foot-5 pass rusher met with the Jaguars earlier this week, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets, and Bengals, Falcons and Texans visits are on tap for one of Clemson’s two first-round-caliber D-line talents. Joining D-tackle Bryan Bresee on this front, Murphy submitted a consistent resume at the ACC power. In three seasons, the 268-pound edge recorded 18.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss. The Jaguars, who have drafted an edge in Round 1 three times since 2019, go on the clock at No. 24. The Bengals, who have Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard signed beyond 2023, hold the No. 28 pick. The Texans (Nos. 2, 12) and Falcons (No. 8) are needier on the edge, but their draft slots might not align with a player ranked just outside the top 20.

Here is the latest from the draft:

  • Both Scouts Inc. and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah grade Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks just outside the top 20 as well, but he appears to be interviewing well with teams and trending upward. The Commanders, Ravens and Steelers are three of the teams impressed by Banks, per the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, who adds others are intrigued by the 6-foot cover man. The Raiders will host the former Big Ten defender today, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The Steelers will be connected to Round 1 corners, having lost Cameron Sutton, and the Ravens have not re-signed Marcus Peters. Both Washington and Pittsburgh cut William Jackson over the past seven months. The Raiders, who have not re-signed Rock Ya-Sin, seemingly have a perpetual cornerback need.
  • In addition to Emmanuel Forbes‘ Lions visit, the Mississippi State corner is a popular pre-draft guest. The Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots, Steelers, Titans and Vikings are on his visit schedule, Jon Sokoloff of WCBI tweets, with Wilson adding the Bengals and Commanders will take a look as well. Forbes’ frame will certainly come up at these meetings. Despite posting a Division I FBS-record six pick-sixes and intercepting 14 passes in three seasons, Forbes being 6-foot and 166 pounds will be an issue for teams. Nevertheless, he profiles as a late-first-round talent.
  • Staying on the DB front, Alabama’s Brian Branch might be the best bet for safety-needy teams in what is viewed as a weak class at the position. The Falcons, Commanders, Raiders, Texans and Vikings are on Branch’s pre-draft itinerary, per Wilson, who adds the Bills have a workout scheduled for the multiyear Crimson Tide contributor as well. Branch has extensive slot experience as well, providing potential flexibility for teams considering him in the late first round.
  • Like Branch, Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence profiles as the top player at his position going into the draft. The Louisiana transfer became a consensus All-American in 2022, and the Bills, Commanders and Steelers have auditioned him thus far, per Wilson and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter links). Each of these teams have added at guard already this offseason. The Steelers signed both Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig, while the Bills signed Connor McGovern. The Commanders signed ex-Giant Nick Gates but have plans to use him at center, where he played before a severe September 2021 injury sidetracked his career.

Bills Meet With WR Jalin Hyatt, To Host Jordan Addison; Trade-Up In Play?

April 11th, 2023 at 9:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the intrigue surrounding this month’s draft has been focused on teams near the top of the board, but the Bills could be a team to watch amongst those currently scheduled to select later on Day 1. They will continue doing homework on a number of receiver options who could be available, and a move up the board may not be out of the question.

Buffalo met with Tennessee alum Jalin Hyatt yesterday, per Jordan Schultz of The Score (Twitter link). That adds to the growing list of teams who have looked into this year’s Biletnikoff award winner as the country’s top receiver, and could point him towards a first-round selection. Hyatt had two modest seasons to begin his career with the Volunteers, but took a massive step forward in 2022 with a 67/1,267/15 statline.

His 18.9 yards per catch average in 2022 makes Hyatt one of the best vertical threats in the 2023 receiver class, one which has led teams around the league in several different directions with respect to evaluations. The All-American is one of several wideouts with first-round potential who is on the slender side (6-0, 175), but he should still be able to carve out a sizeable role early in his NFL career.

The same is true of Jordan Addison, who will visit the Bills this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). The Pitt transfer had a down year compared to 2021 in his lone season at USC, but still finds himself in contention to be the top receiver taken and is seen as one of the safest prospects at the position. Addison, like many other wideouts headlining the 2023 class, is likely to see considerable time in the slot at the NFL level, which could make Buffalo an interesting destination.

The Bills are in search of a consistent No. 2 option in the passing game behind Stefon Diggs, and both Hyatt and Addison could provide the skillset needed to find a long-term answer in that regard. Buffalo will also meet with Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, as they cast a wide net in their pre-draft evaluations. Given how high at least some of the top receivers will hear their names called, though, the Bills may need to get aggressive to land their preferred option.

ESPN’s Matt Miller notes that a trade-up could be in play for Buffalo, who currently holds pick No. 27. Moving towards the middle of the first round may be necessary to beat out other WR-needy teams for the first or second option, though plenty of uncertainty remains regarding how many pass-catchers will go on Day 1 given the relative lack of star power in this class. The Bills also have just six picks in total this year, so a sizeable move in the first round may not be feasible.

Buffalo ranked seventh in passing offense last season, and the team has made only relatively minor moves at the receiver position so far in free agency. An impact rookie could help give them a potential successor to Gabe Davis in the No. 2 receiver role, since the former fourth-rounder is entering the final year of his rookie contract. How interested the Bills are in one or more of the prospects who could be in their range will be a storyline to watch.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba Visits Falcons; WR To Meet With Ravens, Texans, Bills, Cowboys

April 10th, 2023 at 3:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2023 draft class isn’t seen to have the star power at the top of the board that previous ones did when it comes to the receiver position. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is seen by many as the headliner in this year’s class, though, something which is reflected by his travel schedule this month.

The former Ohio State receiver has already visited the Falcons, and will also do so with the Ravens, Texans, Bills and Cowboys (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). That list is sure to grow given his status as one of the most highly-touted players at the position, but it already covers a large stretch of the first round in terms of draft positioning.

The Falcons are set to pick eighth overall, and most analysts have tapped them for a defensive addition. The team is also looking into its options along the offensive line, however. Atlanta has used its top choice on a pass-catcher in each of the past two years, taking tight end Kyle Pitts at No. 4 in 2021 and wideout Drake London with the No. 8 selection last year. Using a premium pick for that purpose once again in 2023 would come as a surprise, though the Falcons ranked second-last in passing yards last season, and have yet to make a major addition to their WR room in free agency.

Houston owns the second overall pick, which is expected to be used on a quarterback (though the door remains open a different course of action). The Texans also have the 12th selection as a result of the Deshaun Watson trade, and that spot could be used on Smith-Njigba to boost their passing game. With the trade of Brandin Cooks, Houston is lacking in established receivers outside of Robert Woods. The arrival of Cooks in Dallas, on the other hand, has eased the pressure the Cowboys face to use their top selection (No. 26) on a wideout.

Both the Bills and Ravens have been linked to splashy additions to their pass-catching corps this offseason. The latter made one yesterday with the signing of Odell Beckham Jr., something which could free them up to look elsewhere with the 22nd pick. The Bills, scheduled to select 27th, continue to search for a consistent secondary option to effectively compliment Stefon Diggs. It appears unlikely Smith-Njigba will be in range of teams at the back half of the opening round, in any case.

The Buckeyes alum had a massive campaign in 2021, but was limited to just three games this past season due to a hamstring injury. A strong showing at the Combine, however, helped garner interest from the Giants along with today’s list of potential suitors. The strength of his sophomore performance has many teams assigning Smith-Njigba the only first-round grade amongst this year’s receivers, as noted by Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy (Twitter link).

While that could have a notable effect on other top prospects at the position later this month, Smith-Njigba can comfortably be considered a lock to hear his name called on Day 1. Teams could find themselves jockeying for position to acquire him if their interest in him on draft night is matched by the breadth of meetings he has and will continue to take part in.

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