That’s definitely a tricky situation for the Bills. They’ve done a good job reshaping the defense so far, but the CB2 spot is glaring. Letting Douglas walk makes sense financially given the tight cap space, but it leaves a void that could hurt them, especially against some of the AFC’s top passing attacks.
With just under $4 million left, they’ll probably have to find a veteran corner who is willing to sign a short-term, team-friendly deal. There are still some intriguing names on the market who could fit as stopgap starters or rotational pieces.
Are you thinking someone like Stephon Gilmore, Steven Nelson, or maybe even Xavien Howard if the price drops? Or do you think Beane will rely more on the draft to find that CB2?
It’s now officially been more than a week since the new league year kicked off in the NFL and free agency was a wild ride. However, there are still plenty of moves to be made from now until the start of the season. The Buffalo Bills made their mark last week by going heavy in free agency on the defensive side of the ball. However, they still have some work to do.
When you look at the roster for Buffalo, they have a major hole that they need to address at cornerback. They let Rasul Douglas walk in free agency (but he still remains unsigned) and they traded away Kaiir Elam (in which Brandon Beane deserves major credit for getting draft picks in exchange).
The Bills still don’t have standout corner Christian Benford extended on a long-term contract and they don’t have a reliable CB2 to play opposite of him. Beane needs to either sign a notable free agent or find a way to draft a cornerback in the draft. Even though Rasul Douglas still remains an unsigned free agent, his asking price might be too high for Buffalo to give.
According to Spotrac, the Bills only have $3.9 million to use right now. Spotrac currently has Douglas’ market value set at $11.9 million per year. It wouldn’t make a ton of sense to bring Douglas back for that kind of price.
Even though Douglas may not return to Buffalo, there is a free agent corner who would make a lot of sense for the Bills to bring to Western New York.
Bills listed as perfect match for CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Yeah, that fit makes a ton of sense. Asante Samuel Jr. feels like exactly the type of player Buffalo could use right now — young, experienced, and with proven ball skills. Plus, given the McDermott connection with his dad, there’s already a layer of trust and familiarity, which goes a long way when you’re bringing someone into a defense like Buffalo’s.
The fact that Samuel Jr. is still on the market might mean his price has come down to something more manageable for a cap-strapped team like the Bills. He’s got that aggressive, playmaking style they lost when Douglas left, but at just 25, he still has upside and could fit long-term if things go well.
If they can land him on a prove-it deal and still draft a CB early, that could really solidify the secondary heading into 2025. Would you be leaning toward Samuel Jr. as your top free-agent target for Buffalo right now, or do you have other players on your radar too?