Buffalo Bills facing crazy offseason in player contract department
Looking ahead to the end of the 2016 campaign, the Buffalo Bills will be in for a tough offseason no matter the results this year brings. Rex Ryan could keep or lose his job. The team could make or miss the playoffs. However, one thing that is certain at this stage is the amount of players currently on the Bills roster in the last year of their contract.
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29-players currently signed to team contracts are in the final year of those deals. Included in that list are cornerback Stephon Gilmore, linebackers IK Enemkpali, Zach Brown, Brandon Spikes and Lorenzo Alexander, running back Mike Gillislee, wide receivers Justin Hunter, Marquise Goodwin, and Robert Woods, as well as starting right tackle Jordan Mills.
All of the above players were expected or have performed as a starter for the team this season. Heading into the offseason, it will be interesting to see what the Bills do with these players going forward. With or without a playoff appearance, at least some of these players will have to be brought back if only to help fill out the roster.
Of the above listed players, topping the list of must-watch situations will be Stephon Gilmore. Though he has played inconsistently to say the least this season, Gilmore is still a top level cornerback in this league. Losing him through free agency would be a big loss, but the team needs to make sure they don’t overpay in their attempt to bring him back.
Also on the list of must-watches will be Zach Brown, Robert Woods, Jordan Mills, Lorenzo Alexander, and Mike Gillislee. For the two linebackers listed above — Brown and Alexander — there case will be even more tricky. Both were signed as veteran roster fillers but have played spectacularly this season. Brown leads the NFL in tackles while Alexander does the same in sacks.
Jordan Mills can also not be overlooked. Starting all nine games for the Buffalo Bills this season, his presence on the offensive line will not be an easy one to replace. Unless your certain of who a replacement might be, Mills will almost certainly be one of the team’s top targets when the offseason begins.
Robert Woods and Mike Gillislee are also key players currently in a contract year. Both — while not the best at there given positions — are key players in the offense. Both have roles with the team and cannot be overlooked. A lot of work currently lies ahead of the Buffalo Bills this offseason. With so many players likely to hit the open market, the Bills will need to flawless to retain most of the team’s key contributors.
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