1. ESPN analyst unveils his offseason plan for the Bills
The Bills should make these five moves this offseason, according to ESPN writer Bill Barnwell. They include picking up Tre'Davious White's fifth-year option and extending him, bringing back Jordan Phillips (or find his replacement), adding an offensive lineman and a corner and work on extensions for Dion Dawkins and Matt Milano.
The first item on Barnwell's agenda is addressing Tre'Davious White's situation.
The former LSU star has shown the ability to move around the field and take on the opposing team's top wideout on a weekly basis. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, White allowed a passer rating of just 36.3 as the closest defender in coverage last season, which was the league's second-best mark for corners with at least 200 coverage snaps. Quarterbacks would have been better off throwing the ball into the ground, given that the passer rating for a season full of incompletions is 39.6. … Picking up White's fifth-year option is academic. Getting him signed to an extension will be tougher.
The hardest decision for Buffalo will be what to with Jordan Phillips.
The most difficult decision of the offseason for coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane is what to do with one of their breakout stars from 2019. Phillips was a waiver-wire acquisition from the Dolphins in 2018 who signed a one-year … deal to stick around last season, but no one could have anticipated what was going to happen next. Phillips doubled his snap rate and produced more sacks (9.5) in one season than he had over his four prior NFL campaigns (5.5). The only defensive tackle in the league to rack up more sacks was Aaron Donald. … Phillips is going to get a big raise this offseason, but should Buffalo offer him a significant multiyear deal? It's a tough decision.
Barnwell believes the Bills will address the offensive line and cornerback positions this offseason. With cornerback, Barnwell believes the Bills will look for one in the first two rounds of the draft rather than spend the money on players in free agency. However, time will tell what will happen in the coming months.
2. Bills should pay attention to this player at the scouting combine
The NFL scouting combine begins next week in Indianapolis, NFL.com put together a list of one player that each team must watch. Analyst Charley Casserly picked wide receiver Tee Higgins for Buffalo.
BUFFALO BILLS: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson. The Bills need to score more points, so drafting a receiver early is certainly in play.
Higgins has size that current Bills wide receivers don't have. Described to have "cheat-code body control" and his "above the rim" talent make him an incredibly dangerous playmaker deep and in the red zone, says NFL analyst Lance Zierlein. Zierlein compares Higgins to Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. Green. Higgins' college stats compare favorably to two prolific NFL receivers. Higgins is tied with DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins for the most receiving touchdowns in Clemson history with 27.
Scroll through to view the top images from the 2019 Bills season as chosen by Bills Team Photographer Bill Wippert and Bills Contributing Photographers Sara Schmidle, Craig Melvin and Jeffrey T. Barnes.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) touchdown catch at the Wild card game of Buffalo Bills vs Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on January 4, 2020. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Duke Williams (82) Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets at New Era Field, December 29, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
T.J. Yeldon - Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets, December 29, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Dawson Knox (88) vs Cinciinnati. Sept. 22, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) with his second interception at Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
Defense celebrates another interception - Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, December 15, 2019 at Heinz Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Bills vs Denver | Nov. 24, 2019
Ed Oliver hits Lamar Jackson - Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens, December 8, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Star Lotulelei and friends - Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Cody Ford (70) at New York Jets. Sept. 9, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets at New Era Field, December 29, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Defensive backs pregame prayer huddle - Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (10) Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos at New Era Field on November 24, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills Josh Allen (17) vs Baltimore. Dec. 8, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Jordan Phillips gives Josh Allen a touchdown celebration lift - Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos, November 24, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills vs Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium on November 10, 2019. Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) sack and safety of Mayfield. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins at New Era Field on October 20, 2019. Buffalo Bills strong safety Micah Hyde (23) onside kick return for a touchdown. Photo by Craig Melvin
Touchdown Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26)Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Redskins at New Era Field, November 3, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Redskins at New Era Field, November 3, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen player introductions - Buffalo Bills vs Philadelphia Eagles, October 27, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills strong safety Micah Hyde (23) Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, October 20, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson (90). Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Star Lotulelei (98). Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 6, 2019 . Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills depart for Cleveland, November 9, 2019 to face the Cleveland Browns. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills T.J. Yeldon (22) vs Cincinnati. Sept. 22, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills Training Camp, July 28, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) holds on after being flipped at Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on October 6, 2019 . Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills Josh Allen (17) vs Phildelphia. Oct. 27, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Matt Milano (58) and Lorenzo Alexander after a tackle Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots September 29, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets at New Era Field, December 29, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Cody Ford (70) vs Cincinnati. Sept. 22, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) holds onto a one handed catch Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots September 29, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills Josh Allen (17) vs Indianapolis. Aug. 8, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore (20) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals at New Era Field, September 22, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Lorenzo Alexander (57) at New York Jets. Sept. 8, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Josh Allen, postgame smiles - Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Ed Oliver (91) at New York Giants. Sept. 15, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills Tre'Davious White (27) with his first of two interceptions at the Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals, September 22, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Craig Melvin
Harrison Phillips honors Pancho Billa - Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals, September 22, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Micah Hyde prepares to play the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, August 23, 2019. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Rookie Community Day 2019 Buffalo, NY June 19, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Kevin Johnson hits Adam Humphries - Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans, October 6, 2019 at Nissan Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Josh Allen (17) vs New England. Sept. 29, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Sean McDermott and Dion Dawkins - pregame, Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, November 17, 2019 at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Trent Murphy (93) vs Denver. Nov. 24, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Leaping Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills vs Houston Texans - AFC Wild Card playoff, January 4, 2020 at NRG Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Kevin Johnson upends N'Keal Harry - Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals at New Era Field, September 22, 2019. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Josh Allen introduced on Salute To Service Day - Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos, November 24, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cole Beasley, hero's welcome - Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Team Defense - Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field, August 8, 2019. Photo by Bill Wippert
Many Hands, One Glove - Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field, August 8, 2019. Photo by Bill Wippert
3. Bills draft advice from Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay
On ESPNs First Draft Podcast Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay dove deep into the Bills' draft needs this year, especially in the first few rounds.
Kiper Jr. mentioned top wide receiver prospects could be in play at No. 22 with Colorado's Lavishka Shenault and Clemson's Tee Higgins as options. McShay opted for a different approach.
"Don't force it the first round," McShay said regarding drafting a wide receiver.
McShay believes the Bills can go for an edge rusher in round one and wait until day two of the NFL Draft for a wide receiver like Michael Pittman from USC or Van Jefferson from Florida. Still, in his latest mock draft he suggested the Bills will take Georgia running back D'Andre Swift to create a one-two punch with Devin Singletary.
