1. This NFL Network analyst still likes the Bills in the AFC East
The flurry of free agent signing activity by the New England Patriots has many NFL analysts contemplating an AFC East resurgence by Bill Belichick's club in 2021. Open speculation has already begun as to whether the Buffalo Bills one-year reign as division champions could soon be over.
NFL Network's Mike Silver however, isn't buying it. Here's what he said about where the Bills focus is this offseason.
"The Bills aren't looking at the Patriots, they're looking past them. They're looking at the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and trying to get to the very top. They know they have their guy in Josh Allen. They are loading up around him. You saw the Emmanuel Sanders addition. They'll continue to load up.
"I believe they are in the mix possibly for a Zach Ertz trade. They're looking at several tight end options. They want to get better there. They want to get better in the running game so I think they'll look for some bargain buys at that position. Defensively, you always want edge rushers and they can probably fill in some blanks there."
2. PFF calls Bills re-signing of Daryl Williams a "very good" move
NFL free agency is fully underway, but before the market opened the Bills successfully re-signed three important free agents of their own in OT Daryl Williams, LB Matt Milano and OL Jon Feliciano.
Pro Football Focus had a favorable review of the Williams signing by the Bills. Here was their assessment.
T DARYL WILLIAMS
Grade: Very Good
Williams doesn't have an extensive track record of success, but he has been a quality starting option at right tackle in each of his past two full seasons at the position. He ranked third among all qualifying right tackles in PFF grade back in 2017. That season was followed up by an early injury in the 2018 season and a down year across time at four different positions along the offensive line in 2019. Those two campaigns opened the door for the Bills to take a chance on him with a cheap, one-year deal last offseason. The result was a career-high 79.2 PFF grade from Williams as the team's starting right tackle in 2020. ...
3. Newest Bill Matt Haack more than just a punter
While new Bills punter Matt Haack has made a living hanging kicks high and deep, there is another element to what he brings to the field. Haack has been a part of two of the more notable trick plays in recent NFL history.
In 2019, Haack was part of the NFL Play of the Year, called "Mountaineer Shot" by the Dolphins, when he backhanded a touchdown pass on a trick formation to kicker Jason Sanders while a member of the Dolphins in a successful conversion against the Eagles.
"It means a lot," Haack told miamidolphins.com. "It's not every day a punter and a kicker get to be a part of something like that."
Last season, Haack successfully executed some other trick plays in his career both as a runner and a passer, but they were called back on penalty.
Haack even threw a 27-yard pass in college his junior season at Arizona State.
What might special teams coordinator Heath Farwell have in store for him?
