Super Bowl LVII: 3 free agent targets for Buffalo Bills on Eagles & Chiefs
One year after signing Von Miller, the Buffalo Bills are not expected to be big spenders in free agency.
At his end-of-season press conference, Bills general manager Brandon Beane referred to the pass rusher as the team’s “big ticket free agent” for the upcoming season after signing the veteran to a six-year, $120,000 deal. million signed. After going all out on Miller, Buffalo doesn’t have much in terms of cap space right now. As it stands, the bills are about $20 million over the cap, so some roster moves (restructuring, cuts, etc.) will need to be done by March 15th. Restructuring Josh Allen’s deal, for example, could free up $20 million in cap space. alone, but other moves will have to be made as well.
With limited cap space, the team is not expected to sign any top-level free agents. That said, Buffalo could still be active in free agency as they look to upgrade at certain spots and replace some talented players potentially leaving via free agency.
The two teams playing in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, both have some free agents who could be targets for the Bills. Here are three potential free agent additions for the Philadelphia and Kansas City bills.
1. Eagles G Isaac Seumalo
PFF projection: Three years, $33 million ($11M per year); $22 million total guaranteed
Spotrac projection: 2 years, $24,250,271
The offensive line could be Buffalo’s biggest concern entering 2023. The Bills’ OL took a step back last season and needs to be upgraded so Josh Allen doesn’t constantly put pressure on him. While money will be tight for the Bills, Seumalo is a player worth spending on the open market for.
Pro Football Focus has noted Seumalo’s consistency this season along the way for Philadelphia.
Seumalo’s pass blocking from Week 11 — protecting two very different quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts and Gardner Minshew — has been nothing short of spectacular, earning a 90.4 mark with no quarterback hits and pressures allowed on just 1.8% of the passes – block snapshots.
Seumalo turns 30 in October, but he’s a player worth adding based on how well he’s protected the quarterback in meaningful games and his versatility. Seumalo can play all three spots along the interior of the offensive line.
2. Eagles S Marcus Epps
PFF projection: Two years, $13.5 million ($6.75M per year); $7.5 million total guaranteed
Spotrac: No projection available
The Bills may be in the market for a safety if they move on from Jordan Poyer.
Epps, 27, could be eligible for the bills. Just like Poyer, Epps is a bit of a late bloomer in terms of development and it appears the safety has watched a lot of tape on Buffalo’s safety duo to improve his game.
As for Epps, there are some good and bad to his game. Epps has been outstanding in run defense this season, but his coverage skills have been lacking.
Via PFF:
Epps became a full-time starter in 2022 and recorded a career-high 1,095 regular-season snaps, earning his second straight run defense grade above 80.0, with his 84.4 mark in 2022 ranking eighth among safeties. Epps’ 77 tackles in 2022 were tied for 11th most at the position, and his 90.2 run defense grade over the past two seasons is third at the position.
Coverage is a bit of a different story. While Epps and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson have been successful in 2022 because of their ability to perform in single- or two-high alignments — with more masking in coverages from pre-snap to post-snap this season — Epps has a career-low achieved 44.7 coverage grade. He can use his size to adjust to tight ends as a curl/flat defender in the box, but isn’t as confident in the deep third, where he’s prone to the occasional blown coverage.
3. Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman
PFF projection: Didn’t make the top 100 players to hit the free agency list.
Spotrac projection: 4 years, $44,140,632
First, the Bills shouldn’t be in Hardman at Spotrac’s projection. Sometimes their projections can be a bit off of what the player actually earns in free agency due to an algorithm used for players.
CBS Sports has Hardman as their no. Listed 12 players who will be a free agent on one of this year’s Super Bowl rosters. Here is what they wrote about the receiver.
Hardman was a bright spot for the Chiefs in 2022, even if he only played eight games (and will miss the Super Bowl). He has six touchdowns this season (four receptions, two rushing) and is an elite return man when used. Used mostly as a gadget player, Hardman can be a deep-ball receiver in an offense that needs one.
Hardman (24) suffered a pelvic injury in Week 9 and was recently placed on injured reserve. Although he won’t be playing in the Super Bowl, Hardman has proven himself to be a great red zone weapon and he would provide the Bills with a deep threat that they sorely lack.
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