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The Buffalo Bills added a veteran to their wide receiver room while also trying to fend off criticism about the group. However, there is a different level of optimism at another position, and here is one undrafted free agent who will make the 2025 roster.
It’s possible the Bills found a contributor along the offensive line with 6-foot-3, 315-pound Jacob Bayer out of Arkansas State. He received a rating of 5.82, according to nfl.com, and projects as an average backup or special-teams player. But in either of those cases, that’s a roster spot.
“Center-only prospect and four-year starter whose technique and toughness help make up for a lack of ideal mass and length,” Lance Zierlein wrote.
The Bills have brought in 11 guys, trying to round out the edges of their roster. They grabbed three wide receivers, a tight end, three offensive linemen, two defensive backs, and a linebacker.
But for now, Beane has been trying to defend the team’s draft strategy, according to nfl.com via WGR 550’s The Jeremy and Joe Show.
“It sounds like 2018 all over with you guys,” Beane said. “Well, you guys were (wrong) in 2018 about Josh Allen, you guys wanted Josh Rosen, and now you guys are (wrong) that we don’t have a receiver,” Beane elaborated. “I don’t get it. We just scored 30 points in a row for eight straight games. A year ago, I get you guys asking why we didn’t have receivers. But I don’t understand it now.
“You just saw us lead the league in points. When you add all the postseason (games), no one scored more points than the Buffalo Bills, including the Super Bowl champions. So, you just saw us do it without Stefon Diggs, same group. How is this group not better than last year’s group? Our job is to score points and win games. Where do we need to get better? Defense. We did that.”
Beane and the Bills also want to give Allen more time to help those receivers.
“We’ve got Josh Allen,” Beane said. “First thing you’ve got to do is protect him. You can’t have everything. You can’t have Pro Bowl wide receivers and have a Pro Bowl offensive line and an All-Pro quarterback and three great running backs. You’ve got to pick.”
They also want to stay consistent with the ground game. And that’s where a guy like Bayer might help.
“Bayer consistently gets into the chests of opponents by using efficient hand placement and block centering,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s sturdy at the point of attack but doesn’t generate much pop-and-push. Bayer displayed the ability (to) mirror and anchor against Michigan’s pass rush early in the 2024 season. He’s well-schooled in all facets and very tough. But a lack of position versatility and limitations as a difference-maker in an NFL-caliber run game could hurt his chances.”
There’s also an important caveat about Bayer’s...
