QUARTERBACK (5) - Critical Condition
1. EJ Manuel
- 2014 Salary - $2,019,386
- Under Contract - 3 Years through 2016-1017
- Comments - The QB position is considered in critical condition until EJ Manuel can prove that he can remain healthy and productive. Three knee injuries in his first season and plenty of inconsistency are two huge red flags. I understand that he is a rookie and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt but I remain one of his biggest critics. I don't think he's the answer but I would love for him to prove me wrong. While I personally don't think he's the answer, I believe the Bills front office remains high on him and will do everything they can to help him succeed and warrant the 1st round pick they spent on him. This off-season will not be about finding a new QB, but rather improving the pieces around the one they already have. The Bills need to upgrade their OL, bring in a big bodied WR and get Manuel an athletic TE.
- 2014 Salary - $645,000
- Under Contract - 1Year through 2014-2015 (RFA)
- Comments - I was a fan of what Thad Lewis did last year as a Bill. Despite awful OL play, he was tough as nails and made the best of the opportunity he was forced into. One of my favorite memories of last year was him staying in the pocket, making a throw to the far side of the field and taking a helmet to helmet hit in the process. He completed the pass, got up, helmet spun halfway around his head and banged on his chest. In that very moment, I wanted to run through a brick wall head first. I think he's the backup QB heading into the 2014-2015 season.
- 2014 Salary - $3,600,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - I fully expect him to either get cut or retire on his own terms. He's injury prone, not much better than Thad Lewis if even better at all and carries a cap hit that can be better spent elsewhere. That last concussion really may have did him on although wearing a ball cap, holding a clipboard and collecting a $3.6 million dollar check doesn't sound like a bad life.
- 2014 Salary - $496,666
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016 (RFA)
- Comments - That pick-six against Kansas City. Ugh, enough said. I'd rather see what Dennis Dixon can do in our offense as the #3 QB.
- 2014 Salary - $730,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016
- Comments - As stated above, I would love to see what Dennis Dixon can do as our #3 QB. With an additional pre-season game thanks to the Bills playing in the HOF game, I think he'll get plenty of snaps to show his worth to the organization. My advice, just don't throw a pick-six on the one yard line against an undefeated team mid-season at home in front of your fans. Ugh, Jeff Tuel
RUNNING BACK (4) - Good Condition
1. CJ Spiller
- 2014 Salary - $5,916,916
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016
- Comments - Not a day has gone by that I haven't gone to bed at night, dreaming of a fully healthy CJ Spiller for the 2014-2015 season. If you ever wondered what lightning would look like in human form, it would be CJ Spiller. He's an absolute stud and will be the focal point of our offense heading into the season and rightfully so.
- 2014 Salary - $3,850,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - Fred Jackson is the Tim Duncan of the NFL. The definition of a true professional. I have been tough on this guy over the years, waiting for him to falter or the gas to run out of the tank but he just keeps on trucking along. He does everything and he does it well. No weaknesses in his game and no excuses no matter how battered or bruised he is. A great compliment to CJ Spiller.
- 2014 Salary - $495,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016 (RFA)
- Comments - 6'3 and 231 pounds of former SEC production. This is a guy I would love to see get the ball more at various points in the season. He had a couple carries last year but could carve out a role on the team after mainstay Tashard Choice was let go late in the season. I expect some competition to be brought in by way of the UDFA scene.
- 2014 Salary - $570,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016
- Comments - A former Georgia Tech athlete so I, of course, like Mario Butler, will be pulling for him as he tries to crack the 53 man roster but he won't be a threat to get consistent carries. He'll try to carve out a role as a Special Teams player. Good size, scored a touchdown for the Ravens in 2012.
1. Frank Summers
- 2014 Salary - $495,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015 (ERFA)
- Comments - The bowling ball Frank Summers. I like the guy. He can catch the ball, he can run a bit and comes very cheap. Also a good Special Teams player.
- 2014 Salary - $570,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015 (RFA)
- Comments - I liked watching Evan Rodriguez at Temple. He's more of a hybrid FB/TE who can run and catch better than Frank Summers but isn't quite big enough or polished to play the TE position. Not a lock to make the team but I'm interested to see how they use him with a full off-season together.
1. Stevie Johnson
- 2014 Salary - $8,500,000
- Under Contract - 3 Years through 2016-2017
- Comments - He's a great WR. He runs the best routes in the NFL but he has hamstring issues, isn't the most sure handed and has been labeled as immature. I am a big fan of Stevie Johnson as a person and love him in the slot. He's not the type of #1 WR you see in the NFL these days, not in the mold of Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones or Brandon Marshall but he's getting paid like one. He would be an ideal #2 WR but Buffalo doesn't have that luxury at this point in time. Robert Woods is a very similar player who can take over Stevie's role so #13 becoming a cap casualty is not an impossible thought.
- 2014 Salary - $1,106,085
- Under Contract - 3 Years through 2016-2017
- Comments - A solid, young WR out of USC. Very productive in college and solid as a first year WR. He can run routes, has good hands and deceptive speed. I think he will grow very well EJ Manuel and become his #1 WR in no time.
- 2014 Salary - $777,813
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016
- Comments - I am so low on TJ Graham. I would not mind seeing him get cut this off-season. I think Marquise Goodwin handles the role as deep-threat speedster much better than Graham.
- 2014 Salary - $674,719
- Under Contract - 3 Years through 2016-2017
- Comments - I didn't particularly like the Goodwin draft pick at the time because we already had TJ Graham in that role. After realizing that Marquise Goodwin is much better in that role, I immediately took a liking to him. I'm excited to watch Goodwin the track star become more of Goodwin the football player.
- 2014 Salary - $730,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - My man crush. A special teams demon and a WR I would like to see get more snaps on offense. He has a great size/speed combo but I'm convinced he slept with someone's wife on the coaching staff and they're holding a grudge against the Connecticut grad. He should be the 5th/6th WR and make a case to be a Special Teams captain this year.
- 2014 Salary - $495,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015 (ERFA)
- Comments - Good hands, runs good routes. If Stevie gets cut, his stock will soar. I wouldn't mind him losing his roster spot to a big bodied WR through the draft though. Mike Evans anyone? If we're looking internally, watch out for Ramses Barden.
- 2014 Salary - $730,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016
- Comments - He's the big bodied WR that the Bills need. 6'6 and 224 pounds got stuck behind a good WR core in New York (Giants). He'll be battling Kevin Elliott and Chris Hogan for the 6th and final WR spot.
- 2014 Salary - $570,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015 (RFA)
- Comments - Good size at 6'3 and 205, chiseled like a statue, he is physical and wins at the point of attack. He was hurt in the pre-season last year and is a bit of an enigma but I think he'll gain some fans over the summer.
- 2014 Salary - $420,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016 (RFA)
- Comments - I liked Brandon Kaufman last year. He made some plays but just got caught in a numbers game. I wish he could put on 30 lbs. and play TE but it's not that easy. Oh, yes it is. I've put on 30 lbs. in a few months like it was nothing, but my 40 yard dash time doubled from 5.5 seconds to 9.0 seconds so I could see how this could backfire for Mr. Kaufman. Practice Squad candidate.
- 2014 Salary - $495,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016 (RFA)
- Comments - Doesn't stand a chance. Will be vying for a role on the Practice Squad.
TIGHT ENDS (3) - Critical Condition
1. Lee Smith
- 2014 Salary - $688,401
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - I hate Lee Smith. A blocker with a nasty streak who can't make consistent plays in the passing games and always seems to be sending us 15 yards backwards with his penalties. The fact that he is currently our #1 TE is very worrisome to me.
- 2014 Salary - $1,350,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - Eclipsed 500 receiving yards before. Is athletic but has been injury prone. He's not someone that should be relied upon but may have to be if the Bills fail to update the TE position. Drafting a stud TE and having Moeaki return to his 2010 form would go a long way for the Buffalo Bills.
- 2014 Salary - $509.793
- Under Contract - 3 Years through 2016-2017
- Comments - Very similar to Moeaki. Could be good but has to work on his hands and his concentration. Drops too many easy passes but is a typical new age TE who can make a play when he actually does catch the ball. I love the SEC background. Caught the only TD vs. Pittsburgh last season. Hopefully it was the first of many for #89.
1. Cordy Glenn - OT
- 2014 Salary - $1,326,867
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016
- Comments - An absolute stud. He does his job and he does it well. There were some questions when the Bills drafted him about whether he'd stick at LT or would be kicked inside at OG but the Bills believed in him and it paid off. The value was tremendous in the 2nd round and I expect him to keep getting better.
- 2014 Salary - $5,950,000
- Under Contract - 4 Years through 2017-2018
- Comments - He shedded the injury prone label and has been a rock for the Bills. He hasn't been snapping the ball to the most talented of QB's but that hasn't stopped him from being a stalwart in the middle of the line.
- 2014 Salary - $3,375,000
- Under Contract - 3 Years through 2016-2017
- Comments - Kraig Urbik has been a solid OG for the Bills. There's not much to elaborate on the matter. The less you hear about him, the better he's doing. Keep on keeping on Kraig.
- 2014 Salary - $3,450,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - Struggled mightily last year. Could be a candidate to be cut with his robust cap hit of $3.45 million and the return of Chris Hairston. I fully expect the Bills to address this position in free agency and if they fail to do so, in the draft. I would love, love, love Greg Robinson in the 1st round to be paired with Cordy Glenn at the T spots. Good luck getting to Manuel defenses.
- 2014 Salary - $1,492,977
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - My dark-horse (shoutout to my girlfriend Katy Perry) candidate to start at RT. If Marrone believes in Hairston and likes what he saw on film before his injury, it could save the Bills $ or an important pick in the draft and that can go a long way in filling another hole on the roster.
- 2014 Salary - $1,100,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015
- Comments - He was brutal last year. I like him much more as the 9th OL on the roster than I do as a starter. He's versatile but not very good. Maybe it was the gruesome injury he sustained early in the season, or maybe... he's just really bad?
- 2014 Salary - $570,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015 (RFA)
- Comments - He's a boy scout, er a man scout now that he's older and he once saved someone from choking at a restaurant. He's a good guy but not a guy I want starting on the Bills. He'll be fighting to be the 9th OL on the roster.
- 2014 Salary - $495,000
- Under Contract - 1 Year through 2014-2015 (ERFA)
- Comments - My dark-horse (shoutout to my girlfriend Katy Perry) to start at LG. The Bills really like him but they just might be saying that to make their OL sound more stable than it really is.
- 2014 Salary - $495,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016 (RFA)
- Comments - The Bills like him but they just might be saying that to make their OL sound more stable than it really is. Yeah, I think they're just trying to make their OL sound more stable than it really is.
- 2014 Salary - $420,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016 (RFA)
- Comments - Practice Squad candidate.
- 2014 Salary - $420,000
- Under Contract - 2 Years through 2015-2016 (RFA)
- Comments - Practice Squad candidate.
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