Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - We're nearing a week away from the official start of the 2022 league year in the National Football League, with NFL Free Agency kicking off at 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 16. Meanwhile, the NFL's "legal tampering period" will officially begin 52 hours before free agency starts on Monday, March 14.
With the offseason about to get quite active league-wide, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane joined the “Howard and Jeremy Show” on Tuesday to offer fans a look into what the team may be doing come next week.
Beane started off on Tuesday confirming the Bills will not be using the franchise tag on any player before the 4 p.m. EST deadline.
However, Beane did say the team will be exercising the fifth-year option for 2019 first round pick Ed Oliver. The defensive tackle, heading into his fourth season with the Bills, had his breakout season in 2021 with four sacks, 29 solo tackles, 10 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. The 24-year-old’s fifth-year option will cost the Bills $10.7 million against the salary cap in 2023.
While the Bills are addressing a key piece at defensive tackle for the next two seasons, the team could use some additional help on the edge to try and get to the opponents' quarterback better. However, the Bills are sitting in a tight spot with the salary cap, which may force the team to look at different ways to try and address the edge.
“Yeah, I don't know those numbers are pretty high,” Beane said when asked if the Bills had enough room in the cap to afford a big name edge rusher this offseason. "We would have to get really creative.”
Beane mentioned on Monday the Bills are a little more than $6 million over the cap, and will need to be under the salary cap by March 16 at 4 p.m. EST.
One big story that developed last week during the NFL Combine was the news of wide receiver Cole Beasley being allowed to look for a trade this offseason. Beane confirmed that the team is allowing Beasley the chance to head elsewhere this offseason.
“We listened and had conversations internally, and ultimately said we would allow Cole to seek that out,” Beane said.
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You can listen to all of Beane’s interview during the “Howard and Jeremy Show” below:
