On the tarmac at the airport in Orlando, Fla. (WGR 550) - The annual NFL league meetings have wrapped up in Orlando. Now owners, general managers, and head coaches will head back to their respective cities to continue their free agency work and preparations for the 2024 NFL Draft.
We heard from Bills general manager Brandon Beane, as well as head coach Sean McDermott while in Orlando this week.
Here are five key things we learned from them:
1.) There is still room to make some moves
Beane estimated the team is currently somewhere between $6-$7 million under the salary cap. That’s quite a difference from being over $40 million over the cap just a couple weeks before free agency began.
It’s not a great deal of room, but enough to sign a few more depth players they’ll need to fill out the roster, whether before or after the draft.
They’ll also be adding $10 million in extra cap space on June 1 when cornerback Tre’Davious White’s cap hit comes off the books.
According to the website OverTheCap, they'll need less than $4 million in cap space to sign their draft picks for where all of their picks are currently slotted.
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2.) Curtis Samuel will be used in many ways
Both Beane and McDermott talked about Samuel’s versatility to play both inside and outside at wide receiver, as well as his ability to get deep and to make things happen with the ball in his hands.
They even mentioned his ability to be used in the return game.
The Bills signed Samuel to a three-year, $24 million deal. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady will have the task of scheming him up in those different roles to create mismatches, but expect Samuel to be used in a variety of ways.
3.) Bills felt they were wronged
Beane admitted the team believed they’d be getting a third-round compensatory pick this year for the loss of linebacker Tremaine Edmunds last offseason, even saying the Bills "got a raw deal" when it was announced that they only received a fourth-round pick.
"It was a major blow, because we had planned for that," he said. "We did our best and they said, 'No deal.'"
That’s a significant development, because the Bills clearly had an extra third-round pick in their planning for the offseason. Instead, they only have an extra fourth-rounder.
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4.) Door is still open for Micah Hyde
Hyde has yet to decide whether he intends to continue playing football or retire from the game at the age of 33. If the veteran safety does want to play, Beane says the door isn’t closed on a return to the Bills, as long as it fits into their cap situation.
"I’ve talked to his agent since I’ve talked to Micah," Beane said. "We definitely wouldn’t shut the door to ever bringing a Micah Hyde back, if he decides to play."
5.) Mike Edwards is a very important addition to the defense
The Bills signed Edwards as a free agent after spending four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then last season with the Kansas City Chiefs.
McDermott really likes his style and the versatility he will give his defense, especially knowing Edwards has played in systems similar to his own. The veteran spent last year playing for Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, as well as a few seasons with Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay.
"Those are some of what we do and where I come from, and with 'Spags' in particular," McDermott said. "The ability to blitz, the ability to play down low, the ability then also to play in the deep half, and the post at times. That flexibility, if you will, is desirable. I’m anxious to see how he fits into what we do."
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