The Buffalo Bills head into the 2020 free agency period with several holes to fill or spots they'd like to upgrade.
One of team's top priorities over the next couple months via free agency and the draft may be adding at defensive end, especially someone who can help them get to the quarterback.
Here are several players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 18 who the team could target:
- Yannick Ngakoue - 24 - Jacksonville Jaguars
Ngakoue is regarded by most as the prized edge rusher of the year's free agent class. He'll turn 25 at the end of the month, has been in the NFL four years, and already has 37.5 sacks. He's also been durable, missing only one game so far over his four year career. Hoping for Ngakoue could be an exercise in futility since reports are that the Jaguars plan to use the franchise tag on him. But he's made it clear he doesn't want that and doesn't plan to play for them any longer. So let's just say he does become available either via free agency or a tag-and-trade situation, and the trading team plans to sign him to a new deal. With all of that production and youth will come a hefty price tag. Some reports are pegging Ngakoue to get around $22 million per-season. That would make him among the highest paid defensive players in NFL history. Would it be too rich for the Bills to pay? That's the ultimate question, because there's no questioning his talent and potential impact.
- Jadeveon Clowney - 27 - Seattle Seahawks
From the top-ranked high school player in America, to the first overall NFL pick in 2014, to some wondering if he'd be a bust due to injures and a slow start, to 18.5 sacks over two seasons, to traded for two linebackers and a third round pick, to now probably looking at a nice free agent payday, Clowney has had quite the journey. He's a disruptive, long, athletic player, but only managed three sacks last season. He's going to be one of the higher-paid defensive ends on the free agent market, maybe even second only to Ngakoue, but some of that money may really be on reputation and name more than actual production.
- Arik Armstead - 26 - San Francisco 49ers
Armstead was the 17th overall selection in the first round in 2015, but for his first four seasons was largely a disappointment in San Francisco, at least as far as his sack numbers, getting the quarterback on the ground only nine times his first four years. He also had a tough time staying on the field, playing a total of only 14 games over the 2016-2017 seasons. The Niners still opted to pick up his fifth-year option, which came as a surprise to many, but Armstead rewarded them - and presumably himself. He stayed healthy and played every game the last two seasons, then broke out last year with 10 sacks, surpassing his previous four-year combined total. He added 54 total tackles last season, also the most of his career. The 6-foot-7 Armstead can play inside and outside in either a 4-3 or 3-4 alignment, which is always appealing to defensive coordinators. Armstead is really appealing, but the Bills would have to be really confident that he's finally on the verge of playing to his first round status ability.
- Vic Beasley - 28 - Atlanta Falcons
Beasley came from the same draft class as Armstead and - just like the 49ers did with Armstead - the Falcons went through some frustrating seasons with him as far as his productivity. After four sacks his rookie season, Beasley led the entire NFL in that category with 15.5 in 2016, but then had a huge drop-off, never even reaching double-digits again, collecting five sacks both in 2017 and 2018. He had a solid 2019, finishing with eight sacks, but still never produced close to what he did that second season. The Falcons have decided to move on from Beasley and made it known when they tweeted last month they wouldn't "pursue negotiations" with him, which seemed an odd thing to do publicly. So now teams, including the Bills, will have a chance to figure out if they can tap into the same talent he displayed and production he had back in 2016.
- Dante Fowler - 26 - Los Angles Rams
Yet another pass rusher from the 2015 draft set to hit the 2020 free agent market. Fowler missed his entire rookie season in Jacksonville after tearing his ACL in minicamp, then came back to have 12 sacks over the next two season, doubling from four to eight from 2016 to 2017. He was traded to the Rams in 2018, then finally found a stable role and comfortability last year, breaking out with 11.5 sacks, ninth most in the NFL. But he also had Aaron Donald playing next to him. Donald commands plenty of double-teams, which freed up Fowler, who was able to take advantage. In Buffalo, Fowler would be paired with interior penetrator Ed Oliver, who was compared to Donald coming into the 2019 NFL Draft. So there's certainly a case to be made for Fowler's fit and complement with the Bills defense.
- Markus Golden - 29 - New York Giants
Golden has put up his best numbers when used as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, collecting 12.5 sacks with the Arizona Cardinals in 2016 and 10 last year with the Giants. The Bills run a 4-3, but Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier like to use creative looks and move players around to their strengths, so they could certainly find a spot for Golden, but he's probably not going to be on the field enough to justify what he could make from a team looking to use him as a regular 3-4 outside linebacker. Speaking of being on the field, Golden did play all 16 games last season with New York, but missed a total of 17 games over the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He's also going to be 29 when next season begins, so even though he's hitting free agency with some fellow 2015 draft class members, Golden's not as young as them and presumable has fewer prime years ahead.
- Everson Griffen - 32 - Minnesota Vikings
Griffen has put together a solid, consistent career, although more quietly than others. He's recorded 74.5 sacks since entering the league in 2010, and ranks 15th in career sacks amongst all active payers. He's not had less than 5.5 sacks since his sophomore season in 2011 and has at least eight sacks in six of the last eight years, including last season and three seasons of double-digit sacks. Many expect Griffen to re-sign with the Vikings, where he's spent his entire career, but if he doesn't, the Bills could be an attractive fit. Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was the Vikings and Griffen's head coach from the second half of 2010 through the 2013 season and the two are very familiar with each other. He'd also be a veteran presence on a Bills defense that saw Kyle Williams and Lorenzo Alexander retire over the past two seasons.
- Jason Pierre-Paul - 31 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After spending his first eight season in New York with the Giants and collecting 58.5 sacks, Pierre-Paul was traded to the Buccaneers and piled on another 21 sacks over the last two seasons. 10 years into his NFL career, he ranks 13th among active players with 79.5 career sacks and 12th with 112 tackles for loss. Pierre-Paul has had two poor seasons, finishing with just one sack in 2015 and two in 2013, playing a total of only 19 games those two years. Otherwise, he's been very consistent as a pass rusher, finishing with at least seven sacks in six of the past seven seasons and at least 12.5 three different times. Last year, at 31-years-old, he showed he can still play at a high level when he recorded 8.5 sacks in just 10 games. He missed the first six games recovering from an offseason car accident. He's been to the Pro Bowl twice and won a Super Bowl. Like Golden, Pierre-Paul's best true fit is as a 3-4 OLB, but he's also played 4-3 defensive end and been productive enough in that role to not have to pigeon-hole him into one spot.
- Robert Quinn - 30 - Dallas Cowboys
Quinn's career started off on fire. He entered the league as the 14th overall pick in 2011 by the St. Louis Rams. Over the next four years, Quinn racked up 45 sacks, seventh-most in the NFL in that time. His sack totals dipped over the next four years, never topping 8.5 in a season, but always having at least four. The last of those seasons was in Miami with the Dolphins, but he was traded to Dallas last year where he saw a resurgence in production, leading the Cowboys with 11.5 sacks, more than double anyone else on the team. Cowboys fans will point out that Quinn wasn't very good against the run last year, and it's fair to wonder if he focused too much on rushing the passer and sack numbers in a contract year. That said, he's been one of the better pass rushers in the league for a decade now and still appears to have quite a bit left in that tank.
- Mario Addison - 33 - Carolina Panthers
Addison is the oldest player on this list. He's also been one of the most consistent over the past four years, and obviously has a big connection to McDermott, general manager Brandon Beane, and new Bills defensive line coach Eric Washington. McDermott was the defensive coordinator for the Panthers all five of those seasons from 2013-2016 when Addison really started to blossom, collecting 24.5 sacks in four years. Washington was his defensive line coach from 2012-17, then the Panthers defensive coordinator the past two years, and Addison has been tremendous under Washington, racking up nine and 9.5 sacks in those two years, respectively. In fact, Addison's posted 39 sacks over the last four years, 11th-most in the NFL in that time period, never having less than nine. The Panthers have stated they want Addison back, but they're going through a rebuild with a new head coach, so it might not make much sense for them to re-sign a 33-year-old defender. Familiarity, production, and veteran leadership on a team on the rise certainly makes sense for the Bills.
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