Free agency is effectively over for the Buffalo Bills, who spent a large chunk of their available cap space last week to bolster their defensive line with deals for Star Lotulelei (five years, $50 million) and Trent Murphy (three years, $22.5 million).
"We’re very low on money," general manager Brandon Beane said Friday. "We can do some lower-level things but nothing that’s going to hit the ticker."
Between their signings and two major trades involving quarterback Tyrod Taylor and left tackle Cordy Glenn, the Bills have reshaped parts of their roster after a 9-7 season in 2017 that ended in their first playoff appearance in 17 years.
How does the roster look now, with 65 players under contract or tendered contracts for the upcoming season? Here is a look:
Quarterbacks (2)
Starter: AJ McCarron
Reserve: Nathan Peterman
Analysis: All eyes will be on the Bills and this position as the draft approaches, especially after the New York Jets' trade Saturday to move to No. 3. Will Buffalo try to one-up their division rival and jump from No. 12 to No. 2? Or will the Bills take a less aggressive approach to finding a quarterback in the draft? It will be by far the biggest decision Beane has made to date. If he does not acquire one of the top quarterbacks in the draft, the Bills will be leaning on McCarron perhaps more than expected. Beane said Friday he took a "methodical" approach to the free-agent quarterback market, passing on Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum and others. Specific to Cousins, Beane told the Bills' official radio program Friday that he did not believe the Bills were in the "same boat" as the Minnesota Vikings, who might have seen Cousins as their one missing piece. The Bills' need to build and develop their roster over the long term, as well as their limited salary-cap space, did not make Cousins a realistic option.
Running backs (6)
Starter: LeSean McCoy
Reserves: Chris Ivory, Travaris Cadet, Taiwan Jones, Marcus Murphy, Aaron Green
Analysis: Of the nine running backs under contract in the NFL who are 29 or older, the Bills have four -- McCoy, Ivory, Cadet and Jones. Drafting a running back would go a long way toward addressing the future at this position, but will there be space on the roster this season? It is crowded already.
Fullback (1)
Starter: Patrick DiMarco
Wide receivers (7)
Starters: Kelvin Benjamin, Zay Jones
Reserves: Andre Holmes, Rod Streater, Brandon Reilly, Malachi Dupre, Quan Bray
Analysis: The Bills invested third- and seventh-round picks in Benjamin and a second-round pick in Jones, so they will need greater returns from both this season. Buffalo could also use a speed threat at this position, which is partly why they have expressed interest in bringing back unrestricted free agent Deonte Thompson, who led the team in receiving yards over the final two months of last season.
Tight ends (6)
Starter: Charles Clay
Reserves: Nick O'Leary, Logan Thomas, Khari Lee, Keith Towbridge, Jason Croom
Analysis: This group is entirely unchanged from last season and will probably remain the same unless it is addressed in the draft.
Offensive tackles (5)
Starters: Dion Dawkins, Jordan Mills
Reserves: Conor McDermott, De'Ondre Wesley, Josh James
Analysis: The Bills, in addition to moving from No. 21 to No. 12 overall in the draft by trading left tackle Glenn to the Cincinnati Bengals, also saved $4.85 million against their 2018 salary cap. Trading Glenn, however, means the Bills incurred $9.6 million in dead money, raising their dead money this season to a league-high $35 million. Beane told the Bills' official radio program last week he warned owners Terry and Kim Pegula when he was hired last year that rebuilding the Bills' salary cap would require significant dead-money charges in 2017 and 2018 -- salary-cap space devoted to players no longer on the roster. In this case, the Bills had an obvious in-house replacement for Glenn in 2017 second-round pick Dawkins. They need more depth, though.
Guards/centers (6)
Starters: Richie Incognito, Ryan Groy, Vladimir Ducasse
Reserves: John Miller, Adam Redmond, Eric Wood
Analysis: Wood remains under contract despite a season-ending physical that revealed a career-ending neck injury. Beane said last week that Wood's status has been on the back burner during free agency and draft preparations. At some point, the Bills will have to decide whether to release Wood or place him on the reserve/retired list -- and whether they can recoup any of his signing bonus from his contract extension last August. No matter what happens with Wood, the Bills need depth here. Buffalo is scheduled to host former Bengals center Russell Bodine on a free-agent visit, but this could also be a position to target in the draft. Incognito, 34, is back for possibly a final season under a renegotiated contract. Ducasse turns 31 this season.
Defensive ends (7)
Starters: Jerry Hughes, Shaq Lawson/Trent Murphy
Reserves: Ryan Davis, Eddie Yarbrough, Cap Capi, Owa Odighizuwa
Analysis: The Bills signed Murphy to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million per season, making him the fifth-highest-paid player on the team. That suggests he will be more than simply a rotational pass-rusher for a unit that failed to get much pressure on quarterbacks. Rather, it seems likely he will push Lawson, a 2016 first-round pick, for a starting job. Beane said last week that Murphy's addition does not necessarily affect the status of Hughes or Lawson, but perhaps that will change over the long term. Beane and coach Sean McDermott have not been shy to trade away players who they didn't draft, such as Lawson.
Defensive tackles (5)
Starters: Star Lotulelei, Kyle Williams
Reserves: Adolphus Washington, Marquavius Lewis, Rickey Hatley
Analysis: The Bills made a larger-than-expected splash in free agency by signing Lotulelei to a five-year deal worth $10 million per season, making him the highest-paid player on the team. That is a risk, but it's one for which McDermott and Beane, who are familiar with Lotulelei from their time with the Carolina Panthers, should be given the benefit of the doubt. The draft should still be a consideration here with Williams, 34, coming back on a one-year deal.
Linebackers (6)
Starters: Lorenzo Alexander, Matt Milano
Reserves: Tanner Vallejo, Deon Lacey, Julian Stanford, Xavier Woodson-Luster
Analysis: The Bills look to get at least one more season out of Alexander, 34, but they need plenty of help here in the longer term, especially with middle linebacker Preston Brown signing with the Bengals. Buffalo hosted former Redskins linebacker Will Compton on a free-agent visit, and this will be a position to watch in the draft. Starting one of the special-teams-oriented players -- Vallejo, Lacey or Stanford -- would be a reach.
Cornerbacks (4)
Starters: Tre'Davious White, Vontae Davis
Reserves: Lafayette Pitts, Breon Borders
Analysis: Davis replaces E.J. Gaines as the starter, but the Bills still need a nickel cornerback. Do they bring back Leonard Johnson, who filled that spot last year? Does Gaines return on an affordable deal? Or is there another free agent they are targeting? Regardless, this is yet another position where the Bills could turn to the draft. Depth is needed.
Safeties (6)
Starters: Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer
Reserves: Rafael Bush, Kelcie McCray, L.J. McCray, Dean Marlowe
Analysis: This position seems relatively set for 2017 unless the Bills make a move later in free agency to bring back core special-teams player Colt Anderson. The player to watch is Bush, whom the Bills targeted early in free agency and signed to a two-year, $3.5 million deal. Will he simply play special teams or contribute in sub packages instead of a third cornerback?
Specialists (4): K Stephen Hauschka, P Colton Schmidt, P Cory Carter, LS Reid Ferguson
Unsigned unrestricted free agents (12): QB/WR Joe Webb, RB Mike Tolbert, WR Jordan Matthews, Thompson, WR Brandon Tate, WR Jeremy Butler, DT Cedric Thornton, LB Ramon Humber, Gaines, Johnson, S Shamarko Thomas, Anderson