'B' for Buffalo: Bills Third-Best Free Agency Haul in AFC East?
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With the early wave of free agency over in the NFL, we are continuing to see "grades " for how each team has done to improve their roster so far - if they've managed to improve them at all.
For the Buffalo Bills, it has not been an offseason dominated by splash signings, but rather key depth additions as well as retaining talent. As such, they received a "B" from CBS Sports in their free agency grades.
Buffalo Bills - B
"Buffalo's most important moves this offseason came by way of retaining talent that was already on the roster. The team extended Matt Milano and surprisingly was able to bring back star safety Jordan Poyer as well.
The biggest hit came on the defensive side of the ball with Tremaine Edmunds inking a deal with the Bears, leaving a notable hole at the off-ball linebacker position.
Offensively, Damien Harris could be the type of running back that this backfield has been longing for quite some time. He'll be a solid complement to James Cook and Nyheim Hines."
The Bills entered the offseason with a roster that didn't have any glaring holes to fix, and thus have not needed a splash signing. Of course they would still like to make one but they find themselves in a position where not making one isn't detrimental.
However, what could potentially end up hurting the Bills are the free agency moves made by their AFC East rivals - namely the Miami Dolphins with a "B+" grade and the New York Jets with an "A" grade.
Miami and Buffalo played three competitive games last season, with the Bills going 2-1 and the three games decided by a combined eight points. On paper, the Dolphins had already closed the gap some on the Bills.
Now, this offseason they went out and added cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams and linebacker David Long Jr. to a defense that will be led by Vic Fangio - moves that could make life difficult for Josh Allen and the Bills offense.
As for the Jets, well, they received their grade based solely on a trade that hasn't happened yet but is all but official in acquiring quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers.
A popular belief from last season was the Jets were a roster that was a quarterback away, and adding Rodgers would certainly solve that problem as there aren't many quarterbacks better than the four-time MVP winner.
The offseason is far from over, and with the draft still yet to occur there is no telling how rosters will look once the season finally starts. For now, though, the Dolphins and Jets appear to be right on the Bills' heels - with both vying to claim a division crown.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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