The Buffalo Bills were hoping to upgrade their skill positions on offense this offseason. Some of that was forced as they lost some depth. Wide receivers Isaiah McKenzie and Jamison Crowder both moved on in free agency, along with running back Devin Singletary.
Deonte Harty and Trent Sherfield were signed to replace that depth, but the team could still be in the market for an upgrade behind Stefon Diggs. The biggest addition they made was using their first-round pick on Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. Despite Dawson Knox being locked in as the starter, there is a lot of optimism about the impact Kincaid could have.
At running back, the Bills did bring in Damien Harris and Latavius Murray. They will battle it out for snaps along with the incumbents, James Cook and Nyheim Hines. That is a lot of depth, but rumors have swirled about the team potentially adding another running back to the mix.
Buffalo has been mentioned as a landing spot for Dalvin Cook, who was finally released today by the Minnesota Vikings. However, another name was recently mentioned in connection to the Bills; Ezekiel Elliott.
Elliott was designated as a post-June 1st release candidate by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason and has been free to negotiate with teams. However, his market has been pretty cold, as nothing has surfaced since he named the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets as the options he narrowed things down to.
That list will have to be expanded if he wants to land with a team for the 2023 season. Elliott lacks the burst and explosiveness that made him such a dangerous running back earlier in his career, but he can still provide value to a franchise.
In three out of the last four seasons, he has scored double-digit touchdowns on the ground, including 12 last season. A team in need of a between-the-tackles, short-yardage banger could certainly do worse. The Bills do have players that can fill such a role, but it wouldn’t hurt to add some more depth.
Alas, the biggest thing working against Elliott is the lack of interest in veteran running backs. The position has been devalued around the league, as Miles Sander and David Montgomery both signed deals this offseason that paid out $6.25 million annually or less. Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard and Saquon Barkley didn’t even hit the open market as they had the franchise tag placed on them. None of that trio has worked out a long-term deal yet.
A one-year deal likely worth the veteran’s minimum with some incentives is likely what Elliott will have to settle for. A deal like that is much easier to accept if it is with a contender, which the Bills certainly are heading into the season.
