Well, we’re finally at the end of the Buffalo Bills free agent class. To close out this series, we look at WRs Jamison Crowder and Jake Kumerow.
Crowder signed with the Bills last offseason to a one year/$2M deal, yet only played in four games before suffering a fractured ankle. In those four games, Crowder totaled just six receptions for 60 yards on 13 targets. Crowder was brought in to fill in the role of the departed Cole Beasley. But after suffering his injury, left the Bills in a pinch. They played Isaiah McKenzie, Khalil Shakir, and brought Cole Beasley out of retirement but just could never find a consistent player at the slot position.
Jake Kumerow signed with the Bills in 2020 as a special teams ace, and even caught a touchdown pass that year against the Denver Broncos in Week 15. Buffalo brought back a lot of their special teams vets last year to help out their rookie special teams coordinator Matthew Smiley. But now, with a year under his belt and having limited funds, do the Bills let Kumerow and/or Taiwan Jones walk? It’d make sense to let them walk, and find a cheaper option to fill the special teams positions.
What do Bills fans think?
The fan base definitely does not want to bring Kumerow back. This means the Bills would have to look to the draft or free agency again this year to both fill their WR room and special teams unit. Kumerow played 49% of special teams snaps in 2022 (six games), 69% in 2021 (15 games), and 53% in 2020 (six games).
The fan base also does not want to bring back Jamison Crowder. And that may not be a bad thing either. Considering Shakir did really well in his limited snaps (10 receptions for 161 yards and one TD in two starts), giving him a larger role with a veteran slot receiver [not named Isaiah McKenzie] is probably the best option for Buffalo going forward.
Cheap Free Agent WRs:
- ‘Trent Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals)
- DeMarcus Robinson (Baltimore Ravens)
- Deonte Harty (New Orleans Saints)
Buffalo Bills cap space: $-16.5M
More must-reads: