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This article may become a moot point in a few hours, but for the moment, imagine you’re Jerry Hughes. You had a good chance in Buffalo, amassed 20 sacks in 2 years and have been a key cog in both 3-4 and 4-3 alignments. You get a decent offer from the team, a fair offer even. Then your agent calls and tells you that the two other key pass rushers entering free agency were franchised, leaving you to be the belle of the ball as of March 7th. Do you, in your prime, take the “fair” deal or look to break the bank as a player?
As fans, we want him to say “sure, I’ll sign with Buffalo.” But if you were him – and had a chance to make some life changing money before a team deems your not worth said money, why not explore free agency?
That my friends is why we’re looking at Edge Rusher options in the market. If Jerry gets a monster deal in free agency, the Bills are going to need at least a part-time rusher on passing downs or a challenger to Lawson’s time on the field completely. As the Bills fill needs in FA, they may look at this position as one they can draft and groom someone into. To do that, Rex may request a veteran presence as he did in New York (Calvin Pace/Jason Babin) to ease the transition. Or they could put a portion of that earmarked ‘Hughes money’ to sign a younger part-time pass rusher.
Regardless of who they chase should Mr. Hughes leave the team, the Bills still have the triumvirate above, so whomever become that fourth man will reap a ton of benefits from their destruction. Oh, and their mad scientist HC will also scheme a free rusher every now and again I hear tell…
So for this installment, I’m going to look at Edge Rushers – both as a Hughes stopgap and to challenge Lawson.
Position: Edge Defender
System Need: Moderate – High depending on Hughes Situation
Typical Cost: 2.3 – 13.2 million per year.
Potential Targets:
Brian Orakpo, Washington: Though he hasn’t made it to the end of 2 out of the last 3 seasons, Orakpo’s still a bad dude in the pass rush game. Teaming him up Lawson would be a good way to allow both to flourish from positions of strength: Lawson as a stand up run defender, Orakpo an eater of QBs. This would also correct the karmic error of he-who-shall-not-be-named being chosen over Senor Orakpo. Price wise, he’s most likely going to need either a prove it deal or a very incentive-laden deal. I think he’s also a fit, like almost all of the rushers on this list to buy in to Rex’s island of misfit toys / only I get you sales pitch. https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js
Trent Cole, Philadelphia (CUT): Being 33 in a free agent frenzy usually isn’t a good thing. But when you’re a pass rush guy and you have 17.5 sacks over 3 years you’re going to get suitors. Currently visiting Tampa post-cut, he plans to visit Indy if he doesn’t get a deal to his liking. For the Bills he’ll be an older version of Hughes, with a little less defending against the run. Because of Indy and Tampa’s interest, he might not come cheap – I’ll assume between 3-5 million? He might be one to re-consider if he makes it out of week one of free agency un-signed.
Dwight Freeney, San Diego: Despite being more name than game, Freeney led the Chargers in hurries and would be a super-part timer if he signed with the Bills. I think he’ll look to go to more of a “contender”, but Rex can charm with the best of them and I wouldn’t be surprised if the promise of getting a few more shots at Brady enticed the former king of the sackmasters. Money wise, most likely would need a little bit above the vet minimum.
LaMarr Woodley, Oakland (CUT): A recent cut of the Raiders, Woodley would be a good get as a wave pass rusher and perhaps (should weight issues from Pittsburgh subside) a solid starter should Lawson goes down, or if he beat him outright in camp. Whaley may also go to bat for a former Steeler as well, but buyer beware: Woodley hasn’t made it to 16 games in 5 seasons. The big question is, after getting paid, getting a ring in Pittsburgh and now getting cut does Woodley want it?
Pernell McPhee, Baltimore: Pernell’s going to get paid. I fully realize this. In a perfect world, this versatile man-beast would slide into the Bills defense and dominate fools from here to Saskatoon. However, because of the space that teams like the Colts (who run a similar defense) and their whiffing on pass rushers in the draft and in FA, Pernell might be the number two pass rusher in free agency, as long as his future team can use him in a variety of roles. Otherwise, he may be wasted and seen as a “bust”. I’d love to slide him in at Edge/5 technique/3 technique and let him wreck things, but I fear the price would be too high. Another thing to consider: McPhee’s 7.5 sacks came against Indy (1), Atlanta (2), Tampa Bay (1), Jacksonville (1.5) and Cleveland week 17 (2).
Brandon Graham, Philadelphia: Graham is a curious case. Younger than Cole, he’s in the 2013 Hughes pass rush specialist type deal in Philly, but can you pay him before you see more? And how much do you pay for the *potential* of a starter? I’ve jumped on the table for him on twitter in the weeks leading up to free agency, but now that it’s a few days away paying beau-coup bucks for a pass rusher when you already have Mario (unless it’s Hughes) seems…foolhardy?
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Derrick Morgan, Tennessee: Morgan has been the ‘little engine that could’ in Tennessee; never quite the premier guy, but also not a slob. In Buffalo, Rex could use his closing ability and the pressure of the rest of the line to allow Derrick to get a few more free rushes than he’s used to. And when he gets those, he tries to take care of business too…From a standpoint of cost, he should be somewhere between 2-5 million, depending on how crazy week one of free agency gets…
As we move closer to training camp, more vets may be released, so even if the Bills don’t go hog wild in free agency for a pass rusher, rest assured the position will be well stocked by fall. Up next: the big uglies on the defensive line, then defensive backs.
If you liked what you read or had some suggestions on anything you’d like further coverage on, don’t hesitate to let me know on twitter @RDotDeuce.
#1FO
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