The Buffalo Bills have made a number of changes and personnel moves this offseason, including releasing quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick after two disappointing seasons and they may be ready to make another move, as they have met with free agent tight end Fred Davis about signing with the team.
According to ESPN.com, the Bills and Davis met and went out to dinner last weekend in Washington, which included new head coach Doug Marrone, as well as general manager Buddy Nix and other front-office personnel. Sources told Adam Schefter about the dinner and the Bills are looking to add Davis to add a consistent short-field element for whoever starts at quarterback, whether it is Tavaris Jackson or a draft pick like Geno Smith or Syracuse's Ryan Nassib, who Marrone coached in college.
Davis would be a solid addition to the Bills, but he is coming off of a serious injury after tearing his Achilles tendon in October in a rivalry game against the New York football Giants. He was leading the Redskins with 24 catches and 325 receiving yards at the time and was developing a good relationship with Robert Griffin III.
Davis spoke to NFL Network last week and said he was "ahead of schedule" in his recovery and that although he would like to remain in Washington, all options are open.
"I definitely would [like to stay], but at the end of the day, I'll play wherever," Davis told the NFL Network. "It doesn't matter to me. It's about football to me. I would like to stay here, but if I can't, I'm fine with that as well."
Davis is an athletic tight end and he has put up solid numbers, including in 2011 when he had 59 receptions for nearly 800 yards before missing the final four games of the season due to a drug suspension. The 27-year-old has been solid for the team since coming out of USC and he has 12 touchdowns in 62 career games played, according to ESPN.com.
The team could also look at free agent Kellen Winslow, who has been out of football since last season when he was released by the Patriots. The former Browns and Buccaneers tight end reportedly is a target of the Oakland Raiders, who are looking for a tight end after losing Brandon Myers to the Giants. Myers was the leading receiver for the Raiders last season with 79 catches for 806 yards and four touchdowns and they need a replacement for that production.
The Raiders could go after Davis if the Winslow deal doesn't work out and the Bills could decide to do the same. There are also a number of highly regarded tight ends in the draft, including Zach Ertz from Stanford and Tyler Eifert from Notre Dame. Anthony Fasano, Dustin Keller, Jared Cook and Martellus Bennett were considered to be the top free agent options at the position, but they all signed deals with new teams, including Bennett's four-year deal with Chicago. Benjamin Watson also signed with the New Orleans Saints.
The Bills were one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season and could use another receiver to join Stevie Johnson and CJ Spiller. The team released Fitzpatrick after he signed a six-year extension in 2011 and now will look to the draft or the free agent market for another option.
