CJ Spiller was one of the last few running backs drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. The Buffalo Bills took him ninth overall in hopes of bringing offensive stability to their struggling unit. Spiller has certainly been productive, but the Bills are not negotiating an extension for him as the running back enters the final year of his deal. To make matters worse, the traded for former Philadelphia running back Bryce Brown but not before trying to draft Carlos Hyde.
The Bills did a lot of dealing during the draft over the weekend. They traded up big time to get wide receiver Sammy Watkins. They dealt away wide receiver Stevie Johnson and brought in running back Bryce Brown. However, there was one deal the team missed out on. According to general manager Doug Whaley, the team did everything they could to try and get Hyde as early as possible.
Whaley told the Bills team website that the team made calls to everyone from Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis and Carolina but no one bit on a deal. Buffalo eventually traded the pick to San Francisco who drafted Hyde and the Bills did not draft another rookie.
So why to heavy pursuit of a running back if Buffalo has both Fred Jackson and Spiller? The draft dealing could mean that Spiller is not going to get that extension he has been looking for. According to ESPN.com, while Spiller would ideally like to negotiate a contract extension now instead of later, he is preparing to not return to Buffalo at the end of the season. The running back has reached out to former Bills safety Jairus Byrd about how to best handle negotiations and a potential run at free agency.
"It's my first rodeo. I'll take advice from guys that have been there before. I'll reach out to Jairus [Byrd] and see how he handled it," Spiller said, via ESPN.com. "I haven't talked to him. I've seen him this offseason but I will [reach out] eventually. The biggest thing is, I'm here. Last year, Byrd and his situation was different and he didn't show up. And it worked out in his favor. But I'm here, ready to work."
Spiller says he has good faith in his upcoming negotiations with the Bills, but Buffalo's recent moves are pointing signs to the fact that they are ready to move on. Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy believes that Brown is the future starter for Buffalo, so if Spiller is going to earn that contract he wants, he will need a much better year under head coach Doug Marrone.
