The Buffalo Bills did not have the high-flying offense they were hoping for. While LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams excelled in the run game, Sammy Watkins was all there was in terms of wide receivers and when he was injured the Bills and Tyrod Taylor were in trouble. Heading into the 2016 offseason, the Bills have some decisions to make when it comes to the futures of Robert Woods and Percy Harvin before adding a No.2 receiver to the offense.
According to the Buffalo News, Woods is on thin ice with the franchise. The receiver has never truly developed into the down-field threat the Bills were hoping to get with him just three seasons ago. Woods put up 47 catches for 552 yards in 2015, but his stock with the team is falling. He publically complained about his role in the offense saying he was not a blocking receiver. That paired with injuries has faith falling and his chances of getting released rising. General manager Doug Whaley admitted that the team cannot rely on the rest of their roster outside of Watkins and they need to find a No.2 this offseason.
"We'd love to [have a bona fide No. 2 receiver], but we think with the mix of guys we have we can generate a No. 2 receiver, between [Marquise] Goodwin, [Robert] Woods, [Greg] Salas who we signed," Whaley said, via the team website. "Leonard Hankerson if we can get him back, and then Greg Little that we signed. So we've got a mix of guys who might not be a bona fide No. 2, but we can use those guys in different roles and have a complementary No. 2 just by mixing some guys in."
Whaley's comments also show a lack of faith that Harvin is going to return. FOXSports.com reported that the Bills were open to bringing back Harvin in 2016 if he was healthy. The Bills were hoping that he would develop into the No.2 guy alongside Watkins, but injuries failed to make that happen. Buffalo could easily bring Harvin back for cheap and adjust his role according to his health. His coming or going will not change the need for help.
According to the Buffalo News, Whaley likes the idea of getting a receiver in a later round as he is not super impressed with the perceived top options. That means Braxton Miller, Sterling Shepard and Malcom Mitchell could all become favored options. All three players did well in Senior Bowl activities and could be an intriguing pick in the second or third round of the draft.
The Bills could also spend money for a receiver. Rishard Matthews, Marvin Jones and Travis Benjamin are all perfect No.2 receivers hitting the free agency market. Buffalo could add them knowing what they can already do and bring to the offense.
