Every wide receiving corps needs a No. 1. The Bills took care of that Monday with the re-signing of Stevie Johnson. Now, Buffalo will look to fill the gaps around Johnson to round out its air attack for quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Bills saw a number of young players step up throughout last season as they struggled through injuries, and it will be interesting to see who is still around after free agency and the draft have passed. Here's a few names you will most likely see come training camp and beyond:
Brad Smith: Smith didn't prove he could be an every-down receiver for the Bills in 2011, but then again, they didn't ask him to. Given his success in the Wildcat and his contribution on special teams, expect Smith to play the same role he did a season ago. Buffalo's third-down percentage was much better when the Wildcat option was there last season, and Buffalo dropped a chunk of change on Smith (he's signed a four-year, $15 million deal in 2011), so the Bills will be expecting a return for their money this season.
David Nelson: Unlike Smith, Nelson's contract isn't a number that the Bills are stressing over, but given his production a season ago, Buffalo will likely keep him around as a slot threat. Nelson's numbers weren't anything close to jaw-dropping in 2011 (658 yards, five TDs), but the third-year receiver has proven he can make catches when targeted, especially in the end-zone.
Donald Jones: Jones's 2011 campaign was cut short after a Week 11 ankle injury landed him on IR. He recorded 231 yards and a touchdown prior to his injury. The 24-year-old's potential and $500K-plus salary will most likely be enough to keep him on the roster, but he's certainly not poised to be an every-down starter, at least in the near future.
Marcus Easley: Easley has yet to prove himself in Buffalo, with GM Buddy Nix stating in January, “We don't know what we've got.” But at 225 pounds and with deep-threat capabilities, the Bills will most likely keep the 24-year-old around. Expect Easley to fight Jones and Nelson for a starting spot, but he will most likely end up a reserve or special-teams contributor.
Derek Hagan: Hagan joined the team in Week 12 last year to fill a gap in the ailing receiving corps, performing well in the role. He had 252 yards and a touchdown, with Nix saying after the season that, “Derek played well at the end of the year and he merits a strong look going into training camp next year.” Buffalo is Hagan's third team, with previous stops in Miami and New York, and an alluring offer may send the 27-year-old free agent off to his fourth. More likely is Hagan sticks around and plays a solid reserve role next season.
Free agency: Nix has made it abundantly clear that the team will be more aggressive during the free-agency period this year than in year's past, stating, “This year if there is a player that upgrades our team considerably we will be aggressive immediately. We’ll go after him. We may get him. We may not, but we’ll get in the hunt.” Obviously, the team is looking for pass-rushers to beef up its deplorable sack numbers from a year ago, but a No. 2 receiver may be close to the top of that list as well, especially given the amount of talent on the market.
Names like Plaxico Burress, Robert Meachem, Marques Colston, Mario Manningham and Laurent Robinson are out there, but then again, it's all about availability, cap numbers and whether Buffalo will stick to their “draft, develop and retain” philosophy.
Draft: With receivers taking a back seat in the quarterback-heavy light of the draft, Buffalo could very easily get a top-tier player with its No. 10 pick. That might be foolish, however, given the Bills' lack of a pass rush and porous secondary. Many solid receivers could fall into the second round, leaving the Bills to kill two birds with their first two picks. A guy like Rutgers' 6-foot, 2-inch Mohamed Sanu could fall to the Bills second pick, as well as LSU's Rueben Randle or North Carolina's underrated Dwight Jones. It all depends on how much Buffalo with focus on fixing its defense come draft day.
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