Buffalo Bills should snap up free agent Jeremy Maclin
By James Reeve
After his shock release from the Kansas City Chiefs, receiver Jeremy Maclin is looking for a new team and the Buffalo Bills should jump at the chance to sign him.
Jeremy Maclin, drafted 19th overall in 2009, spent the past two seasons with the Chiefs and impressed in his first year, reeling in 87 receptions for 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns.
This came one season after Chiefs receivers failed to score a single touchdown in the 2014 campaign.
The 29-year-old had a bit of a down season in 2016, with just 44 receptions, 536 yards and just two touchdowns, but could still be a valuable player for a team such as the Buffalo Bills.
Across his eight-year career, Maclin has averaged just under 800 receiving yards and just under six touchdowns per season.
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For the Bills, the addition of a reliable veteran receiver could go a long way to improving the team’s passing game.
The Bills relied heavily on LeSean McCoy last season, leading the NFL in rushing yards per game, while the team ranked 30th in passing yards.
Tyrod Taylor throws very few interceptions, averaging just six in his first two full seasons, but he needs to have strong receiving options if the team hopes to truly get the best out of their quarterback.
Star receiver Sammy Watkins has suffered from injuries over the past two seasons, and fears over his ability to play out a full 16-game season may have been a factor for the Bills rejecting the chance to pick up his fifth-year option.
The Bills drafted Zay Jones to fill one of the team’s starting receiver roles but, as a rookie, it is unclear how well he’ll perform in the NFL.
Adding Maclin, who could conceivably become a solid number two receiver for the Bills, would give Taylor plenty of weapons to spread the ball around to.
Three strong receivers and a stud running back in the form of McCoy can make the Bills tough to plan for, giving their offence a new edge that has been missing for many years.
With the Chiefs clearing $10 million in cap space from cutting Maclin, there will be questions over the kind of contract the former Philadelphia Eagle may demand.
A post 6/1 release of Jeremy Maclin clears $10M in much needed 2017 cap space for the #Chiefs, who now have just $7.7M allocated to 11 WRs.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) June 3, 2017
If the Bills can sign Maclin on a one or two-year deal at a relatively low cost, he could be the perfect addition to Sean McDermott’s team and could see them finally have a shot at breaking their record-breaking playoff drought.
What do you think? Should the Buffalo Bills try to bring in Jeremy Maclin? What other options do you think they should target to improve their passing game? Let us know in the comments section.