Buffalo Bills sign veteran receiver Anquan Boldin
By James Reeve
The Buffalo Bills have signed veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin, giving a fairly thin receiving corps a major boost ahead of the 2017 season.
The Buffalo Bills led the NFL in rushing yards per game last season but ranked as one of the worst teams in passing yards.
Star receiver Sammy Watkins has found himself sidelined too often, unable to really contribute at the level expected of the former fourth-overall pick.
The Bills drafted Zay Jones in the 2017 draft and the rookie receiver looks like he will be a regular feature on game days, but he will still need some time to adjust to the professional game and will not likely be a star anytime soon.
But with no real options other than Andre Holmes, the Bills had to make moves and attempted to sign Jeremy Maclin earlier this offseason.
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A deal couldn’t get done and the 37-year-old Boldin visited the team as another option for a team that could push for the playoffs if their offence wasn’t entirely reliant on LeSean McCoy‘s rushing ability.
Boldin has had a solid 15-year career and despite being in the latter stages of that career, he can still contribute when called upon.
Last season with the Detroit Lions, Boldin hauled in 67 passes for 584 yards and an impressive eight touchdowns, helping to guide the Lions to a 9-7 regular season record, good for second in the NFC North.
With the Bills, Boldin will not be expected to be ‘the guy’ as the team is still hoping Watkins can be the elite contributor and overcome his injury woes.
After signing Boldin to a one-year, $4 million deal the Bills announced their first unofficial depth chart, listing Boldin behind Sammy Watkins.
On the other side of the field, Andre Holmes is currently starting with Zay Jones sitting behind him, showing better depth at the receiver position for the Bills compared to recent memory.
With Tyrod Taylor looking more and more assured in the pocket, adding a good ball-catching receiver to the mix is a smart move by the Bills.
Boldin should be a reliable receiving option in the short-to-mid range game, making him a valuable red zone threat especially with his physical toughness. The Bills finished 27th in receiving touchdowns with 17 but had 29 rushing touchdowns which was the most in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys with 24. If the Bills can find a way to add more to their receiving game with Boldin, the Bills could be a contender for a wild card spot in the AFC especially if their defence can get back on track.
Next: Anquan Boldin Is What The Bills Need
Buffalo Bills fans, what do you think of Boldin’s signing? Are you happy to see the team boost their receiving corps? What else does Sean McDermott’s team need to do to make the playoffs this season?