Buffalo Bills: Is Lorenzo Alexander finished in Buffalo?
By Paul Taylor
Two years removed from making the Pro Bowl, one football analyst suggests Lorenzo Alexander’s time with the Buffalo Bills might be set to come to an end.
With training camp just over a month away, thoughts turn to who will make the Buffalo Bills‘ roster. You also have to wonder who will be cut, including any potential surprises?
In this respect, one surprise cut could be Lorenzo Alexander, at least according to Jay Skurski. The Buffalo News columnist cites the linebacker’s age and salary savings as possible reasons for such a move.
This is not the first time Alexander’s future has been in question. Following the Bills’ wild card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was asked if he would retire.
A main part of the reason for this, related to the 35-year-old’s production during the 2017 campaign, with him struggling to adapt to the move from Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense to Sean McDermott’s preferred 4-3 setup. In particular, his sack total of three was a significant drop from the 12.5 he recorded the year before.
However, Alexander confirmed he did not pan to retire. As per the Bills’ official website, he said:
"“I definitely want to get one more (season) in. I really love this organization, love what we were able to build here and I definitely want to continue to be a part of helping this organization take that next step.”"
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And in fairness, why would he? Alexander was coming off his best game of the season in the Jacksonville loss, with a sack and 10 tackles, including two for a loss.
From the Buffalo Bills’ point of view, even though Skurski asks a valid question, you just can’t see the team releasing him. The Oakland, California native is a leader, whose veteran presence would be sorely missed.
Plus, the salary cap savings wouldn’t really make that much of a difference. Alexander is in line to earn $3.6 million in 2018; releasing him would save $1.75 million in the second and last year of his current contract.
Ultimately, we project the two-time Pro Bowler will make the final 53-man roster. However, we do also expect his playing time to decrease.
In 2016, Alexander started all 16 games, but this dropped to 11 starts the following year (although he still played in every contest). Expect to see his number of starts decrease even more in 2018.
Next: Officially the end of an era in Buffalo
What do you predict Alexander’s fate will be? Will he return to the Buffalo Bills and if he does, in what capacity will he be used? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.