BALANCING FREE AGENCY WITH THE DRAFT

In the middle of months of draft preparation comes free agency. The Bills have plenty of needs and millions of dollars to spend when the free agent process officially begins on March 13. But the top personnel decision-makers are determined not to go on a free agent spending spree.

"We've got cap room, and we're going to use it to fill some holes," Beane explains. "But we've also got to be wise with our money so that when these guys (veterans) are headed into years three and four (Tre'Davious, Matt Milano, that class) when they come up, we have money to spend.

"We will use our money and we'll fill some holes, but we want to continue to draft, develop and sign our own."

Schoen agrees with Beane's sentiment and says free agency is important, but the draft is key.

"It's a matter of balancing the draft and free agency," according to Schoen. "Until we can pay some of our own young players that are homegrown, you have to be very careful who you're paying from the outside and bringing into your locker room."

Schoen also says researching free agent candidates presents different challenges than the draft.