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How to make Bills into instant contender this offseason

By Ryan Talbot | Contributing writer

Brandon Beane has the opportunity to turn the Buffalo Bills into a legitimate contender in the 2019 offseason.

Buffalo currently has 10 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft and Spotrac.com projects that the team will have over $90 million in cap space. How would we use these assets to turn the Bills into a powerhouse? We're glad you asked.

Laid out is a position-by-position breakdown of key players under contract for the team in 2019 and moves that we'd make in free agency, via trade and the draft to bolster positions if we were Bills GM.

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Quarterback

Key players under contract: Josh Allen

The Bills made the mistake to hold an open quarterback competition this offseason. That won't happen this offseason. Josh Allen has shown the growth that Bills fans wanted to see from the rookie and there's no doubt that he's the day one starter in 2019.

Allen is the only quarterback under contract for 2019 currently on the roster. Here's what we'd do to address the position.

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Mark Brown

Re-sign Matt Barkley

This one seems easy. Matt Barkley walked in off the street for Buffalo this season and put together a great performance in a 41-10 win over the Jets.

Barkley is in no way a threat to take Allen's starting job and he's a capable spot starter in the event that Allen misses time in the future due to injury. It also helps that Barkley won't cost much to re-sign.

The Bills don't have a need for a third quarterback in-season, but they could sign an undrafted free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft to serve as a camp body and potential practice squad signing.

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Mark Brown

Running back

Key player under contract: LeSean McCoy

Unless LeSean McCoy requests a trade, the Bills should keep the back for the 2019 season.

Buffalo could have received a decent return for the back at the 2018 trade deadline, but opted to keep him in the fold. The veteran is arguably having the worst season of his career, but McCoy could bounce back in 2019 based on investments the team makes on the offensive line.

Chris Ivory and Marcus Murphy are both under contract for 2019, but should they remain on the roster?

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Mark Brown

Release Chris Ivory

Chris Ivory isn't cutting it as the Bills' No. 2 back. Ivory is currently averaging 3.3 yards per carry for Buffalo. Releasing the veteran would result in a $2.25 million savings for the Bills.

Ivory's spot can be taken by a running back drafted on day three of the 2019 NFL Draft.

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Grant Halverson

Draft Pitt RB Qadree Ollison

A lot can change between now and the draft, but Pitt RB Qadree Ollison is currently projected as a 5th-6th round pick.

Ollison has the talent to contribute as a rookie and can grow into a bigger role later in the 2019 season. McCoy would probably love to have another Pitt Panther on the roster and can pass the torch to Ollison following the 2019 season.

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Michael Reaves

Wide receiver

Key players under contract: Zay Jones, Robert Foster, Isaiah McKenzie

Zay Jones has had a breakout sophomore season for the Bills. The wide receiver's numbers may not jump off the page, but he's emerged as Buffalo's No. 1 receiver this season.

Robert Foster and Isaiah McKenzie are not in the same class as Jones yet, but both should have roles on the Bills in 2019. Foster has emerged as a deep threat for the Bills while McKenzie is a Swiss Army knife of sorts.

Here are two scenarios for the Bills to add to the position via trade or free agency and one receiver to add in the draft.

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Andy Lyons

SCENARIO A: Trade for A.J. Green

Farfetched? Maybe, but not as unlikely as you may think.

The Bengals have fallen off after a hot start and may finally part ways with Marvin Lewis. The new coach may be open to rebuilding Cincinnati's roster and that's where Green comes in.

Green will be 31 at the start of next season and is entering the final year of his contract with the Bengals. Throw in the fact that he was placed on the injured reserve with a toe injury and Cincinnati may listen to offers for the wide receiver.

Considering his age and salary, the Bengals may be open to trading Green for a third and fourth round pick. If that's the case, Buffalo should not think twice about adding Green.

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Thearon W. Henderson

SCENARIO B: Sign Tyrell Williams

Tyrell Williams would not provide the same "wow" factor as A.J. Green, but there is no guarantee that the Bengals wide receiver will be made available. Williams, 26, currently has 533 yards and five touchdowns on 29 receptions with the Chargers.

You could argue that Williams isn't a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL, but he'd give the wide receiver unit a significant boost.

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Gregory Shamus

Draft Anthony Johnson

Adding A.J. Green or Tyrell Williams will help the Bills, but that's not enough. In Round 2 of the draft, Buffalo selects UB WR Anthony Johnson.

Johnson has the talent to be a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL, but won't be rushed to make an immediate impact.

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Tight end

Key players under contract: Charles Clay, Jason Croom

Charles Clay and Jason Croom are both under contract for 2019, but the Bills aren't keeping both tight ends in NYUP's "Being Beane" scenario.

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Tim Warner

Release Charles Clay

Charles Clay has not made enough of an impact to remain with the Bills. Releasing Clay results in $4.5 million dead cap hit, but also saves $4.5 million in cap space in 2019.

Is Jason Croom ready to take over as the team's No. 1 tight end? Not yet. Tight end seems to take the longest amount of time in terms of development so Buffalo should bring in a short-term replacement for Clay.

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Patrick Smith

Sign Jared Cook

Jared Cook will be 32 at the start of next season. He's not a long-term option for Buffalo, but a solid pass catching fit for the Bills on a one or two year deal.

Cook's salary should be reasonable. His last contract was a two-year, $10.6 million deal with the Raiders.

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Offensive line

Key players under contract: Dion Dawkins, Wyatt Teller

Jordan Mills, John Miller, Ryan Groy and Jeremiah Sirles are all free agents this offseason. For the sake of this article, the Bills re-sign John Miller to a team-friendly short-term deal. With Dion Dawkins, Wyatt Teller and John Miller back in the fold, here's how they can address the rest of the starting offensive line.

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Patrick Smith

Sign Matt Paradis

Matt Paradis is currently on the injured reserve with a broken fibula, but he was playing very well before the injury. Paradis was Pro Football Focus' No. 3 center with a 79.0 grade.

Before suffering the injury, Paradis had recorded 57 consecutive starts at center. Adding Paradis would be a significant upgrade over the Ryan Groy/Russell Bodine combination from this season.

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Sign RT Daryl Williams

If we're channeling our inner-Brandon Beane we need to sign at least one former Panthers player, right?

Daryl Williams makes the most sense among Carolina's free agents as long as team doctors feel comfortable with Williams' knee.

The draft is another option with players like Dalton Risner, David Edwards and Greg Little probably being on the board for Buffalo in Round 1, but for now we're taking Williams at right tackle.

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Brett Carlsen

2019 Bills offense

QB: Josh Allen

QB 2: Matt Barkley

RB: LeSean McCoy

RB 2:Marcus Murphy

RB 3: Quadree Ollison

WR 1: A.J. Green/Tyrell Williams

WR 2: Zay Jones

WR 3: Anthony Johnson

WR depth: Robert Foster, Isaiah McKenzie

TE 1: Jared Cook

TE 2: Jason Croom

LT: Dion Dawkins

LG: Wyatt Teller

C: Matt Paradis

RG: John Miller

RT: Daryl Williams

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Defensive end

Key players under contract: Jerry Hughes, Trent Murphy, Shaq Lawson

Buffalo's top three defensive ends are all under contract for 2019. Whether or not they all remain on the roster depends on one player becoming a free agent.

Eddie Yarbrough and Mike Love are also exclusive rights free agents and could return in 2019.

It's possible that Buffalo goes after a defensive end in free agency with a lot of talent potentially hitting the market, but this is one position that we'll say remains the same.

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Defensive tackle

Key players under contract: Star Lotulelei, Harrison Phillips

Star Lotulelei may not be showing up on the stat sheet, but his play is why Buffalo's linebackers are thriving this season. He's been great and Harrison Phillips will could take on a bigger role in year two.

The bad news for Bills fans is that Kyle Williams retires at the end of the 2018 season. He's still playing well for the Bills, but he mentioned retirement as a possibility after last season. He'll be missed, but Buffalo moves on with two moves.

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Michael Reaves

Re-sign Jordan Phillips

Jordan Phillips may have lost his cool in Buffalo's first matchup against the Dolphins, but he's been a terrific addition to the Bills' defense. Bringing Phillips back is a no-brainer.

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Tim Warner

Draft Ed Oliver in Round 1

Current mock drafts have Ed Oliver and Quinnen Williams falling late in the top-10 or even in the top-15 picks of the draft. Both players can stop the run and get after the quarterback. Williams could pass Oliver leading up to the draft, but for now the Bills add the Houston defensive lineman.

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Mark Brown

Linebacker

Key players under contract: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano

Buffalo has two young players that look like they're on their way to superstardom. The third linebacker spot is occupied by pending free agent Lorenzo Alexander. How do the Bills address their other starting linebacker spot?

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Michael Reaves

Re-sign Lorenzo Alexander

Another easy decision for the Bills. Alexander has expressed an interest in returning in 2019 and finishing his career with the Bills.

Considering Beane's eye for defensive talent, Buffalo can look for Alexander's heir apparent on day three of the draft.

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Brett Carlsen

Cornerback

Key players under contract: Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson

Buffalo has a lockdown cornerback in White and a terrific nickel cornerback in Johnson. The big question on the defense is whether or not they have a No. 2 cornerback. To date, undrafted free agent Levi Wallace has played well in the role. Wallace, an exclusive rights free agent, could lock the job down as long as he performs well the rest of the season.

The team will add depth to the position, but may be set at cornerback.

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Michael Reaves

Safety

Key players under contract: Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer

Buffalo's starting safety duo is under contract and the team has quality depth with Rafael Bush and Siran Neal. The Bills don't need to do much of anything at safety.

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2019 Bills defense

DE: Trent Murphy

DT: Star Lotulelei

DT: Ed Oliver

DE: Jerry Hughes

OLB: Lorenzo Alexander

MLB: Tremaine Edmunds

OLB: Matt Milano

CB: Tre'Davious White

CB: Levi Wallace

CB: Taron Johnson (nickel)

S: Micah Hyde

S: Jordan Poyer

Key depth: Jordan Phillips, Harrison Phillips, Shaq Lawson, Rafael Bush, Siran Neal

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Bob Levey

Special teams

Key player under contract: Stephen Hauschka

In terms of kicker, long-snapper and punter there isn't much to see here. Stephen Hauschka returns as Buffalo's kicker and Reid Ferguson, an exclusive rights free agent, continues to serve as long snapper. The big question is whether Corey Bojorquez or Cory Carter win the punter job. Although the players will remain the same, there is one move that needs to be made with the unit.

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Fire Danny Crossman

Buffalo's special teams coordinator has overstayed his welcome in Buffalo. His unit has disappointed this season and a fresh start with a new coordinator would be best for the Bills.

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