Who are you signing with $15?

By Ryan Talbot | Contributing writer

So you want to be the general manager of the Buffalo Bills? Here is your chance. NYUP's 2019 NFL Free Agent Challenge is simple. Spend $15 to sign your ideal free agents for the Bills by choosing one player from each position. Need to know more about the players listed? We've got you covered.

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Wide receiver

The Bills will look to upgrade the wide receiver position through free agency and the draft. Robert Foster and Zay Jones both had productive 2018 seasons, but the team still needs a true No. 1 wide receiver and additional talent.

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Jonathan Daniel

$5: Golden Tate

Golden Tate has already said that he wants to join a team that can win now. Do the Bills fit that criteria? Probably not, but Tate could end up going to a team on the rise if they're willing to pay more for his services. The wide receiver caught 74 passes for 795 yards and four touchdowns between his time on the Lions and Eagles.

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Thearon W. Henderson

$4 Tyrell Williams

Tyrell Williams is a younger option than Tate, but he''s less established. Williams had one 1,000 yard season in 2016, but finished with 728 yards and 653 yards in the last two seasons. Williams could be in high demand among wide receiver needy teams come March.

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Patrick Smith

$3: John Brown

The Bills tried to sign John Brown last year in free agency to a three-year contract, but he opted to join the Ravens on a one-year deal. In 16 games (15 starts), Brown had a 42-715-5 stat line. Considering his speed, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Buffalo pursue Brown again this offseason.

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Joe Robbins

$2: Cole Beasley

If the Bills are looking for a slot receiver, Cole Beasley makes plenty of sense. Beasley is coming off of the second best season of his career (65-672-3) and has shown a knack for getting open.

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Julio Aguilar

$1: Adam Humphries

Humphries is younger than Beasley and is coming off of the best season of his career (76-816-5). The wide receiver also has two seasons of 600-plus yards receiving. There's no questioning that Humphries can do damage in the slot.

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Tight end

It would be a surprise if Charles Clay was back in 2019. With the veteran being a likely cut candidate, the Bills could add a veteran option in free agency.

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Patrick Smith

$5: Jared Cook

Jared Cook is, by far, the best tight end available in free agency. Despite being 31, Cook was one of the NFL's best tight ends in 2018. In Oakland's offense, Cook caught 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns. Although this year's tight end class is one of the deepest in years, it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a tight end that can contribute immediately for Josh Allen.

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Joe Sargent

$4: Jesse James

The drop off behind Cook is significant. The 24-year old tight end is coming off of a season in which he set a career-high in receiving yards (423), but he's never had more than 43 receptions in a season.

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Justin Edmonds

$3: Demetrius Harris

Demetrius Harris is the dark horse of this year's tight end class. The Chiefs tight end was stuck behind Travis Kelce in Kansas City so his opportunities were limited. That said, he made the most of his opportunities by averaging 13.7 yards per reception and scoring three touchdowns on just 12 receptions in 2018.

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Kevin C. Cox

$2: Tyler Eifert

Tyler Eifert suffered a gruesome ankle injury in 2018. It's been reported that he'll be ready at the start of the 2019 season, but there is plenty of risk in signing Eifert. The tight end has missed 52 games in the last five seasons.

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Jamie Squire

$1: Maxx Williams

Maxx Williams did not make the impact the Ravens were hoping for when they drafted him in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Although he hasn't performed well to date, the 24-year old could just need a change of scenery. At the very least, Williams is a good blocker.

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Interior Offensive Line

While Josh Allen needs more weapons, the offensive line should be considered Buffalo's biggest area of weakness entering free agency. The team needs significant help on the interior of their line and have many options to choose from this year.

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Ezra Shaw

$5: Matt Paradis

Matt Paradis' name has come up early and often when targeting potential free agents for the Bills. The Broncos center was one of Pro Football Focus' best centers in 2018. He went on the IR this season and needed foot surgery, but appears to be ahead of schedule. Adding Paradis could give the Bills a major boost in the middle of their line.

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Jamie Squire

$4: Rodger Saffold

Left guard Rodger Saffold has made it clear that he'd like to return to the Los Angeles Rams, but has added that he needs to do what is best for his family. With plenty of cap space, Buffalo could make a run at Saffold if they feel Wyatt Teller is not ready to be the long-term starter at the position.

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Otto Greule Jr

$3: Mitch Morse

If you're looking for a steal in the free agency challenge, it may be Mitch Morse. Morse is another quality center option for the Bills and could be more appealing than Matt Paradis due to being three years younger than the Broncos center. Morse has started 49 games in his four year career.

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Mark Brown

$2: Travis Swanson

Travis Swanson doesn't belong in the same category as Paradis and Morse, but he's another option for Buffalo at center. Swanson started his career in Detroit before joining the Jets last offseason. He didn't make New York's 53-man roster, but he saw significant playing time when the Dolphins scooped him up. In five seasons, Swanson has made 53 starts.

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Stephen Brashear

$1: Ramon Foster

Ramon Foster finished the 2018 season as Pro Football Focus' No. 16 guard. He continues to play at a high level, but can be had for $1 due to his age (33).

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Offensive tackle

Offensive tackle is also a big need for the Bills. Dion Dawkins had a sophomore slump at left tackle in 2018 and the right tackle spot will be without a starter when free agency begins. Here are five options the Bills could pursue at the position.

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Brett Carlsen

$5: Daryl Williams

Some Bills fans appear tired of the Carolina connections on Buffalo, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better tackle option in free agency than Daryl Williams. The biggest question mark surrounding Williams is whether he can come back and produce at the level he was playing at before he suffered a torn MCL and dislocated kneecap in the preseason.

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Al Bello

$4: Donovan Smith

Donovan Smith has started every game in his four year career with the Buccaneers. He's coming off of his best season at Pro Football Focus (66.4), but hasn't necessarily had a breakout season in his young career. If the Bills were to sign Smith, it could lead to Dion Dawkins playing at a different position in 2019.

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Al Bello

$3: Trent Brown

Trent Brown doesn't have the experience of Donovan Smith, but he's really stepped up his game in the last two seasons. Pro Football Focus gave him a 73 grade in 2017 and a 71 grade this season. As he continues to improve, the 25-year old could wind up being a steal for Buffalo or another team in free agency.

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Mark Brown

$2: Ja'Wuan James

Ja'Wuan James is an intriguing right tackle option for the Bills. He has started 62 games in five seasons with the Dolphins, but has missed significant portions of two seasons due to injuries (toe, hamstring).

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Brett Carlsen

$1: Jordan Mills

Jordan Mills is a decent tackle in terms of pass blocking, but he struggles as a run blocker. Buffalo should look to upgrade from Mills this offseason, but he could be in play if the team strikes out on other options or finds that tackles are making too much on the open market.

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Defensive tackle

With Kyle Williams retiring, the Bills could be in the market for a defensive tackle. This year's draft class is deep at the position, but there are plenty of talented options available in free agency.

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Kevin C. Cox

$5: Grady Jarrett

Grady Jarrett makes the list as the top defensive tackle available in free agency, but the Falcons would be crazy to let him walk in free agency. It's very possible that the two sides work out a long-term extension or that Atlanta simply uses the franchise tag on their best defender. If he were to hit the market, Jarrett would be in high demand.

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Elsa

$4: Ndamukong Suh

Does Ndamukong Suh fit the culture that Sean McDermott is attempting to build in Buffalo? Not necessarily, but his talent is undeniable.

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Steven Ryan

$3: Sheldon Richardson

Sheldon Richardson has bounced around a bit in his career, but he's performed well for the Jets, Seahawks and Vikings. Richardson can stop the run and get after the quarterback.

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Jonathan Daniel

$2: Mo Wilkerson

Another former Jet makes the free agency challenge list. Muhammad (Mo) Wilkerson could be had at a discount in free agency after suffering a serious ankle injury in his 2018 campaign with the Packers. Buffalo, or another team, could sign Wilkerson to an incentive-laden contract.

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Tom Szczerbowski

$1: Jordan Phillips

The $1 option is a player who joined the Bills in-season in 2018. Jordan Phillips played well in Buffalo's rotation last season and could be eyeing a bigger role with the team following Kyle Williams' retirement. He mentioned that the team had held contract talks with his agent at the end of the season, but nothing has come from said talks as of this writing. If the Bills feel Phillips can excel in a bigger role, he makes plenty of sense.

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Joe Robbins

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