Though they have a ton of options, the Buffalo Bills are clearly in the market for an upgrade for their wide-receiver room.
The latest rumor involves Buffalo targeting speedy Indianapolis Colts home-run hitter Alec Pierce, who has rumored to be on the trade block.
The Bills have a glut of experienced-yet-underwhelming talents at wideout behind incumbents Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir, plus free-agent signings Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore.
They are looking for a potential deep threat or a taller option like Tim Patrick of the Detroit Lions. Buffalo brought in fan favorite and free agent Gabriel Davis for a tryout Thursday but did not announce a contract for him.
Why Could The Bills Trade For Alec Pierce?
Pierce could provide a unique option for the Buffalo offense.
The 6-3, 215-pound wideout averaged an NFL-best 22.3 yards per reception and had seven touchdowns on just 37 catches. He has 110 career catches for 1,931 yards and 11 touchdowns over his 49-game NFL career and will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
So with Pierce on the block as he prepares to enter the final year of his rookie contract, and the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings rumored to be interested in acquiring him, Randy Gurzi of SI Bills threw Buffalo’s name into the ring as a potential suitor.
“Adding [Pierce’s] game-changing speed across from Coleman would give Josh Allen two players capable of making big plays downfield,” Gurzi wrote. “That would also give Shakir more room to operate in the slot.”
Coleman is coming off an inconsistent first season, and Pierce could both motivate him and serve as a potential upgrade in case his rookie season was what the Bills are going to get. Thus, Gurzi floated Buffalo remaining open to upgrades.
“[Coleman, Shakir and Palmer] has enough talent to keep the offense on track, [but] the Bills should still keep an eye out for potential improvements,” Gurzi wrote.
What’s The Deal With The Bills Wide Receivers?
That the Bills’ wide-receiving corps is in flux this late in training camp is alarming, especially since Moore and Palmer made up two of the team’s big off-season acquisitions.
Yet, Curtis Samuel’s injury-plagued tenure in Buffalo has thrown a wrench into the Bills’ wideout corps, since he had just 253 yards last season and is battling a hamstring injury.
The Bills owe Samuel $15 million in guaranteed money over the next three years — his contract extension kicks in this year — but he is likely to be either traded or could be released.
Between Samuel, “Hard Knocks” favorite K.J. Hamler, fellow journeyman Laviska Shenault and intriguing second-year prospect Tyrell Shavers, who has been one of the stars of training camp, Buffalo has a ton of promise for their No. 4/5 spots.
But an injury, or inconsistent play, can throw a wrench into those plans, and it isn’t as though the Bills have great depth beyond those five.
So in a Super Bowl-or-bust season, and with only so much Allen can do, general manager Brandon Beane is wise to keep trying to upgrade the group.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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