Feb. 26, 2008

With second-year QB Trent Edwards and RB Marshawn Lynch operating first-year coordinator Turk Schonert’s system, the Bills have a promising, young offensive nucleus already in place. The next phase of the offensive evolution involves upgrading Edwards’ targets in the passing game. At both wide receiver and tight end, the Bills have a serious dearth of talent. WR Lee Evans is the only pass catcher who poses problems for opposing defenses. The Bills’ front office wasted little time validating this notion, as two of their first offseason transactions were signing TE-WR Teyo Johnson and cutting underachieving WR Peerless Price. With deep-threat wideout Roscoe Parrish’s availability uncertain following a recent DUI arrest, the need only increases. While the Bills will give long looks to quality receivers of all styles, big targets who can create red-zone mismatches and can muscle their way to those third-down conversions will be particularly coveted. After finishing 29th in the league against the pass, secondary fortifications headline the defensive needs. High-priced DEs Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay failed to justify their lucrative contracts in 2007, but the prevailing thought is that they need more help in the rotation to afford them necessary breathers. The city of Buffalo is not the easiest sell to free agents, but with ample salary-cap space and all the important players already locked up, the Bills will be serious contenders for the majority of players they target.