Bills’ Tremaine Edmunds named 17th best free agent by ESPN
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The Buffalo Bills have a laundry list of pending free agents this offseason. Important ones, too.
The one at the top of the list for many observers is Tremaine Edmunds.
ESPN agrees.
The former world-wide leader put together a list of the top-50 pending free agents in the NFL. The linebacker clocked in at No. 17 overall, edging out safety Jordan Poyer at 22 for the honor of being Buffalo’s “best” free agent, per ESPN.
Here’s the breakdown on Edmunds’ placement:
The tape shows that Edmunds has improved as a coverage linebacker, with his route awareness and ability to get to depth as a zone defender. He’s a long, 6-foot-5 linebacker with downhill acceleration against the run and second-level range to track the ball. Edmunds had 66 solo tackles, one interception and one sack this season. He’s young, but the 2018 first-round pick has started 74 games in five seasons. That experience will be attractive for teams looking for an off-ball linebacker this offseason.
For the outlet, like many, the determining factor is age between Edmunds and Poyer.
Poyer is entering his age 32 season in 2023 after spending a lot of the time this past season injured. Edmunds is slated to only be 25 by next year, which is remarkable considering his experience.
Even so, the decisions on both Edmunds and Poyer will come down to dollars and the salary cap. The Bills are approximately $20 million over the projected salary cap for next year. Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane would have to do some incredible work to get Edmunds signed.
Not impossible, but not everyone is going to be able to stick around.
How and what Beane decides will come to the forefront in the coming weeks.
