Breaking News: Bills Named Top Landing Spot for 2-Time 1,000-Yard Receiver As Replacement For Diggs
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs experienced a decline in performance around the midpoint of the season, missing out on a potential career-best pace and failing to secure a touchdown in the last seven games. There’s speculation that the Bills might introduce a new face to their receiving corps in the upcoming season, with the focus on acquiring free-agent receiver Michael Pittman Jr. One source has identified the Bills, along with the Kansas City Chiefs and a return to the Indianapolis Colts, as potential landing spots for Pittman. While this move could address a significant need in Buffalo, the financial constraints of the Bills’ salary cap may pose a challenge to making this acquisition.
Tough Competition for Top Colts Receiver
The Bills may need to acquire new receivers for the upcoming season, especially since Gabe Davis, their No. 2 receiver, is entering free agency, and Diggs experienced a decline in performance towards the end of the last season. Pittman, who has demonstrated reliability as a target for the Colts, achieving two 1,000-yard seasons, including a career-best performance with 109 catches for 1,152 yards and four touchdowns in the previous season, is a potential target for the Bills.
Who should sign Michael Pittman Jr this offseason? pic.twitter.com/y9vnWZGGvF
— PFF (@PFF) January 26, 2024
However, persuading Pittman to leave Indianapolis might pose a challenge for the Bills and other interested teams. The Colts seem determined to retain the player they drafted in 2020. According to SI.com’s Andrew Moore, Pittman has spoken positively about the Colts, acknowledging his current affiliation but also expressing an intention to explore free agency for the best deal.
Pittman stated earlier in the month, “As of right now until March whatever, I’m still a Colt. But speaking to the contract stuff, I made it this far so – I’ve loved my four years here, but I wouldn’t be doing my due diligence if I didn’t explore every option and find the best fit.”
While Pittman mentioned no ongoing contract negotiations with the Colts, he anticipated discussions to occur before entering free agency. He explained, “We kind of had an agreement that we were going to wait until the season ended and kind of feel it out. There really haven’t been any contract negotiations or offers just because we felt like it wasn’t the right time. Whenever the right time is, I don’t know when the right time is – I’ve never done this before.”
Bills Face Another Tight Offseason
The Bills may find it challenging to afford a player of Pittman’s caliber, given their limited salary cap space for significant moves in the upcoming offseason. General manager Brandon Beane, in the season-ending press conference, acknowledged the team’s commitment to remaining competitive while emphasizing the need for prudent spending due to the restricted financial resources.
Beane stated, “We’re not planning to take a year off and just not be competitive. Will we be younger in some areas? Yes. … Sometimes when you’re trying to manage your cap, especially with a high-paying quarterback like Allen, and considering our aggressiveness in acquiring certain pieces over the past couple of years, that won’t be as feasible moving forward. I’m not going to bed tonight thinking we don’t have a shot at it next year.”