Now that the Buffalo Bills have re-signed pass-rusher Jerry Hughes, the lackluster offense is entering center stage.
Buffalo ranked just 18th in passing yards per game last season (224.9) and no tight end on the roster topped Scott Chandler's 47 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns. Some of that can be attributed to uneven quarterback play. No one is confusing EJ Manuel and Kyle Orton with Joe Montana and Steve Young. But some of that can also be blamed on a lack of receiving talent outside of Sammy Watkins. New head coach Rex Ryan was undone in New York thanks to consistent offensive woes. He will not make the same mistake twice.
Whoever is playing quarterback for the Bills next season will need some pass-catchers, especially at tight end.
"In terms of pass-catching, Scott Chandler ranked 29th among tight ends in our overall value-added metric (Defense-Adjusted Yards Above Replacement, DYAR) and 30th in value added per play (DVOA)," Andrew Healy of Football Outsiders wrote. "Even if the Bills keep the veteran Chandler, who will be 30 next season, a pass-catching tight end should be high on their shopping list."
Julius Thomas may be out of Buffalo's price range, especially with the Jacksonville Jaguars honing in on him. But what about Jordan Cameron? Sure, he's dealt with concussion issues and inconsistency lately, but he could be the younger upgrade the Bills need.
"Buffalo threw only 22 vertical passes to tight ends last season, a mark that ranked 24th," ESPN NFL Insider KC Joyner wrote. "Cameron had nearly as many vertical targets (19) with the Browns despite playing only 10 games and he turned those targets into 365 yards, a mark that ranked eighth among tight ends."
Cameron, 26, is just two years removed from his Pro Bowl 2013 season in which he hauled in 80 passes for 917 yards and seven touchdowns. Who knows, maybe with some improved QB play and better health, he could return to those heights. The question is, will it be in a Bills uniform?
