Jermaine Gresham is a potential tight end upgrade the Buffalo Bills could pursue in free agency this offseason. (Photo: Andrew Weber — USA Today Sports)
BBD Contributor: Paul Banach
This article is a part of a series on potential free-agent targets for the Buffalo Bills this offseason.
The Buffalo Bills have a number of positional needs on their roster and with no first-round pick in this May’s NFL draft, they should be very active when the free agency period begins on March 10. Having already signed controversial veteran guard Richie Incognito to bolster their offensive line, it seems there is no move this front office won’t make to improve its team.
The tight end position in Buffalo has lacked an athletic playmaker at the spot for some time now. This year’s deep crop of free agent talent at the position is interesting. Current Cincinnati Bengals pass-catcher Jermaine Gresham looks to be headed for the open market and would seemingly be in Buffalo’s wheelhouse to make an offer.
An injury replacement in the 2011 and 2012 Pro Bowls, Gresham is a talented tight end who is a good blocker and is familiar with cold weather, having played the first five years of his NFL career in Ohio. He has accumulated at least 50 receptions in four of his five NFL seasons and has good speed for the position.
Measurables:
6’5 1/2″, 260 pounds
40-Yard Dash Time: 4.73 seconds (2010 NFL Scouting Combine)
Vertical Jump: 35 inches (2010 NFL Scouting Combine)
Age: Turns 27 in June 2015
Tight End Comparison (Last two years):
Jermaine Gresham: 29 games played, 108 receptions, 918 yards, nine touchdowns, 8.5 yards per reception, $3,410,750 salary
Scott Chandler: 32 games played, 100 receptions, 1,152 yards, five touchdowns, 11.5 yards per reception, $2,050,000 salary
Analysis
On paper, Gresham has the size and athleticism of an elite NFL tight end and his talent is evident in both the passing and blocking game. For the 2014 NFL season, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the league’s best pass blocker out of 67 total tight ends and 37th overall for tight end play.
His nine touchdowns over the past two years is nearly double the total of Scott Chandler, Buffalo’s current starting tight end. The Bills offense could use a big target in the red zone that can also run by defenders and go up to high point the ball like Gresham can.
All that being said, Gresham has had his own struggles, fumbling six times in the last two seasons and seemingly having a knack for committing pre-snap penalties, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Dehner Jr. also wrote in early January that there are coaches in Cincinnati “who want zero to do with Gresham at this point,” partially stemming from the belief that he could have played through a number of injuries that caused him to miss games.
Things can often get ugly when players and organizations split after years of partnership. Either way you slice it, Gresham will definitely have suitors and some offers to ponder if he hits the open market. Don’t be surprised if Buffalo thoroughly explores the possibility of adding the tight end as the free agency period inches closer.
Should the Bills sign Jermaine Gresham?
He should not be the Bills’ top choice out of the potential free agent tight ends, but he would be an upgrade at that position. He is a great blocker that would fit into new offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s run-heavy scheme, all the while providing a threat in the middle of the field. As long as Gresham doesn’t demand a monstrous pay increase from his 2014 salary of $3.4 million, he would be a great signing for Buffalo.
Other Free Agent Targets:
More to come!
