With the Bills sitting at (5-2) and recently making a trade for Amari Cooper, one must wonder if General Manager Brandon Beane is done. Even with the recent wins, there still appear to be areas on the roster that can use a boost. Specifically, at safety. Let’s look at a few players that could make sense for the Bills to call about.
Player #1: Andre Cisco (Jacksonville Jaguars, FS)
Stats: 36 TCKLs, 4PBU’s, 1INT
Cost: Mid-Late Round Pick
Why it Makes Sense: With the Jags sitting at 2-5, almost everyone is on the table at the deadline. Cisco has recently shown frustration with the Jaguars. After a week six loss, Cisco stated, “How should I say this?… [There] was a lot of quit.” That quote certainly didn’t go over well with many in the organization.
Cisco, a Syracuse grad, schematically makes some sense for the Bills. Although Cisco isn’t a great tackler (8 missed this season), he can make plays in the passing game. He’s allowed only 10 catches this season, tallied four interceptions a year ago, and has shown he still has plenty of potential. The 24-year-old had 13 career interceptions in college (most of his draft class) and showed flashes of brilliance with Jacksonville last year. With help from a McDermott-led staff, Cisco could be the perfect situational safety for the Bills.
Player #2: Xavier Woods (Carolina Panthers, FS)
Stats: 51TCKLS, 1TFL, 2PBU’s, 1INT
Cost: Mid-Late Round Pick
Why it makes sense: Xavier Woods is a name that screams future Buffalo Bill. The eighth-year vet is one of the few bright spots on a disastrous Carolina defense. Woods has been extremely useful against the run on both film and according to PFF (70.5 run grade). As far as the passing game is concerned, he is allowing an impressive 75.7 passer rating. Woods would likely be a plug-and-play starter on defense and could help provide second-level relief for an inconsistent run defense.
Player #3: Micah Hyde (Free Agent, FS)
Stats: N/A
Why it makes sense: With Hyde never officially announcing retirement, the door is still open for Hyde to return for a playoff run. Throughout the summer, general manager Brandon Beane would consistently communicate with the 33-year-old. If Hyde returns, it would be a relatively smooth transition. He would know most of the playbook and fit right in with the locker room. Although his best playing days are likely behind him, he could serve as a fresh depth piece and a key voice in the locker room for the Bills in January.
With all that said, the Bills currently have $2.6M left in cap space. That is certainly enough to make a move or two if they choose to. Beane and company must make that decision by 4 p.m. on Nov. 5.