Exclusive; Bills Advised to Target Two-Time Super Bowl Champion RB
This offseason, the Buffalo Bills added youthful players to their backfield and parted ways with several experienced veterans, marked by significant changes.
According to an analyst, the Bills may benefit from adding a seasoned and versatile player to their team. Bruce Nolan, who writes for SB Nation’s Buffalo Rumblings, proposed that the Bills should consider signing Jerick McKinnon – a free agent with two Super Bowl victories under his belt as part of the Kansas City Chiefs roster. As training camps draw near, he remains unsigned on the open market.
Nolan proposed that McKinnon could complement lead running back James Cook effectively, while also offering flexibility in special teams.
The Bills’ backfield could benefit from the addition of an experienced running back.
As per Nolan’s observation, Ty Johnson (the backup of the previous year) had a success rate of 63.3% and managed to secure second position despite starting on the practice squad initially. Considering this, Nolan proposed that McKinnon could be a reliable alternative for Cook if ever Johnson struggles to maintain his career average in future.
“The career rushing success rate of Johnson is at 48.7%, and as I previously mentioned, the sample size in 2023 was limited,” wrote Nolan. “Perhaps Buffalo desires to enhance that position by acquiring a player with established abilities in pass catching who can also contribute on special teams (which is necessary for a third running back).”
According to Nolan, McKinnon’s versatility as a running back who could handle various tasks was well-established during his time with the Chiefs and he is confident that he can perform similarly for Buffalo.
He wrote that McKinnon could provide the Bills with a viable third option at running back if he is willing to share playing time in Buffalo. In 2022, while playing for the Super Bowl champions Kansas City, McKinnon recorded his second-highest number of special teams snaps (169) and amassed 545 receiving yards along with nine touchdowns. If Ty Johnson struggles to maintain effectiveness when given more opportunities in 2024, then acquiring McKinnon would greatly benefit the team’s running game.
The rookie running back is believed to be an ideal match.
This offseason, the Bills observed various departures from their backfield. They let go of Nyheim Hines, who was a running back and return specialist after being on injured reserve for one season. Additionally, they did not renew contracts with veteran players Latavius Murray, Damien Harris, and Leonard Fournette.
With a fourth-round draft pick, the Bills welcomed Ray Davis from Kentucky as their latest running back addition. The team now boasts a power back to accompany Cook’s faster approach in the field. Marcus Mosher, member of The 33rd Team, identified Davis as among the most influential picks made during Day 3 of the NFL Draft for this year. He observed that with his impressive talents on display, it won’t be long before he makes an important contribution to his new squad.
According to Mosher, Davis is a formidable running back despite his height of 5’8″. He excels at running between the tackles and possesses an unwavering competitive spirit that makes him well-suited for Buffalo. Although some critics expressed concern about Davis’s age (as he will soon turn 25) and workload in college with over 840 touches, these factors are not concerning for the Bills who require an experienced No.2 runner capable of relieving Cook or shouldering additional responsibilities when necessary – qualities which make Davis a seamless fit within their team dynamic.
It is anticipated that Cook will resume his role as the primary running back following a season in which he accomplished what no other Bills’ running back had done since LeSean McCoy by exceeding 1,000 yards.
