Should the Buffalo Bills Re-Sign Shaq Lawson & Jordan Phillips?

Continuing on with our free agent series, we have fan favorites Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson. Both contributed in a backup role this season, with Shaq totaling 3.5 sacks, six TFLs, a forced fumble, and nine QB hits. Phillips, on the other hand, totaled 1.5 sacks, 20 tackles, and three TFLs in 12 games. Both players left the Buffalo Bills in free agency back in 2020, (Lawson went to Miami, Phillips to Arizona). After both underperformed with their respective teams, they found their way back home where they always wanted to be. Now, one year later, we ask ourselves… should the Bills re-sign Jordan Phillips/Shaq Lawson?

What the fans want

Should the #Bills bring back Shaq Lawson?

— Buffalo Fanatics (@BfloFanatics) February 7, 2023

The majority of the people who voted want to see Shaq Lawson return to Buffalo, and that may not be a bad thing. With Von Miller recovering from his injury, and the youth of the Bills pass rush, it may be better to have another veteran in that room. Lawson signed a one year/$1.1M deal with Buffalo last off-season, and has given the Bills more than enough reasons to bring him back again, if they so choose.

Meanwhile, the Bills can afford to let Phillips go after a disappointing reunion. He missed games due to a variety of injuries, including a torn shoulder and a lingering groin injury. He did not affect the game as much as he did in his previous stint, and the amount of depth the Bills have at that position could be enough for them to let him go elsewhere. Beane could find a cheaper option through the draft that could contribute as much, or more than Phillips has.

Working on my Top 50 NFL free agents for ESPN.

Players I moved up in the rankings…

• DT Daron Payne (WASH)
• OT Jawaan Taylor (JAX)
• DT/DE Dre’Mont Jones (DEN)
• S CJ Gardner-Johnson (PHI)
• LB Tremaine Edmunds (BUF)
• DT Zach Allen (AZ) pic.twitter.com/UyFpQn8zka

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) January 26, 2023

If Buffalo decides to part ways with Phillips, there are some solid DTs in free agency, including Dre’Mont Jones, Daron Payne, and Zach Allen. The Bills are currently at $-20M in cap space. But, as we saw last year, they could free up some cap space if they find a free agent (or free agents) they really like.

The Bills’ Current IDL and DE Depth

DT: Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, Cortez Braughton, Kendal Vickers, Brandin Bryant, Eli Ankou

DE: Von Miller, Boogie Basham, Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Kingsley Jonathan.

Featured Image: Adrian Kraus/AP