After losing out on the Jeremy Maclin sweepstakes, the Bills have finally gotten on the board with a veteran wide receiver.
Anquan Boldin is signing a one-year deal to join Tyrod Taylor and Sammy Watkins in Buffalo, Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager reported Monday. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero adds the one-year deal is worth up to $4 million. Boldin, who will turn 37 in early October, now joins his fifth NFL team in 15 years. His latest stop comes in a place desperate for help on offense.
The Bills later confirmed the signing.
Notoriously sure handed, Boldin posted a 70.5 percent catch rate in Detroit last year -- one of the highest totals of his career. He finished the season with 67 total receptions for 584 yards and eight touchdowns.
While this is not a signing that will break the Bills' offense wide open, bringing in a veteran like Boldin is a tremendous gift for both Taylor and Watkins -- a receiver the Bills would like to see develop into a franchise-type star. Boldin's understanding of leverage and his ability to find small windows of empty space are among the best in the NFL.
"In my opinion, Anquan Boldin is a Hall of Fame player," Bills general manager Brandon Beane told reporters. "Add that to winning the Man of the Year Award and we're excited."
The Bills spent the early portion of camp looking at an uncertain depth chart behind Watkins. Rookie Zay Jones has made some plays early on, but behind him is a bundle of unproven players and older veterans like Rod Streater and Andre Holmes. Boldin should add a little more certainty at the position.
