After he was released by the New York Jets, wide receiver Eric Decker could be pursued by the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens. Kyle Silagyi of USA Today reported that the Bills may turn their attention to Decker after they were spurned by Jeremy Maclin, who joined the Baltimore Ravens on a two-year deal after he was released by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Bills need a No. 2 wide receiver to back up primary wideout Sammy Watkins, who recently underwent surgery on his injured foot. Watkins was limited during Bills’ practice this week but he is scheduled to return for training camp and the preseason.
The Bills also need insurance at wide receiver after they declined the fifth-year option on Watkins’ contract.
If they don’t keep Watkins, the Bills will lose him to free agency next summer without getting anything in return. A first-round pick by the Bills in 2014, Watkins played 16 games in his rookie year, catching 65 passes for 982 yards and six touchdowns. In 2015, he tallied career-bests of 1,047 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. However, the 23-year-old Watkins was limited to eight games last season due to a foot injury. He caught just 28 passes for 430 yards and two scores.
Decker another scoring threat for the Bills
Acquiring Decker will provide the Jets with another reliable target for presumed starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
If healthy, the Bills could have another scoring threat in Decker, a known red-zone specialist in his time with the Denver Broncos and the Jets. After playing four years with the Broncos, Decker joined the Jets in 2014 and made an immediate impact in his first year, catching 74 passes for 962 yards and five touchdowns.
Decker followed it up with 80 catches for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns the next season.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the Ravens are also interested in Decker’s services despite signing Maclin to a two-year deal. Decker could provide the Ravens another option on offense for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
Maclin passes physical, to travel to Baltimore Tuesday
According to the Ravens’ official website, the 29-year-old Maclin passed his physical and will return to Baltimore Tuesday.
However, it is still unknown if he can make it to the first day of minicamp on time. Josina Anderson of ESPN reported that Maclin did not consider the Bills his team of choice, saying it came down to the Ravens and the Philadelphia Eagles, his former team. With the Ravens, he will join Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman as the Ravens’ trio of wideouts.
