The Buffalo Bills made two moves to bolster their offense Monday, agreeing to a deal with veteran running back Duke Johnson while also agreeing to terms with receiver Jamison Crowder on a one-year contract.
Johnson is going to sign a one-year deal with the team, according to his agents. Buffalo lost out on running back J.D. McKissic to the Washington Commanders.
The Bills initially agreed to terms with McKissic last Tuesday, but the Commanders swooped in and gave him a two-year contract worth up to $7 million, similar to what Buffalo was offering.
I have had it before where the agent has agreed with you on something and then someone else calls and says, "Hey, what if I add a million dollars?" What if I do this? Bills general manager Brandon Beane expressed his frustration with how Washington handled the situation. The agent did that. The agent told the other club it was over. The other club did not back off.
Johnson started his career with over 400 receiving yards in each of the past five seasons. He has 12 career receiving touchdown after spending four seasons with the Browns, two with the Texans and one with the Dolphins.
The third-round pick played in five games for the Dolphins last year and had some success on the ground. In the last four games of the season, Johnson had two 100 yard rushing performances and 330 total rushing yards and three touchdown on 71 carries for Miami.
After Matt Breida signed with the New York Giants on Monday, Buffalo needed to add more depth to the running back room. Breida played on 13.1% of the team's offensive snaps. Johnson will have to earn his snaps on the roster.
In each of the past three seasons, Crowder led the Jets in catches, becoming the first player since 2008 to do that. He went from 78 catches to 59 to 51 in one year, with injuries being a big factor.
Over the past two seasons, he missed nine games due to leg injuries. He was on the reserve list for one of those games while he recovered from a groin injury.
With the release of wide receiver Cole Beasley last week, the Bills signed Crowder to a one-year deal, giving them an experienced receiver in the slot.
There will be competition for time in the slot for the returning Bills wide receiver. Josh Allen will likely be looking for a target on third down. Of his 14 touchdown passes with the Jets, eight came on third down, and of his 56 third-down reception over those three years, 43 resulted in first downs.
Despite limited cap space after signing Von Miller, Buffalo continues to find value signings in free agency as the team fills out the roster.
This report used information from Rich Cimini.