The Bills Front Office Made A Savvy Move For An Edge On Lamar Jackson
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Bills are pulling out all the stops to get by the Buffalo Bills this weekend, and the signing of quarterback Anthony Brown shows just how creative Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane are willing to get to gain an edge. The team inked the quarterback to the practice squad on Wednesday, and McDermott didn’t mince any words when explaining why he was brought in: to mimic Lamar Jackson.
“If you just put a mobile person back there when you’re planning on working on the scrambles or the quarterback run game, the defensive players know this is one of those plays, right?” McDermott said. “So in order to hide that, what Anthony brings to the table is both. He can throw it and he can run it.”
Anthony Brown ran a 4.71 40-yard dash leading into the 2022 NFL Draft, and when he was with the Oregon Ducks, his speed was his trademark. As a senior, he threw for 2,989 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. On the ground, he rushed 151 times for 658 yards and nine touchdowns.
While no one is saying that Brown is a perfect equivalent to Jackson, having someone who can use his legs on the scout team is going to help the defense prepare as they try to slow down the three-time MVP. If the Bills are able to pick up the victory on Sunday, it might well be because Brown gave them some extra experience in simulating Jackson.
It’s more than about Brown’s legs, though; he might be able to give a few secrets about the Ravens’ playbook or tendencies. After all, Brown’s first stop in the NFL was with the Ravens back in 2022. Now, back in 2022, Greg Roman was in charge of calling the Ravens plays, so the playbook is a lot different. Still, every little bit helps, and if Brown can even let one trick or hint slip, that intelligence could be a hell of a return on a January practice squad signing.
Who knows if Brown will be on the roster this time next week, but if the Bills go on to win a Super Bowl, Brown may deserve a ring based on his work this week alone. You have to credit the front office with another savvy move on top of a season where the pushed all the right buttons on the team’s path to be a true Super Bowl contender.
It’s honestly incredible how well the team navigated this year. So many in Bills Mafia hated the trade of Stefon Diggs, and the $31 million dollar dead cap did hurt. Still, this offense has actually been more productive without him. Keon Coleman was drafted in the second round, and he has shown flashes of being a true No. 1 receiver, not that he’s had to be, given how many quality pass-catchers are in the fold.
McDermott has also built a culture that most players want to stay a part of, which is why players like Dion Dawkins signed a contract that was cap friendly, and Josh Allen restructured his contract to open up a few more dollars.
But enough marveling at the front office’s work. Let’s go back to focusing on this weekend’s game. The Bills’ defense is healthy, and one big difference from the Week 4 loss against Baltimore is they have Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard healthy again. Both difference-makers missed the Week 4 matchup where Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the rest of the Ravens’ offense ran wild on Buffalo.
“Tackling is big every week and for sure this week,” McDermott said. “And you add [Justice] Hill to that equation in terms of the backfield weaponry, and just what they’re able to do in space and power… [They’re a] very talented team.”
The Bills believe that key players returning to the field, subtle changes to their defensive scheme, and the extra edge of signing a guy like Brown can get them over the hump against Baltimore. The Bills believe they have made the right changes to have a different result in this matchup, and it’s hard to argue with considering the track record the organization has this year.
Now it’s time for those moves to pay off on the field. It’s still going to take three more victories to win the ultimate prize, and the Bills are going to do whatever they can to get the job done. The decision-makers have pulled out all the stops to set Buffalo up for success, all that’s left is for the players to finish that job.
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