June 4 (UPI) — Jeremy Maclin was released Friday, but it didn’t take long for the Buffalo Bills to express interest in the eight-year veteran.
The Kansas City Chiefs cut the 2014 Pro Bowler after two seasons with the franchise. Maclin, 29, had 536 yards and two scores on 44 receptions in 12 games last season.
A source with knowledge of the situation told the Huffington Post Sunday that the Bills are in “preliminary talks” with the wide receiver.
Bills running back LeSean McCoy also said Sunday that he was “recruiting” Maclin, according to ESPN.
“Don’t be surprised if it happens,” McCoy told ESPN.
McCoy and Maclin were teammates on the Philadelphia Eagles from 2009 through 2014.
“Not to brag, but I was the first guy he talked to when the news broke,” McCoy told the Buffalo News Sunday. “I kind of understand because I’ve been through it. Maybe not to the extreme of being released, but being traded. That’s basically telling you, ‘You’re not good enough for us.”
NFL.com listed the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers and Bills as the best landing spots for Maclin.
Maclin signed a five-year, $55 million contract to join the Chiefs during the 2015 offseason.
Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor said he is also interested in talking to Maclin.
“Today was the first day I seen Shady,” Taylor told the Buffalo News. “We texted about it, but want to get Maclin’s number and try to reach out to him. Just to see what his thoughts, what is he thinking moving forward and try to get him here.”
The Bills have $11.6 million in salary cap space.
Sammy Watkins, Zay Jones and Corey Brown are expected to come in as the top three wide receivers on the Bills’ depth chart. The Bills declined Watkins’ 2018 option in May. The franchise took Jones in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Buffalo signed Brown in March. Watkins has been habitually injured during his young career, while Jones has been dealing with a knee sprain. Watkins had foot surgery in January and has been sitting out during Bills OTAs.
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