NFL Notes: Bills, Buccaneers, Cardinals, & Saints

Bills

Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News writes that the Bills acquired veteran quarterback Matt Cassel with the intention of making him their starter.

Should Cassel win the starting job, Carucci expects the Bills to sign him to a contract extension. However, Cassel has reportedly struggled this offseason, so he’ll really need to show improvement for this to even be an option.

Carucci mentions that Cassel’s struggles through the offseason “raise some legitimate questions about whether he will be on the roster if he isn’t starting.”

The fact that Cassel carries a cap figure of $4.75 million hurts his chances of being retained as a backup. .

Buccaneers

• Pat Yaskinskas can see the Buccaneers adding another “five or six” players with the No. 1 overall waiver claim before the start of the season.
• Speaking of the Buccaneers’ waiver claims, Yaskinskas expects S D.J. Swearinger and TE Tim Wright to both make the team.
• Yaskinskas writes that Louis Murphy has the edge over rookie Kenny Bell for the Buccaneers’ No. 3 receiver job entering training camp.
• If Doug Martin can put together a great 2015 season, Yaskinskas thinks the chances of the Bucs re-signing him are pretty good.
• Yasinskas expects the Buccaneers to start Logan Mankins left guard, Evan Smith at center and Demar Dotson at right tackle with rookies Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet handling left tackle and right guard if they prove to be up to it in training camp.

Cardinals

• ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss sees the Cardinals’ offensive line shaping up to be RT Bobby Massie, RG Jonathan Cooper, C A.Q. Shipley, LG Mike Iupati and LT Jared Veldheer.
• However, Weinfuss admits that rookie D.J. Humphries could replace Massie at right tackle.
• Weinfuss fully expects backup QB Drew Stanton to be retained, even though he carries a $3.9 million cap figure in 2015.
• As far as breakout candidates are concerned, Weinfuss suggests S Tyrann Mathieu and TE Troy Niklas as two players to keep an eye on.

Saints

Saints veteran G Jahri Evans said he understands why the team approached him about taking a pay cut to be back in New Orleans.

“It worked out in the end. You know, it’s part of the business, obviously. And I’m glad to be here,” said Evans, via ESPN.com.

Saints HC Sean Payton approached Evans and told him that they would like him to remain with the team, but they would need to reduce his contract to make that happen.

“So that was very great, and I was pleased with that,” Evans said. “I still had two years under contract, so I never saw myself not being here.”