The Bills cut Charles Clay yesterday, which was unsurprising, with him set to count $9 million against the salary cap and coming off a terrible season. The question now is if they'll fill the void with someone new, or look in-house at the spot.
Whatever the case, Clay won't be missed. He caught only 21 passes last year, of the 36 sent his way. That catch rate of just 58% was one of the worst in the league, among tight ends with at least 20 targets.
| TIGHT END CATCH RATES, 2018 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Team | Tgt | Rec | Pct | Yds | TD |
| Levine Toilolo | DET | 24 | 21 | 87.5% | 263 | 1 |
| Geoff Swaim | DAL | 32 | 26 | 81.3% | 242 | 1 |
| Austin Hooper | ATL | 88 | 71 | 80.7% | 660 | 4 |
| Jack Doyle | IND | 33 | 26 | 78.8% | 245 | 2 |
| Kyle Rudolph | MIN | 82 | 64 | 78.0% | 634 | 4 |
| Jesse James | PIT | 39 | 30 | 76.9% | 423 | 2 |
| Ben Watson | NOR | 46 | 35 | 76.1% | 400 | 2 |
| Lance Kendricks | GNB | 25 | 19 | 76.0% | 170 | 1 |
| Dallas Goedert | PHI | 44 | 33 | 75.0% | 334 | 4 |
| Blake Jarwin | DAL | 36 | 27 | 75.0% | 307 | 3 |
| Zach Ertz | PHI | 156 | 116 | 74.4% | 1163 | 8 |
| Jordan Thomas | HOU | 27 | 20 | 74.1% | 215 | 4 |
| Ian Thomas | CAR | 49 | 36 | 73.5% | 333 | 2 |
| Rhett Ellison | NYG | 34 | 25 | 73.5% | 272 | 1 |
| Luke Stocker | TEN | 21 | 15 | 71.4% | 165 | 2 |
| Trey Burton | CHI | 76 | 54 | 71.1% | 569 | 6 |
| Greg Olsen | CAR | 38 | 27 | 71.1% | 291 | 4 |
| O.J. Howard | TAM | 48 | 34 | 70.8% | 565 | 5 |
| Tyler Higbee | LAR | 34 | 24 | 70.6% | 292 | 2 |
| Virgil Green | LAC | 27 | 19 | 70.4% | 210 | 1 |
| Evan Engram | NYG | 64 | 45 | 70.3% | 577 | 3 |
| Chris Herndon | NYJ | 56 | 39 | 69.6% | 502 | 4 |
| Vance McDonald | PIT | 72 | 50 | 69.4% | 610 | 4 |
| Vernon Davis | WAS | 36 | 25 | 69.4% | 367 | 2 |
| Mike Gesicki | MIA | 32 | 22 | 68.8% | 202 | 0 |
| Travis Kelce | KAN | 150 | 103 | 68.7% | 1336 | 10 |
| Mark Andrews | BAL | 50 | 34 | 68.0% | 552 | 3 |
| Jordan Akins | HOU | 25 | 17 | 68.0% | 225 | 0 |
| Nick Vannett | SEA | 43 | 29 | 67.4% | 269 | 3 |
| Jared Cook | OAK | 101 | 68 | 67.3% | 896 | 6 |
| C.J. Uzomah | CIN | 64 | 43 | 67.2% | 439 | 3 |
| Jonnu Smith | TEN | 30 | 20 | 66.7% | 258 | 3 |
| Josh Hill | NOR | 24 | 16 | 66.7% | 185 | 1 |
| Rob Gronkowski | NWE | 72 | 47 | 65.3% | 682 | 3 |
| Matt LaCosse | DEN | 37 | 24 | 64.9% | 250 | 1 |
| George Kittle | SFO | 136 | 88 | 64.7% | 1377 | 5 |
| Jeff Heuerman | DEN | 48 | 31 | 64.6% | 281 | 2 |
| Jordan Reed | WAS | 84 | 54 | 64.3% | 558 | 2 |
| David Njoku | CLE | 88 | 56 | 63.6% | 639 | 4 |
| James O'Shaughnessy | JAX | 38 | 24 | 63.2% | 214 | 0 |
| Jason Croom | BUF | 35 | 22 | 62.9% | 259 | 1 |
| Antonio Gates | LAC | 45 | 28 | 62.2% | 333 | 2 |
| Nick Boyle | BAL | 37 | 23 | 62.2% | 213 | 0 |
| Jimmy Graham | GNB | 89 | 55 | 61.8% | 636 | 2 |
| Cameron Brate | TAM | 49 | 30 | 61.2% | 289 | 6 |
| Eric Ebron | IND | 110 | 66 | 60.0% | 750 | 13 |
| Charles Clay | BUF | 36 | 21 | 58.3% | 184 | 0 |
| Jordan Leggett | NYJ | 24 | 14 | 58.3% | 114 | 1 |
| Ryan Griffin | HOU | 43 | 24 | 55.8% | 305 | 0 |
| Ricky Seals-Jones | ARI | 69 | 34 | 49.3% | 343 | 1 |
| Demetrius Harris | KAN | 25 | 12 | 48.0% | 164 | 3 |
| Michael Roberts | DET | 20 | 9 | 45.0% | 100 | 3 |
Clay worked most of the year with a rookie passer, of course, so that might be part of the issue. I notice a couple of other guys at the bottom of the list (Leggett, Seals-Jones) were also working with rookie passers.
But Jason Croom was working with the same quarterback, and he caught 22 of 35 (63 percent). His last two games, he caught 6 passes for 87 yards. Croom was undrafted out of Tennessee two years ago, and doubtless the Bills will look to add to that position. But those of us in deeper leagues with a TE premium can at least think about opening up a roster spot for him.
As for Clay, he turned 30 two days ago (nice of the Bills not to cut him on his birthday). He won't get much guaranteed money if and when he signs somewhere.
--Andy Richardson