La’el Collins, Deion Jones Facing Uphill Battles To Make Bills’ 53-Man Roster?…
The Bills’ wide receiver situation brings considerable uncertainty, and a host of veterans will vie for roster spots in training camp. Buffalo added several low-cost vets at other positions as well, setting up interesting competitions.
Two of these are present at linebacker, where in NMorroicholas w jos Deion Jones to supply depth for a team that was down to third-stringers by the time it ran into the Chiefs in the divisional round. Buffalo enjoyed better health along its offensive line, but the team still signed La’el Collins — after his year off — to compete for a swing role. Despite the profiles Collins and Jones carry, they are not locks to make the four-time reigning AFC East champions’ roster.
Collins, who signed a one-year deal worth $1.75MM, met with Bills brass late last season but eventually circled back to the Cowboys for what turned out to be a non-playing role. Most recently in place as the Bengals’ starting right tackle, Collins’ career turned when he suffered ACL and MCL tears in Week 16 of the 2022 season. The Bengals released him from their reserve/PUP list last September.
While Jones and Morrow bring similar experience, Collins will battle an unseasoned pro for Buffalo’s swing tackle job. As of now, the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran notes Ryan Van Demark is the early frontrunner to land that gig. Van Demark, who beat out David Quessenberry for the OT3 role last year, entered the league as a Colts UDFA in 2022 before spending that season on the Bills’ practice squad. Van Demark played 47 offensive snaps as a backup last season, as the Bills kept their starters on the field.
Collins’ roster spot may come down to how starting right tackle Spencer Brown looks following offseason shoulder surgery. Van Demark took the first-string RT reps during Buffalo’s offseason program. Labeling The Bills are likely to carry only one pure backup tackle. Collins, 30, brings guard experience but that occurred during his first two NFL seasons (2015-16). The Bengals did not consider sliding Collins to guard after the Orlando Brown Jr. signing.
A practice squad spot could await Collins in the event he cannot unseat Van Demark when the pads come on, though that would probably depend on another team’s willingness to dangle a roster spot. It would cost the Bills $1.5MM in dead money to release Collins, whereas dropping Jones would not bring any cap penalties due to the veteran linebacker not receiving any guaranteed money.
The Bills plan to use the recovering Matt Milano and third-year cog Terrel Bernard as their three-down linebackers, per O’Halloran, with 2023 third-rounder Dorian Williams assured of a spot as well. Tyrel Dodson signed with the Seahawks this offseason. Buffalo, which needed to use old friend A.J. Klein in an emergency circumstance in the playoffs, added Morrow and Jones this offseason. Morrow, who signed for $1.5MM ($750K guaranteed) in March, started 12 Eagles games last season but once again did not command a notable market. Nevertheless, O’Halloran expects the ex-Raiders and Bears starter to have an early leg up on Jones to be the team’s veteran backup presence at linebacker.
Jones, 29, made three starts for the Panthers last season but has seen his playing time reduced significantly since his Falcons days. Atlanta traded the former Pro Bowler to Cleveland during the 2022 season, and although he landed a 2024 gig in May after not joining the Panthers until August last year, the presences of Morrow (29 starts since 2022), fifth-round pick Edefuan Ulofoshio and third-year backup Baylon Spector complicate the former Falcons extension recipient’s path to the Bills’ final 53.
With the NFL loosening restrictions on vested veterans’ practice squad eligibility, it is not difficult to envision Collins and Jones sticking around as experienced options in the event more injury trouble occurs. Both have work to do to avoid the P-squad coming into play.
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Top 10 Cheapest Average NFL Ticket Prices…
As the NFL becomes increasingly popular, so does the average ticket price. But which teams currently have the cheapest average ticket prices?
The NFL and individual teams have realized how lucrative American football can be, leading fans to feel that they’re being overcharged with these high ticket prices.
In 2010, the average ticket price to see an NFL game was $76.47. Fast-forward to 2023, and the average ticket price has soared to $377.
Even though taxpayers partially fund their teams’ stadiums, fans still have to pay almost a fortune to enjoy the game.
Here are the teams with the cheapest average ticket prices in the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
Average ticket price: $196
The Atlanta Falcons have the cheapest average ticket price in the NFL. They are the sole NFL team with an average ticket price under $200.
Let’s face it: The Falcons are not the type of team you would want to pay a fortune to watch. The team hasn’t registered too many recent successes.
The Falcons hold the record for giving up the largest lead in Super Bowl history. They were leading 28-3 by the third quarter in Super Bowl LI but somehow lost 34-28.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to the Falcons, has 71,000 seats, yet concerns linger over the fan atmosphere. There are way too many empty seats, which should explain why they have the cheapest tickets in the league.
Houston Texans
Average ticket price: $216
The Houston Texans’ average ticket price is slightly above the 200-dollar mark. Similar to the Falcons, they haven’t achieved much success either.
Unlike the Falcons, the Texans have not yet had the opportunity to compete in a Super Bowl. They are the only NFL franchise that has never secured a playoff win away from home and have never appeared in a conference championship game.
Their current stadium, the NRG Stadium has a capacity of 72,220. As expected, they struggle to sell out their games, but that could change with all the hype surrounding this team in 2024. The fan experience is nothing to brag about due to too many empty seats.
Arizona Cardinals
Average ticket price: $220
The Arizona Cardinals come in third with a slightly higher average ticket price than the Texans. Considering their ticket prices, it isn’t surprising that the Cardinals have also had little success in the NFL.
They have won only two NFL Championships: one in 1925 and the other in 1947. They also have only one Super Bowl appearance. They almost won that game but were heartbroken by a dying-minute Pittsburgh Steelers touchdown.
The Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium has a capacity of 63,400. The Cardinals consistently fill their stadium, unlike the Falcons and Texans, who struggle with attendance issues. The fan experience in the stadium is also good enough. The team’s performance, however, is what will need to improve.
Cleveland Browns
Average ticket price: $228
o one wants to pay so much for a team with no Super Bowl appearance. The Cleveland Browns were highly successful in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) during their initial four seasons.
Since then, they’ve gone downhill in achievements. However, they have won four NFL championships and thirty playoff appearances, with their most recent coming in the 2020 and 2023 seasons.
The Cleveland Browns Stadium has a capacity of 67,431, and the atmosphere reflects their on-field struggles. One might argue that their lack of success favors the fans, who don’t have to pay so much to see games.
However, the team plans to build a new stadium or renovate the current one. Fans can only hope that the ticket prices don’t skyrocket afterward.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Average ticket price: $234
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a horrible start to the franchise’s history. They endured 26 consecutive losses in their first two seasons, without a single win in the team’s inaugural season.
Their poor start to the NFL fetched them the record for the league’s worst overall win-loss percentage, a disappointing .406. Their poor form may be the reason for their affordable ticket prices.
However, the Buccaneers have found their charm more recently, winning the two Super Bowls they appeared in. They hold a joint record with the Baltimore Ravens as the only two teams to have gone undefeated in multiple Super Bowls.
Tampa Stadium accommodates 75,000 spectators. Fans hope the high level of demand for home game tickets will not result in higher ticket prices in the near future.
New Orleans Saints
Average ticket price: $237
The New Orleans Saints are a strong team, having won multiple titles, including four consecutive NFC South titles between 2017 and 2020, during which they achieved a winning rate of .766.
They won the Super Bowl in 2010, the only time they have won it to date. Drew Brees, the legendary quarterback who retired in 2020, played a crucial role for the Saints in that match.
Since his retirement, though, the team hasn’t lived up to expectations, especially in home games. They had a disappointing 11-12 record in the Superdome in 2021. Things have gotten slightly better, with their 2023 season ending with a home record of 5-3.
However, they will want to improve their performances in the 76,468-seat-capacity Superdome, which was once known as a fortress.
While their quiet silverware room may be the reason for their low ticket prices, fans will be looking forward to better seasons, hoping that it won’t cost them too much.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Average ticket price: $242
The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t have a very successful history, and that may be putting it lightly. They have no Super Bowl appearance and no league championships – that’s probably why their ticket prices are low.
However, in recent years, stand-out performances from prolific players like quarterback Trevor Lawrence have given the fans reasons to scream. Over their 28-year history, the team has reached the playoffs on eight occasions.
Their most recent playoff appearance came in the 2022 season when Lawrence accumulated 4,113 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions. 2017 was also a good year for the team in terms of sacks, which gave them the nickname “Sacksonville,” as they recorded 55 sacks, only second to the Steelers (56).
The Jaguars’ EverBank Stadium has a capacity of 67,838. As the team continues to succeed and more people attend their games, ticket prices are likely to rise.
Tennessee Titans
Average ticket price: $247
More commonly, teams with no Super Bowl championships keep their ticket prices low. Despite having zero Super Bowl championships, the Tennessee Titans have achieved notable successes recently. They lost in Super Bowl XXXIV to the St. Louis Rams 23-16 in 2000. The 2016 to 2021 seasons were much more productive, as they made four playoff appearances within those years.
The Titans are unique in NFL history as the only team to have had two players rush for over 2,000 yards in a season: Chris Johnson in 2009 and Derrick Henry in 2020.
The team’s current base, the Nissan Stadium, holds 69,143 spectators at full capacity. The fans are probably satisfied with the cheap ticket rates they get, as the Titans sell out games fast.
The team is anticipating their new Nissan Stadium, which is set to host its inaugural game in the 2027 season. Although it can hold only 60,000 spectators, it will improve the fan experience, but hopefully, the ticket prices stay sane.
Indianapolis Colts
Average ticket price: $253
It is common for NFL teams to hike ticket prices after good seasons. Since that is the case, fans might expect the ticket prices to increase slightly, but hopefully not. All things considered, 2023 was a good year for the Indianapolis Colts.
They concluded the season with a 9-8 record, an improvement over their disappointing 4-12-1 record in 2022. Performances like that have probably kept their ticket prices low.
The Colts have had a fair share of success, including two Super Bowl championships. The first came as far back as 1970, while the second was in 2006 when they defeated the Chicago Bears in Dolphin Stadium.
At full capacity, the Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium can accommodate 70,000 spectators. Sellouts are the team’s norm, considering its cheap ticket rates and recent promising performance on the field.
Baltimore Ravens
Average ticket price: $273
The $273 price tag for the Baltimore Ravens’ ticket is still quite affordable compared to the Kansas City Chiefs’ $577. However, a team that hasn’t made a Super Bowl since after the 2012 season will probably not have a high ticket price.
The Baltimore Ravens’ most recent Super Bowl appearance was on February 3, 2013, when they defeated the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 34-31. Nevertheless, you cannot say the Ravens haven’t been successful recently.
In four of the past five seasons, the Ravens have qualified for the playoffs. The 2023 season saw them lose to the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFC Wild Card Round.
M&T Bank Stadium, home to the Ravens, accommodates 71,008 spectators and consistently sells out for home games, contributing to its reputation as one of the NFL’s most raucous venues.