Continuing a position-by-position look at the Buffalo Bills roster with an eye toward free agency and the draft:
Position: Tight end
2015 snaps:
Charles Clay: 71.1 percent
Chris Gragg: 32.3 percent
Matthew Mulligan: 18.8 percent
Nick O'Leary: 3.8 percent
MarQueis Gray: 2.4 percent
Stat of note: The Bills completed one red-zone touchdown pass to a tight end this season, a 9-yard score by Clay in Week 2. That was tied with the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons for the second-lowest total in the league. Since 2013, the Bills tight ends have scored a total of six touchdowns in the red zone, the lowest total in the NFL.
Pending free agents: Gray (restricted)
2015 cap hits (position rank):
Clay: $13.5 million (highest among NFL tight ends)
Gragg: $689,793
O'Leary: $525,000
Blake Annen: $525,000
Jacob Maxwell: $450,000
Money line: The Bills can knock down Clay's expensive cap number by converting his $10 million roster bonus, which is due March 9 (the first day of the 2016 league year), into a signing bonus. That would spread the cap hit over the remaining four years of Clay's contract, saving the Bills $7.5 million off their 2016 cap but adding $2.5 million to their cap in each successive year.
Market watch: Pending free agents include Vernon Davis, Antonio Gates, Benjamin Watson, Coby Fleener, Andrew Quarless, Zach Miller, Ladarius Green, Dwayne Allen, Mercedes Lewis, Larry Donnell (restricted), Rob Housler, Craig Stevens, James Hanna, Josh Hill (restricted), Jermaine Gresham, Tony Moeaki, Tim Wright (restricted), Clay Harbor, Rhett Ellison, Michael Hoomanawanui, Brent Celek (restricted), Garrett Celek, Chase Coffman, Logan Paulsen and Alex Smith.
Draft need: Medium -- An injury to Clay and the Bills' decision to release Mulligan left the team with Gragg, O'Leary and swing-tackle Cyrus Kouandjio as their only tight ends by the season finale. It wasn't an ideal situation, but the Bills can help prevent that from happening again if they find a tight end in the draft. There are several other positions that should be higher in the pecking order, but if a tight end is the best player available, the Bills should consider that option. Gragg is entering the final season of his rookie contract and has yet to emerge as a long-term No. 2 option at the position. O'Leary also needs to make strides in Year 2.
Crystal ball: Can the Bills upgrade from Gragg or Gray as their No. 2 tight end? Absolutely. Can they do so within the constrains of the salary cap while also balancing more pressing needs at other positions? Perhaps. Re-signing Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito -- or finding their replacements -- should be more important for the team this offseason, and ultimately the Bills might not be able to address the tight end position with more than a low-level free-agent signing or mid-to-late round draft pick. This doesn't figure to be a position where the Bills will focus this offseason.
Quote of note: "[Clay] has been such a good player for us in all phases: blocking, pass protection, helping out in protection, getting out on routes, misdirection, play action, etc. So I don't think you can downplay what he's done for us. ... People don't realize how much he does for us. And he helps us get the run game where it is. He's a big part of that. A lot of people can't run to the tight end side. They just can't, because their tight ends just can't block. And we got one that fortunately that can. Other things that he can do, too. And as we grow as an offense, I think his talent level or whatnot, or production, will definitely show statistically more than it has. ... Charles is an exceptional blocker, the way he uses his hands, leverages his blocks, his ability to sit down on defensive ends, which is rare for tight ends. I noticed it back three years ago, when I was watching him on film, getting ready to play the Colts. I saw Miami playing the Colts and I noticed for his size, his ability to leverage blocks just jumped out at me. He's got a unique skill there, and a real want-to. But he's been trained well throughout his career." -- offensive coordinator Greg Roman on Clay, Dec. 17.