An undersized veteran, Morrow has some intriguing athletic traits that could spell success with the Bills
The Buffalo Bills and general manager Brandon Beane have prioritized linebacker depth this offseason. After spending the better part of the 2023 season searching for that depth thanks to a variety of untimely injuries, a course-correction such as this one makes complete sense.
While the Bills may only play with two linebackers on the field more often than not, leading some to believe that fewer linebackers on the roster makes sense, it also means that those linebackers have far more to do than your average linebacker in other defenses. Buffalo has two fantastic starters, but as we saw last postseason, all it takes is a couple of injuries in a very violent game to turn an elite unit into a hodgepodge of awful.
In today’s installment of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss a journeyman who could be a strong veteran reserve for Buffalo this year.
Nicholas Morrow
- Number: 52
- Position: LB
- Height/Weight: 6’, 216 pounds
- Age: 28 (29 on 7/10/2024)
- Experience/Draft: 7; signed with the Las Vegas Raiders following the 2017 NFL Draft
- College: Greenville (IL)
- Acquired: Signed with Bills on 3/14/2024
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Morrow signed a one-year deal worth a total of $1.5 million. That number represents his cap figure should he make the roster. If Morrow is released, the Bills will carry a dead-cap charge of $750,000 for the season.
2023 Recap: Morrow signed with the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason, and he played a rather large role for the team in his one year there. Morrow appeared in 15 games, starting 12, during the regular season, and he finished second on the club in tackles with 95. He added three sacks, a career-high, to go with 12 tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. He had five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. When he was the closest man in coverage, he allowed 65.5% of the passes thrown his way to be completed for a total of 393 yards, three touchdowns, and a passer rating of 104.6. In Philadelphia’s 32-9 playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Morrow had 10 tackles. When the Eagles beat the Bills 37-34 in overtime, Morrow had 12 tackles, one pass breakup, and a tackle for loss.
Positional outlook: Morrow is one of eight off-ball linebackers on the current roster. Von Miller is still listed as a linebacker, but we don’t count him in that total. Morrow is joined by Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Baylon Spector, Dorian Williams, Deion Jones, Edefuan Ulofoshio, and Joe Andreessen.
2024 Offseason: Morrow is healthy and participated in OTAs and minicamp.
2024 Season outlook: Morrow has a very good chance to make the roster, and while I wouldn’t go so far as to call him a lock, I’d say he is at least a safe bet. I think Buffalo will keep six linebackers, and I’d consider Milano, Bernard, Williams, Spector, and Ulofoshio to be safe.
That would leave Morrow in competition with Andreessen and Jones for that hypothetical sixth spot, and while I love Andreessen’s athletic profile, he’s a better candidate for a practice squad spot than he is a roster spot at this point. If this were 2016, Jones would be a steal; however, it’s 2024, and he’s slowed down significantly over the last few years.
Morrow is a willing contributor on special teams who can start in a pinch. I think I’d give him the inside track for that last linebacker spot on the 53, but a strong summer from elsewhere on the depth chart could make him expendable. Based on his contract, at least, it seems that the Bills expect Morrow will be with them in September.