NFL Free Agent Profile: Jordan Mills, OT, Buffalo

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with NFL Free Agency. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.

As a fifth-round pick out of Louisiana Tech University, offensive tackle Jordan Mills was seen as a developmental type of player. However, his four-year career has almost worked in reverse of that progression.

After winning the starting job with the Chicago Bears during his rookie season, Mills started every game and 13 games his second year before being cut just before the start of his third season. Since then, Mills has bounced around the league including a short stint with the Dallas Cowboys and time on the Detroit Lions practice squad before settling with the Buffalo Bills midway through the 2015 season.

Although he started all 16 games last season with Buffalo, his underwhelming play left much to be desired.

Strengths

While Mills isn’t terrific in any aspect of his game, he is a significantly better run blocker than he is a pass blocker. Buffalo led the league in rushing the two seasons that Mills was a part of the Bills offensive line.

During his rookie season and the start of last season, he showed his potential by putting together multi-game stretches of adequate play. Mills also has proven that he is a reliable player in terms of ability to get on the field, as he played in 97 percent of Buffalo’s snaps last season.

Weaknesses

A player doesn’t bounce around to four different teams in four years if he doesn’t have significant weaknesses, and unfortunately for Mills, he fills out this category fairly well. Just as Mills put together multi-game stretches of adequate play, he has also put together similar stretches of downright awful play. In a two-game stretch last year against the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks he gave up four sacks and 17 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.

Additionally, Mills struggled on a weekly basis last year and was the Bills weakest link on their offensive line. Although many NFL players need lucky breaks to get their shot in the league, Mills has continuously backed into the starting job—specifically in Buffalo where Seantrel Henderson likely would have overtaken Mills if it weren’t for his battle with Crohn’s disease and multiple suspensions.

How he fits in Denver

Just as Mills has his weaknesses, so does the Denver Broncos offensive line. In Denver, Mills could be brought in to provide a cheap depth option at either tackle position, most likely on the right side. If the Broncos decide to move on from Donald Stephenson, Denver would desperately need to replenish their depth at tackle after already declining Russell Okung’s option.

While Mills wouldn’t be brought in as the clear starter, he could provide the Broncos the depth needed and at a low price—last year he made $1.67 million. Denver wouldn’t be upgrading their tackle performance by signing Mills, but for a cheap price tag, they would get a player with a lot of starting NFL experience.