The Buffalo Bills spent much of the 2022 season searching for an adequate replacement for Cole Beasley.

When that didn’t work, the team simply went back to the source, re-signing Beasley, first to the practice squad and then to the 53-man roster. In two games in the regular season, he finished with just two catches for 18 yards, but his numbers improved in the postseason. He finished with five catches for 58 yards and one touchdown in the Bills’ two postseason games, making a pair of big plays in the second half of Buffalo’s wild-card win over Miami.

“I thought the last couple of weeks, in those two postseason games you really started seeing the Cole who was here before,” Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said. “This offense is similar, but it's not exactly the same, so there was a little bit of nuance there from that standpoint of the route combinations versus exactly what he left from when (former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll) was here.”

Beasley played two games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in late September and early October before retiring. At that point, he was just playing basketball, so it’s understandable that it took him some time to get into football shape, which is part of the reason the Bills originally signed him to the practice squad.

Beasley’s transition was more than just physical, too. As Beane alluded to, the offense under new coordinator Ken Dorsey was different enough that it wasn’t as simple as coming in on his first day and knowing the play book. Without the benefit of spring practices and training camp, he was behind.

Beasley, who just finished his 11th NFL season and will turn 34 in April, hopes that comes in Buffalo, Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News reports.

“At this point in my career, I'm still hungry and my body feels good,” he said. “I still feel like I can do it and I can compete and play at a level that I've been playing at before this season. Obviously, I want to be somewhere that I can win, and I know that's here, also. If that option is there, I would definitely do that. We'll just have to see.”

Given Beasley’s abbreviated season and his age, it’s unlikely he’ll command top dollar on the open market. The question then becomes if the Bills feel as if he has enough left in the tank to be a legitimate option as their primary slot receiver. It’s clear he has the trust of quarterback Josh Allen. Beasley said his oldest son, Ace, is already begging him to re-sign in Buffalo.

“It was awesome to be back with the guys,” he said. “I enjoyed it. I would have liked to have had a full year with them, but it is what it is. Just excited to have the opportunity to come back and be a part of it and see the guys again and just experience everything with them.”

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