‘The prime-time slot on Thanksgiving night has never had any specific team hosting or playing in the game annually. However, if the Saints and Bills are the featured game that Thursday night, it would be the third time in four seasons that New Orleans will play in the prime-time slot.’
WGR
Panthers hire Dan Morgan as assistant general manager
‘Morgan has been an instrumental piece of the Bills front office since joining them in 2018 after previously serving as Director of Pro Personnel with the Seattle Seahawks, where he worked with current Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer.’
Bills offseason program, minicamp dates announced
‘Voluntary offseason workouts, otherwise known as OTAs, for all Bills players will be held on May 24-25, May 27, June 1-2, June 4, June 7-8, and June 10-11. All incoming rookies, including tryout players, as well as any other players on the roster with less than one accrued season are eligible to participate.’
Beane: ‘I think there’s ways’ we can extend Allen and Edmunds before 2021 season
‘”The math has been very hard here. This new [collective bargaining agreement]; when we took those guys back in ’18, the projected rate [for Allen] was around $18 million and Tremaine around $9 million. Now you’re talking $27 [million], and if we don’t have the pandemic, the cap was supposed to be well into the $200 [million range], probably $215-$220 [million]. You add the CBA change to where that ’18 draft class became the class that it’s based on Pro Bowl and various recognitions that you can increase your numbers. So Tremaine’s number went from $9-something [million] to $12.8 [million], and Josh went from $18 [million] to $23 [million]. That’s a big difference anyway, and then you add the fact that the cap went the other way has made it a tighter constraint.”‘
Beane: ‘I’m in the shopping market’
‘“I’m in the shopping market,” Beane told “One Bills Live” hosts Chris Brown and Steve Tasker on Wednesday on WGR, also acknowledging that there isn’t much salary cap room two play with. “I’ve got a small bank account, though. I’m not at the Mercedes-Benz dealership.”’
Bills exercise fifth-year options on Allen, Edmunds
‘For Allen, the fifth-year option will cost the Bills $23.016 million. For Edmunds, it will cost $12.791 million.’
Opinion: 2021 was a different type of draft for the Bills
‘I wasn’t surprised the Bills went with a defensive end with their very first selection but I didn’t expect back-to-back picks at that position. But those picks can easily be explained by looking at the depth chart at defensive end and taking into account the Bills tight salary cap space next offseason. It is much more about that than following the Tampa Bay model as to how to beat Kansas City.’
Bills select tackle Tommy Doyle in fifth round of 2021 NFL Draft
‘Doyle stands in at 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds, adding to the bulking stature of Brown, who is also listed at 6-foot-8 and 311 pounds. He showed up to college at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, having not played much on the offensive line before. With his imposing frame, Doyle said he’s a player who’s always going to give it his all.’
Bills select wide receiver Marquez Stevenson with 203rd pick in 2021 NFL Draft
‘Stevenson amassed quite a versatile college resume in his four seasons playing for the Cougars. As a receiver, he hauled in 147 receptions for 2,269 receptions, good for 17th and 13th in program history, respectively. His 22 touchdown catches are nothing to scoff at, as well.’
Bills select safety Damar Hamlin with 212th pick in 2021 NFL Draft
‘The native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania was selected as a red-shirt senior out of Pittsburgh, where he put up respectable numbers with the Panthers. In 46 career games in college, Hamlin registered 275 total tackles, 10 of which coming for loss, while also defending 21 passes, collecting six interceptions and recovering a fumble.’
Bills select cornerback Rachad Wildgoose with 213th pick in 2021 NFL Draft
‘During his 24 games with the Badgers, Wildgoose recorded 57 tackles, one interception, 14 passes defended and three fumble recoveries. Wildgoose elected to forgo the 2020 season due to COVID-19 restrictions, and his 2019 season was cut off early due to a broken scapula in his shoulder.’
Bills select guard Jack Anderson in seventh round of 2021 NFL Draft
‘The 6-foot-4, 314-pound guard played a total of 38 games with the Red Raiders in four years, starting immediately at guard as a true freshman in 2017. As a junior, Anderson played the first three games in 2019 before missing the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury.’
Beane envisions roles for 2021 draft class
‘“I think we’ve got guys that are going to be part of the equation in 2021,” Beane said in his post-draft Zoom conference call. “Gregory Rousseau, Carlos Basham, I’m not going to promise either one of them the starting job, but they’ll have an opportunity to start and I expect them to be a part of the gameday rotation. Spencer Brown will come in there and compete. I’m not saying he’s going to win a starting job but he’s an injury away from being in the game. … Some of these moves are long term but there’s a lot that will have an impact on the 2021 season.”’
Opinion: Capaccio: Bills make draft a Big One
‘In fact, offensive tackles Spencer Brown and Tommy Doyle, both standing 6-foot-8, and defensive end Greg Rousseau, at 6-foot-7, are now the three tallest players on the roster.’
Bills select Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. 61st overall
‘Basham Jr. weighs in a 6-foot-3, 274 pounds with a ton of experience playing for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. In four years at Wake Forest, Basham Jr. notched 20.5 sacks, 173 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries in 45 games.’