WGR

‘I’ve been looking over different scenarios and gave myself a task: Move into the top five without giving up both first round picks, or next year’s first rounder. That way, the Bills would still pick fifth (or better) overall and still have another first round selection to either use or trade later. I chose the top five because I believe after that is when numerous teams could be in the market for a QB and presuming the Bills would have to jump them all just to be sure they get their guy.’

‘So Thompson may have a role with the team again next year, especially if they can get him on another one-year veteran minimum deal, which is what he signed for this past year.’

‘Webb played on the one-year veteran minimum in 2017. He has value to the Bills as a multi-positional player as both a quarterback and wide receiver, as well as a special teams contributor. He played quarterback in the snowstorm game against the Indianapolis Colts after Nathan Peterman left the game with a concussion. He most likely won’t have many offers on the open market, other than on another vet minimum deal, which means the Bills could very well bring him back and should be able to if they want.’

‘It will be pointed out that Daboll was stuck with some average to below average quarterbacks over those four years as a play caller but he isn’t exactly getting a prime situation here either. Which brings me to the next biggest question of the off season. What is the Bills plan at quarterback? I don’t think the hiring of Daboll is connected to the future of Taylor. Some are suggesting this could mean the Bills will keep Taylor for one more year and draft his successor. If they do go that route I think it would happen regardless of who the new OC was.’

‘Daboll is a five-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots’ coaching staff, and has served in several roles such as a defensive assistant coach (2000-01), a wide receivers coach (2002-06), and an offensive assistant coach (2013).’

‘Overall, Daboll has won five Super Bowl championships, all with the Patriots (Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, and LI) and one College Football National Championship.’

‘Dennison and the Bills offense took a step back from from 2016. With Greg Roman and Anthony Lynn, the Bills finished 9th in the NFL in points per game in 2016. This year they finished 22nd.’

‘Fired by the Carolina Panthers from the same position last week, Shula worked with Bills’ head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane in Carolina. Shula was Cam Newton’s QB coach his first two years in the NFL, then became offensive coordinator in 2013.’

‘”It’s a quarterback league, and until you know you have the guy that you’re definitely going to build this team around and the offense around, you’re constantly searching,” Beane said with Howard Simon and Jeremy White on WGR Wednesday morning. “The teams that makes the runs in the playoffs consistently have a franchise guy that they lean on year in and year out. We’re still in the process of getting that accomplished.”‘

‘They also have four Exclusive Rights Free Agents, which means if the Bills offer (or tender) that player a minimum salary by March 14 at 4 p.m. they automatically retain his rights. If they don’t, that player also becomes an Unrestricted Free Agent.’

‘Now that the confetti has settled, we can take a cold look at their draft position with no hesitation (e.g., Why are you guys talking about this now?). The Bills own the 21st and 22nd picks in the first round — theirs and the Chiefs’. Maybe the draft will play out in such a way that picking 21st is just fine for them to pick a worthy quarterback prospect. Odds are it won’t. You can trade up but you’d rather not have to. Eventually the Bills will have to make a bet on all this without knowing what’ll happen in the draft, just like we do: Take your chances by standing pat, or trade up.’

‘Neither man confirmed that the quarterback or offensive coordinator would be returning, nor suggested they would be moving on from either of them, which left plenty of room for interpretation about what their plans will be for the offense and specifically the QB position for 2018.’

‘We have a lot of work to do. We’re trying to compete and win everyday. We really are. I know we said it and people drew their own conclusions of what our strategy was or what this team was or was not going to be. The great thing was this team defined itself in their prep every day on and off the field to get the results.’

‘Sunday was the first playoff game of Williams’ career. He said nothing needs to be said to the younger players, because they now know what it takes, “They realize it’s not easy, they see how the season can ebb and flow. We go through a hot start, we hit the bottom, we work our way out of it, so that’s what the NFL season looks like, so guys got a pretty good view of what this league is about and what success in this league takes.”’

‘”We gotta be better next year on offense, we know that. Gotta win individual battles more, play better as a group, and when you get in the redzone against good teams, you gotta score touchdowns.”‘