Bleeding Bills Blue

See, i thought shavers was the guy they grabbed for special teams chops, but even so. Last year the depth chart was Diggs, Davis, Shakir, Harty, Sherfield. This season I'd say Ulofoshio has a shot in LB depth, they brought in morrow but i think that spot will be open competition to replace matakevich. Then Hardy in the 6th, who has potential to replace neal - and also potential to be primary return man. I wouldn't consider either of those to be amazing use of picks, but they have better odds to make the roster than a player who doesn't play special teams, or someone at a position with lots of competition. Considering the breadth of players I'd have to say that is how the team is lined up. It's like the same cost to keep anyone outside the top 3-4.

I mean... Richardson wasn't exactly joe montana. Pearsall went in the first 1 year later and had similar numbers to shorter in 2022.

He lead the team with 365 special teams snaps. Next two were Matakevich (special teams captain) and Neal - who are gone. I expect buffalo to keep 4 backs, 1 to be inactive (probably johnson unless he is made a primary returner), and Gilliam to be active for special teams. He plays FB which... you probably use fullback formations 5x per game maybe? Probably more when you factor in some of the crappy weather games we've had in recent years. He's also played TE before so you have him there at emergency depth. 3rd string and 4th string players don't play anywhere but special teams, and he's pretty good at it from what I remember. Keeping a 7th WR to be inactive in lieu of a special teams ace doesn't make sense in the scheme of constructing a football roster.

Only thing that would've given me a semblance of hope was the clock. They were gashing us in the run game (which they can't use much inside 2 minutes even with timeouts), and buffalo had stopped them their last drive. I just feel like we would've lost the coin toss and thus the game in OT.

I always look at WR specifically and say - all the guys from last year who didn't play are 1 year older and thus forgotten. Hamler and Isabella are like 4 years older and completely forgotten. There were 30+ new WRs added this year in the draft alone, plus additional UDFA's. When i look at column 2 of this list: https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchartpos/wr , I'm having a hard time finding players that would be cut for someone like Shorter. Obviously injuries can change a lot of things.

Justin shorter sat a season as a 5th rounder. I don't think teams are lining up to poach him. I assume they want at least one vet in the bottom 3. I'd have to assume MVS fits that bill. Hollins plays special teams, but so does a player like shavers who also has the advantage of having played here for a season.

These back of roster guys have such a low salary that the replacement player is actually cheaper, so I don't see the guaranteed money as much of anything. May the best man/men winnnn. Hollins Cap hit - 2.48M Shavers Cap hit - 1.1M Hollins + .8 = 1.9M Cephus Cap hit - 1.1M Hollins + 1.055 = 2.155M Shorter Cap hit - 1.1M Hollins + .875 = 1.98M Hamler Cap hit - 1.1M Hollins + 1.055 = 2.155M Claypool Cap hit - 1.1M Hollins + 1.055 = 2.155M

I think Diggs was part of the plan for 2024. Diggs removed himself from that plan, so... this is likely not the "plan A" that was put together for the offseason. Trading for a name would've been cool, but its a challenge when Diggs cap hit actually went up when you trade him.

I see no reason why he'd get a massive contract. 0 all-pros, 0 pro bowls, and pedestrian sack numbers. His 5th year option is listed right now for 13.3M, and i don't think he would make more than that AAV on a new contract here or elsewhere. Gross-Matos made 9M AAV, Granderson 13M AAV in 2023, Chase Young 13M. I'd think somewhere in that range would be appropriate.

Well I look at it like the ST guy plays... the game the player is injured. But the next week you install the depth player who will start the next game.

Correct - but I don't have any split data to get into it further. Parsons was targeted in coverage 5 times in 2023 vs. 4 for Rousseau. I'm not sure Parsons is covering particularly often anymore. I'd agree as "complimentary DE". He's tied for 37th in total pressures (i'm not going through all those snap counts to determine his... pressure %). The team was also 4th in the NFL in sacks, and he gave up a lot of primary pass rush snaps to Floyd, while playing on his off side. End of the day though, the team needs Von to do... something.

Thats how i saw it - WR5. Active on gamedays, limited offensive snaps based on injury or maybe a few random formation wrinkles. However... if say Coleman has a long-term injury, its more likely they play other WRs in that spot over time. Like a first off bench, but never a starter.

I don't see them keeping 7. It comes out of either offensive or defensive line depth - where the depth actually plays considerable snaps, you also will likely have 2 inactive WRs on game day. Locks: Coleman Samuel Shakir ST - Depth Competition (Hollins has inside track with experience, but the cost is probably the same to keep anyone): Hollins/Shavers/Cephus Depth at primary boundary Competition (Probably keep 1, Shorter might end up on PS too): Shorter/MVS/Claypool Slot depth/Specialist Competition (Probably can stash either on PS and elevate if a samuel or shakir is injured): Hamler/Isabella

Bengals next year have Higgins as UFA, and Chase is on his 5th year option. Something has to give there - and beginning in 2026 that chase number will be among the highest in the NFL. They also have multiple starting offensive linemen as free agents (karras, T. Brown), BJ hill, and Mike Hilton. Hendrickson also wants a new deal going into next season. Lions numbers don't factor in Goff extension yet is the big piece, but they have a ton of great players on rookie deals. Hutchinson, Sewell, St. Brown (not rookie but... 13.9M on year 1 of his extension), LaPorta, Campbell.

17.1M Cap hit this year 51.5M next year if he plays - if he doesn't... it's a 49M cap hit and in 2026 they'd be free. If he does play then in 2026 they get 35M in dead cap. I think for them ideally he plays the next 2, Wilson and Sauce 5th year options are in 2026 so major extension money will begin in 2027.

Fun fact: Buffalo has more sacks than Dallas in 2 of the last 3 years - with a lower blitz percentage in all 3 seasons. GR has 17 career sacks, 30 TFLs and on 1579 snaps. Parsons has 40.5 sacks, and 51 TFLs on 2687 snaps. On the same number of snaps that would put rousseau as a projected 29 sacks. There's some nuance to that data, and split data won't say how many snaps are run v pass, down and distance, etc.

Shorter fits the uhh... role? Williams was drafted - Coleman was drafted. Everyone was expecting the team to sign someone to fill the gap - they signed kirksey to the practice squad and everyone assumed he'd be starting once he picked up the playbook. Then Bernard came out and looked the part and we all forgot he was ever in competition with a Klein, a rookie, and Dodson. Longer odds for a 5th round pick though for sure.

I don't think we're "done" but i don't think we're making a big move.

I mean the "bernard" profile was - Rookie who didn't do much of anything and then won a competition for the position in year two. The only player i can see fitting that profile with a spot available to compete for would be Justin Shorter. Other option would be williams, but i don't know how much we'll see him if Milano is healthy.

I think the trade of diggs was not.. based on the philosophy of the position. It was more of a locker room and general team issue. Since it happened on 4/3, that's likely an indication that they were prepared to enter the season with him at the position, and that samuel was more of a replacement for davis than anything else.

The stats in those 2 ACC games without travis are pretty brutal. 20/46 for 189 yards and 0 TDs over 2 games. Not saying Travis starting is going to blow the numbers out, but they were trying to win and the only way to do that was to not pass the ball.

But the other guy wasn't here when he signed. No guarantee probably means no Morrow. Not to mention... Best guy makes the team. They allotted ~1.5M to that depth LB spot. Williams is likely a locked in 3rd backer - Ulofoshio is a probably. Then you have 3 guys Morrow, Spector (rookie deal), Jones (vet min) battling for the other spot or two. Whoever you keep costs 1.5M essentially.

Look at it like this - Morrow 1.5M cap hit, 750k Guaranteed. If he doesn't make the team (say Ulofoshio does) - and his first year is like 850K. So it ends up being a net loss of 100K in cap space.

Perhaps a double dip, definitely expect one (probably early). Depends on free agency though. I'd imagine with just Epenesa, and Groot (pending extension) with everyone else expiring or a cap cut (miller). I think its key that they use their top 3 picks at premium positions like CB, DE, WR in some order.

I think they'll let them practice a little first before they make that determination... Personally, Fields still looks like a rookie to me. Wow plays with the arm and legs, bad sacks and turnovers, and inconsistency across the board. The Bears had a poor offense every year he was there. He has missed time all 3 NFL seasons, and the Steelers have no future commitment. I also think Tomlin wanted Wilson because he was tired of having young QBs the last 2 seasons. New experienced offensive coordinator, new experienced QB, and their top 2 picks were offensive linemen.