Bleeding Bills Blue

Right on Knox - we haven't figured out how to use these guys to stretch the field enough. Another year in system though, so maybe a new wrinkle. They also need to use these guys in the red zone more. His abilities to block are likely going to reflect positively when you look at the least sacked team in the league, and a top 10 rushing attack.

I think end of the day - they are in fine shape. I think a few things need to happen this season: More targets to shakir (100 up to closer to 130 - best hands and best wiggle to turn short plays into longer ones), and more targets to kincaid. Maybe tack an additional 50 onto that pair. Last year the group of players Coleman, Hollins, Samuel, and Cooper had 218 targets. Coleman, Palmer, Samuel somewhere in the 175 range total would be ideal. RB rotation is fine - all can catch and ty johnson plays more 3rd downs. We tend to not use them for check downs and short stuff as that tends to go to kincaid and shakir.

They have literally done nothing to improve on a bad defense, a line that doesn't protect well, or a bad running attack. They have 6 picks. The 3 players they pay all this money to... were on the team last year that went 9-8 and missed the playoffs, and their pay indicates they are among the best at their positions. Free agency doesn't fix all of your problems, but what's the point of cap space... and making cap space with extensions... if you don't use any of the cap space to improve your roster?

If the #5 plays on special teams.. shavers should have a chance for that gameday activation spot imo.

They need to nail this draft or the house of cards is going to go tumbling down. The fact that they waited to get this done until AFTER free agency is the most telling piece to me. Higgins tag was 26M cap hit and Chases 5th year option was 21.8M. 0 sense of urgency to spend to the cap, or to get these deals done. You do it before free agency starts and you show the league you're serious about paying your players, and you can add void years to maximize cap space. You do it after when you want good PR after literally signing like no one. I think yes - but having a pair of great WRs sure makes it easier to throw up 1x1's when the chiefs blitz.

10 picks is a lot of picks too

Shenault isn't really a core special teamer and has never returned a punt.

It always seems like a good idea, then somehow 6 weeks in we're scrambling and have Hyde or Shakir out there catching them. Codrington shouldn't be guaranteed a job (he was actually quite good at returns last year though) - but Harty, Roberts, and Hines didn't really do much for the offense either and all of them cost considerably more in an attempt to get more out of that roster spot. I'd throw mckenzie in there too, but he didn't inspire confidence as a returner even with the TD against Miami.

I'm not sure this guys gonna make the roster, especially if he doesn't return punts. I suppose it's good to have guys like this in camp though in case of emergency.

Between him and John Franklin-Myers those were two guys that always gave buffalo issues, and wilkins and howard for miami. And now they're allllll gone 🙂

Its tough to find those players. If the player was good - they're probably not a free agent at all, let alone at a young age. The league tends to give more chances to players like an Elam because of draft pedigree, and you realistically only have a 4 year window to make an impact before you're obselete. The league brings in 100s of new players every season, which just makes back of roster battles that much more difficult. You hit free agency and its like every team has a young safety, or pass rusher, or whatever - and the draft coming up. Usually the ones that do have a 2nd half of a career do so by being involved with special teams. Justin Watson, Mack Hollins, or Kalif Raymond for example.

I'd say on a lower buy basis (avoiding guys like morse/brown/bease/sanders), and not counting any UDFAs (which are pure value because they're the cheapest players in the league)- some of the examples that come to mind as relative successes: David Edwards Taylor Rapp Daryl Williams Jon Feliciano Quinton Spain

Elam going makes no change to what they need to do address the position. They likely need 2 boundary corners, and i don't think anyone from the group of Ingram, Lewis, Forrest, or Hamlin should feel that their job is safe. 10 draft picks is a lot - positions of need (including depth): WR - Only 4 under contract currently, and only 1 on a rookie deal. Guard - Seems to be the weaker of the position groups. TE - Late round potential type of scenario with knox approaching the end of his deal. Wouldn't be shocked to see knox stick for far less money here though. DE - Bosa makes this position a lot more dangerous for 2025, but its another band-aid on a position that hasn't been a strength. DT - Would like to see a younger 1T as would everyone else. LB - Milano will start here this year (assuming healthy), but he's likely gone in 2026. Williams played alright, but I'm not sure his processing will ever be anything better than alright. Spector, andreesen, and ulofoshio are all very replaceable and upgradeable. CB2 - Could be one of first 3 picks. CB3 - Elams gone, and we were mostly afraid to play him, feels like a good use of one of the 5ths Nickel - Lewis played fine in some limited spots, but he's smaller and it might be time to start planning for a potential future without TJ S - Hamlin and forrest are both easily moved away from if you bring in a player who has more upside and future Punter - I'd expect an UDFA here

Even Roseman makes mistakes: Jalen Reagor over jefferson, Wentz extension, agholor, even Huff last year - there's a ton of examples. The key is trusting your eyes in practice and on film, and not waiting too long to make changes and continue to add players to valued position groups.

His fate was largely sealed in 2023 - they wanted to improve what they were getting with dane jackson, and instead of turning to elam they traded for douglas. You really can't come back from that in the same organization. I had him as a likely cut this season as did probably everyone else. Turning this situation into draft capital to use in 2025 is a bonus - i figured some late round pick in 2027 was best case scenario. Dallas is just going back to the scouting report they had on the player that they probably loved at draft time - and you see if there's anything there. Pretty low-risk for them, so we'll see i guess.

Yeah, i'm more concerned with him and hamlins angles.

I actually found run support to be the thing our safeties struggled the most with.

I think a 2nd rounder is a somewhat significant investment. Rapp and Hamlin though are kinda bargain basement depth type contracts.

He wasn't supposed to be the starter last year but bishop missed all of camp, which is especially important for a rookie trying to learn a new defense. Edwards also was in and out of practice for most of camp. I think he started atop the depth chart simply because new players need to earn their playing time, and neither was healthy enough to capably push him down the depth chart. Hamlin didn't play particularly well, but when bishop was first put on the field he made some critical mistakes which you really can't have. I also feel like he got a bad rep for majority of the season, while he mostly just put his head down and played fine.

Currently there is no one across from benford so I'd say if we're pigeon-holed anywhere its probably corner.

He is a man beater. I'd agree on hollins. He won't cost too much, plays special teams, and has shown that when he's on the field he can make plays. I don't think you want to line him up 80% of the time and expect him to win on the majority of routes, he's simply not good enough or fast enough or both. However his plus blocking is nice in those grind it out games that always make an appearance throughout the season.

Cooper getting hurt really shut the door on building any meaningful chemistry for the end of season.

Palmer, Coleman, Shakir, Samuel - 2 spots still open, and i think they do like hollins as a blocker/teams/depth player. What they do with the final spot I'm not sure, but if i had to guess it's not coming before the 4th or 5th round.

It's less than davis got last year on a smaller cap FWIW.

When you're under contract... and the guarantee's are fairly dried up, it becomes an issue of security. Usually contracts input these large roster bonuses that force teams to make a decision before the opening of free agency. Kind of like a team "out" should you get injured, and the team is out the initial guarantees. Once you hit the end stage on deals though, players want more guarantees and will say what they need to say to outleverage the team in negotiations.