Kirby Jackson

Well said!! That’s kind of my goal for a number 2 QB. I would have preferred Tyrod but he likely comes with a bigger number. Trubisky is fine to hold down the fort for a month. I didn’t think much of Kyle Allen. This feels like a definite upgrade and raises the floor for the team. Last year, the Bills entered week 18 with a chance to be the 2 seed or miss the playoffs (at least I think that was still the case going into week 18). The point being, a month where you go 1-3 vs. 2-2 can be the difference in the season ending or having a shot at the Super Bowl. When you have Josh Allen, I think backup QB is important. You can’t blow the season if he misses a few weeks. No he wasn’t. We get it, you don’t believe DBs matter. Don’t just make stuff up though. Mahomes was picked 10th. Tre White was picked 27. The Bills received a 3rd and an additional 1st in that trade.

Lol, thanks!! I didn’t sleep much last night. With all of the chaos of yesterday, I decided to spend my time awake on the Bills. It took some time!! The thinking was, “now that the roster is turning over, what’s the best way to allocate resources?” For me, it is, and has been, about surrounding Josh with what he needs. The Morse move was surprising but they should still be “good” on the OL. His weapons, in this scenario, would be BY FAR, the best that he’s ever had. If Odunze is the guy that I think he can be, he’s a future #1. It allows you future flexibility with Diggs (should you want/need it). Thomas is a slant guy, that is dangerous in the red zone. Health/attitude can be concerns but he might help you when it matters. The defense may not even take a step back but they’ll be different. Rapp and McKinney have different skills. Hyde and Poyer were interchangeable in a lot of ways (and really smart). The disguising and communication in the back will be different. The LBs will be dynamic. The DL actually is better in this scenario IMO. I expect them to rotate a little less than they have but it makes more sense to have rotational DTs on rookie deals than Settle/Poona contracts. You can’t go into the draft with $40Mish of cap space and a zillion holes. You have to fill some now. It’s just not feasible to have 40 open roster spots and wait for the draft. They’ll be very active next week but disciplined. I think Daquan Jones gets done before FA starts. McKinney is my big target early. Here is a contract prediction for him: https://atozsports.com/new-york-giants/projecting-xavier-mckinney-contract-2024-nfl-free-agency/#gid=ci02d4d607f00025fb&pid=usatsi_22204142

You lost me at “hoping we do nothing until after the draft.” Obviously that isn’t smart or realistic. They already added back Edwards, Haack and Rapp in addition to Trubisky. They are filling starting spots on affordable contracts. The Bills will be active in FA. They’re going to fill multiple spots prior to the draft. They’re positioned now to chase ANYONE that they want. If they want Chris Jones or Christian Wilkins, it is possible. It doesn’t mean that they’ll go crazy but they’ll explore all options to fill out the roster. They aren’t going to wait until the draft, limiting the available player pool. Depending on what happens in FA, the draft options also change. If the Bills add a few DL and DBs in FA it opens their options. As an example, they COULD trade 28, 3rd, 5th & 2025 1st to move to 9 for Odunze. They’d still have 8 other picks to fill out “depth.” Where that depth is needed depends on FA. They’ll likely need one more “starter” from the draft in round 2 (S or DL that plays a lot of snaps). From there you continue to add to your depth. I’ll take a run at a mock offseason. For the purposes of this, I’m extending Dawkins & Taron along with Josh’s restructure. I’m (planning on) leaving Diggs contract alone. FA: - Xavier McKinney (starts next to Rapp) - Daquan Jones (starts next to Oliver) - Shaq Lawson (just over vet min) - D’onte Foreman (just over vet min) - Yosh Nijman (swing tackle) - Matakevich (just over vet min) - Cam Lewis (just over vet min) Post June 1: - Marcus Davenport (1 year prove it) - Michael Thomas (1 year prove it) Draft: Pick 9: Rome Odunze (WR) (traded 1st, 3rd, 5th, & 2025 1st). 2nd: Kris Jenkins (DT) 4th: Xavier Thomas (edge) 5th: Jacob Cowing (WR) 5th: Sione Vaki (S) 6th: Frank Gore Jr. (RB) 6th: Matthew Jones (OG) 6th: Sundiata Anderson (edge) 7th: Jowon Briggs (DT) Way too early 53: QB (2): Allen Trubisky RB (3): Cook Foreman Gore FB (1): Gilliam TE (3): Kincaid Knox Morris WR (6): Diggs Odunze Shakir Thomas Cowing (returner) Shorter/Shavers OL (10): Dawkins Edwards McGovern Torrence Brown Nijman Anderson Van Demark Jones Doyle DL (11): Von Rousseau Oliver Daquan Jenkins Davenport Thomas Anderson Briggs Shaq Jonathan LB (5): Milano Bernard Dorian Williams Spector Matakevich DB (9): Douglas Benford Elam Taron Rapp McKinney Vaki Cam Lewis Hamlin ST (3): Haack Bass Ferguson

Any idea where that will have us in terms of cap space? I’m too lazy to look it up.

He’s better than Kyle Allen. If Josh misses a month, Mitch could win 2-3 games. Good enough for me 🤷🏻‍♂️

The Chiefs? They scored when they needed to again. Forget about “stopping them.” Try to outgun them. The moves from today showed CLEARLY that’s the direction that the Bills are moving in. We will see if it works I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️

We have TRIED to invest in the pass rush to stop Mahomes. A 2nd on Epenesa, 2nd on Basham, 1st on Rousseau, 1st on Oliver, sizable contracts for Floyd, Ford, Settle and Phillips. We gave Von a MASSIVE contract. When can we agree that loading up there has NOT worked to pass KC? That’s 4 straight years that they have advanced further. I agree that the pass rush is important. NOTHING is more important than giving Josh Allen weapons. If this team is going to win a title it will be BECAUSE of Josh Allen. Give him everything that he needs to try to outgun teams. The fact that the Bills have resisted for this long is maddening. If you have an elite fastball, don’t spend so much time working on your curve. Make you elite fastball faster. Play to YOUR strength and stop reacting to your opponents!! Make them keep up with you and stop trying to keep them close. It hasn’t worked.

This is kind of where I’m at. The beauty of an offer sheet is where you can take advantage of the current team’s cap situation. It’s what the Bears tried to do to the Bills a couple of years ago with Bates. The Bills did match but it wasn’t an easy decision. Any offer that the Bills can make, the Patriots can EASILY match if they value the player at that level. If they let Digger walk, it’s probably because you overpaid for him. Otherwise, you’re just negotiating on their behalf. If you like Dugger, as we know they do, go ahead an take a run at him. Be mindful though, that an early offer would tie up your cap space through the first week(ish) of FA. You’ll miss lots of other opportunities in that span. If the Pats then match, you’re left holding the bag. It doesn’t make a lot of sense unless he drags into FA for a little while and the Bills miss other targets.

Those have been the 2 that I keep ending up with in mocks. Milton to me is a fine lottery ticket. The skills are there but the tape erratic. This line of thinking I can’t get behind. If any starting QB is out for an extended period of time your season is at risk. We need to stop looking at it as “if Josh goes out we are done.” Of course we are. If Josh misses a month, the difference between 2-2 and 1-3 could be the difference in home field or missing the playoffs completely. Look at the last week this year. You’re trying to find a guy that can keep you afloat for a month.

I hate it; I want WR. Enough trying to build to “stop” Mahomes. It’s the definition of insanity at this point. Try to outscore and outgun everyone. Give me 2 WRs by pick 129.

Easy, extend Douglas and leave Poyer & Tre (try to get a pay cut from Tre but if you don’t start cross training him at S). You can get out of Tre’s contract next year for $4M otherwise. No big deal. I agree that this draft is all about helping Josh. I’d rather draft 2 in the first 3 rounds than sign “a guy.” I’d take Worthy and Legette (for example) > Worthy and Bourne on a bigger contract. If they sign a guy, fine but think that the bigger impact will come from the draft than WRs in FA (excluding Pittman). The ONLY thing that matters is giving Josh players. We have tried over and over to build a team to “stop Mahomes.” Forget that strategy. It’s time to focus on outgunning them. Build around Josh and try to score every possession. Stop trying to “keep games close” and “kee up.” It’s time for them to try to keep up with you.

It is an awful idea and warranted the response. It’s not as bad as when people (or person) wanted to trade Mario Williams for John Skelton but it’s up there. The Bills need MORE stars, not less. Milano is probably their 2nd best player. They don’t get better subtracting him!! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ The Bills are FINE in terms of cap space. If you don’t believe me, I suggest that you watch Greg Tompsett’s take on the cap this offseason. The Bills will be able to add a couple of decent players (maybe Chinn/Dugger & Curtis Samuel) while bringing back Daquan Jones. They may even be able to fit Epenesa or Dane in there. I expect Lawson back as well. In the draft, you’re adding a WR early and probably another (potentially early). You’re adding a S early (if you don’t sign one in FA). You’re using the rest of your picks to fill out the DL and depth. The Bills will absolutely be a better team, on paper, in 2024 than they were in 2023. See above No one is talking about running it back. We are talking about improving the weapons for Josh (duh) and getting younger and cheaper on the DL. The only “hard” decision that the Bills really have is bringing Von back. You hope he rebounds some and can clear that next year. They are fine. The sky is not falling (at all).

Maybe the Bills should consider trading Josh Allen? I saw a guy suggest picks 1 & 9 from the Bears. They can “reset the clock.”curious to get your thoughts on this @All I Need is Hope

What happened to this place?

He was always a guy that I thought would be the perfect 1A type. He’s just a good player and leader. If you could make the draft compensation work it would make sense for a lot of reasons. You still need to draft at least 1 cost controlled guy but McLaurin would be a great piece (especially if you could get him for a 3rd or a 4/5 + Elam).

Great topic @Chaos!! I’ve been very clear that I’m a couple of years past ready. You CANNOT continue to run it back, with Josh Allen in his prime, for much longer. Don’t make him into Marino or Barkley or Bonds. I’m past the point of “sustained success.” You have Josh Allen and I could have sustained success coaching him. It’s time for a championship.

If it’s a deposit it’s still annoying but better than a straight money grab.

Seriously?!? I have club seats now so I expected it to be free. It never crossed my mind that it would be a money grab. That’s annoying AF. I’ll still probably do it but that just feels slimy.

What are you talking about? The throw to the end zone was the absolute right decision. His arm just got hit. His COACHING STAFF & TEAM failed him as they have so many other times.

It truly is insane how good he has actually been. The deeper the stats go the more it makes him shine. As you remove “luck” and really look at what he is responsible for, there isn’t anyone close.

The big difference is that the 49ers, Bills and Packers games, had the Cowboys win percentage below 25% late. The Cowboys play earlier in those games, including Dak, is not held against them. The Bills do not have any such games. So basically, Josh Allen either had his team comfortably in control (win percentage over 75%) and it didn’t matter OR he was outstanding late in closer games.

It’s WR for me and it isn’t close. I would sign up for WR in the 1st AND 2nd if the value was there (something like Franklin and Legette). My STRONG belief is that you give Josh Allen whatever he wants/needs and then you fill out the roster. If the Bills are going to get over the hump it will be BECAUSE of Josh Allen. Add a few MPH to your fastball.

I haven’t read through the thread so I apologize if this has been mentioned. What’s interesting to me about the graphic is that it factors in a win % of 25%-75%. The Bills never get blown out. The amount of games where their win % dipped below 25% is miniscule. Every time that the win % jumps above 75% you have the game in hand. I’m not that concerned about how the QB is playing when you’re up 31-3 in the 4th. This graphic covers pretty much all other scenarios. It basically says, “when the game is close, late, Josh Allen is otherworldly.”

I don’t remember exactly what I paid last year but it looks like they are $5,074 this year. I feel like that was pretty similar to last year. I’m expecting it to be about double in the new stadium when you factor in the PSL for the same general location/ammenities. I’m excited to go to the virtual setup to check out new locations. It sounds like that’s coming soon.

That’s totally fair. The road to relevance was certainly a more difficult path for McDermott than MANY of the people that I listed. McDermott would be a GREAT hire in Carolina or Washington or Chicago. He can take bad and make them good. I don’t believe that he can take good (what he has now) and turn that into a championship.