BarleyNY

It'll probably be closer to a $3M difference. His option would've been for $13.3M. The 2017 franchise tag numbers haven't been calculated yet, but it was $15.7M got 2016. Lots needs to happen for that. He's got to stay healthy and he's got to get fed the ball. Neither is a given by any stretch. The the Bills need to be comfortable tagging him or giving him a big extension. That will depend on his productio and their comfort level with his long term health. And let's not forget that any long term deal needs Sammy's blessing. The Bills probably can't tag him more than once (that's where the option would've been handy). Reality is that 2017 is almost certainly it for Sammy in Buffalo. But maybe they can tag and trade him if he stays healthy.

I have an issue with weaker armed QBs. Since 2008 QBs who have been clocked at under 55mph have not been successful with only a few exceptions. Those exceptions are: Jake Locker (54mph, 2011), Tyrod Taylor (50mph, 2011) and Dak Prescott (54mph, 2016). Peterman clocked in at 54mph this year. I know he's not strong armed, but I'm okay with 54mph. Here's a spreadsheet to check out: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_-SienfT3umX0HKxRyQqyXM9BqHrotdcQA6W-V_pDiY/htmlview?pli=1#

I really did not like this year's QB class much at all. Not sure what you saw in it. Lots of QBs got pushed up in this one because there was no top end talent. Two QBs that should've been late first round picks go 2 and 10 and a second round QB goes 12. Yeeesh. Kudos to SF, Buffalo and Cleveland for hosing some desperate teams. Whaley didn't chose anything in this draft, it was all McD. He chose his players. On that note, I'm very happy with the Peterman pick especially considering where we got him. He was the only QB who's game film didn't make me cringe. Every other one of the top QBs had issues bad enough for me to want to pass. His didn't "wow" me, but I didn't cringe either.

So all that has to happen for Watkins to stick around past 2017 is that:- The offense has to deviate from run first and pass much more than the last couple seasons - Tyrod has to be up to that challenge and be effective despite the increased passing workload - Watkins has to stay healthy despite a much increased workload and - Watkins has to have a career year, far exceeding his previous three seasons I'm not banking on single one of those things happening, much less all four.

It was a facade. They hired the guy they had already decided they wanted - and probably already had a handshake deal with. I've got no problem with any of that either. They obviously already know they work well together and Beane is already dialed into what McD likes/needs in players. If any inside ball got played in this last draft, then at least it was in favor of the Bills. Nice to be on the good side of something like that for a change. Let's roll.

Agreed. Thanks!

I'd do that in a heartbeat. It won't happen, but it'd be a great opportunity for a turnaround in B-lo. We could do what Cleveland did with RG3. Bring him in to pretend we are trying to compete, but tank hard. Then take a top QB prospect with our pick and still have two more 1st round picks to build up the roster. 2017 would suck, but we'd be on our way up as Brady and Belichick head to retirement. There'd be a lot of fun years in the horizon if they executed.

Correct. Banner was there McD's entire Philly career, so I'd think he'd know better. Of course, Banner's best years as Eagles President were when Reid was running the football side of things and Banner was only running the business side. But Banner started to get more involved in football ops when Reid was ousted. I highly doubt that Banner would be happy staying strictly on the business side, which he did not show any talent for. If McD wants a good business guy who's lousy at football ops, but will almost certainly try to meddle in them, then he's better off keeping Russ.

You know, the ONLY thing that has concerned me about McD is his lack of any experience as a HC (at any level). But I really like what I've seen so far. His inexperience hasn't manifested itself as problems. Not yet anyway. He has yet to coach a game or deal with real adversity, but so far, so good. And if he's a high quality HC, then I'm very willing to deal with a few bumps in the road while he hones his skills. Banner would be the worst possible option. He was an absolute disaster in Cleveland when he (briefly) ran the show. He'd be great for Pegula's bottom line, but it'd be at the expense of improving the football team. He desperately wants back into the NFL, but I can't see him as McD's kind of guy.

No, that's exactly what I'm NOT saying. I'm saying that Brandon's job description indicates that he only should be doing things other than football operations, but that he has continued to influence football decisions. Whether or not he would be successful in doing the latter in the future is a moot point. Whether or not he's doing well at his non-football operations job is moot. The reason he needs to be fired is because despite being removed from football operations he has continued to attempt to influence them. I hope that was clearer.

And that's the crux of the matter. It's why he needs to go. Except that's not true. He has continued to attempt to influence things on the football side and has succeeded to some degree until very recently. Only with the sacking of Whaley did he lose his last avenue to exert his influence. There's no way that's acceptable to me - and his current impotence in influencing football operations is not a defense. There are a lot of people that can do his job and stay out of things they shouldn't be involved in. Hire one of them.

Or only twice the QB Fitzpatrick is.

Have to agree on Labatt Blue. It does suck. I like what McD has done here. He's a first time HC at any level so I know there'll be some missteps, but I haven't seen much to complain about. I'd have probably picked up Sammy's option, but I get why he didn't - and it was probably the right decision. My only negative(ish) thought is that this is only the beginning and getting the Bills to a point where they are competing for a championship is a ways off. It'll take time. And a QB.

No, it doesn't work that way. You are thinking of restricted free agent tenders. Watkins will be an unrestricted free agent after this season unless the Bills sign him to an extension or tag him with the franchise or transition tag. Now that the Bills decision to decline his option has had some time to sink in I hope people understand that this isn't some motivating tactic, it's the first step in parting ways after the season. It's a shame, but it is what it is.

Yeah. How different would the Raiders playoff run have finished if they could've gotten Romo in there after Carr got injured?

Watson' floor could be much lower than Tyrod's - and I'm not a big Taylor fan. He's a serviceable bridge QB. We don't know what Watson is yet, but I don't like his weak arm or lack of accuracy. The OP's guidelines were not to consider draft capital spent or cap consequences in the comparison, but if you do - and you did - then no way do I take Watson. I wouldn't have touched him anywhere close to 10. Sure, his contract would be lower, but it'll also be guaranteed for 4 seasons and we wouldn't have two first round and one third round pick to spend on other players. NFW do I take Watson in the realistic scenario.

I'm not a Watson fan and I don't think he will succeed in the NFL, but I certainly admit that he's got a chance to be a franchise QB. Tyrod doesn't. He is what he is - a serviceable QB that will never be special. I'll take the lottery ticket. If your question was which I'd bet on to get me more wins this season, then I'd take Tyrod.

Agreed. No salary cap on coaches and GMs. Pegs can go crazy paying off the crappy coaches and GMs he hired.

Looking at about $8M in space by Rule of 51 after draft picks are signed. Will need a few million for in season use and less than one million for PS players. So we still have a little money to play with without making any moves.

Well said.

He still might. Definitely a chance he doesn't get the kind of deal he wants and hangs them up. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

The Bills can trade Sammy for two 1st round picks in the same way that The Angry Birds Movie can win the Best Picture Oscar.

Pump the brakes. He's the only QB on our roster who has started an NFL game. Let's revisit this discussion in the next offseason though.

Yes. I might be a little high on the $17M too. $16M-$17M range.

Those are 2017 numbers. Option numbers are calculated as transition tag numbers for the previous season. So the Bills declined the 2018 option for Watkins at $13.3M. The WR franchise tag number will probably be about $17M next season.