GunnerBill

I agree. And the undignified social media pile on means they are not just perceived as guilty but they are often punished as if guilt is proven even where it isn't. I have to be careful what I say now on public fora given my current role, but I worry we have (for often well meaning reasons) stripped away the clinical objectivity that you need in a criminal justice system to create something akin to a victim justice system. It is a dangerous road IMO.

I wouldn't put them above the Bills either. But I'd move them up above some of those teams I think are too high.

I think your point on LG to RT is a fair one now that Taylor is playing on the right side. All 4 of them are better in their spots than the guys the Bills have until proven otherwise (I'm think possibly Torrence when I say that). But it is more than a minimal difference at LT in my view. I am long since on record as not thinking Donovan Smith is much good. Dawkins isn't an elite guy by any stretch, but he is a top 10/12 starter. Smith has been that once in 8 seasons.

Because while their top end might not be as strong as others, question mark on OBJ given he hasn't played for a year, I think they have 4 vet guys who can all play in the league. It's a bit like the Chiefs group from last season. And then Flowers who adds a bit of juice. I think they are deep even without an elite guy.

No.

Agree. I do think Taylor is an upgrade at right tackle on Wylie. That is a fair a take. But he isn't Lane or Ramczyk or Jack Conklin. So he is an upgrade, but an overpaid one. As for Smith my view on him is well known (and long pre-dates him going to KC). Never thought he was worth what the Buccs paid him and think he was awful last year. If they get the absolute peak Smith it might be a wash from Orlando Brown but he has been in the league 8 seasons and played at true franchise left tackle level once in those 8 years.

It isn't just an American thing, sadly it is a social media generation thing. When the herd moves, it moves. I have very real concerns about how justice systems can function properly in this context. I have expressed them multiple times on this forum. It was right that Araiza did not play in the league while this was properly investigated. But that due process has determined he has no case to answer. The focus should now be on helping this young man to rebuild his life and his career. If Brandon Beane announced tomorrow the Bills has re-signed him and that he would compete in camp I'd have no issue at all with that.

But he has had his share of free agency blunders in his career too. Nobody forgets the Philadelphia dream team.

See I am totally anti this. Minnesota I kind of take the point. Addison is unproven. But Vegas has Adams, Jakobi Myers who is absolutely legit and Renfrow who is a reliable slot. The Bears have DJ Moore who is good not great, Darnell Mooney who has been a #1 on a bad offense (and as we know from Stevie Johnson the jump from there to a regular contributor on a better team is significant) and Claypool was was a washout in Pittsburgh. As for Jacksonville.... a lot of hope in Ridley who broke 1,000 yards once in 3 seasons (all as a #2, drawing 2nd best corner) and then has hardly played in 2 seasons otherwise Christian Kirk is an elite slot, but that's a slot receiver all the same and Zay Jones. Hardly scary. I at least see the potential there if Ridley comes back and is legit but that is a BIG if in my book.

Agree.

Think the Cowboys, Commanders, 49ers, Jags, Bears and Jets are too high. Bills, Saints, Ravens, Colts and Lions too low.

Meh. I think a lot of Bills fans are way too high on him

I mean that pretty much matches the eye test on all 3 players.

Yep. There were ways to make it fit. I did a projection somewhere I will try and dig it out. I felt $18m AAV was top end of what they could realistically make fit looking at cap projections going forward, especially with $50m guaranteed, but they could do it. At $18m there was definitely some element of a value judgment. That is hard to deny IMO.

Agree tiers work better and argue among yourselves within tiers. Personally not sure Herbert belongs with the other 3 though. He is more in the Hurts club just below.

He should start. Unless he really tanks in camp which I am sure he won't. Because talent wise he is in a different league to Bates.

We do. But we need protection too. Josh is our biggest asset. The focus should be on maximising him.

Alvin Kamara. His success rate out of shotgun is phenomenal. I don't want a RB for whom I have to line up in the I-formation because it is too much of a tell to the defense.

The thing is it is a bit incumbent on Josh. He has to know he is the freaking franchise.

I did not ignore the question, at all. It is about what your baseline is. Compared to the average NFL QB Josh is a good processor. Compared to the very best processors he is a tick below. There is a big gap between "elite" and "slow". I never said slow. Nor did I dispute "slower" because compared to a Joe Burrow, yea he is slower... but he isn't slow.

I think the money he got was right at the upper boundary. Personally I did some 5 year out projections and I thought $18m AAV was just about doable. But it was right at the top of my range. Maybe the Bills thought they couldn't do that impossible to have all the info (for example they might already have decided on Rousseau being extended). Maybe they though they could only for special and Tremaine isn't special. It is really hard to know. Had it been $20m AAV it would have been a clear affordability issue. At the number it was it it is right on the boundary between pure affordability and affordability vs value.

It means it isn't an elite trait of his. Elite Quarterbacks are not built out of 100% elite traits. Each one has 3 or 4 things that are elite that separate them. I don't think processing is among them for Josh. His elite traits are arm, athleticism, ability to create outside structure and competitive fire. It doesn't mean he is a slow processor relative to the cadre of NFL starting Quarterbacks. He clearly isn't. But I think protection matters to Josh more than weapons. Because every receiver who plays with him has a career year regardless. Interesting, thanks. They definitely backed off in 2020, my perception was it had gone back up... but that might be the Bills oline playing worse in 21 and 22.

Nobody said he was slow at processing fwiw.

Because Beane said himself the board didn't fall for them to take a running back.

They haven't. But at this point in 2017 nor had the Bills. It happens with new regimes that they are willing to move off the previous regime's guys and do so for below market value. The Cardinals might not be willing to part with Simmons. But I think it is a question worth asking. I don't think it is the same as the Oliver situation where he was a selection and investment of this regime.