Doc Brown

I disagree here. Cook was a 2nd rounder compared to those three and had a different profile as a smaller but more explosive back that could take it to the house if able to get to that second level. You can find a lot of those in the draft in the first few rounds every year. It's no guarantee that the drafted RB will give you close to or even over exceed what we had in Cook but when managing a roster that's how I'd approach the RB position. Shoot. I forgot that Beane was allowed to have 4th round picks at the time when they drafted Davis. My mistake. Would I hate it if Cook signed between $10 and $12m per year? Probably. I wouldn't kill Beane for it though.

Beane's drafted four running backs in the top three rounds since 2018. So it's half of his drafts so far. It's the best way to get value out of a RB as you're likely drafting a first/second round talent a full round later who will usually be more NFL ready than any other position. He's already in his prime years physically and will shortly fall off a cliff after his first contract. Go get your Cook replacement in the 2nd or 3rd round next year and hopefully get a comp pick for him. Use the draft pick the same way as Cook and four years later wash, lither repeat. I do agree that Beane should take more shots in both trading for possible #1 WR's and making it more of a priority each draft.

First of all, please never respect my opinions. I thought the internet was just for nerds when it first came out and turned my basement into a bunker for Y2K. Secondly, signing a premium position player in his prime I don't consider going "all in" given it's a four year commitment. The 2021 Rams went "all in" with the Miller and Beckham trades and it worked out for them. We're overpaying for all these mediocre WR's (Palmer, Samuel) for about half the money that don't move the needle much at all. I don't ever recall a time in Bills history where we traded for a 27 year WR with promising production that may have been underutilized in the previous offensive system that also has mixed character reports so I guess it's a risk in that sense. Von Miller was a much bigger risk given his age and it backfired. I just think when you have the opportunity to get an elite player in his prime (which I think Metcalf is) at a premium position you don't think twice and pull the trigger. Hell, the Bengals just did with two WR's around the same ages.

No. Trading for Metcalf for a 2nd like the Steelers did and signing him to a four year deal isn't going all in when they'll get him in a WR's prime years at age 27-30. Our offense after trading for Diggs at 27 went on to average the four best seasons in offensive yards in franchise history. RB was an afterthought.

We already tried that with signing Damien Harris to replace Singletary because of Beane's whiff of a draft pick with Moss. Dobbins has missed more games than he's played starting his rookie year. Chubb was Cleveland Brown's fans most beloved player and his injury was so gruesome they didn't even resign him at $2.5m as he averaged 3.3 ypc last year. Those are kind of worst case scenario signings when you don't draft and develop properly.

He often talks out of both sides of his mouth because of the split between traditional conservatives and MAGA conservatives on specific issues despite their being an overlap on most. Specifically when it comes to foreign policy where most the former see strength through force and more of the latter see avoid wars at all costs. Plus, he has the added barren of his most important responsibility of doing what's best for America as a whole. You saw the same out play with him in how he handled Covid. As president he said it should be up to the individual states and he'll provide whatever federal assistance they feel they'll need. However, on Twitter that night to appease the MAGA base of his supporters he'd tweet or retweet Democratic governors that had a more strict Covid policy. It's not that unique for a president to battle appeasing both his own party and what he thinks is best for America. Trump has the added burden though of appeasing two sides of his party while doing what he thinks is best for the American people. I really don't envy him.

It's so o-line dependent though. You have to have the guts as a GM to give an elite RB like Barkley a big contract with the assumption that your o-line will stay good. Barkley behind a crappy Giants o-line gained 3.9 ypc. Behind a decent o-line in Philly he averaged 5.8ypc. They can't showcase their skills until they get to that second level of the defense. Barkley amazingly had more yards before contact in 2024 for the Eagles (4.1 yards before contact) than he did yards per carry for the Giants in 2023 (3.9 yards per carry, 1.9 yards before contact). The next closest running back to Barkley was Gibbs at 3.33 yards before contact. For comparison, James Cook had 2.6 yards before contact which ranked 5th in the league last year. Ray Davis only had 1.9 yards before contact mostly because he doesn't have the vision that Cook has and he faced way more stacked boxes. Plus, he's just not as fast.

You play the odds though. A 2nd contract for any position is more likely to hit than a 2nd contract to a RB. It's why their franchise tag is the lowest of any position besides kicker and punter.

It's got to be premium position guys with playoffs on the mind. 1.) Coleman 2.) Groot 3.) Hairston

Surprised you didn't go with Dubenion over Butler.

Right but Gurley signed his 4 year $60m contract after finishing 2nd in the MVP voting. It's why I would never give a RB a top of the market 2nd contract unless it was just a one or two year extension. Also, the fact that teams are willing to take a chance in free agency on players like Gabe Davis only enhances the argument that quality outside WR's are much harder to find than running backs.

True. I mean you could say Jeff Wright over Kyle Williams if you're stuck in that time frame. Speaking of which, did the mod punish me for something I didn't know about as my posts keep getting deleted.

I despised the guy and I'm so glad we're no longer giving a WR diva on the decline the key to the city. LOL. I'd say in his prime he was the best WR to put on a Bills uniform even though his prime wasn't as a Bill that one season.

If we're talking about the early 90's to now I'd pry go Reed, Diggs, Moulds, Lofton, Stevie, Evans, Beasley, Brown, and Price. I do view making the playoffs as important though with Lofton ahead of Stevie and Evans.

By that standard Moulds shouldn't even make it then. Lofton was important but he wasn't the WR1 was like Diggs. Allen and his connection were the engine that drove the best four years of consistent offensive performance we've ever had. Plus, he was absolutely vital to Josh's development. To me four pro bowl caliber years leading to your team at minimum winning the division title four times in a row and going 2-2 in the Divisional round in what was a tougher conference now compared to the 90's is more impressive. Lofton only went over 1,000 yards once in the first three Super Bowl years. I'd put Diggs ahead of him.

It never even got to the point where Beane negotiated with his agent as Brown was adamant about not going to Buffalo. That's what I remember being reported at least. There was a time where I thought he might break Rice's records. I had no clue he was that low character of a person.

The problem is going back to the Levi Wallace example is against elite QB's they picked on him. We also had two excellent safeties in Poyer and Hyde that could help cover up his deficiencies. We don't have that anymore as we were 24th in pass defense last year. We need better play out of our CB#2 this year than what Douglas gave us the second half of last year. I'm not sure White or Jackson are capable of that. That's why it's critical that Hairston has a great training camp and earns the starting job opposite Benford imo because we still might have below average safety play.

That's because they failed to do what the Eagles and Chiefs have been able to do. Build their defense through the draft. The year after Burrows and Chase were drafted they spent 9 of their 13 Round 1 through 3 picks on defense. None of them worked out the way they hoped they would and only three were starting for them at the end of last year. Look at teams like the Eagles and Chiefs who employed a similar strategy with much better results. I guess that's what happens when you cheap out on your scouting staff.

Never let a good crisis go to waste.

Beane signed John Brown instead and then traded for Diggs the next year. A broken clock is right twice a day.

Talk about dodging a bullet.

Stock futures are way down. Thanks fricken Israel/Iran.

If we're talking about career as a whole and not just with the Bills then you'd have to include Owens. If you're talking about career as a Bill I'd put Diggs and Evans ahead of Lofton. 2002? Did you watch Music City Miracle and think SIGN ME UP!!!!!

I agree but I don't think the NFL will ever do it because they love the build up to the draft to keep the NFL on people's minds for as long as the calendar year as possible. If they swapped the draft with free agency that would be one way to accomplish that. However, then free agent veterans might not get the contracts given that most teams try to fill all their holes in the draft.

I'll eat toast on both sides if I'm hungry enough. Mold on both sides though.........I'm good. Lol. My only argument for Douglas is if all three are washed is he's at least the tallest with the most wingspan of the three. Arguably the best tackler of the three too. I think he goes back to the Packers though if I had to make a prediction. City loves him there like we do Tre here.