Richard Noggin

Josh Sweat was the more appealing and therefore more expensive player, no doubt. His deal was more reasonable than I anticipated, for sure, which does leave more room for second guessing. But were the Bills in position to pay Sweat AND Rousseau? So replacing Rousseau with Sweat, is that what you preferred?

They have starting QBs going into their 2nd years on rookie deals. I'm sure you get how much that affects the cap? FA is simply not the best place to add top talent when you have an MVP, franchise QB going on his 3rd deal. That's what the draft is for. Player development. The best teams are usually loaded with elite talents they drafted.

But a 2000 yard RB fetches a LOT LESS than a 2000 yard WR. The production doesn't translate 1:1 to dollar value, and it isn't particularly close.

Yeah, there are definitely posters on this board who indulge in the nuances and complexities of the cap as it relates to roster building and position allotments. Of course, there are also many who simply do not.

I don't fully agree with your position on definitely re-signing Cook, but you show your work and I'm nodding along with most of that. Cook has a rare ability to HOUSE any touch. He's special with the ball in his hands. He adds value to the offense. My counter is to mostly agree but still suggest that Ray Davis + Ty Johnson + Curtis/Evans/Rookie could be similarly effective or at least close enough to justify saving 12-16 million against the cap for 3-4 years. Just keep drafting RBs every other season on day two or three and keep combing the league for absolute gems like Ty Johnson. Also, I think Ray Davis is kinda good in his own way.

I don't hate where you're going with this, but you obviously can't compare raw production 1:1 across different positions when formulating cap values. You have to figure how much better Cook is than whoever would replace HIM (plus the cap savings in NOT allocating that AAV to a platoon RB) and compare THAT to how much better Palmer is than whoever would replace HIM (plus the cap savings/difference).

Me encountering this post labeling Keon Coleman "too much PUNK" to grow and improve. Bizarre criticism tbh. He's always seemed pretty sincere to me. I wonder if off-field focus/discipline became an issue during his injury recovery. Like the team wasn't going to hover over him and was in fact going to keep moving forward in his absence. Nothing is given. Could definitely be a maturity deficit he needs to confront and correct. He'd hardly be the first somewhat sheltered, small town deep south athlete to experience professional/personal culture shock. I know that's highly specific, but how long did it take a young Eric Moulds to sort himself out? (Obviously he was a different, more explosive prospect.)

"FA field" should also be a poll option. It's been mostly rookies and obscure FAs platooning at CB2, hasn't it?

Solomon experienced some rookie growing pains (not uncommon for McD's defensive rookies) and had a rough 2nd third of the season stretch of low snap counts plus a game where he didn't dress, but saw a lot of work the last two weeks of season. He wasn't inactive for any of the playoff games, that I could find, but I'm also not finding ANY stats for him those 3 games on PFR. I think he's got potential to at least be a DPR who flashes this season, and possibly a more balanced #3 or #4 EDGE guy longer term. Loved the pick. I don't think Epenesa offers more on obvious passing downs at this point. Hoecht I have no idea tbh. Rousseau should reduce inside on some passing downs with Solomon one of the guys subbing in.

As has already been stated/alluded to in this thread, Bosa IS awfully..."muscly"...which tends to catch up to a guy sooner rather than later. I think the point you're replying to might have been suggesting that the FORMER Jordan Phillips is an example of a giant 320+ lb DT who was much better as a penetrator, not unlike some of the big DTs coming out this year. I read the intentional analogy to be pointing a finger at Tyleik Williams from Ohio St, among others; sounds like a 1-gapper for sure, and more favorably projected when aligned as a 3T. Despite his size.

Are those reps at the end against the Bengals? Like that. Many other highlights against bad competition, but whatever. I don't dismiss Solomon as a legitimate developmental piece on the edge. He's already in the pipeline. Don't sleep on him.

I recall seeing him mostly on the offense's right side, so LDE. But that's purely a limited observation. I also feel like he was moved around a bit under the previous Chargers regime. Am I wrong? Someone will let me know if so.

The guy has always managed to flash when I've watched the Chargers (which admittedly isn't often). Could be a solid fit for an offense designed to distribute the ball broadly but also looking specifically for a WR who can succeed on the boundary. Not intended to be more than a top-3 WR here with respect to target share, in my opinion. And probably/hopefully behind Kincaid as well. Are the emotional posters upset about not paying Metcalf 33M per? About not having a chance at the elite EDGE guys (I guess Sweat was technically available...maybe him instead of/or opposite Groot would have felt better?)? We know Beane tends to mostly plug holes in FA ahead of the draft. The draft is where a team should be finding the majority of its top talent (who can be developed and then re-signed more strategically). I guess the misses loom large for many fans, especially this time of year.

Just kinda whelmed?

You're not really wrong at all here. But as is usually the case, more than one thing can be true. The defense has absolutely been a major problem in all the Bills recent playoff losses. The biggest problem. But also, the offense HAS failed to go win the game when given the ball at the end for two playoff exits in a row. What's their go-to way to drive and score points against the best when it's all on the line? It's been unclear.

Mmm there it is. Numbers.

Crosby was my number one preferred elite EDGE target (IF he had been available), even over Garrett. Mostly because of how uncomfortable he makes Mahomes on the field (very pleasing to watch Kermit repeatedly whine between plays about minor contact, essentially taking the bait). And he's relatively young. Turns out he wasn't ever really an option, alas.

PRIME Lockett (2018-2022) would be the PERFECT addition (considering cost x skillset x fit). CURRENT Lockett could still potentially add value, but would most likely mirror Emmanuel Sanders' 2021 season production/impact. Not totally spent, but only impactful in a few games. They'd be about the same age, coming off similarly productive FA seasons. Lockett's prime production IS more recent than Sanders' was when the Bills signed him, so who knows. But bringing in Lockett would have to be simply to fortify the BOTTOM of the WR depth chart on a team friendly deal.

How does the team "have Cook play out his contract" (emphasis mine) when it's not exactly up to the team? Or are you just listing hopeful outcomes that would help the offense be the same/better in 2025? I don't really think Cook would hold out an entire season (or even many/any regular season games) without a new deal, but I do get the sense he'd either hold out or even hold IN for all of training camp and pre-season. Strikes me as a guy focused solely on maximizing his one big NFL contract (and difficult to fault him for that, if we remove our fandom of the Bills and football in general from the equation and just see it from his perspective).

Why do the Bills have pick 31 in this mock?

We attended our "stadium experience" sales pitch a couple months ago, and locked in our two PSLs/seats in the new stadium. I 100% would NOT have done so if my season ticket partner, my 72-year old mother, wasn't so insistent. Goes against my sensibilities as a pleb to help a billionaire offset ANY investment costs that will ultimately make him exponentially richer, but my obligation to my mom outweighed my personal/financial perspective. The seats themselves are actually better than what we currently have and only ~25% more expensive. That was a pleasant surprise (especially with how cynical I am). Went from -2 yard line (left endzone), row 28, to 20 yard line, row 23. PSLs were $6k each. It's insane to spend that, if we're thinking rationally. But this wasn't a rational purchase. We'll just aggressively pay off the PSLs within 2 years, no interest, and be done with it. We've enlisted my out of town sister in a kind of loose timeshare arrangement to spread out costs. No way that could go sour, right? lol **should admit that when I'm in attendance I'm one of the louder, more enthusiastic fans in my area. And it's a solid area tbh. Almost exclusively standing. Not too many visiting fans. GREAT vibes.

Are you suggesting they currently listen to nepo-Davis on QB e v a l? (I know Al Davis had a STRONG hand in top of the draft decisions in the past; see also: Darrius Heyward-Bey in the top-10 of 2009 draft. Davis had a speed fetish for sure. But at least he came up as an actual football guy.)

Morris not being tendered does not suddenly elevate TE to a "need." It DOES, however, elevate TE to an opportunity for a new talent to make the roster, if they don't re-sign Morris in FA. That would allow the Bills to draft and actually roster a new TE prospect, knowing Knox's contract has its first reasonable "out" after 2025. Otherwise a rookie TE would have a difficult path to the 53 unless he just beats out the versatile and effective Morris. Then that rookie would be poachable, obviously.

If the Raiders make draft decisions influenced at all by a minority owner, then they are truly effed. Isn't there some new smoke around Brady and potential FA/trade tampering? The guy is an unethical hack at everything but playing the QB position.

How the above (2 posts back) draft turned out. No help from any fellow posters smh. (Really like the overall haul even though I didn't draft a WR.) Campbell could be a STEAL at 30. A defensive weapon.