BuffaloBillyG

I have a feeling this thread will be filled with well thought out views, civil conversation and and uplifting conversation with others that both help educate and unite football fans. What could go wrong?

Some really nice points made here. To offer my train of thought as to why Murray is a lock. Though they could turn their attention to a Zeke or Hunt, had they wanted them they would have targeted them when they signed Murray. To my knowledge, they did not. Cook wasn't on the market then, however if the reports of what he's been offered by other teams is accurate, I don't see the Bills jumping in late to the party to go after him. Buffalo has almost always gone with a pure "power runner" on the roster when they could get one. As you bring up Tolbert let's not forget Frank Gore and Chris Ivory. That's the mold Murray fits to me. A lot is made of Harris as a power runner and he can run it between the tackles...but he's more of a Singletary with a speed burst to me. Unless Mims or Evans can make it so they can't exposed them to the waiver wire Murray has a spot as that 3rd back inactive on game days IMO.

No, I mean Blaine Gabbert who signed to back up Mahomes earlier in the off-season to replace Henne, who retired. Siemian! That's right.

Gabbert is in KC. Mariota is in Philly. Can't remember who Cincinnati signed off the top of my head but it was a decent backup as well.

At this point of the off-season, no. Those cupboards are pretty bare. There's a couple guys people have "heard of" such as Carson Wentz or Matt Ryan, but neither are a likely answer. Beane did draft a QB in the 5th a few years back. Jake Fromm. That...didn't work out so well. At this point of the off season the most likely choices for the Bills if they feel they need an upgrade would be either a trade or to watch the waiver wire and see if anyone comes available. In the case of a trade, finding a quality backup that has a contract they can work with becomes an issue.

Haven't heard a peep. Hopefully he shows out a bit during the preseason games. I liked what he showed last year.

Absolutely spot on with his weaknesses. Now we get to see just how much of an "offensive wonderkid" McDaniel really is and see what adjustments he can put in to counter what defenses will do. With Tua due a new contract (or a franchise tag) next season they really don't have a huge amount of time to figure it out.

"How's that rash?"🤣🤣

I do have Sherfield as a lock, however I am much more familiar with him. I fully understand what his contract situation looks like. And as I acknowledged, that likely locks him in on Beane's roster. Though some may have debated that OJ Howard's fresh and mostly guaranteed contract would have locked him in last year.

It will definitely be interesting to see what the roster make up is this year for sure. You're not wrong. I'm certain on Brandon Beane's chart (which is the only one that matters lol) he's locked in. I haven't seen him play much and didn't make it out to SJF. For me, I need to see him get some snaps before he gets the lock lol.

I go to the Rams fan board and talk to all their fans. They both send their regards.

His name is O'Cyrus. And he's a bad bad man...

Yea he was one I definitely debated a bit harder than others. His return game ability and speed pretty much lock him in, I would agree. However, I have not made it to camp this year and seen his abilities or usage firsthand so I can't lock him in, myself yet. That's why I'm doing this projection early to see how my view changes once the ball is kicked off. There are a number of guys that I can see getting moved late in preseason. Basham is certainly one of them, but don't rule out someone like Mancz as well. If Beane could find a draft pick for Russell Bodine and Marshall Newhouse he can flip someone like that as well lol

With the Bills first preseason game fast approaching I thought I'd take a look at where I see the roster at before the games take place. Bolded are in my view locks for the roster. Italicized are players that are "near locks" in my estimation. Looking over the roster spot by spot it strikes me that we are going to be letting quite a handful of really talented players go pretty soon. Some of these guys could have started for this franchise even 4-5 short years ago. Problems of having a deep roster. QB: Josh Allen, Kyle Allen, Matt Barkley Earlier in the off-season I viewed Kyle Allen as a lock. Now? Not quite sure. Sounds like he may be playing himself out of a job. One of Kyle or Barkley will likely make the roster as the backup (unless Beane makes a move) the other could be PS bound. RB: James Cook, Damien Harris, Latavius Murray, Reggie Gilliam, Evans, Mims Before the Hines injury I had Murray as a possible PS placeholder. Now, I believe he's destined for the TJ Yeldon role unless injury strikes. Gilliam makes it easily as well. Evans and Mims in my view are fighting for a PS role. WR: Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis, Trent Sherfield, Harty, Shorter, Shakir, Isabella, Shavers, Coulter, Patmon, Johnson. Expecting some push back at this position. Sheffield is a lock in my eyes due to what sounds like a solid camp, Josh's admiration for him and the fact he plays ST. Shakir is a guy that I think needs to show something in PS games. Could one of Isabella, Shavers or Coulter push the former 5th rounder off the roster? Not likely but a strong showing by one of them and continued drops by Shakir may crack open the door. TE: Dawson Knox, Dalton Kincaid, Morris, Sternberger, Wilson Buffalo finds itself in rare territory here. For decades we couldn't find a decent TE...now it would seem we have 2. That moves the position battle down the line to TE3. I give the edge here to Morris but Sternberger and Wilson have a shot with at least one of them headed to a possible PS spot if they are chopped. OL: Dawkins, McGovern, Morse, Bates, Brown, Torrence, Quessenberry, Shell, Doyle, Edwards, Doyle, and a cast of many others Outside of the top 6 (and possibly Edwards) most of the other guys can end up anywhere from making the team, to the PS, to playing elsewhere or nowhere all together. I don't see it happening because they love his versatility, but if someone like Edwards shows well, does that lead to "Ryan Trade Bates?" For those keeping track, that's 16 spots I have set in stone. Another 3 set to "near lock" for 19 roster spots claimed. On to the defense! DL: Groot, Floyd, Von, Jones, Oliver, Ford, Lawson, AJE, Phillips, Settle, Boogie, Ray, Ankou, Kingsley, "the rest" Insert token "depending on if Von starts on PUP" comment here. The ones I have highlighted as locks are pretty set in stone. I do have AJE (and am prepared to defend) as a near lock due to his progression as a pass rusher last year. I think Phillips is "close" to being a lock pending on health. Talent wise I question if Settle can make it, then look at his contract and realize Buffalo would gain almost nothing financially by letting him go. Can Ray/Boogie push Lawson for a spot? That's going to be a battle to see in the games. LB: Matt Milano, Dodson, Williams, Bernard, Spector, Matakevich, Klein, Howard Milano is a no brainer. Williams as well due to being a day 2 pick this year. I believe even if Dodson loses the MLB battle, he makes it for experience alone. Eye rolls around for Matakevich, I know. Bernard and Spector add depth and can contribute on ST. Klein I believe will be PS bound if he chooses to continue to play. CB: White, Jackson, Elam, Benford, Johnson, Lewis, Neal, Ingram, Austin, Brown Another deep group. I realize Lewis is covering Safety as well. Where he's listed in my view is just book keeping as he will offer depth at both spots. For me Neal was the closest "near lock" to being a bolded lock. I know some will disagree on both sides and opinions range from him being a pivotal part of the team to "he sucks". S: Hyde, Poyer, Rapp, Hamlin, Marlowe, Anderson, Mayden Our top 3 are unquestionably making it. After that a lot comes into play. Will the Bills value Marlowe for his experience? Hamlin for his upside? A sleeper here is the forgotten Anderson who the Bills signed very early in the off-season and may offer the best ST coverage of the group. ST: Ferguson, Bass, Martin All locks. However, don't be surprised if Ferguson is released at initial cuts to open a spot if they need to get someone through to IR and brought back right after. Procedure move. By my totals defense and ST rings up: 20 spots locked in 8 spots "near locks" Grand total of: 36 roster locks 11 near locks For a total of 47 spots claimed or close to it. Sorry this was long and rambling. I feel I was perhaps a bit too stingy handing out "locks" So what say you, Mafia? What did I get wrong?

Sorry, but that is one ugly dog. Looks like Gabe dropped him on his face a few times.

The issue with that may very well be money. I saw something yesterday that said the Bills were $4M to the good counting the top 51. In a few weeks the Bills have to have money for all 53 in their roster, plus the entire PS (another 3-4M I believe) on their salary cap. Plus have money for in season moves that will happen. And while the Bills do have some moves to make to get there, Teddy played for $6.5M last year. I would suspect (of course no way to know for sure) that would be around what he's looking for now. Even throw in a slight decrease for being a year older and I don't thing you get him for less than $4.5-5.5M on a 1 year deal. May be a bit rich for Beane this late in camp.

Fair enough. But that's a deep room IMO. And when Miller comes back between him, Groot and Floyd there aren't going to likely be many DE snaps available. It's a good problem to have.

How many 2nd team edge players get 9 sacks in a season? That seems a tad unreasonable. If you're basing his season success solely on sacks (say that out loud 3times), 6.5 for a backup edge player is actually quite good.

Someone not comfortable enough with the assessment to attach his name to it.

I'm pretty sure they can get Isabella onto the PS. Shorter is making the team. Beane even said after the pick that they see him earning a jersey on GameDay based on ST ability alone.

You are more than likely correct, however very few things are 100% in this life. As I acknowledged, Neal is spectacular on ST. What I feel may come into play is if McDermott and Beane feel the new rules have devalued the ST position he does not offer enough if pressed into service on defense. I agree, the odds are very high on him being on the roster. But a team going younger/cheaper and with guys that are more versatile with upside is hardly uncommon in the NFL.

There are a few guys that stick out to me as potential surprise cuts because of the finances. I don't think Morse is one of them. However I do think Neal is right there as a potential cut. I know how great he is on ST and the coaching staff loves the guy...but when forced to play defense last year he struggled. Just reading the tea leaves of what the Bills did in the off-season, I think he's been replaced. Rapp can do what they wanted him to do on defense...only better. They drafted Shorter who is reported to be a good gunner. As great as he is on ST (and he is one of the best in the NFL) I think the new rules make him a bit expendable.

Outstanding post. Thank you for doing the leg work on this.

Nope. Marty Lyons was the player punching Kelly. The ref misidentified his number on the call. https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/63658/famous-giving-him-the-business-call-from-jets-bills-game-turns-30-years-old https://fb.watch/mg77H9ULbQ/?mibextid=Nif5oz

The continued disrespect for Brian Brohm on this board is ridiculous.