DCOrange

Joe B's mock offseason is in shambles

Sounds right to me. If we're able to address the OLine in free agency and add a bigger edge setter guy (like Autry, Clayborn, etc.), I think a guy like Ossai with his tools and effort level is a pretty ideal target at 30. Could theoretically kick Autry/Clayborn inside on passing downs and insert Ossai opposite Hughes to bring heat off the edge. I think McDermott and Beane are big believers in Tools + Effort types and being able to coach those kinda guys up so that Ledyard tweet made my ears perk up a bit. Not surprised to hear that he was seemingly the guy Morgan was most interested in.

https://theathletic.com/2441292/2021/03/12/bills-mock-offseason-2021-post-matt-milano-re-signing-predicting-free-agency-cuts-draft-picks/ Joe has updated his mock offseason to account for the Milano re-signing. Changes made: Has us trading a 7th round pick for Cam Brate instead of the Zach Ertz trade Still has us signing P Michael Palardy but he just signed with Miami; I'd say we can insert a different cheap P in here instead No more 4th round comp pick; we'd still have a chance at a 6th rounder instead #78: S/LB Hamsah Nasirildeen, Florida State (instead of LB Chazz Surratt)

Before his workout yesterday, yes.

I mentioned this tweet to some friends yesterday saying that Ossai would seemingly be someone that we should be very interested in. Sounds like we might actually be.

It definitely isn't 100 million over anymore. They're pretty close to being back at $0 at this point. Still probably a few moves away though, and they ultimately need to create actual cap space because they intend to bring back some players.

I think it probably automatically voids like the other contracts that have come through lately. So it's a 1 year extension but the cap hit is spread out beyond that. They can still theoretically rework it later on if they want to keep him beyond 2022 though.

I just do not think we'll spend a lot on another WR. Juju will probably get somewhere in the neighborhood of $15 mil per year. At minimum, even in this depressed market, he probably gets at least $12 mil. Damn good player though.

Frees up another $19 mil for the Bucs as they seemingly set the table for a Shaq Barrett deal.

Yeah I think this was pretty obvious from the moment it was announced that it likely was not a true $14 mil contract.

He played like crap yesterday unfortunately and Braswell played very well. I don't think it has to be more complicated than that.

https://theathletic.com/2445275/2021/03/12/how-matt-milano-re-signing-with-bills-changes-buffalos-offseason-and-future/ I'm just including it here because it's essentially the same conversation; Joe B published an article this morning talking about the ramifications of the Milano deal on the rest of the offseason. For those that don't subscribe, the summary of it is essentially this: This leaves us with ~11 mil in cap space right now with the flexibility to get up to 20-23 mil based on a few cuts/restructures. Likely takes us out of the running for the top-tier pass-rushers, but he thinks we could still be involved with the mid-tier guys, such as Carl Lawson, Trey Hendrickson, Denico Autry, Melvin Ingram, and Romeo Okwara. He thinks we're likely looking for a strength-based edge guy rather than a speed/bend type guy as he thinks our main issue was setting the edge and keeping the QB in the pocket. My note here: I wonder if this has something to do with the reported interest in Autry, as that would seemingly fit him to a T. We have until March 21st to get out of Addison's roster bonus, so the expectation is that we'll make our move for a pass rusher early in free agency so that we can cut Addison. With all the OLinemen getting cut, he thinks this will drive the asking prices down and play into our hands to allow us to get at least one more starting OLineman in free agency. He thinks they'll likely just opt to bring Feliciano back but you never really know. He thinks this definitely takes us down a peg in terms of what we can spend on a tight end. He thinks Henry, Jonnu, and Ertz are out as options and has returned to liking the idea of acquiring Cam Brate. My note here: yes please. Lastly, he says this makes Edmunds' 5th year option less of a slam dunk, but ultimately, he thinks they're still pretty likely to pick it up. My note here: I may be mistaken, but I think we could theoretically decline the 5th year option, play the year out, and then give him one of the tags for slightly more money if we aren't comfortable committing to his 5th year a couple months from now?

I'd also say at 5'9", 180+ lbs is actually pretty stocky. He's short but he's super strong. This isn't like Hollywood Brown where he was a twig on top of being short.

Quote from the article: Although it would increase his 2022 cap hit by the same amount, he would carry a comparatively small 2022 dead-cap hit (~$1.95 million) if the Bills reworked the contract and wanted to move on after the season. Most contracts allow teams to do this whenever they’d like without permission from the player, making it a pretty straightforward transaction.

Yep. I wonder if they'll turn to Adrian Clayborn if they don't get Autry or someone else like him for the same reasons.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2021/03/11/colts-denico-autry-expected-have-plenty-suitors-open-market/6877265002/

I'll wait to see how it's structured, but my guess is this won't be too painful to get out of if need be down the road. Solid price for a good player though.

He does that to pretty much all fan bases lol. Saints have been his latest target, making fun of their cap hell and the fact that Taysom Hill is their 3rd highest paid player.

I think Rondale Moore can provide the returning/gadget stuff if he pans out well/stays healthy. We could have taken Kadarius Toney (or the Notre Dame OT for that matter) at #30 but as mentioned, Joe thought we'd trade down in that scenario instead.

Wow, Schwartz being cut is pretty big; he was arguably one of the best tackles in the league before he got hurt.

Joe B said the way the contract is structured would likely allow Buffalo to do this without needing his permission at all. It would just convert some of his salary into a signing bonus to save ~1.5 mil in cap space. Joe B expects Radunz to compete with Ryan Bates for the starting RT spot. It includes who leaves via free agency in the article. I can add that into the OP.

He was actually good last year after flaming out in New York

https://theathletic.com/2441292/2021/03/11/bills-mock-offseason-2021-predicting-free-agent-signings-cuts-and-draft-picks/ As always with The Athletic, it's behind a paywall, but I'll list the moves here. This is what Joe B is guessing the Bills will ultimately do this offseason. Cuts: WR John Brown IDL Quinton Jefferson Edge Mario Addison TE Lee Smith Restructures: OL Mitch Morse LB AJ Klein Re-Signings: OL Ike Boettger - 1/$1.5M OL Jon Feliciano - 3/$21M QB Matt Barkley - 1/$2M CB Levi Wallace - 1/$1.2M S Dean Marlowe - 1/$1.5M Leaving via Free Agency: LB Matt Milano - a different article from The Athletic predicts he'll end up in Washington OT Darryl Williams WR Isaiah McKenzie KR Andre Roberts P Corey Bojorquez Trades: 2022 5th round pick for TE Zach Ertz #30 pick for #40, #115, #236 #93 and #212 picks for #78 Signings: Edge Carl Lawson - 4/$36M P Michael Palardy - 1/$0.9M With these signings and the people we let go, we are projected to receive a 4th round comp pick and potentially a 6th or 7th. Draft: #40: OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota State #61: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue #78: LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina #115: CB Israel Mukuamu, South Carolina #162: IOL Robert Jones, Middle Tennessee State #178: IDL Bobby Brown III, Texas A&M #235: TE Shaun Beyer, Iowa #236: P James Smith, Cincinnati

I think Diggs (not big but amazing in contested situations) and Davis project as those kinda guys. I think Samuel would be a perfect fit (but an expensive one and maybe TOO expensive of one) because he can do all the McKenzie gadget-stuff, can fill in Beasley's spot in the slot or Brown's spot out wide, and can even potentially line up in the backfield to give us a pass-catcher back there. There's a few guys in the draft this year that can theoretically do these things while being on a rookie contract, but obviously with Samuel you already know what you're getting. As I've mentioned though, I think ultimately, Beane will go cheap on WRs this offseason to save that money for other spots.

Bringing Ross in would be reminiscent of us trading for Corey Coleman. Might be worth taking a flier on him but in all likelihood he won't be the answer to any of our needs.