Einstein's Dog

No, of course not top 5. With Cook he has been improving. If he can continue that, work for better pass pro, was already improving ball security, and clean up the drops he can continue his ascent. He started a little slow and has improved immensely. The only problem is having a developing RB is extending him with a new contract. The Bills have been rotating RBs and not paying. If Cook continues his improvement the FO may need to rethink their stance and offer up something mid-season.

I don't understand what is so confusing to you - this was a choice. There were options even if you can't see what they were. They (and you seem to think that just means Beane) are choosing this particular route. I question that, I think there was buy-in from Pegula. And when you say "there is absolutely categorically nothing that has happened" you are of course excluding the whole Kim departure and change in ownership structure. Lets hope nothing has changed. I don't understand, or like, Beane's plan(?) for the WR room when he traded Diggs. Did Beane really think it was a good idea to get a second round WR and a couple low priced misfits (C Samuel was before the trade). If Pegula really had no say in this situation I would think Beane would be on the hot seat if the team doesn't make the playoffs.

Wouldn't the default position be there would be budgetary restrictions on what the GM can do? Where is your evidence that Beane has no restrictions? And where is your evidence that that hasn't changed? Often times when you have modification of ownership a focus on profitability can take place. It takes a very Bills-centric view to think this WR room is one of the better ones in the league. I was hoping to see year over year improvement in the on-paper look of the WR room for 2024. That hasn't happened. And while I like the youngster core of Kincaid/Shakir/Cook I wanted Brady to have a full complement of WRs to work with. As it stands now, the Bills have a lot of sure handed slot types with RAC ability and very little in terms of boundary WRs. It's frustrating to me to see this type of WR composition while having such a strong armed, mobile QB like Josh- this would be a good group for Mac Jones or Brock Purdy.

I used to hold Beane in as high of regard as you, but this year he is slipping IMO (yes, the WR room). I was giving Beane a break with the possible Pegula influence. Do you think Beane has open check book policy? For instance, if Beane could bring in a top tier WR but it would require an upfront $25M signing bonus (immediate cash), along with a big guarantee (say around $50M), can Beane just pull the trigger? We have a pretty good idea it doesn't work like that in Cincy, and in Dallas it looks like they are going reigning it in this year -probably to correspond with an ouster of McCarthy. Do you think if they don't make the playoffs Beane/McD will get fired?

As far as Claypool vs DHop - now you're trying to wedge in cost. And therein lies the problem. We were talking about the 2024 season on field playing ability. Who people would rather have. Second you keep trying to say I didn't want or like Coleman, where are you getting this? It's not true. It's just that I think he will take some time. I do think Beane discussed the budget with Pegula for the upcoming season. Are you saying you don't think they talk? I don't think Pegula is cheap but do think they are using a more cap constrained model than in the past. This year is looking like a reset and I don't think Beane would be doing that by himself.

On the field nobody in their right minds compares Claypool to DHop. They are not on the same tier. DHop > Claypool. It's really not debatable. No one in their right mind would want to have Claypool on their team for the upcoming season instead of Deandre Hopkins. So when you thought it would be better to have Claypool I thought you meant for some type of future benefits. And even those don't work. Do you seriously think Beane didn't discuss with Pegula the trade of Diggs? Especially if this is the end result of what the WR room is to look like? It certainly makes more sense for Beane's calmness, knowing he is doing these moves under the direction of his boss, makes for more job security. And there were options if an owner/GM wanted to backload contracts after the Tre money came in. For instance, Diggs cap hit this year for Houston is around $6M, and the cap hit last year for DHop was under $2M. There were options that were chosen not to take. This idea that a move only is done for "a prerequisite to win a SB" is ridiculous. No move/position in and of itself is a prerequisite - not even QB. So, how about making a better team? A good WR would make the Bills a much better team.

C'mon Alpha - Claypool has more to offer than DHop? That's just insane. If Claypool could get it together, which is a stretch, he would be a free agent and would go to the highest bidder. If we could get DHop it would be for at least two years. The problem with the "If the WR's are consistently struggling" theory is the game time given to having struggling WRs. You could lose precious games. It's also the game planning of having Brady's best players be dink and dunk, RAC specialists. It lessens an immense strength of Josh and the 25-30 yard rope. While it's looking doubtful a move is made, the idea that the motive behind that is the untapped potential of Hollins/MVS or Claypool is suspect. More likely Pegula is closing off the free flow of cash and has instructed Beane to go with the cash constrained option.

This would be great! Just the kind of thing I would like to have happen. I want to believe you.

But then where do you want to put the money? The Bills will have a dirt cheap RB room, moderate to low priced OL, high priced QB, and dirt cheap WRs too? Just look around our division, that's not what the Jets are doing (Aaron/Keenan/G Wilson even Lazard). Dolphins will soon have Tua/Tyreek/Waddle. I would like one more good WR to move the Hollins/MVS/Claypool group further down the bench never to see a significant role during game time. Maybe not a $30M guy but an outside WR with reliable hands, good separation, and a track record.

Me too. I didn't think it was going to happen this way. I thought there was going to be a trade for a WR after getting the Tre money but that has passed. From an ownership/GM perspective this looks like a reset/cash limited/cap restoring kind of year. If the Bills don't get a KC type fluke postseason run maybe they'll make a decent sized WR move next off-season to help usher in the new stadium.

But what other WR can you have hope in for the outside? No one can seriously consider Hollins. MVS was worse than Gabe and let go by KC. It's bad enough to pencil in one of the outside spots by default to a rookie. I'm having difficulty with this.

Seems like you'd run something this drastic by ownership. But I would think it would be the other way around. Beane would have presented what it would take - cash wise -to put through a plan or the different options available.

I'm with many that are interested in the outside WRs. Also RB2 - if/when Davis can overtake Ty.

But why is my question. A very inexpensive RB room (someone in another thread said it was the lowest), now going to be coupled with one of the lowest priced WR rooms. Where do they want to allocate the resources (aside from one of many teams that pay QB)? What is the plan? And who exactly is "they'? Do you think Beane did this on his own or was he directed/under budget constraints from above?

I am concerned that without the influence of Kim the Bills might have a more financial focused view. I felt Kim liked the attention of the Bills community and enjoyed bringing a winner to the area. For Terry and the new one Laura that might not be the case (I would have preferred a larger role for Jessica). The first test may have been bringing in a top tier WR. It would have taken a large guarantee and a large upfront signing bonus - the things teams that are flush with cash do. Instead it looks like the Bills are going to take the cap hit and do a reset, they're going to see how it goes on one of the lowest salaried offensive playmaking units in the NFL.

Of course it should mean something. Yes, Samuel = Jennings, Pearsall = K Coleman. The difference is WR3 + WR4 for SF vs the Bills WR1 + WR2. If we still had Diggs + Davis and had brought in Samuel and drafted Coleman my money would be on one of them being moved soon. Having one top tier WR plus Jennings + Pearsall combo (backed up by a 4th rounder as a fallback) seems like a fine idea for a WR room - especially when combined with other playmakers in Kittle + McCaffrey. That's what the SF future looks like to me. Solid plan. The Bills could have something similar with a top tier WR. That's what I was hoping for. SF may be waiting on 2025 to implement its plan. That's thinking ahead. But if Aiyuk is a real problem they may want to accelerate their plan.

News that SF just upped C McCaffrey to $19M per for 4 more years. Brought in Logan Thomas. And as stated above paid J Jennings and 1st + 4th WR in draft. Who is getting Aiyuk? Pitt, New England, Bills??

I think this year is a huge year for Cook. If the Bills are going to extend him it is easiest to do before his contract ends. But I think the Bills need to see continued improvement - catch rate, pass-pro and ball security. Also a factor might be his locker room presence, how he fits the culture and if he picks up more of a leadership position.

They seem to think Aiyuk is going to take a team friendly franchise tag? I don't know if SF really believes that - they double dipped at the draft 1st + 4th and just paid J Jennings $10M guaranteed over 2 years, $15M total.

It's not just a view from Madden that makes our WR room a huge downgrade - it's an opinion by a vast majority of impartial observers. We're going from a $22M + $13M WRs to $8M + $3M. Our top WR would be battling for the number 3 spot on numerous other teams - including two in our division. Yes, we were able to do well in the second half when Diggs + Davis weren't doing well - but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to replace at least one of them with established top tier talent. I was hoping Beane would supply Brady with a full complement of offensive weapons. We have the underneath hands guys and badly need some outside boundary WRs. The idea of a rebuild when Josh is 28, really negatively affects my view Beane's job. This idea that we don't have a choice is ridiculous. And the cap situation is a direct result of prior moves Beane made. Like it or not? No, I don't like it. I'm still in denial.

Don't wait - a 1st and 4th for Metcalf. Bring in his $13M salary and immediately restructure to a $6M cap hit. Leaves about $7M for the season. Bring back Hyde in a low cost vet/coach role to bring our new safeties up to speed. Back to contender status!

My "literally 0% chance" quote was from the possibility to trade for a vet WR, which I am of course still hoping occurs. Although each day out decreases the odds. C'mon Beane. You make it sound like a trade for Diggs just fell into Beane's lap and he couldn't turn it down. I feel Beane was actively shopping Diggs. Remember the "Ready for watever" and "Well...." cryptic quotes from Diggs. Diggs knew something was up, Diggs had initiated it. IMO, Beane didn't do this on a lark. Josh wasn't blindsided. I've felt Beane had a plan. This is part of what makes it hard for me to accept - this is Beane's plan? The C Samuel/rookie Coleman/Shakir/Kincaid/Cook core?

Well you did say "literally 0% chance" which came across pretty conclusive. Now with each passing day your point is looking on more on target. Hard days for me to handle. I've felt the Bills weapons have been pretty good. And I've always followed Beane's logic. I could see giving G Davis a bigger role. I even could see Crowder and even McKenzie for bigger roles. And this year I was hoping for a bigger role from Shakir - or at least maintain the role he had at the end of the year to extend throughout the season, same with Kincaid. But I'm not on board with this year's moves. The idea that you go from Diggs/Davis/Shakir/Kincaid/Cook to C Samuel/rookie Coleman/Shakir/Kincaid/Cook is a shocking downgrade. My evaluation of Beane's work is primarily based on the off-season moves and their expected talent level for the upcoming season. As it stands, IMO, this is by far his worst off-season. Is he really going to do a rebuild in the middle of Josh's prime?

That would only be if Tua doesn't hold out now. It's now that Tua has the upper hand. Very risky IMO for Tua to go into this season without a mega-deal, he could easily get a career ending concussion. If the Fins play hard ball and don't cave, they won't have a QB this year worth anything and Tua will be at his same market value next year since he wouldn't have gotten hurt.

"Ready for watever."