JohnNord

If you are Higgins and his agent you have to be fuming that Cincinnati is using the franchise tag. Look at those WR options. There’s no way Cinci can pay what he’s worth on the open market this offseason and next year might be a different market. So that tag will likely cost him millions.

I’m in this boat as well - especially if they could get him on a one-year deal.

No GM in his right mind is going to trade for Adams and inherit his massive contract, when they can wait for the Jets to release him. If he’s smart, he’ll play for a real contender like Buffalo on a one-year deal. But knowing him he’ll either follow Aaron Rodgers or take the money like DHop.

Correct. It’s also the same argument for giving Josh the MVP over Lamar Jackson. Kelly’s team was loaded with talent (including a RB that won MVP himself) not just on offense but also on the defensive side as well. You can argue 3/4 AFCCG’s were won win defense and/or an exceptional run game as opposed to passing. In fact I’d argue Kelly didn’t play well in 1991 or 1992 AFCCG. Not taking anything away from Kelly. He was a great QB and a HOF’er and his mentality, toughness, and leadership set the tone for the team. The fact that he was one of the first QB’s to call plays on the fly was impressive as well. I just think that as a QB Josh Allen is far superior.

This is tough for me because I have no knowledge before Kelly, so I’ll omit those QB’s. But I definitely think Allen is #1 and Kelly #2. These rest is of that list is tough to make out. I’d probably say: 1. Allen 2. Kelly 3. Flutie 4. Tyrod 5. Bledsoe 6. Fitz 7. Reich 8. Orton 9. Ej Manuel, Trent Edwards, JP Losman

The problem is that while Rosseau has flashed at times, he has yet to do it consistently in 4 seasons. Are you really going to pay him his market value? It reminds me a lot of Tremaine Edmunds. I think Rosseau is good but he needs to show more to get that monster contract

The age excuse HAS to go. It’s a bit overrated to me. We heard it with Tremaine and now with Rosseau and Coleman. #2 if the cap does increase as you predict, they can save money in 2025 by re-signing him and then kick the can down the road when it comes to future money. But perhaps the biggest reason to re-sign Rosseau could be the opportunity to have him play exclusively on the left side where Leonard Floyd and Von Miller previously played.

That wasn’t Rivera as much as it was management and potentially McKissics’ agent. The then GM Martin Mayhew just “retired.” Ironically Beane’s old mentor in Carolina Marty Hurney was working as an executive with Washington. Possibly - but that would be two pay cuts in consecutive seasons. Taking the first pay cut was very rare. Some have speculated that Bills will do him a solid by keeping Von around this season.

I think you’re completely off base here. We have no idea what happened with Diggs but I think he was more upset about the lack of targets than he was about the system. If the Bills added a crop of “big bodied WR’s” for run blocking why did they sign MVS as a field stretcher last season? Why did they sign Curtis Samuel who isn’t that type of WR. Finally, if they only wanted big WR’s why would they trade for Amari Cooper? He also doesn’t fit that type. If Buffalo wanted to run the football they wouldn’t have signed Dalton Kincaid. He is a terrible blocker which is why they can’t run 12 personnel. It was pretty clear they envisioned him as a “big slot” rather than an inline TE. Buffalo receivers struggled to get separation all season long. This is why they didn’t exhibit the Ken Dorsey passing attack like you advocate for. They didn’t have the right personnel.

Rapp and Bishop are the starting safeties in 2025. We’d all like to see upgrades at WR and DL but almost every player at that position is under contract next season. It’s not necessity. That’s why I challenge the notion that there are “holes” on the roster. IMO this happens when you lose starters like last season The roster is in pretty good shape headed toward the draft and free agency.

But why do you think they can’t push the ball downfield? What receivers do they have that can consistently get open? That’s why they leaned into the running game - it maximizes their talent of their personnel.

Warren Sharp was once a rising star but today he’s essentially a clickbait merchant who’s been shown up by many football players. I’ve heard some of the local media allude that he has some sort of vendetta against Sean McDermott which is why he advocates firing him. It’s tough to take anything he says seriously, as no legitimate media will do anything with him. Total BS on the offense. He wanted a balanced attack because it proved to be more effective this season. Really? What “holes?” The majority of the starters are returning.

Correct - but Buffalo won their final 5 games of the season by an average of 17 points. They were on a roll. TB who’d go on to win the Super Bowl was 7-5 and finished the season strong as well. I don’t think this diminishes their victory. 2022 is a good choice. It just seemed like they were out of gas on both sides of the football by the end of the year

IDK about the 2024 team. Josh had been playing his best football for sure, the OL was Top 5 and Cook was emerging on the fringe of his position. But aside from that, what did they really have? A group of backup WR’s and a very average defense (at best). I think McDermott deserves so much more credit that what he gets for 2024, but from a talent standpoint, this Bills team was not in the upper echelon. You can make the argument for 1999, 2020, and 2021. The 1995 team was very strong as well - especially on defense - though many of the offensive players were on their last legs.

I completely trust Brandon Beane to navigate this situation either way. He has done a nice job of re-signing players early before they hit the market (Spencer Brown) and also passing on players who would command a bigger contract than their value (Tremaine Edmunds). He also been very good at managing the cap. These are the highest paid NFL running backs: Christian McCaffrey, $16 million Alvin Kamara, $15 million Jonathan Taylor, $14 million Saquon Barkley, $12.6 million Josh Jacobs, $12 million Joe Mixon, $9.9 million Derrick Henry, $8 million D'Andre Swift, $8 million Tony Pollard, $7.3 million James Conner, $7 million Cook isn’t getting $15 million from any NFL team, including Buffalo. I think $11M-$12M is most likely and I wouldn’t be surprised if he signs for that amount in Buffalo.

A no-brainer for Buffalo to take a flier as a UDFA

Continuity only matters if you’ve been winning! It would drive me crazy to hear Russ Brandon and others preach “continuity” with Dick Jauron and Chan Gailey football teams will 6 games a season. Continuity for the sake of continuity alone is flawed

That’s why this topic is insanely ridiculous and futile. What’s next? ”If Bruce Smith were to leave Buffalo in 1991, could you blame him?” Get out of heeeeere! It’s also projecting the fan viewpoint onto the best player on the team. Since some fans believe McDermott is the problem, they automatically assume Josh feels the same way - when in reality there’s never been any evidence to suggest otherwise. It’s foolish to even indulge in this goofy topic.

LOL possibly one of the silliest topics ever started. You say you don’t think it will happen - then why even start this thread. For Josh to decline and extension and leave would make him look like a complete hypocrite, based on what he’s said about Buffalo. He’s staying. Case closed. Silly topic.

Yes it does take two or three seasons to evaluate a draft. But if we’re projecting, it seems to me that this draft is follows the same patterns of previous Beane drafts. Average talent in Rounds 1-3, excellent value in Rounds 4-7. I’m not that high on Coleman. I don’t think he’ll be a complete bust but I also can’t see him breaking out. He’s the same receiver in the NFL as he was in college. IMO most likely roles is WR4. Bishop is tough to evaluate. Good news is he wasn’t a liability on the field when he plays (sans 1 play versus Houston), but he also never stood out when he got reps. Not sure where he stands. I’m not high on Carter. Yes he made a nice run stop versus Tennessee but he also was one of the worst players on defense and couldn’t see the field in the postseason - not a good sign. We’re looking at a rotational defensive lineman which isn’t great for a 3rd rounder. I think Davis and Solomon will be role players, which is good return for their picks. I think Grable, SVG, and Hardy also have some potential. So overall, it’s tough to assign a grade for this draft but I also haven’t been encouraged by the Coleman and Carter picks. Which rookies would you play over current Bills starters? The only argument you can make could be Bishop over Coleman. The rest showed they weren’t ready.

I wouldn’t really call DaQuann a big swing. They signed him to starter money 2 years $14M but it seemed to me like they were filling a hole short term rather than making a big investment like they did with Star in 2018

I would disagree with this - Star was average at best for two seasons, before he peaced out during the COVID season. It was largely a bad investment by Buffalo. They signed him from Carolina for his untapped potential, but he was largely the same average DT. When Star returned in 2021 after the COVID year he just wasn’t the same player and by the end of the year the Bills made him a healthy scratch. Just a very bad signing

You forgot about Harrison Phillips, who has played better in Minnesota as is a legit starting DT. I think the big issue is they haven’t tried to take a big swing at DT since Star. Take a look at that list - it’s mostly low salaried FA’s and mid-level draft picks. Even a player like Ford who had a great season, was available deep into the offseason. So when you haven’t made much of an investment how return can you really expect? I also think part of the problem is that they signed players that don’t uniquely fit their needs at DT. Ford and Settle are best at 1TDT, and it seems like Buffalo tried playing them next to Ed Oliver. Same with DeWayne Carter. So I don’t think the problem is the scheme or the coaching. The Bills just never really made a strong attempt to address that need, though I feel that change this offseason.

I’m pretty sure Richie admitted that his language was harsh and not appropriate. What he always denied was that it was a bullying situation, and Martin’s recent comments would seem to support this.

I think the Bills know this, which is why they reset the roster last season. It’s putting them in position for a second “window” which is currently open.