GASabresIUFan

and teams are getting almost zero bang for the buck.

I'm not saying don't sign Shakir. I like the signing. What I am saying is that people need to re-think the group think of top flight RBs are a dime a dozen. They aren't and the best teams seem to have good RBs. The truth is WRs are a dime a dozen and they burn out just like RBs do. My greatest criticism of Beane was for failing to invest premium picks on skill players to support Josh. He finally started doing it with Cook, Coleman and Kincaid the last 3 drafts. Now people want to throw away Cook because they think, wrongly, that he's easily replaced. They argue that any 4th rd RB can so the same job. How did Singletary and Moss work out? Why were all the top 6 rushers in the NFL last year top 2 round players. Why are 6 of 8 elite RBs listed in the PFF grade 1st and 2nd rd players? The answer is pretty simple, the scouts do know what they are doing and premium picks are premium picks for a reason. The bottom line is keep your best players if you can.

This is the problem with conventional thinking about any sport. The Bills score 30-31 points a game. That equates to about 4 TDs and a FG. To produce those points, the Bills need to average about 370 yards per game or about 6300 yards per season. Why do I care where the yards come from as long as I get the yardage? Why would I pay 15 mill for a 900 yard WR if I can get a 1400 yard RB for the same price who is effective in both the running game, protecting the QB and the passing game? There was 27 WRs last season costing their teams $15 mill or more in cap. Only one of the 27 produced 1400+ yards and only 3 produced 1250 yards. Only 4 of the 27 produced double digits in TDs. That doesn't seem like a good allocation of limited cap space.

The pendulum is swinging back toward the RBs. With the exception of KC, nearly all the playoff teams had a nearly 50/50 run pass balance. Some of that was helped by mobile QBs like Allen, Hurts and Lamar, but so did the performance of gifted backs like Robinson, Cook, Barkely, Henry etc... Also their were only 16 1000 yard backs last year vs 22 1000 yard receivers.

So Shakir is worth $15 mill a season and Cook isn't LOL. Shakir has 1443 yards and 6 TDs the last 2 season on 148 touches. Cook has 2834 yards and 24 TDs the last 2 season on 520 touches, has made 2 Pro Bowls and was just voted to the NFL top 101 players by PFF. People who want to trade Cook instead of extending his contract need to re-think their priorities. I'm glad our management is finally investing in our drafted and developed skill players. It's long overdue.

If I can get Egbuka at 30, I draft him.

These numbers are probably close given how deep last year's WR class was. Worthy was the 5th WR taken in 2024 with pick 28. Then Pearsall (6th), Legette (7th), Coleman (8th), McConkey (9th), and Polk (10th) with picks 31 to 37. Egbuka and Golden would fit in nicely with that group.

Oh good, another trade Cook thread. Maybe just maybe we should invest in a player other than Allen who is central to all parts of the offense. I'm not saying sign him to a ten year extension, but is $15 mill so out of whack for a player who racks up 1400+ yards from scrimmage and is critical to both the running and passing game. Let's put that contract into perspective. There were 27 WRs costing over 15 mill last year. How many of those 27 contributed 1400 yards of offense? One! Only Justin Jefferson. How many of these overpaid WRs had over 1250 yards? 3 - Jeudy, St Brown and Jefferson. The best WRs touch the ball about 100-120 times a season. Cook, even in a rotation, is touching the ball 250 times. I'd rather pay Cook 15 mill per season for years 5-7, then waste 15 mill+ on a "No. 1" WR. (Cooks years 1-4 are his rookie contract). https://overthecap.com/position/wide-receiver https://www.nfl.com/stats/player-stats/category/receiving/2024/REG/all/receivingyards/DESC Maybe, just maybe, we should keep a star offensive player that we drafted and developed. Given McD's comments on Cook, I suspect management feels like I do. As to the draft, draft a WR early and another late and lets see if some cheap spaghetti sticks. With the other premium picks get a DL and a CB. If Johnson walks, grab a RB mid to late to add talent to the depth. I like GA's Etienne as a replacement for Johnson.

Saw an X poll about trading for Garrett for two 1st rd picks or signing an FA edge rusher and using the 2025 1st and the 2 2nds on DL, CB and WR. I’m for option 2, but I wouldn’t complain too hard if we get Garrett as long as we keep the 2 2nds.

Let's put in on the 50. That makes about as much sense. Put it back on the 25. That's good enough. Give the defense a friggin chance.

The Who concert with The Clash and David Johansen in Sept 1982. I think done earlier posts forgot the actual headliner.

In the Athletic today they suggested re-signing Douglas for 1 year at $10 mill with a $7 mill cap hit with 3 mill in 2 void years. Then using a good draft pick on a CB in the draft. I’d suggest actually drafting 2 CBs like we did in 2022 draft.

We don't have to bring in every ex-Bill or ex-Panther (or in this case ex-bill and ex-panther) Maybe we can try for some better players? Nothing wrong with wanting Elam gone and to upgrade the CBs on this roster. It's a necessity, but bringing back Jackson doesn't move the needle.

I don't think it changes his 2026 void year cost.

DaQuan Jones is leading the most likely cap casualty after Miller. The savings if we dump Jones is only about 1.65 million. He also has a dead cap in 2026 of 3.7 regardless if he stays or goes. Unless Beane and Co think Jones is done as an NFL player, I don't think he'll be cut. Given his cap in 2026, I also don't think he can reasonably be restructured. FYI - Reminder that the four largest straight up cap savings are 1 - Miller 8.397 2- Edwards 4.03 3. AJE 3.339 4. Trubisky 2.5 By the way: This blurb from ESPN has made me re-think keeping Miller at all. June 1 designation here we come. https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/43903031/2025-nfl-offseason-salary-cap-questions-32-teams-contracts-cuts-trades

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story?id=43521213&_slug_=2025-nfl-free-agency-top-50-ranking-players-available-offseason-higgins-darnold

It’s funny, but I don’t think that was his best season. I thought then and think now he was better in 1975 when he had 1800 yards rushing and an additional 400+ in the passing game. He had only 70 receiving yards in 1973.

For the Bills Kemp, Gilcrest, Dubenion Kelly, Thomas, Reed Allen, Cook, Shakir (so far)

I’ve added a couple of polls.

She probably does play piano. Hard to believe this is her uncle. Then again this is her cousin

That’s what we said last year. Beane then traded Bates, dumped Morse, moved McGovern to center and moved Edwards into the starting lineup and created the best line we’ve had despite a very very good year in 2023. He also eliminated most of the experienced depth and went with a bunch of kids as depth and they played well. That said, I am generally in agreement with you, but Beane is not predictable.

Still no. He was that bad.

except he was terrible last year to such an extent McD benched him on obvious passing downs. That makes him useless imho. I also think AJE needs to go as the Bills must bring in someone better (such as Crosby, Garrett etc..) to improve QB pressure. As to the cap, Joe B at the Athletic has a really good article discussing creating about 37 mill in cap space through mostly contract restructuring with only Miller as a potential cap casualty. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6112793/2025/02/05/bills-2025-offseason-roster-salary-cap/

We got a 5th for Bates last year and he was a backup with a $4 mill cap hit. Edwards is a starter and $4.9 is a relative bargain for a starting guard. I suggested a 3rd for him in the OP and would be very disappointed if we got less than a 4th for him.

It’s easy to say to dump Jones and Miller, but then they have to be replaced. If Beane & Co think they are done as NFL players then moving on is the right thing to do regardless on cap hits. However, Miller was effective last season in a situational role and we don’t have an obvious successor. Solomon showed some effectiveness, but had significant tackling issues and I’m not sure he’s any better than Miller. Jones had a mediocre season, but Carter didn’t look a replacement which means Beane will have to also find a FA to replace him or start a rookie from the draft. I’d move on from AJE before Jones or Miller. Fixing the DL will be critical this offseason. Beane is going to have to make the right moves like he did with the Oline last year.