BillsFanForever19

With who? Steven Nelson and Stephon Gilmore (not that he was ever a real option) were signed by other teams recently. Those that are left are career journeyman or guys really long in the tooth. They're just a band aid and we'd just be pushing out having to Draft a legitimate starter to another season. And again, you have to think logically here. If this were the plan, we'd have attacked it in Free Agency. They aren't going to take a starting position and just say "eh, we'll just take whoever's left over after the Draft who will accept our low-ball offer bc they don't have a choice. In the meantime, we'll just let everyone get scooped up and take just anybody who's left". And Beane is already paying Tre too CB money. So he's not going to turn around and pay top CB money on the other side too. Especially with the players who become FA's next season, when guys like Josh, Von, and Diggs' cap numbers rise significantly. A 3rd Round Pick and a Journeyman FA doesn't cut it. Especially when you consider Tre might not be available to start the season. We'll sign a guy for depth and to provide some help with Tre out. But it's not someone you rely on to start for this team long term and you're not going to pay them long term. You mean like every CB that was drafted in Round 1 last season? They all started by Week 3 at the latest and are entrenched starters now. Or maybe like Tre White? Who we started from Day 1 after drafting him at 27. Guys taken in Round 1 are taken there for a reason. You start them. And you yourself question whether you start a 1st Round Rookie. So then what sense does it make to start a 3rd Round pick? With Tre out to start the season, even if we sign a Joe Haden type band-aid, in your scenario we're starting Dane Jackson or a 3rd Round pick on the other side. You don't ignore positions with gaping holes on the 53 to address positions you have to fill in a couple years.

This speaks to something that drives me nuts with fans. You can personally dislike a player we sign or extend. You can question whether they're the right guy or not. But when the moves are made, you have to take emotion out of it and look at things logically as to what role they were signed for. You don't sign people or extend people and then immediately cut them. You don't like Mitch Morse? Well, they just gave him an extension. So they aren't going to cut him. They'd have done that instead of extending him if the plan were to replace him this season. And you're not going to pay him what he's being paid to be a backup. Disappointed in the O.J. Howard signing? Well we only keep two Tight Ends active and the past couple years we've only had two Tight Ends on the 53. Dawson Knox isn't going anywhere this season. And we didn't sign Howard to immediately cut him or make him inactive. He signed for 3.5 million, 3.2 guaranteed. This isn't a Jacob Hollister situation (who signed for 1.1 with 100k guaranteed). Not a fan of Rodger Saffold or question Ryan Bates ability to be a long term starter? Saffold is a Pro Bowler who signed for 6.2 million with 5.9 guaranteed. He's starting this season. Bates was signed to be a starter in Chicago to a 17 million dollar contract over 4 seasons, 9 million guaranteed. While being a good contract for a starter, he wouldn't have paid that for a depth guy. And he wouldn't have taken the opportunity to start elsewhere away from him for less of an opportunity here. He's starting this season. Long story short, you can dislike a move. But that doesn't mean you can just act like it didn't happen and expect Beane to do better, by your standards.

I'm really high on this idea and I don't think it's crazy to think a move with the Giants is possible. The New York Giants have two picks in the top 10. Joe Schoen and Brandon Beane have a close relationship. The Giants will likely want to draft a QB next season and will likely want two picks in Round 1 next season to do it. Schoen was here when we took guys like Cody Ford and A.J. Epenesa with premium picks. I could easily see them being interested in moving from 7 to 25, picking up our first next season, and being interested in trying to revitalize Ford or Epenesa with a change of scenery.

I totally agree with this. I see us doubling up on WR this Draft, with an emphasis on speed. Hodgins and Stevenson were drafted so late that they were essentially UDFA's and failed to impress in Training Camp, Practice, or in the opportunities that they were given. Hodgins was cut after Training Camp and sat on the Practice Squad. Maybe one or both end up there this season, but I don't see either making the 53.

This is just flat out baffling. You recognize we need "not one, but two additions" at CB while saying you only really have faith in our Nickel CB outside of Tre White (who we may not have to start the season). But you list replacing Mitch Morse, who we literally just gave an extension to as our number one need? Followed by Tight End, while we still have Dawson Knox on the roster as well as having signed O.J. Howard? Followed by Offensive Guard after signing Pro Bowl Guard Rodger Saffold and matching the Bears long term multi-million dollar offer deal to Ryan Bates, both to start? And you list Defensive End as a bigger need than Cornerback after replacing Jerry Hughes with Von Freakin' Miller. Btw you do know he's not actually a Linebacker or playing Linebacker, right? Citing Jerry Hughes as a huge loss? You did watch Jerry Hughes the past two seasons, right? Teams kill for quality Defensive Ends and he still hasn't been signed or visited anyone. This isn't an outlier opinion. These are flat out incorrect opinions. Though you are entitled to your wrong opinions, I guess.

Insane, but a moot point. Gilmore wasn't coming remotely close to vet minimum. Or anywhere remotely close to what we're looking to pay for someone who's role is to be, at most, a starter for a few games until Gilmore is ready alongside a 1st or 2nd Round Rookie, Dane Jackson, and Taron Johnson in the Nickel, and depth off the bench beyond that, for the duration of 1 year. We're paying Tre White top Cornerback money. We aren't going to pay two Cornerbacks top CB money. The only way to get a long term solid 2nd Cornerback is to Draft one. It was obvious to me that was the plan before Free Agency and it's crystal clear now.

Gilmore was always asking for money. His price range was reportedly originally around 14 per. It's why he lasted so long. In the end, he settled for 11.5 per. The idea we were ever seriously a player is laughable. Beane probably made a phone call when he was around so late, found out where the other teams still involved were at, and that was the end of the conversation.

He was a Pro Bowl Guard last season. He was signed to start. When Beane said this, he was also surely referring to Ryan Bates and Ike Boettger also being FA's, so they'd have to be retained or replaced. We retained both. Bates was signed to an offer sheet to the Bears which would have saw him start. I highly doubt we matched the multi-million dollar offer for any less of an opportunity. In Dawkins, Saffold, Morse, Bates, and Brown - our starting line is set for this season, regardless of how you feel about Saffold or Bates. Bringing in Aaron Kromer, who is widely considered one of the best coaches for the Offensive Line in the entire league was also something that should be looked at as a move to help protect Josh Allen. We also signed Greg Mancz who has 32 starts in his career as well as 4 just last season to be depth at Interior Offensive Line. Also brought back Bobby Hart. Granted, most fans aren't, well, a fan. But obviously Beane and McDermott see something in him because he just won't go away. Long story short, we have done more than just Saffold. He's made a lot of moves on the Offensive Line this offseason. Probably more than any other position. And Tommy Doyle is entering Year 2 and I think they'd like to see if Aaron Kromer can revitalize Cody Ford's career, given the premium pick we selected him with in 2019. Whether you like the moves or not, he has his starting O-Line for this season. I could see some mid round picks for depth and developmental. But I'd be shocked to see a Lineman selected in Round 1.

No, I got my Von Miller Jersey from the Bills store about a week and a half ago. The black outline is still there. Just a photo quality thing.

My issue with Pickens is the one thing Beane and McDermott have been preaching all offseason is needing speed. I think that's what we're looking for in a WR addition in the Draft. Pickens runs 4.47, which isn't slow - but it's not exceptionally fast either. I think our WR board would have guys like Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Chris Olave, Jahan Dotson, Christian Watson, Skyy Moore, Alec Pierce, Calvin Austin III, Velus Jones Jr., Bo Melton, and Tyquan Thornton, in that order. 4.42 being the cut off point (in Dotson), and preferably faster than that.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/04/15/running-backs-likely-to-be-shut-out-of-this-years-first-round/ PFT says the same thing I've been saying all offseason. Hall and Walker are good backs. But they aren't on the level of prospects that the two that went in the First last season were. You do NOT take one in the First Round.

I'm sure the Bills "interest" was checking with his agent when he was still available this late in Free Agency to see if they could get a deal, being a Super Bowl favorite. When that wasn't a possibility, they said "okay, thanks for your time". If we had serious interest, we would have been one of his visits and/or we would have gotten it done early in FA.

I like Christian Watson. But there is NO WAY you pick him over Garrett Wilson or Jameson Williams. None. I wouldn't take him over Olave either.

Probably have to knock off around a mil for Bobby Hart. Another around 3 for Draft Picks. And Beane won't want to go into the season at 0. But it's still a little more wiggle room than most had projected for us. I believe the plan is still to Draft a long term cost controlled CB with a premium draft pick and then to sign the best vet CB that's desperate before Training Camp at a bargain one year deal. Maybe a Joe Haden or a Bryce Callahan type.

How do we clear 10 million in cap at anytime? 🤨 And if we can literally do whatever we want at CB and can supposedly come up with an unlimited supply of money whenever we want and playing a Rookie is a concern - then why do you suggest we haven't done anything and have let the well pretty much dry up?

Doing a trade up or two for a DT when we have Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, and Tim Settle under multi year deals (as well as Jordan Phillips for this season) with the amount of holes we already need to fill elsewhere this year doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

It won't change the plan. After the signing of Bobby Hart and then money we need to sign our Draft Picks, we only have 4-4.5 million in Cap Space. And with the Diggs deal done, we're about out of ways to clear up any more space - until after the Draft or Training Camp where we may make some releases that could free up some space, depending on how things play out. And even if something big became available and we had the money that we don't have - Beane isn't the type to pay what we're paying Tre on one side and give a big ole' bag to another CB on the other side. Which is why I fully expect a top pick so that we can have another solid CB opposite Tre, long term and cost controlled. I'd expect some help in the form of a veteran with Tre possibly out for the first few games. But it will definitely be a bargain and of the one year variety because after this season, the amount of players we'll need to re-sign or replace is a massive list.

The plan is obvious. A 1st or 2nd Round CB and the best veteran willing to come at a bargain left standing when the musical chairs stop before Training Camp.

Gilmore is not happening. After what we need for Draft Picks and the Bobby Hart signing, we have around 4.5 million. Gilmore's asking price is reportedly somewhere between 10-14 million.

You're right. In the case of Eric Stokes and Patrick Surtain II, it took a whole full week or two. But every single one was starting within the first few weeks of the season and ended the season as a starter and is listed as a starting Cornerback on their teams depth chart this season. And it's funny you should mention, Kyle Fuller. From just last season: That's right, Fuller was playing so bad last season, they added his reps to a 1st Round Rookie CB *gasp* These guys you're mentioning are still on the market for a reason. You absolutely would not start Fuller over Booth. Even if you did, it wouldn't be more than a week or two before Booth took over. And as for the "lot of cash" from the Diggs signing, it freed up 6.1 million. Add in where we were prior, plus another 1 million or so in savings from the Ryan Bates signing (in relation to the tender he was on) - it put us at approximately 8.3 under the cap. Then we signed Bobby Hart. Factor in the 3 or so we need for Draft Picks - we'll be about 4.5 million or so under the cap. We'll be able to get a bargain, but it's not the "lot of cash" you were suggesting and certainly not enough for a Gilmore level signing. Especially when you consider Beane (like most GMs) don't like to go into the season at 0.

I'm so confused by this post. You say you expect a major run on WR's between 17-24, but then say you think the majority of the best WR's won't be drafted in the First Round? And are you saying you think the only WR's worth taking in Round 1 are Treylon Burks and Christian Watson? 🤨

Uh huh. This doesn't reek of someone putting out Intel to Lance hoping that it will make him fall or anything like that 🙄

Exactly this. I don't think they're completely closed off from the idea of moving on from him. Especially knowing what it will probably cost them. But it won't come this offseason. Regardless of how anyone feels about his production (personally, I'm a bit more in his corner than most around here) - they realize that he is the signal caller of the #1 Defense statistically in the NFL. They're not going to make such a massive change and hope that a Rookie will do it just as well, right now. I also think they're a bit sympathetic to the amount that's on his plate. People need to keep in mind that this Defense generally utilizes only 2 LB's instead of the normal 3 in a 4-3 or even 4 in a 3-4. This significantly widens the gaps and creates a much larger margin for error. Beane's already said he's going to let this season play out before any extension talk. I think they also feel that a lot of his less than stellar play is compounded by a lack of pass rush and consistent average to below average play opposite Ed Oliver at DT in front of him. I don't think it's a coincidence they brought in Edmunds' DT from Virginia Tech in Tim Settle. I believe they think he will improve with the additions they made on the Line. I don't think it makes much sense to let him go before they see if the investments pay dividends for him. Long story short - the pitchfork crowd needs to face reality and come to grips with at least one more season. They're not going to risk entrusting a Rookie to take over such an important role and mess with the continuity at the core of their top Defense, the year we're Super Bowl favorites.

The former could be true. There's been a lot of evidence of Beane taking guys they never met with.

Tbh I think I like Walker more than Hall. To me they're 1 and 1a. I don't get the absolute obsession people have with Hall but not Walker. Walker won all the awards and even ran 1/100th of a second faster than Hall.