BillsFanForever19

Yes. And although as I stated, I don't see it as likely - McKenzie is not the stone cold locks that Diggs, Beasley, Davis, and Sanders are. He's essentially on a 1 year league minimum deal. So it's not completely out of the realm of possibility that 2/3 of Stevenson, Hodgins, and Kumerow are so undeniable that they cut McKenzie loose. Especially if Stevenson outright wins the KR job.

I only mentioned where he was drafted bc you were mentioning players drafted in the bottom half of the 6th and that didn't apply with Stevenson. Ultimately, it's extremely early in Training Camp to be crowning anyone. But I can't help but feel that the Kumerow hype from fans and the media is getting overblown simply because Rodgers raved about him. We're talking about a guy who has been cut 4 times in the past year (once by GB, once by us, twice by NO). He's had some reported good practices. But so has Stevenson. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out. And yes, it's a good problem we have right now. But my gut has Stevenson over Kumerow and Hodgins.

No, I wouldn't. But another thing to keep in mind with Stevenson is that while he was a 6th Rounder - he was our 5th selection this year and in the top half of that round. I don't see our last 6th Rounder Rachad Wildgoose staying on (as our only loss at CB from last season was Norman and Dane Jackson will fill his roster spot on the 53), nor do I see our 7th Rounder Jack Anderson making it. I'm also not high on Isaiah Hodgins' chances as I feel he lacks the speed or return ability that is lacking in our WR core. So those are some Vallejo/McCloud cuts that will come this year that you wouldn't see in other years. But, I do feel that Stevenson (who does have those traits) and our 2nd 6th Damar Hamlin (who will fill Dean Marlowe's roster spot with little competition for it) won't be subjected to possibly being poached.

There could be something to that. But I think what it ultimately boils down to is a general disregard of the importance of Special Teams. Seems a portion of the fan base feels like roster spots being used for players who contribute almost exclusively on Special Teams like Taiwan Jones or Tyler Matakevitch - are a waste. That they'd sacrifice a really good Special Teams player for a guy who contributes more on Offense or Defense while also playing Special Teams, even if they aren't as good there. Or in Kumerow's case, a complete unknown on Special Teams. Because apparently anybody can do it and do it well 🙄

You're talking about replacing a guy who is our top Special Teams player and one of the better gunners in the NFL with a guy who has barely taken snaps on Special Teams. What's your reasoning here? Do you think you can put just anybody back there to play Special Teams? Taiwan Jones is not going anywhere. We're probably going to already have to cut one of our core Special Teamers in Daryl 'Bam Bam' Johnson from a pure numbers standpoint at Defensive End. If we weren't interested in having Taiwan back on Special Teams, we wouldn't have signed him to a new deal this offseason. Also, Stevenson was our 5th pick in this Draft. I'd call our 7th and 8th selections longshots. But we're not cutting more than a 3rd of our Draft. Especially when Stevenson provides speed and return ability, something our core needed addressing this offseason.

I do not see him as a lock. I've actually been asking the same question the past few weeks. Specifically, why does everyone speak of him so glowingly while completely discounting Stevenson? They were both Draft Picks of the team, in the same round. And personally - for what this WR core is lacking - I value Stevenson's speed and return ability over what Hodgins provides. Ultimately, it comes down to 4 guys battling for two spots. Isaiah McKenzie, Marquez Stevenson, Isaiah Hodgins, and Jake Kumerow. I think McKenzie's versatility and repore with Allen speaks for itself. Then it's two draft picks and Kumerow. While I could see them giving up on one of the picks - I can't see them giving up both.

One can argue that we're entering The Legend of Jake Kumerow territory as well here...

Not true. He was put on Injured Reserve. Widely considered to have been done specifically to not subject him to possibly being poached from the Practice Squad.

You have to cut them to put them on the Practice Squad. And if they make it to the Practice Squad, anyone can sign them off at any time. I like Kumerow but we know what he is. He's floated around the league and been released multiple times. These are two developmental players who could be lottery tickets we've put investments into. Maybe one doesn't cut it. But I don't see us bailing on both for Kumerow.

Specifically, Marquez Stevenson. We needed a true speedster in our WR core going into this offseason. We also needed a Kick Returner to replace Roberts. Stevenson was drafted for both. I'm not convinced Isaiah McKenzie is the man for the job. He was cut by the Broncos for fumbling too many returns. A whopping 6 in 2017 and 2 more in 2018. When Roberts was unavailable, we often put Micah Hyde on Punt Returns simply because of their faith in his ability to cleanly retrieve them. Which speaks volumes of their faith or lack thereof on McKenzie. And yes - what you're ultimately saying is you'd trade not one, but two 6th Round developmental talents, of which we don't know what they'd become at this point - for Kumerow. A guy that has been around the league for a number of years and one we've cut multiple times before. To me, that seems unlikely. One of them will stick, my gut saying Stevenson. And while I don't believe McKenzie will be our Returner, his versatility and what he has provided in our Offense trumps that of Kumerow.

Cutting two draft picks to keep Kumerow? I don't see it.

Why not? Because you generally only keep 5-6 WR's at a time. I've seen us carry 7 once or twice, but it's not very common. Plus, this season everyone wants us to keep a 6th Defensive End and a 6th Cornerback as well. And you can't keep an extra guy at all these positions without severely hindering the 53 at depth in a number of places to make it happen. So long story short, which two players do you cut at WR when your roster looks like this? Stefon Diggs Cole Beasley Emmanuel Sanders Gabe Davis Isaiah McKenzie Marquez Stevenson (2021 Draft Pick) Isaiah Hodgins (2020 Draft Pick) Jake Kumerow I'm a Kumerow fan. But we're so deep, it's really uphill sledding for him.

Don't get me wrong, I think McKenzie makes the roster regardless. He has value in this core given his speed, ability out of the slot, rushing skill, and chemistry with Josh. His overall versatility will give him a spot on the 53. But I see it being the same role as he's had since he's been here. Which is not as the primary return man. I see it being a 3 person competition for the last WR on the roster - Stevenson v. Hodgins v. Kumerow. And right now, I value Stevenson's speed and return ability above the other two's size and red zone ability. And I, at least, put him on an even keel in the competition with Hodgins. Again, I don't understand the complete confidence and infatuation fans have with Hodgins and indifference towards Stevenson when they both have the same level of experience in so much as a preseason game - which is zero.

And I think he has a much better chance of doing that then people are giving him credit for. McKenzie was cut by the Broncos and ended up here for fumbling too many returns. He had 6 fumbles in 2017, 3 were lost. In 2018, he had 2 more and lost one of them. This is why he wasn't used as a Returner for us very often. Even when we were down a return man, we would often put Micah Hyde back there to return Punts because he was more trusted to cleanly handle them. That combined with us drafting a return man in Stevenson and I don't see it being a done deal that McKenzie's just being handed the job. I think it's at least an open competition between the two. Or possibly just Stevenson's job in their eyes outright.

He's one of our core Special Teamers and was re-signed this offseason for that very reason. Not gonna happen. Especially when you consider we're already probably going to have to cut one of our other core Special Teamers in Daryl 'Bam Bam' Johnson from a pure numbers standpoint at Defensive End.

Everybody is sleeping on Marquez Stevenson. He was drafted in the same round as Hodgins was last season and 99.9% of Bills fans are strangely raving about and penciling in Hodgins on the 53 while cutting Stevenson - when they've both played the same amount of snaps in the NFL. I feel that Stevenson's strengths of speed and return ability are needed more in this WR core than Hodgins size and red zone ability. McKenzie has shown a proclivity for fumbling in the return game throughout his career. They generally rolled out Micah Hyde to return Punts over him. There's a reason why a specialist was drafted this season. The way I see it, Marquez Stevenson, Isaiah Hodgins, and Jake Kumerow are battling for one spot. I tend to feel that Kumerow making the 53 is pretty much slim to none - short of injuries or something else unforeseen. I think they hope he'll be on our Practice Squad to call up in the event of injury. Which means GB can sign him to their 53 whenever they want anyways. I'd get on the phone with them now. If you can get something for him, do it. I like Touchdown Jesus quite a bit. But if you can get an asset for someone you'll lose for nothing anyways - get ahead of the game.

He was supposedly holding out for a trade, then he reported, now he's requesting a trade again? Even if we had the money, even if we hadn't drafted 3 DE's in the first two rounds over the past two seasons, even if we didn't tell Addison if he takes a paycut he can stay - he's 31 years old, switching teams, and coming off surgery in which he hasn't played in almost a full calendar year. For what it would cost in picks, money to keep him happy, and how our depth chart stands right now - no way.

I don't see either being on the roster if we sign Short. Our Interior would be Ed Oliver, Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short, and Vernon Butler. Especially when you consider Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison, Gregory Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, and Carlos Basham are all locks at the End positions and some are pushing for Obada to stay as well.

I'm going with Marquez Stevenson. Isaiah Hodgins may be good. But I'm somewhat baffled by the amount of buzz and confidence from fans he has for a guy who was a 6th Round pick last season and has never so much as played a down of Pre-Season football. Let's see what he's got first. I see almost everyone looking at him as a lock and Stevenson as the odd man out. But I feel speed and Kick Return ability is more of a need in this core than size and red zone ability. And Stevenson was drafted by this team in the very same Round as Hodgins.

Or Kawann Short. Honestly, I feel better about our Corner's than I do our 1-Tech and Tight End situations.

With his injury history over the past couple seasons, it would be a gamble to rely on him to start and take the majority of the snaps. As a rotational piece with Star, he'd be perfect. Especially given our lack of depth at 1-Tech. And our affinity for Carolina Panthers 😛 I'd be surprised if we weren't one of the teams in on this.

I believe that was in response to him discussing his views and stance on the pandemic and vaccination. In my opinion, releasing to the public information on results of testing inside the facility and whether or not that player who tested positive was or wasn't vaccinated (whether or not he mentioned them by name) is a different situation.

Not getting vaccinated is not against team rules. But I have to imagine going to social media to break news on positive tests in the facility could be...

Whether we make a deal for Ertz or not - I find it weird that Beane has been sitting on 2 open roster spots for as long as he has. Now 3 spots after releasing Nazair Jones. I'm used to the roster always being filled at all times with guys being released when guys are signed. Wonder what his plans are for these open spots?

I can't believe Old Navy's quality is that much better than anywhere else that it's worth spending the 12+ hours or so of driving back and forth from Maryland to Buffalo. And whatever you'd save on their price point versus online you'd be more than negating in gas money. But hey man, you do you.