BillsFanForever19

I don't understand what's to hate about them. It's a pretty innocuous look. I like them. I can understand being underwhelmed or not really caring bc it's pretty bland. But some of you are acting like they busted out some kind of multicolored, CFL monstrosity on the eyes.

Was never going to happen. First, you needed to have 21m+ in Cap Space just to be able to take on his current deal for the Trade to go through in the first place. Then, we'd have to pay him a 188m contract, 47m annually - while being last in the league in Space this year. And the following years probably aren't going to be much better with Allen's contract and the litany of extensions we did this season. Then we'd have to beat the Packers offer of 2 1st Round Picks plus perennial Pro Bowl DT Kenny Clark. So it would have to be more than 2 1st's and Ed Oliver, as their picks are thought to be slightly better than ours and Clark is probably worth more than Oliver. Problem there is if we could figure out a way to beat that offer and make it work under the cap, we'd be pretty much relying on Draft Picks alone to replace players in the coming years as money wise, we'd be nowhere. But we wouldn't be picking higher than around 60 for a few years straight. If we hadn't done a couple of the extensions we did and we hadn't spent what we spent on Joey Bosa and/or Michael Hoecht, not to mention a 3rd on Landon Jackson already - I could see it. But with everything we've done in bringing in 3 new DE's, locking up Rousseau long term, and the situation we're in now, it was a pipe dream.

This. Especially when the last award was so hotly debated. Voters probably felt the odds of a repeat are low and at the same time also felt that since Allen got the nod this year, Jackson would next year - if it were close again (and odds are it will be). I'm not the type of fan to get upset by "snub" and I think there's logic that can explain why he didn't get a vote in this. I don't think a single voter on that list is arguing that Josh Allen isn't an MVP caliber QB.

Yeah, I was wrong there. That's the first time I can remember sitting a QB in the final game that they ended up cutting. Kinda rough. If they had even an inkling that they might keep Shane over him, he should have got some run in the game.

Both of those were top quality starting players that we traded Day 2 Picks for. We're not talking about Amari Cooper level WR's or the kind of quality CB that Rasul Douglas (who was specifically traded for bc he was extremely adept at Zone coverage) was in 2023. We're talking about Practice Squad level players with "potential". You said those kind of players "get signed off the street mid season and learn enough of the playbook to play all the time", "like every season". Those two don't apply to that statement. They were starting on other teams the week before coming here. As for the names you mentioned, we don't know if Jordan Whitehead is willing to sign to a Practice Squad. Just bc he's floating out there now doesn't mean he's open to just anything. Tony Jefferson has played 24 games in total over the past FIVE seasons. He's started only 5 games over that time. I don't view him as an upgrade over Jordan Poyer. And he just re-signed to the Chargers Practice Squad, so there's no saying he had any interest in switching teams for the same role.

Who does that for us? When did that happen? Bc last year, Kareem Jackson and Lewis Cine were in our system before the season started. And Cine wasn't called upon until late into the season. When was the last time we plugged and played a Practice Squad player "off the street halfway through the season"? That's not something that happens every season with this regime. Maybe with other teams, but a lot is required of our Secondary. It's a complicated scheme. Who is the Safety that's floating around right now that would agree to a Practice Squad spot that would be an upgrade over Poyer without knowing the Defense?

The "potential" that actually matters is Cole Bishop and Jordan Hancock. If there's injuries to the Safety room or that potential isn't there this year, you want a veteran that knows the Defense that you can plug and play. Anyone but Jordan Poyer or Darrick Forrest would require learning the Defense and the Playbook while real bullets are flying. While also being the type of talent that was just put out on the street. I think you're really overreacting here. Whatever "potential" you're getting from a Practice Squad Safety here is likely the same and potentially less than we'd get from Poyer, if we have to put him in. Especially when you consider the familiarity Poyer has with what McDermott wants.

I think the obvious answers right now are T.J. Sanders or Deone Walker. But I'll go with a Dark Horse and say Dorian Strong. With Maxwell Hairston out at least 4 games and likely more than that before they really get him going and with Tre's general shakiness when it comes to health and play - Dorian Strong could potentially be given a Christian Benford-esque unexpected opportunity. And if he seizes that opportunity, he could end up surprising everyone like Christian did. He was a mid round prospect that could have went as high as 3rd or 4th Round that fell to the top of the 6th, in large part bc of being a very good Zone CB but not doing much man to man. That fits in perfect with what we do here. And he flashed a bit in Training Camp while being given a lot more work than expected out of the gate. They only kept him and Ingram outside of Benford and Tre on the Boundary. And with Beane's presser today, there's no guarantee that White is ready Week 1. That shows a lot of faith in Strong. And in the last Preseason game, they started Dorian Strong and he was the first CB pulled. So my guess is he would start.

Helluva story to go from a camp body guy signed in the last 2 weeks of the Camp/Pre-Season to making the Practice Squad. But he's still got a long way to go before he 'wrecks dreams and crushes hopes". He's still got to earn the right to stay there and separate himself from the pack before we see him on the field on Sunday's regularly.

There weren't any cuts I didn't like or thought were surprising. It was pretty much as expected. What did surprise me a little bit is that not a single player from the veteran pool of QB Mike White, WR K.J. Hamler, WR Laviska Shenault, TE Zach Davidson, OT Richard Gouraige, LB Edefuan Olofoshio, or S Darrick Forrest were brought back on the Practice Squad. I thought there were multiple people from that list, if not most, would be back on the Squad. Not a single one was a bit of a shock.

While I do think ideally they don't have to play Poyer, I do believe that unlike Hyde - Poyer has the potential to play if there's injuries. Unlike Hyde, Poyer is here in the building before Week 1. If this were just a "potentially get him a ring" thing like Hyde - I think they would have waited until later like we did with Hyde. The main reason that Hyde didn't see the field, in my opinion, was his health. He was said to have had multiple recurring stingers in 2023 after returning from his Neck injury. I think he and the NFL as a whole realized his Neck wouldn't allow him to play after that. Poyer doesn't have health issues. Also, last year, we had multiple veteran Safety's on the Practice Squad in Kareem Jackson and Lewis Cine that they could play instead of Hyde. This Practice Squad, however, only has Poyer and Sam Franklin - who is much more of a Special Teams player than he is an NFL Safety. So again, I think ideally the Safety room stays healthy and they get production from the depth chart. But if there are injuries and we need to promote a Safety, unlike Hyde - I believe they wouldn't hesitate to call up Jordan Poyer.

We do have an extra spot on the PS that we didn't use, thanks to Clayton's IPP exempt status. That said, there's now been two players that have been said to be added. Either they changed their mind on one, or someone's exiting the Squad in quick fashion:

I would assume as long as he wants to stay here and doesn't want to try a change of scenery, he'll be back.

I don't think it would be Hamlin. I think he's the first guy up after Rapp and Bishop. His contract is also guaranteed wherein a cut would cost them 750k on the general Cap and result in 2m in Dead Cap. I don't think it would be Ingram. We only kept Benford, White, Strong, and Ingram - which is generally the minimum for the Boundary. On top of that, it hasn't been said with 100% certainty that White will play Week 1. If he doesn't, that would leave us with just Benford and Strong Week 1. My money is on Cam. Like I said, they have to like what they've seen from Jordan Hancock who positionally is a clone of what Cam's been. Hancock covers that spot, Franklin covers Lewis on Special Teams, and cutting Lewis saves 1.76m on the Salary Cap - which would cover the 1.3m due on Franklin and then a little more.

It's possible, but I wouldn't be too sure about that.

If it is a 53 man roster signing, i'd look at Cam Lewis as the guy out the door to make room. WR and Safety are the only spots where we're carrying more than the minimum. And if they feel good about Jordan Hancock stepping in right away and filling that backup Hybrid Safety/Nickel (which from what he's shown is likely) and Franklin taking his spot on Special Teams - cutting him would also save 1.76m on the Cap.

I do agree that it looks like he's going to the 53. However, we did play this game a couple days ago with Jordan Phillips. And like Phillips, Franklin is a vested veteran (I actually made the mistake of thinking he wasn't in another post) - that is not subjected to Waivers. So it could be a Practice Squad signing. If it is a 53 signing, I'd look at WR or Safety to make room for him. Those are the only spots on the roster where we're carrying more than the minimum. Cam Lewis could be the guy out if they feel good about Jordan Hancock stepping in right away and filling that backup Hybrid Safety/Nickel and Franklin taking his spot on Special Teams. Cutting him would also save 1.75m on the Cap.

This is going to come off a little hot and I'm not singling you out, as I saw many posters doing this with their 53 predictions. But if you're the type of person who is surprised that Codrington made it, you're also probably the type of person that completely ignores Special Teams when putting a Roster together amd focuses 100% on what a player brings in their positional grouping on Offense and Defense. Year in and year out, they've shown that is not how this regime operates. McDermott said on Hard Knocks and says every year "multiple players are going to make this team for Special Teams alone". It's not just lip service. On multiple roster projections, I saw people cut all of the Returners we used in Training Camp and the Pre-Season. When i'd ask who the Returner is, they'd say this person or that person can handle it. Basically with a "just put someone back there, it doesn't matter" sort of mentality. And again, that's just not how they do things. When no one impressed in last year's Return competition, they went out and trade for, and rostered Brandon Codrington for the job. And that was when the Return game was marginal at best. This year, there's actually going to be Returns and the Return game has added importance. There's no way they were just going to throw Ty Johnson back there and call it a day. A roster spot was going to be given to the winner of the competition between Codrington and Shenault - who handled pretty much all of the returns in Training Camp and the Pre-Season.

You're right, I apologize. I was under the impression that the rules for who isn't subject to waivers were longer than just 4 seasons.

I wouldn't expect that. Hollins started 15 games for us last season. Our "new Hollins" is Joshua Palmer. Is he WR5 or WR6? Because we're not going to dress 6 WR's on Game Day. I'm excited for the kid that the kid made it. But I don't see him getting many opportunities, unless there's injuries and probably multiple. The focus of the passing attack from the WR position is going to be Shakir, Palmer, and Coleman. Samuel, if he can stay healthy, will be our all over the field gadget player. Again, happy for Shavers. But if you're expecting he's going to be on the field a ton and going to be putting up big numbers - I think you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

This wasn't the finale. There's another episode next week. That's where you're going to see that stuff.

For there to be a "replacement for Forrest", Forrest would need to have had a spot on the 53 man roster to replace. On top of the 3 you mentioned, there's also Hamlin and Lewis (who is a Safety and a Nickel and a ST'er). We don't have a spot on the Roster for another Safety and he's not going to replace any of those guys. It honestly feels like now that Forrest hasn't replaced Hamlin, people are scrambling to find literally any other Safety out there that can be their new hope to see signed to replace him. It's time for those people to move on to the acceptance phase. That isn't going to happen. Especially not for a 33 year old Safety who's played a total of 5 starts in only 29 games over the past five seasons combined - that would have to learn the Defense and the Playbook while real bullets are flying.