BillsFanForever19

No, but we need to have things in place to guarantee we are after the signings are made. Now that we've done Josh and Knox and extended Dion, those options are drying up. We're probably 7 or 8 under right now as a rough estimate. If only someone had warned you that you'd be better off lowering your expectations....

During Marino's offseason mock, he calculated Knox could be restructured to save $6m and a Dion extension could save $6.5m. But no way to know for sure the exact numbers. He also thought we'd get $24m from Josh and we only did 16.5m. Add in the moves for Epenesa and Lewis and where we were before today, we're barely under the cap right now. No, that doesn't come until June.

Honestly in re-structuring Knox, extending Dion, and re-signing Epenesa and Lewis - we've already done more than I was expecting today.

It's all good. Judging by your handle, I assumed you weren't as privy to the bounty of fake tweets on Twitter. There's more bull on Twitter than truth. Rule of thumb, if it's a major move like that and you don't see it on @AdamSchefter or @RapSheet - it's fake.

I understand the position we're in and I'm not expecting anything big. Just to say that I would hope in the shape we're in with the roster that he wouldn't pass on something that we could do to improve the team now with eyes on the comp formula for next season. Especially with how we were done this year.

In the shape we're in, I'd hope they aren't letting possible picks next year stop them from making acquisitions that can help the team now. We're not in a position roster wise to be focusing solely on mid round picks in a year.

That top tier of RB's is being eaten up with a quickness. Henry probably deciding between Baltimore, Dallas, and Houston as we speak.

I'd expect they hope that Von turns things around with a full year and a full offseason since his injury and that they hope Epenesa maintains the role he had here. But if Von is well and truly toast, they'd feel comfortable turning to Epenesa. Perhaps both he and Von 50/50 the starting job opposite Rousseau.

Obvious things that are obvious.

You're acting as if I was saying that he's underperforming but that body comp is going to finally pay dividends. I wasn't "making excuses". I'm pleased with his progression from Year 2 to 3 to 4. Over the past two seasons, he has performed well for a late 2nd Round Pick, off the bench rotational pass rusher. Were you expecting a sure fire Pro Bowler at Pick 50? Subsequently, he wasn't overpaid for a 25 year old DE who brings what he brings.

And he's been on an upward trajectory since. Over the past two seasons, he's been a different player entirely. Is he a Superstar? No. But we're not paying him Superstar money. For a 25 year old Pass Rusher - this is a good price tag for what he brings.

Mike Garafolo talking about the deal on NFL Network now. He noted that Epenesa had a few different suitors in his market. Not surprising. Young DE's always have a market.

Idk what you're talking about. If you haven't noticed a difference in his performance the last two seasons - I don't know what to tell you.

That's about the standard price tag that was quoted by PFF and others. Solid price tag for a young DE of his caliber.

Since undergoing a body transformation a couple years ago, he's been a different player entirely. As far as a rotational Edge player, he's been pretty darn consistent the past couple seasons. Some guys are late bloomers.

I kind of expected this after the Von gift. A guy who is young, knows the Defense, a great rotational guy, and good insurance in the event Miller is well and truly done.

Another Marino Bills target bites the dust. Wasn't expecting guys like Duvernay and Gaines to be early Day 1 signings.

The difference is a good RB is *FAR* easier to come by than a good Offensive Lineman. And if you don't have a good Offensive Line, a good RB will be hard pressed to perform well.

When it comes to the guys we released, namely Poyer and White, it made more sense for us in the shape we're in financially and the shape they're in physically to save more in a straight up release than keep them on a paycut.

That was a guy Joe Marino targeted for us. PFF had him cheaper than that though. Seems to be a running trend today. That jump in cap was always going to lead to a jump in prices.

Jacobs just turned 26. Jones turns 30 this year. Similar level talent that's over 3 years younger - which is a world of difference at the RB position.

If you look at the list of Top Available FA's - McKinney was always near the top of the list and the top available Strong Safety. Age always trumps accolades when it comes to FA's. At 24 years old and a skilled Safety, he was always going to be the highest paid Safety. Not shocked in the least.

Oh, I'm not saying they weren't. But he uses "remember when we kept making signings up against it?" as his argument as to why signing all of the biggest, most expensive FA's are realistic for us. I was just saying it's not a 1 to 1 comparison.

Side note: what's your idea of big swings? Are you talking Free Agency or the Draft? I know your focus is on weapons for Josh. Top tier after Evans, Higgins, and Pittman coming off the market (not including Gabe Davis) are Calvin Ridley, Hollywood Brown, Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, and Curtis Samuel. Is there someone there you have your eye on? My mind is more on the Draft for WR2. If they spent big on say Calvin Ridley or Hollywood Brown, I worry that he'd look elsewhere in Round 1. I don't see him spending the kind of money one of them would cost for anything other than WR2, nor do I see either choosing us for anything less than WR2. And I don't see him using a 1st on an off the bench WR. I also don't think Beane is closing the door on Diggs possibly being here next year already - and I think a Ridley or a Brown + a 1st Round Pick would essentially be doing that. Unless we were able to get 1 of the top tier guys on a 1 year deal.

Oh, for sure. If Levi doesn't have any options and he wants to take Norman's spot on the Practice Squad - be my guest.