Dibs

Unless I've missed a comment or two in this thread, it seems that nobody has picked up on this statement: “We’re tapped out,” Whaley said. “We’re at the point now where we’ve got to save” cap space “for the draft choices and for injury replacements next year. So anything we do from now on will basically be minimum” salaried “guys. Maybe if Evans gets cut by the Saints he will change his tune on that, but as quoted, we are now pretty much set in our team roster(aside from rookies/journeymen).

Considering that one can, and often does, structure new big contracts to have a lower cap hit in the first year(see Hughes, McCoy and Clay contracts), fitting all of our prime 2016 FAs under the cap will not be difficult at all. Picking up Gilmore's 5th year option made things a little tighter as his 2016 cap hit is now $11M rather than a possible $6-8M had we signed him to a large multi year deal. Franchising a player will also have a similar immediate negative cap result. 2017 and 2018 are really the years to look at to see if we might get into cap trouble.

Buddy was not GM in '09. He was new to the organization as a scout that year. If you want to tie Whaley to Buddy then going back to '10 is more appropriate.

Blalock is 31.....Wisniewski is only 26 though.

From all reports, we actually did attempt to overpay for Bulaga. We offered more than the Packers, who ended up making him the 2nd highest paid RT in the league.

That number seems reasonable for a low level FA signing. With Harvin signed now, I would think there is a decent chance that Thigpen could be cut....with no dead cap ramifications.

I think the problem with the novice watching Gilmore(me for example) is that he does not seem to have many big plays....and those penalties, warranted or not, stick in ones mind. It is why I actively seek feedback on CBs here. I have learned that like OLmen, if you don't hear their name called in a game it could likely mean that they are doing an excellent job.

Also very good to hear. As my talent evaluation skills can sometimes be lacking, I rely a lot on you guys/gals to keep me informed. It also helps me in my constant figuring of potential future cap situations(which many of you know that I like doing).

This is good to hear, particularly with regards to Rex's D. I'm surprised there wasn't more talk in the "Sign Revis" thread about how good Gilmore has become.

Thanks. I could have saved some research/typing time by simply asking if he was really a top 10 CB. I know he has shown good improvement, and that he has always been touted to have elite potential....but with the amount of flak he receives around here I am surprised by a commitment of top 10 money.

Though I am certainly not saying that he isn't worth it, I am a bit surprised by this. $11.08M would see him as the 8th highest paid CB in the league this year, and so far he is the 7th highest paid in 2016 with that cap hit.....or 5th highest paid on average/year. Has he really improved to be an elite CB?

It is surprising to me that Spotrac haven't figured that into their numbers. Their "cap space(w/top51& Projected Draft Pool)" number is really quite irrelevant as it is. It looks to be that our cap space for rookie signings is only reduced by under $0.2M.

I'm totally guessing/speculating here but I tend to think that moving Pears to starting OG was purely a Morrone deciscision and not one that Whaley would have been in agreement with.

He also seems to have a penchant for players who appear injury prone. If Goodwin was from Orego, Kelly likely wouldn't be able to resist the trade.

It seems to me that those stats show a gradual decrease in runs and a gradual increase in passing. The increase in run conversion percentage is most likely due to simple analytics. Teams notice that running on 3rd and 2 has been declining....so they focus their defenses more often to stop the pass.....therefore there is a higher chance of converting via the run.

"Man with the cigarette"...."Cigarette smoking man". Pfff.....he will always be "Cancer Man" to me.

I am never sure with these type of threads whether the OP is promoting their proposed draftee as a possible future franchise QB, or simply a potential "meh" QB. Should my response be "You've got to be joking."......or should it be "Meh"?

For people's interest, if the Bills do rework the deal in 2016 and change the $10M to a SB, Clay's cap numbers would be as follows: $5M(1015), $6M(2016), $9M(2017-2019)

It was certainly better than 2013, and our strength(dline) escaped the injury curse, but our team as a whole was certainly affected by injuries.....though I fully concede that it was likely a better than average year in regards to injuries. Kiko missed entire year. With a poor running game, both our RBs lost significant time(or were hindered) due to injury. Our best OLman Glenn seemed largely set back due to pre-season injury. Our FA OG aquisition(Williams) missed most of season....which I'm sure was not the plan. We rarely had our full starting secondary on the field. The fact that the FO supplied quality depth at many positions which somewhat helped cover the injuries should not detract from the numbers of games missed(or adversely affected) by starters.

We won 9(some say 8) with putrid OL play last season. We essentially have the same great D and ST and have added a legit RB, TE and FB. Also added another top WR....and Watkins won't be a rookie, making our 1-4 WRs all excellent. Even ignoring the possible effects of changing coaching one would have to surmise that even with a putrid OL we should win a game or two more than last year. With a decent OL we could win 11+ games, let alone a great OL.

Yes, we can gain an extra $1.75M cap, but that adds a $1.75M dead hit next season. I can see us cutting Williams if(when) we sign a quality FA OG and post Juneing it.....but people should be aware that cutting him doesn't actually save us any real cap relief. Due to the rollover cap rules, I have started looking at cap savings in two ways. Immediate cap savings....pertaining solely to the current cap. And real cap savings.....pertaining to the ongoing cap(multiple years).

Williams will only save us $0.225M in cap if cut now. Urbik saves only $0.5M....and after his pay cut, he is now effectively being paid as an experienced backup. I'm thinking the FO want him on the roster at that price($2.2M).

The money saved by cutting Chris Williams won't cover a new signing, particularly if that player is of quality. Cutting Williams will only save $0.225M of cap if cut now. If cut as a post June cut he will save us $1.975M of cap this year but will have a $1.75M dead hit next year.

I haven't previously heard that. If true, with the Bills current cap situation, I would leave him alone. It does also help explain why the Eagles seem so intent on getting rid of him. Up until now I assumed it was simply a crazy Kelly reason. If he can be content on his current salary however, a trade would cost us $5.5M and $6M next season.....which seems very reasonable(assuming he is as advertized). As the Eagles look desperate to offload him, I could imagine this happening for as little as a 5th or 6th. Mind you, if we were going to restructure his deal I'd rather wait till the Eagles cut him.

So a strong team that has an aging good-great QB that looks to retire in 2-3 years can draft a QB in the 1st after a 10+ win season.....but a strong team with a dodgy QB that wins 10+ games won't draft a QB in the 1st because it isn't a priority? That makes sense.