BillsVet

Does this mean you're saying we got a deal on Curtis Samuel at 8M AAV last year? In all seriousness, you're correct that the cost of fielding a good offense, especially featuring a strong passing game, is going up. The market determines that, but pairing a franchise QB with an elite pass catcher is still cheaper than trying to field a complete defense with depth. And more effective.

Agree and perhaps it's more of a fan reason than the team's. At the same time, I'm still amazed that the OL has not had anyone miss more than 1 game based on snap counts. Very fortunate.

Playoff losses have been blamed in part or wholly on injuries along the DL in 2022, the LB's in 2023, and secondary in 2024. One year might be bad luck, two is OK, but three requires them to reflect on how likely/unlikely it is that they'll have some injuries by the post-season. As in, how realistic is it to expect 11-15 defenders to be healthy 18+ games in? And I've seen exactly no one here arguing against defense totally because they need both personnel improvements and more scheme flexibility on that side. This off-season is rather about threading the needle and getting the previous point addressed while finding 1-2 receivers (if it's not Cooper) who gives Josh a go-to player. Because the last thing I want in the playoffs is more 3rd downs and short where he has to plunge forward/carry the ball, more meh receivers who can't get the first down, and seeing Mack Hollins need to make catches well downfield to convert. Feature an offense that will be scary in the playoffs. It is the more reliable method of winning in the post-season and besides, Philadelphia and Kansas City have demonstrated that combined with a better coached defense pays major dividends.

Thanks OP. Title of this thread guarantees that Buffalo won't win the SB because you took the Lord's name in vain.

I really hope you're wrong, but it's a reasonable take primarily because I suspect their off-season review concluded the defense needs more personnel investment. Sure, that's not altogether wrong, but to add corners who can cover M2M, more stout DTs, another DE who can rush the passer, and another safety...well, it leaves less to make that big acquisition on offense even with freeing up more cap room. Still, something's truly lost on McBeane where they don't try to take an asset and maximize it. As in, you have a guy like Shakir who is a slot-only receiver running shallow patterns despite his RAC ability now being paid good money. Investing in a top-end boundary receiver or 2 undoubtedly opens him up and yet it's quite possible they trot out those replacement level (if that) boundary receivers. And that inhibits Josh as we saw in the Baltimore game when their passing game was easily disrupted.

Their WR room was not set up well for a rookie last year and given his skill-set it wasn't realistic he'd win the starting job for Week 1 or later in the season. Still, he took at least 60% of their offensive snaps in 12 of 13 games. At the same time, before the injury he had a 61% catch rate (22 receptions on 36 targets). After returning, as @Kirby Jackson notes, it was 33% (7 of 21). Based on that, I'd translate McD's comments to being around how he responded to the adversity of playing hurt. McBeane still deserve criticism for going into a season where they needed a developmental prospect to produce immediately as a boundary receiver. He needed to be brought along with a better plan, which probably meant starting from the slot. Of course, that wasn't going to happen because they had Shakir and Samuel while having nothing outside beyond Hollins and MVS. Offense is not this leadership group's strong suit.

Stretch Armstrong couldn't reach that far if he tried.

It's amazing how the Bills went after the guy Josh supposedly wanted, but could still get him by trading down twice. Bills PR team really amazing setting narratives the fans will believe at all costs.

The average drafts are starting to hurt the franchise now. When you've got needs at DE and WR, both now and in the future, yet insist on taking development WRs, safeties, and DT's with your top picks it'll catch up with you. Especially one trying to improve from perennial playoff team to SB appearance. Even last year, when they fell short of the 2023 WR's, they had to settle for Kincaid, then went guard and LB. Year before that they missed on Elam, which, OK, but then took a RB and LB. It's easier to hit on those positions, but that's almost mitigated by still having question marks at the premium positions. And it looks like they'll shift to more M2M coverage, so CB carries added importance this year. How they address WR and DE this off-season is pretty much the tale of the tape. And perhaps at CB. The rest is just fluff.

Certainly not. That refrain is often a fans' perspective when this subject arises during the off-season.

This is the first draft review thread I've seen in a long time that emphasizes it takes 3 years to judge a draft class. As true as that is, this sentiment only gets mentioned if the class wasn't all that impressive. Then again, we're in year 2 of the 2023 draft and that one doesn't really appear much better. Their last few drafts are really similar in they've been about building depth/rounding out the roster with low positional value selections. The last time they drafted dominant physical players was 2021 when they took Rousseau and then Brown. And even then, they were drafting at the bottom of the round, so it shouldn't be viewed as unlikely to find players.

Let's be honest...people create their own anxiety/crises better now than at any point in human history.

It's not a narrative, it's an opinion and for the cost of 1 top-10 1st, a later 1st, and 2 mid-2nd round picks they still don't have an impactful DL. Rousseau I'd argue is their best DL and at times he disappears. Just because OBD prioritizes DL doesn't mean they have the right ones. Or, that their scheme, coaching, and game-planning is getting the most out of those players.

When is the last time the Bills under McBeane acquired/drafted "nasty" DLinemen? 8 off-seasons and aside from perhaps drafting Rousseau and signing Von Miller the DLines they've built have not held up when it mattered most. It's mostly lunchpail types who underwhelm. Point is, when McBeane tell you their solutions are just that, I'd be skeptical it's not repackaging what hasn't worked. Because I'm not convinced they're that good evaluating talent and will spin the wheel to ensure it winds up on "we need more defense." Which invariably means, the offense will get by with lesser expenditures.

There's a strong debate being made not to re-sign any of the 2022 draft class. The highly picked RB that comes off the field, an undersized LB who gets nicked up, a good slot only WR and Benford who's an injury concern. That said, they got some good value for the Day 3 picks. Yet, from a positional value standpoint Buffalo has used their last 7 RD2/3 picks on low positional value selections: 2022: RB, LB 2023: G, LB 2024: WR, S, DT I count Coleman as low positional value as a WR because it's clear he's not a boundary receiver yet.