Calling it now: Zay Jones will not be on the week 1 roster.

[racketmaster]

Foster, Beasley, Brown, Williams, and Roberts for special teams. Bills would likely need to keep 6 wrs in order for Zay to make the team. I'm not sure if a team would be willing to trade for Jones but maybe Beane can work some of his magic and get a mid to late round pick for him.

Edited March 14, 2019 by racketmaster

[DefenseWins]

I think that the Bills will keep 6 WRs. And Jones will be one of those 6. You are always gonna have to deal with injuries. And the "rookie" will need time to develop. And of course he is still on his rookie contract. He'd have to have an awful training camp which I don't foresee happening. I also thought that he started coming on late last season. Hell, Eric Moulds was absolutely horrible his 1st few years and he turned out pretty well. Also, keep in mind that if ANY of the guys the Bills added in FA fail to perform, get seriously injured for a long stretch of the season Zay could prove to be an excellent insurance policy

[Figster]

53 minutes ago, Real McCoy said:

No I mean Woods like I said whom I never gave up on as well when he was a Bill like many other forum fans did. The reason for that was simple as I knew some lumps as poor QB play was the only thing holding the guy back.  You honestly don't think poor OC play calling and QB play year 1 did not affect him? Or last seasons 4 QB carousel and horrible O-line pass protection did not either? 

 

Things take time to develop and I'm willing to see it pan out between him and Allen another year before I make my final assessment.  I'm pretty sure Beane and McD see it the exact same way as well. 

So I'm calling it now: Zay Jones will 100% be on the roster and in the starting WR rotation week 1 if not injured.

 

I second the motion. 

[RocCityRoller]

Well OP, it is looking more tentative than before. Signing 4 WR (Williams/Brown/Beasley/Roberts) makes things harder.

 

I don't get the Z Jones hate here. He was a 2nd round pick that was known as a bit of a project best suited to #2 or slot when he was drafted. Shame on OBD for not taking JJ Smith-Shuster instead. That is not on Z Jones. Jones, Foster and JA started to connect last year.

 

I do think he will have to ball out enough for Buffalo to keep 6 WR. 2 fast outside WR in Foster and Brown, 2 Slot WR in Beasley and Jones, ST in Roberts.

 

Ray Ray is gone gone. McKenzie is bubble at best maybe PS?. D Thompson is probably gone (like this guy, but never connected with JA).

 

I did hear that JA is doing reps in CA with Darnold and all of the top 4 Buffalo WR from last year are joining him. Who knows? It's a plus for JA and the WR is nothing else.

Maybe one of them joins the Jets?

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, JoshAllenHasBigHands said:

 

I get it, and I give you credit for that. But the vague “trade so and so” talk is coded language for get them offf the team. His value is like a 6th. A guy who probably won’t make the team. It’s tantamount to cutting him.

I have a new found appreciation for day 3 picks.  Watchuing Beane I see how useful they are, often just to trade to move up.  

 

I think of a sixth this way:  every year some undrafted free agent makes the team. Finding those guys isn't easy, but it isn't just luck, either.  Often, you have an undrafted rookie you want but he signs someplace else. If you have an extra late-round pick you don't lose that guy - you draft him.   

 

So if you don't need Zay, and you're going to cut him, getting a 6th for him is fine.  He was taken in the second or third, produced for a couple of years.  Then if you get a 6th for him, you got some value out of your pick. 

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, Real McCoy said:

No I mean Woods like I said whom I never gave up on as well when he was a Bill like many other forum fans did. The reason for that was simple as I knew some lumps as poor QB play was the only thing holding the guy back.  You honestly don't think poor OC play calling and QB play year 1 did not affect him? Or last seasons 4 QB carousel and horrible O-line pass protection did not either? 

 

Things take time to develop and I'm willing to see it pan out between him and Allen another year before I make my final assessment.  I'm pretty sure Beane and McD see it the exact same way as well. 

So I'm calling it now: Zay Jones will 100% be on the roster and in the starting WR rotation week 1 if not injured.

 

 

Woods left as a FA.  Woods was then and is now better than Zay. 

[HappyDays]

Not sure if he'll be cut but he won't be any higher than #4 on the depth chart which means he is officially a backup. I love that this regime didn't sit back and wait for a failed pick to "develop." Cut your losses and move on. Zay will never be a playmaker in the NFL.

[PetermansRedemption]

Or maybe Zay shouldn’t have been relied on to be the number 1 or 2 receiver immediately. If he wasn’t on a team of cast off WR’s he could have developed properly. Relying on a 2nd round pick in his second year as your top option is not a recipe for success. Even with that, Zay had 652 yards and 7 TDS, nothing to sneeze at. His yards per game went from 20 in his first season to 40 in his second. He has improved. Now that he isn’t going to be relied on as “the guy” he might actually be able to develop some. You keep Zay for at least one more year, likely two. 

[Alphadawg7]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2825008-2019-nfl-free-agency-which-players-jobs-are-in-danger-after-early-signings?share=sms#slide5

 

Interesting, names two Bills who could be on hot seat after FA.  I don’t agree Gore signing puts McCoy on hot seat, especially since McCoy was a big reason why Gore came here. 

 

But they also named Zay ? and pretty much said everything I’ve been saying for a while now

[Laughing Coffin]

It would be a big surprise for him to be cut just because he’s so cheap on his contract.  Cutting him saves no money this year.  He’s an underrated run blocker too

[formerlyofCtown]

Or maybe he will improve even more this year than last and surprise all the doubters.  Year three is the bench mark for WR developement afterall.

On 3/13/2019 at 4:49 PM, transplantbillsfan said:

Doubt it.

 

Beane really likes Zay.  There was some interview this offseason where he went out of his way to praise Zay and even mentioning the need to come up with a contract for him in a couple years.

Hes seen him naked.?

[formerlyofCtown]

On 3/13/2019 at 10:04 PM, HappyDays said:

Not sure if he'll be cut but he won't be any higher than #4 on the depth chart which means he is officially a backup. I love that this regime didn't sit back and wait for a failed pick to "develop." Cut your losses and move on. Zay will never be a playmaker in the NFL.

He already is, he made several last season.

[formerlyofCtown]

4 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2825008-2019-nfl-free-agency-which-players-jobs-are-in-danger-after-early-signings?share=sms#slide5

 

Interesting, names two Bills who could be on hot seat after FA.  I don’t agree Gore signing puts McCoy on hot seat, especially since McCoy was a big reason why Gore came here. 

 

But they also named Zay ? and pretty much said everything I’ve been saying for a while now

The only ones that need more work on their player evaluation skills than the national media are some of the posters on here.

Im not saying he is or isnt going to be here.  However, if he shows improvement from last season to the end of camp then he isnt going anywhere.

You have no idea how much he has improved over the offseason as a young still developing WR.  Its really a foolish statement for someone to make.

[Jpsredemption]

He should be competing for a roster spot. Nothing more. He was a default no. 1 last year and even at Miami which was his best game of the year he had critical drops. Hes not explosive and gas suspect hands not a good recipe.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

current WR on the roster from the Bills website

 

John Brown
Robert Foster

Zay Jones

Isaiah McKenzie

Cole Beasley - based on his #'s he looks to be a short yardage guy 

 

If we ever see it ^ that is your 5 wide set

 

Cam Phillips
Ray-Ray McCloud III

Andre Roberts
Duke Williams
Da'Mari Scott
Victor Bolden Jr.

 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Quote

After trotting out towering receivers last season in Andre Holmes and Kelvin Benjamin, Buffalo’s wide receiving corps has been upgraded with speed and separation specialists.

 

Buffalo loves to go four and five wide receiver sets, which can now include Brown and Beasley along with Zay Jones and Robert Foster.

 

All four of those receivers clocked 40-yard dash times ranging from 4.34-4.49, placing endless burners on the field to complement Allen’s big arm that can challenge defenses vertically. In addition, an increased and more dynamic vertical passing game should open up things underneath where crafty route-runners like Beasley and Jones can feast.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/the-big-picture-with-bills--aggressive-free-agent-haul

 

Edited March 15, 2019 by ShadyBillsFan

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, formerlyofCtown said:

However, if he shows improvement from last season to the end of camp then he isnt going anywhere.

 

But where does he fit in as a starter? Foster, Brown, and Beasley are all ahead of him. Right now I'd pencil him in as our #4. If McDermott and Beane thought he was worth developing they wouldn't have overhauled the receiving group in free agency.

[formerlyofCtown]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

But where does he fit in as a starter? Foster, Brown, and Beasley are all ahead of him. Right now I'd pencil him in as our #4. If McDermott and Beane thought he was worth developing they wouldn't have overhauled the receiving group in free agency.

We will likely employ packages as to who handles what concepts best.  Who gets the ball will likely change based on the matchup.

[Big Gun]

I change my mind on Zay being on the team this year. Brown, Beasley, Foster, Williams (CFL guy), Roberts, McKenzie. Going to be hard for Jones to be on the field. I don't necessarily think he is better than any of those guys.

[947]

5 minutes ago, pop gun said:

I change my mind on Zay being on the team this year. Brown, Beasley, Foster, Williams (CFL guy), Roberts, McKenzie. Going to be hard for Jones to be on the field. I don't necessarily think he is better than any of those guys.

Zay is light years better than McKenzie, who is a gadget guy we really only added due to our lack of offensive talent. That's no longer the issue, and Beasley is taking his job. Very slim chance McKenzie stays on.