TE Tyler Kroft (Bengals) to the Bills

[skibum]

2 hours ago, HappyDays said:

The front office likes guys with upside that have been injured recently which gets them a discount. The upside of that model is Jordan Poyer, the downside is Trent Murphy. As usual I'll wait for the guaranteed money before judging it.

 

All quiet on the offensive line front. I think our biggest spending will go there.

This is not a discount.

[ChanticleerBillsFan]

I like the signing. I like it better than James. 6m seems high but it is a need and I think he has decent upside. Like add a draft pick to the room and TE is settled.

[stuvian]

Lot of money for a no name 

[The Frankish Reich]

38 minutes ago, Lurker said:

 

He's had one injury--a broken bone.      Played in 44 of 46 games before that...

 

Yep. At first it struck me as an overpay, but looking at the early FA salary reports coming in, it's market value. I like PFF's take:

 

While Kroft hasn’t wowed with his grades, earning a career-high season grade of 64.9 as a rookie, he has been a consistent and flexible option. He plays most of his snaps at inline tight end but can also line up in the slot to catch passes or in the backfield to provide extra blocking in the run-game. He also can contribute on special teams, where he played 531 snaps in his first two seasons, earning a respectable 71.7 grade in 2015. His best season as a receiver came in 2017 filling in for the oft-injured Tyler Eifert, producing 404 yards and seven touchdowns along with a receiving grade of 62.7. If the Bengals choose to move on, the team that acquires Kroft will be getting a solid, multi-dimensional player who can contribute across all phases of the game.

[DisplacedBillsFan]

I like this signing. He's a talented TE. Not saying this happens, but think of the two TE sets we could run with Kroft and a TE taken high in the draft this year. Very appealing. 

[PirateHookerMD]

"Bills deal for Tyler Kroft: $18.75M, $2.4M signing bonus, $8.3M gtd, salaries $1.8M (gtd), $4.45M (gtd inj at signing, skill-cap if on roster fifth day 2020, $4.7M Due a $2.1M roster bonus third day 2019, $750K roster bonus fifth day 2020, $750K roster bonus fifth day 2021"

 

 

[NoSaint]

1 hour ago, Limeaid said:

 

 

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26152205/barnwell-2019-nfl-free-agency-trade-grades-tracking-every-big-signing-move

Tyler Kroft, TE, Buffalo Bills

The deal: Three years, $18.8 million
Grade: C

The Bills needed a tight end to serve as a weapon for Josh Allen and his generally bereft receiving corps. What they went for was Kroft, who has primarily been a blocking tight end during his pro career. The 6-foot-6, 252-pound Rutgers product did catch 42 passes for 404 yards and six touchdowns during the 2017 season, so there might be some untapped potential here, but nobody is likely to consistently catch a touchdown once every six receptions. Indeed, Kroft has one touchdown across 25 other receptions in his three other pro campaigns.

This deal could swing in either direction based on the guarantee. If Buffalo guaranteed Kroft $7 million or so and it's a one-year deal to see what he might do in a larger role, it's a reasonable bet. If the Bills guaranteed Kroft $14 million and plan on standing pat at the position with him alongside Jason Croom, they're not doing Allen any favors.

 

Yes you do otherwise everyone would just post their own LAMP threads.

 

I think espn did well in that review, generally.

 

[YoloinOhio]

Not much gtd money 

[MAJBobby]

Just now, YoloinOhio said:

Not much gtd money 

 

Meaning it is essentially a 1 year Deal with easy out after year 1. 

[HappyDays]

Just now, MAJBobby said:

 

Meaning it is essentially a 1 year Deal with easy out after year 1. 

 

It's Trent Murphy's contract all over again. Never believe the initial report.

[YoloinOhio]

 

[BillsSB2020]

Just now, YoloinOhio said:

 

Now I'm cool with it!

[YoloinOhio]

3 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

 

Meaning it is essentially a 1 year Deal with easy out after year 1. 

Yep. The Beane Special.

 

 

 

[Logic]

Yeah, like others said: Once the REAL numbers come out, we see that it's a pretty good deal for the Bills. 

One year, then an easy out.

If he balls out, you've got him on a fair deal for two more years. If he doesn't, he's a one-year rental while our drafted rookie TE and Jason Croom develop.

[Buffalo86]

Here's part of an optimistic 2015 scouting report from nfl.com:

 

NFL COMPARISON

 Travis Kelce

 

BOTTOM LINE

 Tall, athletic tight end with the frame to add more muscle and the athleticism to get open in space. Kroft is an aggressive blocker who can help the running game win on the edges, but he also possesses the quickness to get open in space and make a play after the catch. Kroft's size, athleticism and competitiveness as a blocker make him a scheme fit for most offenses and he could be one of the top tight ends to come from this draft class.

[MAJBobby]

 

Mike Rodak (@mikerodak)

3/11/19, 9:48 PM Basically the Bills are paying Tyler Kroft $6.4M up front in 2019, plus up to $500,000 if he plays in every game. From there, unless he’s injured, the Bills have almost no financial commitment to him in 2020 or 2021 besides the remaining $1.6M of his signing bonus. twitter.com/mikerodak/stat…

[Captain Murica]

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

At $6 mill per, he is the starter.

 

A good, solid right end.  I can dig it.

 

And if he sucks, you get out after one year. 

 

 

[YoloinOhio]

It’s almost like Beane knows how to use the cap and structure deals in a manner that benefits the team. 

 

whaley:

 

[MrEpsYtown]

With that salary structure, you could probably add another tight end with a similar deal and kind of keep the one that winds up being better after a years.