Trades Before Season & Beane's Roster Building Strategy

[jwhit34]

Trade History

Beane has made trades during the preseason both years. In '17 it was Watkins, Darby and Ragland but also the Kevon Seymour for Kaelin Clay and a pick (turned into Tommy Sweeney). Last year he dealt AJ McCarron but also did the ill-fated Corey Coleman deal. 

 

Trade and Draft Strategy

Beane isn't shy about making trades and moving around at the draft. He has mostly moved up and by acquiring mid-late round picks has had the ammunition to move up a modest amount of slots to get guys they seem to like (Cody Ford, Dawson Knox this year) or hang onto them and pick more players. 

 

Roster Building

While you want to have your best 53 players on the roster, the reality is that the bottom of the roster (10-13) are for NFL worthy developmental players that would not clear waivers so they can't be on the practice squad (5-7) and some special teams players. Even with key subs you have about 17 players play offense (4 WR, 3 TE, 5 OL, 4 RB/FB, 1 QB), 18 on defense (8 DL, 3-4 LBs, 6-7 DBs) and 4 specialists (P, K, long snapper, return specialist) on game days from your top 40 (the rest of special teams comes from the aforementioned bottom 10-13). 

 

With the draft picks and free agents, you can make a case that there is an oversupply of NFL caliber players at DB, OL and WR (and adequate depth at RB, QB and DL). Could Beane swing deals with the surplus (and was that part of the plan all along) if they are happy with developmental players taking the last spot in some of those positions?  DBs and WRs are good examples:

• For WRs, Brown, Beasley and Jones seem locked in as top 3, Roberts is on the team as a kick/punt returner but may have WR value. Do they like McCloud or McKenzie enough to trade Foster or Jones? Could a WR desperate team (Giants?) trade a 3rd or 4th round pick for one of them? 
• For DBs,  specifically CBs, do they have 5 legit starter-worthy players (White, Wallace, K. Johnson, T. Johnson, Gaines)? Is Pitts good enough as an emergency fill in to trade one of those 5? What about Siran Neal as the big nickel?

 

Even O-line, could some team take Bodine? Waddle? I won't suggest Ducasse on this board. 

 

So, I could see Beane trading a few players at the end of pre-season and picking up an extra 3 or so picks. Keep in mind it wouldn't be a guy they were cutting teams figure that out, but some of the young talent may be of interest. Example: if the interior OL is good with Spain, Morse, Feliciano and Long and a young guy like Boettger shows okay to be the inactive OL on game day could they trade Teller? 

 

I think this is a significant part of Beane's roster building strategy. He wants to build through the draft, retain their own, and stay out of cap jail. Always having 8-10 picks and the ability to get guys you really feel strongly about allows you to do that. Most of all it seems like he has a comprehensive strategy which is refreshing.

 

Edited July 30, 2019 by jwhit34

[KGun12TD]

I don't want for the Bills to trade FOSTER! No!!!

[SteveFreeman22]

It's 2019.

[clayboy54]

I don't believe that any of the 2nd tier players will have trade value. Teams know many of them will be released anyway and will not give assets to acquire those types of players. Starters on the other hand do have trade value. This is why so many are thinking that Shady may be traded. I don't agree with the premise, but that is indeed possible.

 

IMO, if they're worth giving up something substantial in trade value, we ought to keep them.

[ColoradoBills]

5 minutes ago, clayboy54 said:

I don't believe that any of the 2nd tier players will have trade value. Teams know many of them will be released anyway and will not give assets to acquire those types of players. Starters on the other hand do have trade value. This is why so many are thinking that Shady may be traded. I don't agree with the premise, but that is indeed possible.

 

IMO, if they're worth giving up something substantial in trade value, we ought to keep them.

 

Generally I agree with you.  Although sometimes a team has injuries/etc that causes them to do a trade for guys they need instead of hoping

they clear waivers or in the case of vets choose their team to sign with.

[bigK14094]

9 minutes ago, clayboy54 said:

I don't believe that any of the 2nd tier players will have trade value. Teams know many of them will be released anyway and will not give assets to acquire those types of players. Starters on the other hand do have trade value. This is why so many are thinking that Shady may be traded. I don't agree with the premise, but that is indeed possible.

 

IMO, if they're worth giving up something substantial in trade value, we ought to keep them.

I see that logic.

[Big C]

If the Bills trade Foster, Cian Fahey would be validated and I don't think any of us deserve that. 

 

Right now, I love the depth we have. Injuries will happen and we finally seem ready for that. Definitely don't want to trade any DBs.

 

I can understand Shady as a trade candidate, but the staff has consistently defended him and his position on the team. Plus, what value would he bring now? Maybe we can trade Yeldon for a 7th? 

[RyanC883]

I could see Shady or Yeldon to San Diego is the Gordon thing isn't worked out quickly.  Could get a decent return on such a trade.  

 

I wouldn't trade Foster.  He just needs the OC and WR coach in his ear every day.  Hopefully vets like Beasley and Brown will show him what it takes to have sustained success at WR.  

[John from Riverside]

I like our roster

 

I would like more draft picks next year somehow

[whatdrought]

I think I’d rather have amazing depth, than trade for mid round picks. 

[jwhit34]

What about trading some of these guys:

 

Russell Bodine and/or Wyatt Teller - neither are in top 7 or 8

If Kevin Johnson is good/healthy, Levi Wallace (still have EJ Gaines and Pitts to back up and T. Johnson as slot CB)

Zay Jones, if not Zay, if Kaelin Clay can get traded multiple times, what about Ray Ray McCloud

TJ Yeldon (?able possibility since he didn't get a lot of FA interest)

Siran Neal

 

With the exception of Zay, probably none cut into depth in any impactful way.

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

I want Beane to barge into Botterill's office and trade Risto already.

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

I could see a situation where a veteran under contract is being pushed by a first or second year player with some upside.  If a need at another team materializes due to something like an injury or holdout, Beane would be likely to move the higher cost older veteran to keep the lower cost younger player and gain a pick or two.  For the Bills this season, this could materialize with defensive backs or the o-line. 

[John from Riverside]

As has been stated....the player that might be traded for picks/cap relief is Shady IF Singletary is looking the part

 

And from what I hear....he has been EVERY DAY

[Shaw66]

8 minutes ago, jwhit34 said:

What about trading some of these guys:

 

Russell Bodine and/or Wyatt Teller - neither are in top 7 or 8

If Kevin Johnson is good/healthy, Levi Wallace (still have EJ Gaines and Pitts to back up and T. Johnson as slot CB)

Zay Jones, if not Zay, if Kaelin Clay can get traded multiple times, what about Ray Ray McCloud

TJ Yeldon (?able possibility since he didn't get a lot of FA interest)

Siran Neal

 

With the exception of Zay, probably none cut into depth in any impactful way.

 

 

JW

 

I think this and the OP are really insightful.  It points to the fact that whether they have great talent at the top, the Bills have good talent at a lot spots.  

 

I don't think you're saying it's better talent than anyone else's talent, just that they have enough to think about giving up some of it to a team that has an emergency need.  

 

I will be interested to see how it falls out. 

 

 

46 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

I could see Shady or Yeldon to San Diego is the Gordon thing isn't worked out quickly.  Could get a decent return on such a trade.  

 

I wouldn't trade Foster.  He just needs the OC and WR coach in his ear every day.  Hopefully vets like Beasley and Brown will show him what it takes to have sustained success at WR.  

Trading Shady seems almost impossible, emotionally.  But I think McBeane are ruthless in that regard.  

[Rc2catch]

Just my opinion but I think he may move a lineman for a later pick like he did with Carolina for that worthless tackle we had. 

Truthfully I don’t think anyone else has any real trade value. Nobody is going to trade for McCoy. If he’s not washed up he should stay. Even if he is washed up he’s been a bit of a leader here and you risk hurting the locker room which McDermott considers extremely important. With the 4 backs or even 3 if you consider Yeldon gone, plenty of carries to mix around for those 3. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, jwhit34 said:

With the draft picks and free agents, you can make a case that there is an oversupply of NFL caliber players at DB, OL and WR (and adequate depth at RB, QB and DL). Could Beane swing deals with the surplus (and was that part of the plan all along) if they are happy with developmental players taking the last spot in some of those positions?  DBs and WRs are good examples:

• For WRs, Brown, Beasley and Jones seem locked in as top 3, Roberts is on the team as a kick/punt returner but may have WR value. Do they like McCloud or McKenzie enough to trade Foster or Jones? Could a WR desperate team (Giants?) trade a 3rd or 4th round pick for one of them? 
• For DBs,  specifically CBs, do they have 5 legit starter-worthy players (White, Wallace, K. Johnson, T. Johnson, Gaines)? Is Pitts good enough as an emergency fill in to trade one of those 5? What about Siran Neal as the big nickel?

 

Even O-line, could some team take Bodine? Waddle? I won't suggest Ducasse on this board. 

 

So, I could see Beane trading a few players at the end of pre-season and picking up an extra 3 or so picks. Keep in mind it wouldn't be a guy they were cutting teams figure that out, but some of the young talent may be of interest. Example: if the interior OL is good with Spain, Morse, Feliciano and Long and a young guy like Boettger shows okay to be the inactive OL on game day could they trade Teller? 

 

I think this is a significant part of Beane's roster building strategy.

 

1 hour ago, clayboy54 said:

I don't believe that any of the 2nd tier players will have trade value. Teams know many of them will be released anyway and will not give assets to acquire those types of players. Starters on the other hand do have trade value. This is why so many are thinking that Shady may be traded. I don't agree with the premise, but that is indeed possible.

 

IMO, if they're worth giving up something substantial in trade value, we ought to keep them.

 

11 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

As has been stated....the player that might be traded for picks/cap relief is Shady IF Singletary is looking the part

And from what I hear....he has been EVERY DAY

 

Couple of points re: Shady/Singletary and the supposed locked-in WR depth chart:

 

Every year, we have guys who are running away with their role at training camp but fade away as practice intensity ratchets up with pads/preseason games, or get injured, or who continue to be Preseason Heroes but disappear on Sunday when it counts.

 

It's early yet.  Wait.

 

As far as trade value: it matters that last year and this there was no intermediate cutdown.  We can keep every one of our guys until just before opening day.  That impacts strategy for teams where the injury bug bites deep and they can't fill the roster to their satisfaction with remaining FA.  If they want the guy in question to have a chance to assimilate the playbook and get in some practice, they got to "make a deal".  So it's not beyond the question that some team that is thin at WR or OL and gets bitten by injuries, might come calling and say "Bodine - what would you take?" or Foster, or whoever.   

 

Then it just matters, what are they offering us?  If we see a thin spot and they offer someone who could fill it, win-win.

 

I don't think the Bills want to trade Foster.  In no way can we be considered oversupplied with fully developed WR, FA WR are expensive and trades for good WR also don't come cheap.  I think they hope Brown will be "all that" this year, and Foster will grow into a complete guy behind him.

 

 

[freddyjj]

1 hour ago, jwhit34 said:

In '18 it was Watkins, Darby and Ragland but also the Kevon Seymour for Kaelin Clay and a pick

For the record Sammy and Darby were dealt in 2017.

 

I do agree we could see s trade at our positions of surplus with NFL vets - OL, RB, CB, S.  Bodine, Waddle and even Ducasse are possible trade pieces.  DiMarco and Yeldon could yield a 5th rd pick from the right team.  CB and S have some vets but as most are on 1 year deals would yield very little in return.  

 

Not sure we have a surplus of NFL quality WRs with extensive game experience.

[ghostwriter]

Bodine and McCoy are the most obvious candidates. Foster is a guy I'd deal for a 2nd but I doubt any team would give that much up. Maybe we get a 5th for McCoy or Bodine, if we are lucky.

[ProcessAccepted]

1 hour ago, Big C said:

If the Bills trade Foster, Cian Fahey would be validated and I don't think any of us deserve that. 

This made me laugh. Best comment I've read today.