Is Star Lotulelei A Liability on the DL?

[MAJBobby]

Just now, Virgil said:

Can’t he be cut this offseason with little financial repercussions?

No The out year is after 2020 season

[GG]

9 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

The most Over paid player on this football team, and sad thing is they are stuck with that Contract thru next year too.

 

Just now, Virgil said:

Can’t he be cut this offseason with little financial repercussions?

 

Next year can be a reasonable cut day.   They will save $2.3 million in space with an outright cut (he will still eat up $7.8 million cap number).   If it's a post June designated cut, cap savings will be greater.

 

There's a lot of incentive on both sides to restructure his deal though.  He's not worth anywhere near the $7.5 million he's due to be paid next year, and Bills wouldn't mind keeping him for about $4 million.  So look for a deal that does just that.

[MAJBobby]

Just now, GG said:

 

 

Next year can be a reasonable cut day.   They will save $2.3 million in space with an outright cut (he will still eat up $7.8 million cap number).   If it's a post June designated cut, cap savings will be greater.

 

There's a lot of incentive on both sides to restructure his deal though.  He's not worth anywhere near the $7.5 million he's due to be paid next year, and Bills wouldn't mind keeping him for about $4 million.  So look for a deal that does just that.

Just cut him and be don with it.  

[MJS]

What percentage of the snaps does Star usually take up?

 

I view him as a role player that they put out there to eat up space sometimes. The dline has been pretty good almost all year and then had a little bit of a hiccup against the Dolphins. Not sure we can jump to conclusions based on one game.

[Real McClappy]

8 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Looks like after next season...

 

Year		Age	Base Salary	Signing	Roster	Workout	Cap Hit	Dead Cap	Yearly Cash
2018		28	$3,500,000	$2,600,000	$500,000	$100,000	$6,700,000	$18,600,000	$17,100,000($17,100,000)
2019		29	$7,150,000	$2,600,000	$1,500,000	$250,000	$11,500,000	$18,800,000	$8,900,000($26,000,000)
2020		30	$6,250,000	$2,600,000	$1,000,000	$250,000	$10,100,000	$7,800,000	$7,500,000($33,500,000)
Potential Out: 2021, 3 yr, $33,500,000; $5,200,000 dead cap
2021		31	$6,500,000	$2,600,000	$1,500,000	$250,000	$10,850,000	$5,200,000	$8,250,000($41,750,000)
2022		32	$6,500,000	$2,600,000	$1,500,000	$250,000	$10,850,000	$2,600,000	$8,250,000($50,000,000)

I hope this does not deter the FO in signing Phillips in the offseason

[MAJBobby]

3 minutes ago, MJS said:

What percentage of the snaps does Star usually take up?

 

I view him as a role player that they put out there to eat up space sometimes. The dline has been pretty good almost all year and then had a little bit of a hiccup against the Dolphins. Not sure we can jump to conclusions based on one game.

Sitting at 40% right now

[MJS]

1 minute ago, MAJBobby said:

Sitting at 40% right now

That's higher than I expected. If McDermott and Frazier are putting him out there so much they must be liking what they see.

[GG]

10 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

Just cut him and be don with it.  

 

He still provides value to the team, just not at his contract.

 

Still surprised that Bills called up Peko & not Vincent.

[DrDawkinstein]

4 minutes ago, Real McCoy said:

I hope this does not deter the FO in signing Phillips in the offseason

 

I would hope not, and doesnt seem like a Beane thing to do. They technically play different positions (1-tech vs 3-tech) so I hope that helps in their decision.

 

As others pointed out, while we'd have $7M+ in dead cap space, it would still save $2.3M if we cut him. If push comes to shove, I'd rather see that $2.3M go to Jordan.

[MJS]

1 minute ago, GG said:

 

He still provides value to the team, just not at his contract.

 

Still surprised that Bills called up Peko & not Vincent.

That was probably a scheme familiarity decision. Vincent had not been here that long.

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, MJS said:

That's higher than I expected. If McDermott and Frazier are putting him out there so much they must be liking what they see.

 

Harrison Phillips is injured. That's why Star's snaps are so high.

[MJS]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Harrison Phillips is injured. That's why Star's snaps are so high.

What were his snaps before the Phillips injury?

[Royale with Cheese]

9 minutes ago, MJS said:

What percentage of the snaps does Star usually take up?

 

I view him as a role player that they put out there to eat up space sometimes. The dline has been pretty good almost all year and then had a little bit of a hiccup against the Dolphins. Not sure we can jump to conclusions based on one game.

 

Here's the snap count breakdown.

 

[TroutDog]

This was discussed in The Athletic:

 

“In a game that featured a high-dosage of base defense, Star Lotulelei had only had eight more snaps than his backup. It’s been a rough start to the season for Lotulelei, who appears to be getting pushed off his spot more than he had been in 2018. The primary function of the one-technique player is to stand his ground, effectively setting the table for his teammates. Lotulelei has faced plenty of one-on-one matchups in 2019, and is consistently letting the offensive linemen beat him.”

 

Bills All-22 Review: Why Josh Allen’s day looks better on film and Ed Oliver is heating up 
https://theathletic.com/1314766/2019/10/22/bills-all-22-review-why-josh-allens-day-looks-better-on-film-and-ed-oliver-is-heating-up/

[MAJBobby]

Just now, MJS said:

That's higher than I expected. If McDermott and Frazier are putting him out there so much they must be liking what they see.

highest he has been is 48%.  

 

was losing snaps to Harry before the Injury.  So tells me thy are putting him out there that much because thy have no other option

[BuffaloBillsMagic1]

Useless player, reason why he was let go by previous team

[MJS]

1 minute ago, BuffaloBillsMagic1 said:

Useless player, reason why he was let go by previous team

Wasn't he a free agent?

[MAJBobby]

Just now, GG said:

 

He still provides value to the team, just not at his contract.

 

Still surprised that Bills called up Peko & not Vincent.

Then it is a restructure where it is Tear up everything about this current contract and take the pay cut.  I definitely do not want to kick the can down the road with him and do a simple restructure.

Just now, MJS said:

Wasn't he a free agent?

Yeah meaning His Former team knew he wasnt worth what he was about to get.

[GG]

5 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

Then it is a restructure where it is Tear up everything about this current contract and take the pay cut.  I definitely do not want to kick the can down the road with him and do a simple restructure.

Yeah meaning His Former team knew he wasnt worth what he was about to get.

 

That is correct - restructure with a huge cut in pay.  Hopefully he doesn't freak out like Richie did.

[MJS]

2 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

 

Yeah meaning His Former team knew he wasnt worth what he was about to get.

 

That's not really what that means. Quality players are available every year in free agency. Every team has their own unique cap and roster situation. Did we let Gilmore go because he wasn't worth the money? That's a gross oversimplification.

 

It looks like Star consistently gets 40% of the snaps. That's a large percentage. McDermott and Frazier aren't imbeciles. They've shown that they are willing to bench players that don't produce. Star probably does what they ask him to do most of the time, which is why he continues to play.

 

I'm not going to pretend (like others here are) that I know more than the coaches who have gotten us to a 5-1 record PRIMARILY on the strength of our elite defense.