Best free agent signing ever?

[K-9]

7 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

Does Matt Milano count?  He was a UFA.  

 

I'm saying yes.  Yes he does.

 

I's Hyde/Poyer/Milano 

 

Honorable mention Bryce Paup

Milano was a 5th round pick in ‘17.

[Big Blitz]

3 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Milano was a 5th round pick in ‘17.

 

 

I know this.  

 

But he then became a UFA.  They usually almost always leave when that happens.  

 

He stayed.  At what had to be a hometown discount. 

 

 

I'm counting it!   It's in the top 5

[K-9]

13 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

 

 

I know this.  

 

But he then became a UFA.  They usually almost always leave when that happens.  

 

He stayed.  At what had to be a hometown discount. 

 

 

I'm counting it!   It's in the top 5

More than a fair point that I should have considered. 
 

Although, technically, they signed him before free agency began.

Edited October 14, 2021 by K-9

[Ethan in Cleveland]

8 hours ago, Rico said:

Hyde was McD:

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2017/12/how_did_buffalo_bills_land_micah_hyde_in_free_agency_ask_the_green_bay_packers.html

Poyer was Bobby Babich.

https://www.buffalobills.com/news/familiarity-with-poyer-landed-bills-a-free-agent-steal-19408157

 

Dimwit Doug had nothing to do with either one.

You don't know that for sure. But let's say you are correct then you have to also saddle McD alone with passing on Mahommes

[Ethan in Cleveland]

7 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Hyde signed March 9th 2017.

Poyer signed March 9th 2017.

 

Doug Whaley relieved of duty on April 30th 2017.

 

Beane hired as GM on May 9th 2017.

April 27th Bills trade away pick to KC that winds up being Mahommes.  Whoever was making those moves has to own the good and the bad.  

It would be quite interesting to know the true details.  Bills not only fired Whaley they fired almost the entire scouting staff as well.  

[Freddie's Dead]

Steve Tasker.

[Just in Atlanta]

3 hours ago, FarrellsFinest said:

Mario Williams 

When he felt like playing. 

To echo the sentiment here, Poyer and Hyde have been terrific. I'd also pick Takeo Spikes and Bryce Paup. 

[Rico]

4 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

You don't know that for sure. But let's say you are correct then you have to also saddle McD alone with passing on Mahommes

I have no problem with that, I would say that’s also true. No problem here though, I’ve never wanted the Rat.

[eball]

4 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

You don't know that for sure. But let's say you are correct then you have to also saddle McD alone with passing on Mahommes

 

I think that’s 100% accurate.  Pretty sure it’s been suggested/implied that McD didn’t feel he had enough time to properly evaluate the QBs so he traded out of the pick.  And although Mahomes’ play speaks for itself, it’s also helpful to remind folks that prior to that draft he was anything but a “sure thing.”

 

[nucci]

8 hours ago, Beast said:

The Bills defense had already turned the corner in 1987. They shut Marino out and beat the tar out of John Elway the year prior.

 

Still was decent. Nowhere near the level of Hyde and Poyer.

 

And….Still was acquired in a trade.

ooops...sorry. I'm getting old. I misunremember a lot of things

[Rico]

35 minutes ago, eball said:

 

I think that’s 100% accurate.  Pretty sure it’s been suggested/implied that McD didn’t feel he had enough time to properly evaluate the QBs so he traded out of the pick.  And although Mahomes’ play speaks for itself, it’s also helpful to remind folks that prior to that draft he was anything but a “sure thing.”

 

One thing’s for sure: once McD entered the scene, Whaley was out of the picture. Only thing uncertain Is exactly when… wouldn’t surprise me if it was a condition McD had to have before accepting the job.

[unbillievable]

15 hours ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

James Lofton, Ted Washington, Kenny Davis, Paup, or London Fletcher were all good additions at the time.  I have to say that Steve Tasker was the best one of all.

 

Tasker was claimed off waivers. Would be #1 on the list, without question.

In my head, its like defaulting to the second choice team in the draft, so I never think of him as a "free agent" since he technically wasn't "free."

Edited October 14, 2021 by unbillievable

[GunnerBill]

I think you can argue that McDermott was a great GM in his one go at it. 

 

Signed: Hyde and Poyer

Drafted: White, Dawkins, Milano

 

All 5 are among our best 7 or 8 players. Hell of a job. 

[Orlando Buffalo]

9 hours ago, KzooMike said:

Has to be Bryce Paup, Ted Washington, or TKO. As far as buzz to impact ratio, I'm actually going with Teddy. He was here a long time, was not a splash signing and basically was the blueprint at his position for a decade. Paup had a massive first year. TKO was an excellent player, we paid for such and he delivered. Steve Christie belongs in the conversation as well. 

Those are the 4- we have had other good signings but none who changed the teams ability to win like those 4.

[without a drought]

On 10/13/2021 at 11:49 AM, mattynh said:

Percy Harvin, the second time.  Reggie Bush

Bush came here with 5493 career rushing yards. He dressed for 13 game and did the seemingly impossible by leaving with less.

[Old Coot]

15 hours ago, Big Turk said:

Umm...Merriman played in 15 games with the Bills over 2 seasons

I should clarify.  His first season with the Bills he was injured at the start of his first practice and played not a down for the Bills that season.  I believe that he subsequently signed another contract and played the 15 games under the new contract.

[GunnerBill]

20 hours ago, Mango said:

 

Cool, so not Beane. Huge credit to McD. Which was the entire point. McD is the secret sauce here. 

 

The franchise changed the day Sean walked through the door. This is his show, done his way and Brandon Beane is his General Manager. I don't believe there is a single decision taken in the organisation by anyone other than Terry or Kim that Sean doesn't have the power to veto.

[BADOLBILZ]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I think you can argue that McDermott was a great GM in his one go at it. 

 

Signed: Hyde and Poyer

Drafted: White, Dawkins, Milano

 

All 5 are among our best 7 or 8 players. Hell of a job. 

 

 

And yet on it's own,  trading the opportunity to select Patrick Mahomes to an AFC rival and having them dominate the conference.....to some extent at the Bills expense.........still looks like probably one of the very worst trades in the history of the NFL.

 

The amount of QB luck the QB needy McDermott(and later Beane) had in those 2017-2018 drafts is crazy.   Had cracks at 4 guys in round 1 who may eventually all rank as top 20 all-time QB's(maybe even higher).

 

 

 

[corta765]

On 10/13/2021 at 11:24 AM, uninja said:

The Poyer/Hyde combination FA signings will probably go down as one of the single best decisions of the McBeane era. Those two have been just absolutely rock solid since they’ve come here.  

 

Additionally their leadership in the first 2-3 years was paramount to establishing what exists now. Sure Josh is the dude now and the team seams to follow him, but they were big pillars in even allowing that possability.

[GunnerBill]

12 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

And yet on it's own,  trading the opportunity to select Patrick Mahomes to an AFC rival and having them dominate the conference.....to some extent at the Bills expense.........still looks like probably one of the very worst trades in the history of the NFL.

 

The amount of QB luck the QB needy McDermott(and later Beane) had in those 2017-2018 drafts is crazy.   Had cracks at 4 guys in round 1 who may eventually all rank as top 20 all-time QB's(maybe even higher).

 

 

For sure they got a slice of luck. You need that sometimes. But the fact Josh has ended up elite definitely covers that mistake to a large extent.