Bills FA rumors thread

[purple haze]

2 hours ago, Blainorama5 said:

Unfortunately for a lot of players these days, it's the only factor.  Don't know Chandler personally, so can't say if this is HIS mindset, but I think the vast majority of players know their time in the league is very limited, so grab every last dollar you can before the ride ends.

I wouldn’t call it unfortunate.  It’s our entertainment, but it is their profession.  If money is the determining factor, in an industry that leaves long lasting remnants of injury, it makes sense; especially if it’s a guy who won’t make up any discounts given with ad/pitch money off the field like a QB or transcendent talent would.

[Rico]

My crystal ball shows Engram dropping the game-winning pass in the Super Bowl. I’ll take Gronk instead.

[GunnerBill]

23 minutes ago, folz said:

Per the writer (paraphrased): Engram has become a much better blocker, just can't hold up against bigger, powerful DEs due to size. But he is a willing blocker, good at the second level, and working hard on it. Offensive potential still sky high---deep ball effectiveness, but 2020 mistakes were brutal. Would be better as a specialty player than full-time TE. 

 

(To that last sentence...isn't that kind of what the Bills could/would do? Knox is your starter, primary TE/blocker. Engram would come in for special packages, or if in 12 personnel, he probably wouldn't have the difficult blocking assignment or would be going out on routes. You could kind of hide any blocking weaknesses if he is not the primary TE. And his "great" in the article is "Deep Usage"...isn't that what the Bills are looking for to exploit Josh's arm/deep throws...to open up defenses?)

 

 

So I have seen enough of the Giants (they still put them on tv all the freaking time) to know I disagree that he has got much better as a blocker. He might have 1 or two nice blocks people can gif but man he still sucks at it all in all. 

 

And to the parenthesis - no, I disagree. I think Dawson Knox is the weapon tight end who can block a bit, the specification for a 2nd tight end in this offense should be a blocking tight end who can be a safe, secure, underneath target IMO. If you are leaving Knox in to block so that Engram can run routes you are limiting the higher ceiling weapon IMO. Though I accept on this point it is arguable either way. Personally, I'd be building my offense to make Dawson Knox even more of a feature. Not limiting him to feature a guy like Engram. 

Edited March 11, 2022 by GunnerBill

[Rocky Landing]

3 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I think you’re reading a bit too much into this.   Based on him saying he gets to pick his scheme, you suggest that we give some pause due to him having to be culture fit?  
 

Yeah I remember the Mario sitch.   After he was under contract and had been playing well, we had a coaching change and a scheme change that wasn’t conducive to his abilities.  This is not the same thing in the least.

Naw, I'm only reading into it a little bit. (I did start the post by saying I wasn't suggesting it was a red flag.) Definitely a different situation than with Mario. Mario (and the rest of that defense) had the rug pulled out from under him by Rex Ryan's incompetence. But, reading Jones' interview, it does sound a little like he might have some pretty well-defined expectations about his role, wherever he lands. I have no idea what he is like as a person, or what his character is. But, the quotes do make me think... Any player who comes into Buffalo is going to have to be reasonably flexible in their role, and scheme fit. There's definitely a "team first" culture in Buffalo.

[NewEra]

4 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

Naw, I'm only reading into it a little bit. (I did start the post by saying I wasn't suggesting it was a red flag.) Definitely a different situation than with Mario. Mario (and the rest of that defense) had the rug pulled out from under him by Rex Ryan's incompetence. But, reading Jones' interview, it does sound a little like he might have some pretty well-defined expectations about his role, wherever he lands. I have no idea what he is like as a person, or what his character is. But, the quotes do make me think... Any player who comes into Buffalo is going to have to be reasonably flexible in their role, and scheme fit. There's definitely a "team first" culture in Buffalo.

And if he chooses to sign in Buffalo,  I have no doubt that McD and Co will have had a meeting with him regarding his expectations or he wouldn’t have decided on Buffalo.  

[Hebert19]

Gronk > Engram for many reasons. 

 

1.  More feared...will command teams attention.  

 

2.  Will likely come cheaper on a 1 year deal.  (If it doesn't work it's done after a year)

 

3.  More reliable. 

[Governor]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

And if he chooses to sign in Buffalo,  I have no doubt that McD and Co will have had a meeting with him regarding his expectations or he wouldn’t have decided on Buffalo.  

He’s basically saying he won’t play the run so it looks like we’re out.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

This is a total rumor here, but my buddy who is a packers fan said his buddy, who is a Wisconsin reporter, heard that the Bills were releasing Micah Hyde. 
 

Sounded implausible to me— but any chance that Hyde’s cap hit would make him a surprise release candidate? 

[Magox]

Obviously Gronk would be better than Engram, I don't think anyone really disagrees with that. 

 

However, if you can't get Gronk or anyone else they really covet as a TE, Engram could serve as a quasi TE/Slot receiver in essence replacing some of Beasley's snaps.  He would be a much better blocker at that spot who could come down and do some effective crack back blocking.   I think they could get creative with him in the lineup and with his elite athleticism he would present matchup problems for the defense.

 

Does anyone really think that Engram with Josh Allen wouldn't produce a revived Engram?  I think we would see the best version of him yet.

 

I think the Bills have a compelling argument to make to obtain his services, reviving his career with a 1-2 year prove it sort of deal which could be had around the $5mish sort of range.

[folz]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

So I have seen enough of the Giants (they still put them on tv all the freaking time) to know I disagree that he has got much better as a blocker. He might have 1 or two nice blocks people can gif but man he still sucks at it all in all. 

 

And to the parenthesis - no, I disagree. I think Dawson Knox is the weapon tight end who can block a bit, the specification for a 2nd tight end in this offense should be a blocking tight end who can be a safe, secure, underneath target IMO. If you are leaving Knox in to block so that Engram can run routes you are limiting the higher ceiling weapon IMO. Though I accept on this point it is arguable either way. Personally, I'd be building my offense to make Dawson Knox even more of a feature. Not limiting him to feature a guy like Engram. 

 

Can't say that I have seen enough of Giants football (even living in NYC) to have a strong opinion about his blocking. You may be right. But I don't think the Bills would be asking him to be a force in the blocking game (of course it would be better to have a Gronk-level blocker at TE, but you take what you can get). Engram would of course have to block, but with two TEs (rather than him being the only TE on the field), I think they could hide his deficiencies a bit.

 

What I was suggesting was that he wouldn't have as many snaps overall as Knox. Not that we run 12-personnel all the time with Knox as your Lee Smith blocking TE and Engram as your feature TE. Knox would still be your primary threat, but when they put both TEs on the field, it makes it difficult for the defense because they are both dynamic weapons. Two TEs...usually that's a run heavy formation, so are they going to run? Or send one TE out and keep one to block, or send both TEs out on a route. I don't think the Bills want a traditional TE pairing (as you said, "2nd tight end in this offense should be a blocking tight end who can be a safe, secure, underneath target."). If you put a Lee Smith-type in the game, you are kind of tipping your hat (as he is going to catch what 3-5 balls over a season). You don't have to worry about that player other than as a blocker. With Knox and Engram or Knox and Gronk, the multiple looks, play-options from one personnel grouping, and mismatches would be very intriguing and hard to stop.

[Process]

Anyone know if this guy is any good? Looks nice and plump.

 

 

[MrEpsYtown]

1 minute ago, Process said:

Anyone know if this guy is any good? Looks nice and plump.

 

 

 

He was an excellent nose a few years ago. He's a two down run plugger. He's better than Star. 

[Rocky Landing]

16 minutes ago, NewEra said:

And if he chooses to sign in Buffalo,  I have no doubt that McD and Co will have had a meeting with him regarding his expectations or he wouldn’t have decided on Buffalo.  

I agree entirely. I think Beane, and McD are very upfront about these things.

[BillsMafi$]

9 minutes ago, Process said:

Anyone know if this guy is any good? Looks nice and plump.

 

 

Not good

[MiltonWaddams]

7 minutes ago, BillsMafi$ said:

Not good

Is that a reflection of your insight or the player? I think more of the former than the latter.

[Alphadawg7]

32 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

This is a total rumor here, but my buddy who is a packers fan said his buddy, who is a Wisconsin reporter, heard that the Bills were releasing Micah Hyde. 
 

Sounded implausible to me— but any chance that Hyde’s cap hit would make him a surprise release candidate? 

 

Nothing is ever impossible, but this seems highly improbable to me.  I seriously doubt they break up our safety duo this year without a replacement on the team.  Especially with all the questions already at the CB position between Tre's injury and and Levi being a FA.  To create another hole in our secondary just seems so unlikely.  And I would guess they could trade Hyde if they were going to move on for some reason.

 

So seems like nothing to me.

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by Alphadawg7

[GunnerBill]

24 minutes ago, folz said:

 

Can't say that I have seen enough of Giants football (even living in NYC) to have a strong opinion about his blocking. You may be right. But I don't think the Bills would be asking him to be a force in the blocking game (of course it would be better to have a Gronk-level blocker at TE, but you take what you can get). Engram would of course have to block, but with two TEs (rather than him being the only TE on the field), I think they could hide his deficiencies a bit.

 

What I was suggesting was that he wouldn't have as many snaps overall as Knox. Not that we run 12-personnel all the time with Knox as your Lee Smith blocking TE and Engram as your feature TE. Knox would still be your primary threat, but when they put both TEs on the field, it makes it difficult for the defense because they are both dynamic weapons. Two TEs...usually that's a run heavy formation, so are they going to run? Or send one TE out and keep one to block, or send both TEs out on a route. I don't think the Bills want a traditional TE pairing (as you said, "2nd tight end in this offense should be a blocking tight end who can be a safe, secure, underneath target."). If you put a Lee Smith-type in the game, you are kind of tipping your hat (as he is going to catch what 3-5 balls over a season). You don't have to worry about that player other than as a blocker. With Knox and Engram or Knox and Gronk, the multiple looks, play-options from one personnel grouping, and mismatches would be very intriguing and hard to stop.

 

Gronk is different cos Gronk is a genuine 2 way threat at tight end. I disagree pretty fundamentally on what I think the Bills will want out of a 2nd tight end though. I think they are happy Dawson is their big play guy. I think the fit for a #2 Tight End is a 2 way guy. That is what they thought they could turn Tommy Sweeney into. But he couldn't block a biscuit so they ended up taking him off the field and putting an extra OT out there. I think they want to be able to run that system and those plays but with a tight end that can block and be an underneath receiving option instead of Tommy Doyle. 

[gonzo1105]

4 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Nothing is ever impossible, but this seems highly improbable to me.  I seriously doubt they break up our safety duo this year without a replacement on the team.  Especially with all the questions already at the CB position between Tre's injury and and Levi being a FA.  To create another hole in our secondary just seems so unlikely.  And I would guess they could trade Hyde if they were going to move on for some reason.

 

I think releasing one of them is a possibility. Their both on their last year of their contract. Both are high up in age. Both have high cap hits and if you think that Damar Hamlin or Jaquan Johnson is ready for that role I dont see why its not a possibility. 

[Alphadawg7]

Gronk is better than Engram, no doubt.  But Engram wouldn't be a bad add if we don't lure Gronk just on his ability to put pressure on the defense.  We can always draft a TE or sign another to be more of a blocking specialist if need be.  

 

Edited March 11, 2022 by Alphadawg7

[No_Matter_What]

4 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

 

I think releasing one of them is a possibility. Their both on their last year of their contract. Both are high up in age. Both have high cap hits and if you think that Damar Hamlin or Jaquan Johnson is ready for that role I dont see why its not a possibility. 

This is not correct. Hyde has 2 more years left.