Should the Bills re-sign Ed Oliver?

[JohnNord]

Ed Oliver is a good defensive tackle.  But I’m not sure he’s a great DT.  

Because of athleticism and potential, every year he is pegged as a player set to have a “breakout season” especially in 2022 with the additions to the DL.  

 

But like the past year, his “breakout” seasons, it just hasn’t happened in 2022.  The fact that he missed 4 games to injury didn’t help.  But still at the half way point he has 0 sacks, 1 TFL, and 1 knocked down pass.   A fairly pedestrian impact so far.  

After a strong rookie season, this seems to be the case for Oliver over the past few years.  He has a handful flashes but for the most part, he’s a good, to sometimes average DT in the Bills defense. 

A far cry from the game-wrecker that Oliver was projected to be as a Top 10 pick in 2019 and throughout the course of his career.  
 

This leads me to the question of whether the Bills should re-sign him.  He is under contract for one more season in 2023, but if you had to make the decision today would you re-sign him?

 

To anyone thinking that he’ll take a “home town discount” guess again.  This is his first chance for a big-money contract.  Based on his pedigree, athleticism, and some of the flashes he’s show on tape there’s little doubt he will get laid - but will it be from Buffalo?

 

Given the big contracts that will kick in over the next few seasons, I don’t think there’s any way that Buffalo should re-sign Oliver to a new contract if the choice had to be made today.   What do you think?

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Spotrac has his market value projected at 14.8 Mil per year. Too rich for my blood, but I think they will work out a deal.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/ed-oliver-29044/market-value/

[SCBills]

No. 
 

There’s Aaron Donald. 
 

Then there’s a Tier 2 of guys like Jeffrey Simmons. 
 

Then there’s guys in Tier 3 that have shown they can become dominant. Quinnen Williams for one. 
 

Ed Oliver has not shown to be on any of those levels, yet.   
 

But we need money elsewhere, and undersized DT who hasn’t made a splash midway through Year 4, is not on my priority list. 

[billybob71]

I agree and No wouldn't sign him to huge contract

[Einstein]

The day of that draft, there were a lot of rumors that we were trying to move up and take Quinnen Williams.

It would have been great if that came to fruition.

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

No. 
 

There’s Aaron Donald. 
 

Then there’s a Tier 2 of guys like Jeffrey Simmons. 
 

Then there’s guys in Tier 3 that have shown they can become dominant. Quinnen Williams for one. 
 

Ed Oliver has not shown to be on any of those levels, yet.   
 

But we need money elsewhere, and undersized DT who hasn’t made a splash midway through Year 4, is not on my priority list. 

 

I would argue Simmons is in a tier of his own called 1b. He’s not quite Donald but he is an absolute game wrecker above everyone else not named Donald.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

I don’t think it would be a wise use of money, don’t notice him most games. 

[clayboy54]

1 minute ago, Einstein said:

The day of that draft, there were a lot of rumors that we were trying to move up and take Quinnen Williams.

It would have been great if that came to fruition.

Guys like you would’ve already chalked Williams up as a bust if he was here. He did virtually nothing until this season. Oliver has been far more consistent, albeit average, than Williams over the course of their short careers.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

The position as a whole might look entirely different in 3 years:

 

Free Agents in 2024:

Ed O

Settle

Jones

 

FA in 2023:

Phillips

He is set to make 10 mil next year. I think they let him play out on his 5th year options, and if his production/market cools, they may try and retain him at the right cost. I don’t foresee them breaking the bank for him, especially in the limited role our DTs play regarding snap counts. 
 

Instead I expect them to do that for Edmunds 

 

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, clayboy54 said:

Guys like you would’ve already chalked Williams up as a bust if he was here. He did virtually nothing until this season. Oliver has been far more consistent, albeit average, than Williams over the course of their short careers.

You pay young guys for what you think they can become. 
 

Would you rather have Quinnen or Ed?

 

Im not writing Oliver off just yet, but to date, I’m letting him walk.   Heck, I’d even look to trade him after the season for a pick, but our staff doesn’t seem to roll that way just yet. 

[dreadlox]

Ed O is such a frustrating player. He has had games where he seems to be around the ball or in the backfield all day disrupting the offense. As another poster stated though, he is totally invisible for long stretches. Hard to even tell he’s on the field. I wouldn’t mind seeing him resign but he probably wants a lot of $$. Let someone else pay it. Overall he’s been a major disappointment considering his draft position and lack of development.

[Wayne Cubed]

He was dominant against the Rams on opening day. Then he was injured, missed 4 games. I’m not sure his ankle is right yet.

 

I always find these thread interesting after a loss and not after the LA game, for example.

[Rc2catch]

I don’t think he’s done enough to be a priority. I like the guy and don’t want him gone but I don’t think he’s made enough of an impact to be in the long term plans. 

[ColoradoBills]

He is signed for his 5th year option so he will play next year.

he also had to play the rest of this year.

Plenty of time to see what he is capable of OR not capable of.

[bobobonators]

Oh he’ll get laid alright. 

[JohnNord]

16 minutes ago, SCBills said:

No. 
 

There’s Aaron Donald. 
 

Then there’s a Tier 2 of guys like Jeffrey Simmons. 
 

Then there’s guys in Tier 3 that have shown they can become dominant. Quinnen Williams for one. 
 

Ed Oliver has not shown to be on any of those levels, yet.   
 

But we need money elsewhere, and undersized DT who hasn’t made a splash midway through Year 4, is not on my priority list. 

Ironically Williams and Simmons were also DT’s from the 2019 draft class.  Oliver has not had the impact either of his draft mates have 

3 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

He is signed for his 5th year option so he will play next year.

he also had to play the rest of this year.

Plenty of time to see what he is capable of OR not capable of.

Right…but if you had to make the call today what would you do?  I’d probably pass

[clayboy54]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

You pay young guys for what you think they can become. 
 

Would you rather have Quinnen or Ed?

 

Im not writing Oliver off just yet, but to date, I’m letting him walk.   Heck, I’d even look to trade him after the season for a pick, but our staff doesn’t seem to roll that way just yet. 

He’s clearly better than Settle, who will be gone. Next to him you have to retain Jones. You will still have Phillips and they may feel Zimmer will be good to go in 2023.

 

We do need another 1T guy imo.

[JohnNord]

16 minutes ago, Einstein said:

The day of that draft, there were a lot of rumors that we were trying to move up and take Quinnen Williams.

It would have been great if that came to fruition.

 

I would argue Simmons is in a tier of his own called 1b. He’s not quite Donald but he is an absolute game wrecker above everyone else not named Donald.

 

Before this season you could argue that Quinnen Williams had a similar career to Oliver.  But he’s taken a big step forward this season.  This is the type of step that Oliver has yet to take

8 minutes ago, dreadlox said:

Ed O is such a frustrating player. He has had games where he seems to be around the ball or in the backfield all day disrupting the offense. As another poster stated though, he is totally invisible for long stretches. Hard to even tell he’s on the field. I wouldn’t mind seeing him resign but he probably wants a lot of $$. Let someone else pay it. Overall he’s been a major disappointment considering his draft position and lack of development.

This is what makes the contract extension conversation such an interesting topic.  

[bobobonators]

I dont see how this FO lets both Edmunds and Oliver walk. And i dont think it would be smart. One of them will be around. 

[Malazan]

No. He's not shown he's worth it. 

[billybob71]

We should let him play on horseback, he would be unstoppable