Bills Offseason Personnel Needs

[Nitro]

If trends continue there will be a significant turnover of personnel like it has occurred every off season under Beane.  These conjectures are fun to participate in.  They will let some name FA walk, keep others and look to the draft to fill key holes.  Look for OG/C, WR, CB and LB to be addressed in the draft. 

[billsfan89]

After 2021 the Bills had a significant amount of needs. So it isn’t like this team is in that bad shape going into 2023.

 

Going into 2021 The Dline needed a massive overhaul. Vernon Butler and Star were really trash up the middle, Harry was also a free agent. Jerry and Addison while not tragic were not getting it done off the edge. Defensively the team also had a need at corner as Levi Wallace was not getting it done and Tre was coming off a serious injury.
 

The Bills also had a need at RG and needed to get better at RB. The team also needed to address the slot WR position.

 

Beane tried to make significant moves at all these areas of need. Von was brought in to be the killer edge rusher and Shaq was brought in for vet depth. The DT room was completely overhauled to be bigger and tougher against the run. And Elam was drafted up high to get faster and more athletic at corner.

 

On offense they brought in Crowder and OJ Howard to address the loss of Beasley and Sanders (while also drafting Shakir) and then drafted Cook to be more dynamic out the backfield and added Saffold to address the RG spot.

 

The defensive moves ended up working out better as the DT overhaul and the additions of Shaq and Von have been great while Elam looks to be a nice addition to the secondary even if he is a bit uneven at times.

 

Offensively the addition of Cook and the in season acquisition of Hines are looking good but at WR Crowder got hurt and Howard was a bust. Saffold has also been pretty bad at RG. 

[BIGFOOTspaceman]

1 hour ago, AlfaBill said:

Based off what I read on here sometimes I think they may need QB1. 
In all seriousness though:

WR2

Safety 

OLINE

TE2

 

I’m good with Knox and Morris at TE. 

[MrEpsYtown]

Here is the list of free agent OL and it isn’t the worst list, a few high RAS guys and Kromer guys as well:

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/offensive-line//

 

I am rosterbating here, but I would trade pick 32 for Chris Lindstrom. A guard like that changes a lot. Not sure why Atlanta would do it aside for collecting draft capital to get a QB. 
 

 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

I think this comes down to WR and then Offensive Line.

 

Speed is a priority.

 

Spencer Brown you’d have to project if he can reasonably get better, because it feels like he allows free rushers 1 of every 3 snaps. 

[vincec]

15 hours ago, Nephilim17 said:

Free agent WRs are getting paid insanely. I suspect the team drafts, and fairly highly, a WR. I hope he has elite speed to stretch the field and good hands; size is a bonus but not necessary with elite speed.

Safeties might be an option in free agency if the the staff likes someone younger than Poyer they think has upside.

In fact, I would suggest they look to trade up and try and get as good a WR as possible.

[Not at the table Karlos]

18 hours ago, Airseven said:

 

Dawkins has stunk (at worst) or inconsistent (at best) since his new deal. Morse has been the only dependable cog this year when healthy and obviously his tenure is running out.

He's out partying with Benny the Butcher every night. 

[MAJBobby]

Entire Draft needs to be on the offensive side of the ball. 

[BearNorth]

9 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

Entire Draft needs to be on the offensive side of the ball. 

On the contrary, we need CB2 and Safety depth, if Edmunds takes the Brinks truck some idiot GM offers him, then we will also need a MLB.

 

Von won't be Von until mid season and may not ever have the explosiveness that is his MO

[MAJBobby]

3 minutes ago, BearNorth said:

On the contrary, we need CB2 and Safety depth, if Edmunds takes the Brinks truck some idiot GM offers him, then we will also need a MLB.

 

Von won't be Von until mid season and may not ever have the explosiveness that is his MO

No we don’t. 
 

we NEED to spend premium assets in Offense for once. 

[BearNorth]

2 hours ago, MAJBobby said:

No we don’t. 
 

we NEED to spend premium assets in Offense for once. 

Right now, our cap spending (including IR) is $87MM Defense, $77MM Offense, $16MM ST Core.

Edmunds is on a fifth year option in 2022 at $12.7MM. Spotrac says $14.3 is market value

Josh Allen's cap hit goes up $23MM in 2023, so they will have to extend/restructure. Von and DIggs have big bumps next year as well.

Ed Oliver's fifth year option in 2023 is $10.7MM

Bills are #25 in terms of cap space.

Our current contracts have us $4MM over the projected 2023 cap.

 

Beane has to work a lot of magic to be sure.

 

[MAJBobby]

51 minutes ago, BearNorth said:

Right now, our cap spending (including IR) is $87MM Defense, $77MM Offense, $16MM ST Core.

Edmunds is on a fifth year option in 2022 at $12.7MM. Spotrac says $14.3 is market value

Josh Allen's cap hit goes up $23MM in 2023, so they will have to extend/restructure. Von and DIggs have big bumps next year as well.

Ed Oliver's fifth year option in 2023 is $10.7MM

Bills are #25 in terms of cap space.

Our current contracts have us $4MM over the projected 2023 cap.

 

Beane has to work a lot of magic to be sure.

 

Yep but easy areas to free money. Unlike MIA with 6M is over cap with 36 under contract and No QB to tap into for extra cash 

[Solomon Grundy]

4 hours ago, MAJBobby said:

Entire Draft needs to be on the offensive side of the ball. 

I like this idea better. The first 3 or 4 rds on offense. I like the safety from UB, Fuqua. He has nice size and rangy. Maybe steal him late in the draft. 

[Aurelius]

On 12/27/2022 at 7:42 AM, Brian Higgins hair said:

1st and 2nd pick should be O line.. 

First rounder should be stud WR.  2nd and 3rd OL.  Maybe more.  

[LABILLBACKER]

12 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I think this comes down to WR and then Offensive Line.

 

Speed is a priority.

 

Spencer Brown you’d have to project if he can reasonably get better, because it feels like he allows free rushers 1 of every 3 snaps. 

Spencer's feet are never getting quicker. I know we need to replace Saffold first and maybe Morse if he retires, but Brown is next on the "you're on thin ice" list.  I can live with Dawkins, Bates and Boettger. Cut Sweeney and promote Morris as TE2. Then decide what to do with Motor/ Gabe?

[Straight Hucklebuck]

15 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Spencer's feet are never getting quicker. I know we need to replace Saffold first and maybe Morse if he retires, but Brown is next on the "you're on thin ice" list.  I can live with Dawkins, Bates and Boettger. Cut Sweeney and promote Morris as TE2. Then decide what to do with Motor/ Gabe?

This far Beane has tried to build the offensive line around bargain shopping free agency and mid-round draft picks.

 

I think we have in-house options that are equal to Saffold, but RT is a problem. 
 

If you draft a Center in Rounds 1-2, I would think that means you want them starting. 
 

I would like Gesicki on a 1-year deal as the TE2 on this team. 
 

Singletary you can let go, and Gabe you’re playing out his rookie deal, and he’s ideally be replaced by a rookie 1st Round pick. 

[AuntieEm]

On 12/27/2022 at 12:16 PM, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

I'll bet if you looked at the top 6 teams in the league you'd find a similar thing.  different positions, but either young guys who didn't improve as much as hoped for or aging vets at some positions

 

 

 

I like your draft selections too.  I think WR is bigger need than line as Bills are a passing team.  As weak as the line has looked at times they really only have one starting spot open as  they are not giving up on Brown who has only played 2 seasons and had no training camp or pre season due to recovering from injury.  They may bring in some competition at tackle, but is his job to lose.  If Morse retires, then could see them more likely bringing in a vet guard or center short term and draft center guard, but could see them moving Bates to center for 2023.

 

 

 

 

    As good as Allen has become and his ceiling may not have been reached this early in his career, but even if he keeps improving  Allen will not be throwing td passes while on his back, the ol does much more than just open lanes for a running game.  Being a pass heavy team you gotta protect the passer or you ain't passing anything.  

[billsfan89]

13 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

I think this comes down to WR and then Offensive Line.

 

Speed is a priority.

 

Spencer Brown you’d have to project if he can reasonably get better, because it feels like he allows free rushers 1 of every 3 snaps. 

I think if Brown was healthy consistently he would be a much better player. He had back surgery during the offseason and couldn’t practice until late August so he couldn’t learn a new scheme then just as he starts to pick up his play he gets an ankle injury and misses a few games. I think his play against the Bears was his best game so here is hoping he is turning a corner again.

 

If I were McBeane I would bring in a vet RT to compete with him in 2023 I know they brought in Queese but they need someone there who is a better pass blocker. It would push Brown and help him by having a vet to learn from and help the Oline depth which has been pretty bad this season.

 

I am fine with the Dawkins-Bates-Mitch side of the line but the right side of the line and the depth are horrible. Likely have to spend the teams first round pick or a RT or RG and a 3rd or 4th round pick at center to get an heir apparent for Mitch and solidify the depth

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

7 minutes ago, AuntieEm said:

 

 

    As good as Allen has become and his ceiling may not have been reached this early in his career, but even if he keeps improving  Allen will not be throwing td passes while on his back, the ol does much more than just open lanes for a running game.  Being a pass heavy team you gotta protect the passer or you ain't passing anything.  

 

Agree you have to protect him, but there has to also be actual roster spots for the player you draft.  I've seen threads stating the Bills should draft 5 lineman.  If they do, come September, they are either cutting two or three or having all the backups be rookies, both of which would be very poor ideas. 

 

You have likely one opening at guard, two if Morse were to retire.  If that were to happen, I'd fill one spot with a good FA vet signing and one with a rookie and also draft one more rookie as a backup and to potentially start in 2024.  I'd draft them fairly high, either 2 and 3 or 2 and 4 so are getting someone who should become a solid player.  The other three spots Bates, Brown, and Dawkins likely will be the same in 2023, and even if you want to make a change, replacing any of them with a rookie, plus a rookie in another spot isn't likely going to make the line better in the near future.  That may be the best answer for 2025, but not in the near term which can't be over looked either.

[The Jokeman]

MLB, LG, RT, DT, depth at TE, depth at RB, depth at WR, depth at S.