Roquan $mith agrees to deal with Ravens - highest paid LB in NFL history

[Manther]

2 hours ago, FrenchConnection said:

I wonder how Lamar feels about this?

Valid question and probably not impressed he didn't get a deal first.  The Lamar situation is going to end poorly.  A little messy.  I don't think he gets a long term deal from the Ravens.

 

I think that would be better for the Ravens.  Let him play his 5th year.  Franchise him if you have to after that or give him a 3 year deal, but, he probably won't take that.

2 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

it is probably more like 75% if you really want him.

So, you think $15 million a year for Edmunds.  I think that has been the number all along.  It may have been slightly less.  Depends on what the cap goes up to.  Can the Bills keep 2 of Poyer, Edmunds and Oliver.

 

Maybe sign Poyer to a 3 year deal, Edmunds to a big deal and let Oliver walk after his 5th year or franchise tag for a 6th.

[Manther]

2 hours ago, Logic said:

I think the choice to re-sign or not re-sign Tremaine Edmunds is THE central decision of the offseason.

It will be the key domino that sets all the other dominos in motion.

If he's re-signed, the Bills will have a pretty frugal offseason elsewhere. If he's not, they'll have a little more room to maneuver and bring in veteran help elsewhere.

Then, of course, there's the massive hole that it would leave in the defense. Whatever you may think about Tremaine, choosing not to re-sign him means losing the defense's quarterback and an emerging leader, and leaving a big roster void at a key position in the McDermott/Frazier defense.

Big, big decision for Brandon Beane.

I agree that Edmunds is or isn't the first block to fall that dictates the other directions.  I think we will sign him.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

12 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

I think the team knows that its best man for each position.  I don't know if Milano could play MLB in this system, Keuchly had the same build and speed which is what made me think of this.  

Milano is a lot smaller shorter and slower than Luke was… otherwise identical 

Edited January 10, 2023 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[BullBuchanan]

3 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

Who cares about Lamar. What does Edmunds think?

Is Edmunds attending Roquan's youth LB camp?

[LeGOATski]

Edmunds is gonna be expensive, but I think the Bills are willing to pay. Hopefully they can keep the Edmunds/Milano tandem together for a while. Draft younger safeties.

[BullBuchanan]

17 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

Milano is a lot smaller shorter and slower than Luke was… otherwise identical 

Kuechly was also a generational football mind at LB.

[bigK14094]

With 17 getting 40 mil per now, the Bills loyalists will have to get used to  some of our guys leaving.  That is the purpose of the  cap....to balance talent across the league.

[Royale with Cheese]

23 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

Milano is a lot smaller shorter and slower than Luke was… otherwise identical 

 

Milano's play speed is very fast.  He's playing at an All Pro level right now because of his sideline to sideline ability.

I thought Keuchly was a smaller and quicker linebacker.  He was actually a good sized one.

[H2o]

1 hour ago, Coach Tuesday said:

They are gonna likely have to choose between Edmunds and Oliver.  First half of the season I would have given the edge to Oliver, but he's faded down the stretch and Edmunds has stepped up.  I wonder if they can trade Oliver.

They have the FT to use on Edmunds if need be and Oliver is on his 5th year option next season. I assume you are talking about going into 2024? 

[Matt_In_NH]

54 minutes ago, Manther said:

 

So, you think $15 million a year for Edmunds.  I think that has been the number all along.  It may have been slightly less.  Depends on what the cap goes up to.  Can the Bills keep 2 of Poyer, Edmunds and Oliver.

 

Maybe sign Poyer to a 3 year deal, Edmunds to a big deal and let Oliver walk after his 5th year or franchise tag for a 6th.

 

Even though he is so controversial, I think I would prioritize Edmunds, then Oliver and Poyer I let Poyer go because of his age and assumed contract demands.  You have to be willing to move on from people even when it hurts.  They need to find the next diamond in the rough at safety.  Before the season I would have picked Oliver as 1, but he has not had a breakout year, he is a decent player who shows up in some games but other games he is invisible.  Not sure what his market is, I would pay medium money for him maybe but not big dollars.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

41 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

Milano's play speed is very fast.  He's playing at an All Pro level right now because of his sideline to sideline ability.

I thought Keuchly was a smaller and quicker linebacker.  He was actually a good sized one.

yeah 6’3” 240 almost AJ Klein sized but could move. 4.5 speed… he’s a lot more like Edmunds than Milano imo, despite the ire that statement will draw 

[Coach Tuesday]

37 minutes ago, H2o said:

They have the FT to use on Edmunds if need be and Oliver is on his 5th year option next season. I assume you are talking about going into 2024? 

 

Correct, but for cap planning purposes I think they have to make the call now - I mean I suppose they could franchise Edmunds and kick the decision down the road but I'd be very surprised if they're wiling to do that.

[Nephilim17]

If Edmunds feels he's worth somewhere in the $16 to $18 million a year range based on this, I would rather use that money on O-lineman.

Not saying Edmunds doesn't help our D; he does. But we have very limited cap space and need to make hard decisions as to what part of the team needs to be maintained or fortified and which part can go without. 

I don't think a middle linebacker in today's game is worth that kind of money when you're pushed against the cap and have glaring weaknesses on offense, especially protecting your quarter-billion-dollar QB.

[dave mcbride]

7 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

 

Correct, but for cap planning purposes I think they have to make the call now - I mean I suppose they could franchise Edmunds and kick the decision down the road but I'd be very surprised if they're wiling to do that.

One thing to keep in mind is that the cap is likely to go WAY up. Bear in mind that it went down in the covid year and the league has had a banner year revenue wise this year. It's expected to go up by $15 million or so: https://www.nfl.com/news/salary-cap-for-2023-nfl-season-could-exceed-220-million-but-questions-remain .

 

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by dave mcbride

[BearNorth]

11 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

yeah 6’3” 240 almost AJ Klein sized but could move. 4.5 speed… he’s a lot more like Edmunds than Milano imo, despite the ire that statement will draw 

Kuechly was taller [6-3 to 6-0], faster[4.58 - 4.67], stronger [27 reps vs. 24] than Cookie.  Kuechly averaged over 9 tackles per game for his career, vs. <6 for Milano.

[Big Turk]

Beane usually out in front of these type of things...makes me think we are not resigning Edmunds.

2 hours ago, BearNorth said:

Kuechly was taller [6-3 to 6-0], faster[4.58 - 4.67], stronger [27 reps vs. 24] than Cookie.  Kuechly averaged over 9 tackles per game for his career, vs. <6 for Milano.

 

Kuechly was basically the best parts of Milano and Edmunds combined into one with none of the weaknesses 

Edited January 11, 2023 by Big Turk

[EasternOHBillsFan]

4 hours ago, Manther said:

Valid question and probably not impressed he didn't get a deal first.  The Lamar situation is going to end poorly.  A little messy.  I don't think he gets a long term deal from the Ravens.

 

I think that would be better for the Ravens.  Let him play his 5th year.  Franchise him if you have to after that or give him a 3 year deal, but, he probably won't take that.

 

Who says he will play under a franchise tag? If he's essentially holding out now using a knee injury, he will play strongarm tactics and force the Ravens to trade him. That Roquan Smith deal was a MESSAGE directly to Lamar. Messy is an understatement!

 

Not paying Poyer to me is the only big negative move I have seen OBD make so far.

6 hours ago, gobills404 said:

Congrats on waking up from your coma 🙏

 

Not appropriate.

Edited January 11, 2023 by EasternOHBillsFan

[SCBills]

Why would Lamar be upset they signed Roquan long term?.. He’s the one who said no in-season contract negotiations.  
 

Im not sure why the Ravens should be giving the “Watson contract” to a guy that hasn’t finished (as of now) the last two seasons… and hasn’t performed at an elite level in the playoffs. 
 

His only shot is to go to a team like NYJ, with a lot of young talent, that can pay him elite franchise QB $$$ and have a stacked roster around him.  QB6 in the AFC is going to need an elite roster to compete with the 5 AFC QB’s better than him (Allen, Mahomes, Burrow, Herbert, Lawrence). 

[benderbender]

Not in the pay Edmunds camp, but I didn’t think the market would get reset before the salary cap went up. Thought we had time to make him a reasonable offer. Oh well. The last illusion Edmunds fanatics will have is the one where he takes a deep hometown discount. 

[Manther]

26 minutes ago, EasternOHBillsFan said:

 

Who says he will play under a franchise tag? If he's essentially holding out now using a knee injury, he will play strongarm tactics and force the Ravens to trade him. That Roquan Smith deal was a MESSAGE directly to Lamar. Messy is an understatement!

 

It will be interesting what happens, agreed on messy being an understatement.