UDFA signings 2023

[khlax3]

51 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

QB - Allen, Allen

RB - Cook, Harris, Hines, Murray

FB - Gilliam 

WR - Diggs, Davis, Harty, Shakir, Sherfield, Shorter

TE - Kincaid, Knox

OL - Dawkins, McGovern, Morse, Torrence, Brown 

Bates, Edwards, Quessenberry, Gouriage

 

DE - Miller, Rousseau, Lawson, Epenesa, Basham

DT - Oliver, Jones, Ford, Phillips, Settle

LB - Milano, Bernard, Klein, Williams, Dodson, Matakevitch

CB - White, Elam, Johnson, Jackson, Benford, Neal

S - Poyer, Hyde, Rapp, Hamlin

ST - Bass, Martin, Ferguson

If everyone stays healthy through camp I think you nailed it. 
 

I think Spector, Morris, and Doyle are next in line to make the team

[BillsFanForever19]

3 hours ago, khlax3 said:

If everyone stays healthy through camp I think you nailed it. 
 

I think Spector, Morris, and Doyle are next in line to make the team

 

Morris was #54 and my last cut. Ultimately I decided that with Kincaid added, Gilliam could cover both FB and blocking on the line as a "TE" in certain packages that have Harris blocking in the backfield. I'd hope we could get Morris back on the Practice Squad, in the event of an injury to Knox, Kincaid, or Gilliam.

 

Doyle having torn his ACL completely (as opposed to Von's partial tear and partial repair) and playing on it for an entire game on 9/27/22 - I imagine he'll start the year on the PUP.

 

Spector is simply odd man out. Even Dodson was #53 for me and I had a scenario where we only kept 5 LB's and kept Morris. Ultimately, there's no room for Spector.

 

We won't keep more than 6 LB's and he can't make it above any of the 6. Milano, Bernard and Williams (2 3rd Rounders), Klein, Dodson, and Matakevitch (ST Captain) all take priority. Much like Morris, I think we'd try and get Spector back for the PS.

 

I could foresee (and in some cases borderline expect) the following scenarios that would change the roster in its current state:

 

- Bates is traded for a pick and Boettger or Broeker is the final OG.

 

- Another veteran OT being signed and Gouraige is off the 53.

 

- Another Edge Rusher added and Basham is traded for a pick.

Edited May 3, 2023 by BillsFanForever19

[The_Ripster]

2 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

QB - Allen, Allen

RB - Cook, Harris, Hines, Murray

FB/TE - Gilliam 

WR - Diggs, Davis, Harty, Shakir, Sherfield, Shorter

TE - Kincaid, Knox

OL - Dawkins, McGovern, Morse, Torrence, Brown 

Bates, Edwards, Quessenberry, Gouriage

 

DE - Miller, Rousseau, Lawson, Epenesa, Basham

DT - Oliver, Jones, Ford, Phillips, Settle

LB - Milano, Bernard, Klein, Williams, Dodson, Matakevitch

CB - White, Elam, Johnson, Jackson, Benford, Neal

S - Poyer, Hyde, Rapp, Hamlin

ST - Bass, Martin, Ferguson

Hot take: that minicamp invitee QB Logan Bonner makes the team over Kyle Allen 

[WideNine]

On 4/29/2023 at 10:03 PM, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Just like the guy who posted he's been dying for Beane to Draft a "big tub of goo" DT for years - positions like these are a thing of the past. The game has gotten much more complex and the players are much more athletic.

 

Maybe not a tub of goo, but I would take a Jeffrey Simmons or Quinnen Williams, and Vita Vea may not be a chiseled piece of marble, but I guarantee we would love him manning the middle of our DL.

There is a place for those guys that can anchor and force double-teams. I was so excited when we picked up Dareus as he had all the tools coming out of school and had all the upside to be that guy the Bills could build their D-line around... the dude set this franchise back a ways.

[Sierra Foothills]

2 hours ago, WideNine said:

Maybe not a tub of goo, but I would take a Jeffrey Simmons or Quinnen Williams, and Vita Vea may not be a chiseled piece of marble, but I guarantee we would love him manning the middle of our DL.
There is a place for those guys that can anchor and force double-teams. I was so excited when we picked up Dareus as he had all the tools coming out of school and had all the upside to be that guy the Bills could build their D-line around... the dude set this franchise back a ways.

 

There was a time where guys like Refrigerator Perry, Ted Washington, Sam Adams, Pat Williams, Gilbert Brown, Nate Newton etc populated the NFL.

 

All were great athletes in their own right but also just massive and not necessarily sporting an optimal muscle to fat ratio.

 

It seems like you see fewer of those types of players these days. The big guys nowadays seem more like the guys you mentioned along with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, Donkey Kong, etc.

 

[Pete]

4 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

There was a time where guys like Refrigerator Perry, Ted Washington, Sam Adams, Pat Williams, Gilbert Brown, Nate Newton etc populated the NFL.

 

All were great athletes in their own right but also just massive and not necessarily sporting an optimal muscle to fat ratio.

 

It seems like you see fewer of those types of players these days. The big guys nowadays seem more like the guys you mentioned along with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, Donkey Kong, etc.

 

These Bills could use vintage Ted Washington.  Those Bills defenses were tough.  And Washington was a beast

[GunnerBill]

11 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Morris was #54 and my last cut. Ultimately I decided that with Kincaid added, Gilliam could cover both FB and blocking on the line as a "TE" in certain packages that have Harris blocking in the backfield. I'd hope we could get Morris back on the Practice Squad, in the event of an injury to Knox, Kincaid, or Gilliam.

 

Doyle having torn his ACL completely (as opposed to Von's partial tear and partial repair) and playing on it for an entire game on 9/27/22 - I imagine he'll start the year on the PUP.

 

Spector is simply odd man out. Even Dodson was #53 for me and I had a scenario where we only kept 5 LB's and kept Morris. Ultimately, there's no room for Spector.

 

We won't keep more than 6 LB's and he can't make it above any of the 6. Milano, Bernard and Williams (2 3rd Rounders), Klein, Dodson, and Matakevitch (ST Captain) all take priority. Much like Morris, I think we'd try and get Spector back for the PS.

 

I could foresee (and in some cases borderline expect) the following scenarios that would change the roster in its current state:

 

- Bates is traded for a pick and Boettger or Broeker is the final OG.

 

- Another veteran OT being signed and Gouraige is off the 53.

 

- Another Edge Rusher added and Basham is traded for a pick.

 

I'm not sure Latavius Murray makes it. I think the Bills signed him as insurance but they almost never draft 4 running backs, and Cook, Harris and Hines are all dressing unless Harris's health issues resurface. Are you really retaining a 33 year old running back as a non-dressing roster member at the expense of a young guy you like who plays teams? Q Morris played 75% of STs snaps this past season. Who replaces those snaps? You are not running Kincaid or Knox out there to do that job. 

 

I also agree with @MrEpsYtown - if Dodson doesn't win the LB job he might not be here, likewise AJ Klein (who they picked up off the street last season). 

 

I'd go no Murray and (optimistically) no Klein and replace them with Morris and Spector. I expect Morris to make it. Spector is more of a 50/50 proposition.

 

Obviously a chance Von starts on PUP (but I hope not). 

[boyst]

Who was our last udfa to come in and make any type of contribution beyond a couple games?

[Solomon Grundy]

38 minutes ago, Pete said:

These Bills could use vintage Ted Washington.  Those Bills defenses were tough.  And Washington was a beast

Pat Williams too

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, boyst said:

Who was our last udfa to come in and make any type of contribution beyond a couple games?

 

The last one to become a regular starter was Levi. We have had others make the roster in depth roles - Gilliam, Dodson, Morris on the current roster. Robert Foster in the recent past plus Justin Zimmer and Ike Boettger (who were Bills UDFAs, left then came back and made our roster and started some games). But the last two that I can remember as Bills UDFAs who legit won starting jobs are Levi Wallce and Nickel Roby-Coleman. 

 

Ryan Bates was also an UDFA who the Bills traded for off the Eagles during his first training camp. 

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by GunnerBill

[CNYfan]

The draft was 17 rounds at one time.  Johnny Unitas was, famously, a 17th round draft selection.  Many players selected after the 7th round would make rosters.  House Ballard was an 11th round draft choice.   I know there are many others in the era before the Draft was shortened.  

[CorkScrewHill]

Woo Governor did not declare for the draft and therefore is not able to sign a free agent deal .. source is Woo Governor’s twitter account

 

 

[Shaw66]

I'm amused by how good the UDFAs look on paper.   Some really good looking resumes.   

 

I think it has to do with how good the 53-man roster looks.   I've gotten used to seeing a lot of talent on the field and roaming the sidelines for the Bills, so I think I tend to see the UDFAs the same way.   

 

This year's list looks like guys who, if they don't make the 53, are going to be plucked by other teams.   Probably not true, but it feels that way. 

 

I think part of it is that guys who have had some serious success in college and don't get drafted want to sign with playoff contenders.  Their agents tell them that it will be tough to make the rosters on those teams, but they don't care, for a couple of reasons:  First, they have extreme confidence.   Second, they know that if they don't make it, they'll still have options (PS or go to a lesser team).  Third, they want the coaches on the best teams to see them, so that when they move on to another team, if they've made a good impression, they will have a shot come back a year or two later.  

 

Gunner's post showed how unlikely it is that one of these guys will make it, but it really isn't about whether they'll make it this year.   It's about what they might become in a year or two, and it's about having a quality guy on the PS for a late-season callup for a game or two.  

[Motorin']

17 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

QB - Allen, Allen

RB - Cook, Harris, Hines, Murray

FB/TE - Gilliam 

WR - Diggs, Davis, Harty, Shakir, Sherfield, Shorter

TE - Kincaid, Knox

OL - Dawkins, McGovern, Morse, Torrence, Brown 

Bates, Edwards, Quessenberry, Gouraige

 

DE - Miller, Rousseau, Lawson, Epenesa, Basham

DT - Oliver, Jones, Ford, Phillips, Settle

LB - Milano, Bernard, Klein, Williams, Dodson, Matakevitch

CB - White, Elam, Johnson, Jackson, Benford, Neal

S - Poyer, Hyde, Rapp, Hamlin

ST - Bass, Martin, Ferguson

 

Von starts the year on the PUP list, right?

 

And if the happens, do they roll with 4 DE's, or does that open the door for someone like Kingsley Jonathon to make the 53?

 

Edited May 3, 2023 by Motorin'

[Sierra Foothills]

1 hour ago, CorkScrewHill said:

Woo Governor did not declare for the draft and therefore is not able to sign a free agent deal .. source is Woo Governor’s twitter account

 

 

 

[Ralonzo]

34 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

Von starts the year on the PUP list, right?

 

And if the happens, do they roll with 4 DE's, or does that open the door for someone like Kingsley Jonathon to make the 53?

 

 

Kingsley Jonathan was Von Lite in preseason last year, his speed move could not be handled by 2's. He's super bendy, he could have a legit shot to stick. Would solve a lot of defensive problems if he and Spector stepped it up this year.

[ColoradoBills]

22 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

I don't think Siran Neal is going anywhere this year.  Someone needs to take his job as the dime back, and we may spend more time in different defensive formations.

McKenzie, who was legit fast, always said that Siran Neal was the fastest guy on the team despite his 4.56 pajama olympics time.

 

I think it's good, and reasonable, that we're apparently moving on and replacing 3 ST regulars in Johnson, Kumerow, and Jones.  So keeping 2 in Matakevich and Neal is not unreasonable.

 

The thing is Siran did not play much at all, even with all the injuries with the DBs last season.

Neal only had 63 defensive snaps last year.  That's less than 4 snaps a game.

His worth is strictly STs.

[Sierra Foothills]

5 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

The thing is Siran did not play much at all, even with all the injuries with the DBs last season.

Neal only had 63 defensive snaps last year.  That's less than 4 snaps a game.

His worth is strictly STs.

 

You know we had so many injuries in the defensive backfield last year that I don't really recall who the primary dime defensive back was.

 

 

[ColoradoBills]

5 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

You know we had so many injuries in the defensive backfield last year that I don't really recall who the primary dime defensive back was.

 

 

With all the injuries I don't think there was a "primary" dime.

[BillsFanForever19]

3 hours ago, Motorin' said:

 

Von starts the year on the PUP list, right?

 

And if the happens, do they roll with 4 DE's, or does that open the door for someone like Kingsley Jonathon to make the 53?

 

Not a chance. He didn't completely tear his ACL and need a reconstruction like Tre.

 

He had a partial tear and a repair. He's on pace to not miss any time. If they're overly cautious, he'd just miss a game or two. But from the sounds of Beane and him, he'll be ready Week 1.