Isaiah Simmons might be an answer for the Bills at MLB

[NewEra]

5 minutes ago, BillsNutHawaii said:

Definitely a reasonable proposal and something I hope our Bills at least conduct some research on.  Additionally, I don’t think the Cardinals organization has the structure in place for players to achieve the “best version of themselves” (As we so often hear about with the Bills).  Based on that alone this situation deserves some analysis. 

I think it deserves some analysis too. Unfortunately, the analysis ends @ 6.5M cap hit.  If Az would assume most of that hit (if that’s even possible), I’d be good with trading a 6th for a 1 year rental.  And a 6th might even be a bit rich.  

[GunnerBill]

43 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

He'd be a better safety than MLB. You have a nasty habit of trying to put highly athletic bad processing football players into the MLB position. 
 

I had high hopes for him too but it’s been 4 years at this point he is what he is a sub package player that doesn’t have a real position 

 

Simmons at this point is a coin flip. But the talent and playmaking ability is there. He has shown that in Arizona too. They have struggled to find a fit but the Bills ask their LBs to do a lot different things to the Cardinals. In terms of a buy low proposition he is a good one. I wouldn't give anything big up for him but we have 3 6ths next year. I'd offer Arizona one of those.

[Doc]

Just now, NewEra said:

I think it deserves some analysis too. Unfortunately, the analysis ends @ 6.5M cap hit.  If Az would assume most of that hit (if that’s even possible), I’d be good with trading a 6th for a 1 year rental.  And a 6th might even be a bit rich.  

 

It's actually a $3.4M cap hit, assuming he makes the roster (there's a $2.4M bonus if he does).  The $6.5M number includes amortized signing bonus which the Bills wouldn't be on the hook for. 

[Augie]

44 minutes ago, whorlnut said:

I really don’t understand why some people are calling Beane a liar just because they don’t share the same opinion. Beane has said over and over that they might have the replacement in house. He also talked glowingly about brown and also about adding a “pass catcher” that might not be a WR. It’s time to face the music people…Beane is happy with who he has at MLB. Get over it. 

 

Was it Chris Rock who said “you are only as loyal as your options”?  If he can find a better option, we will hear a revised statement. I don’t blame him for anything he has said, but I also know it is subject to change. 

[MrEpsYtown]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Who is the most talented football player that might be a buy low, high ceiling, linebacker?

Hypothetical, if you had to choose between Simmons and Kenny Murray for the Bills who you taking? I lean Murray personally, but its close. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

3 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

This.

 

They drafted Bernard with a 3rd last season. Beane wants to see if he can be the guy and get a return on the investment. They re-signed AJ Klein and Tyrel Dodson as insurance and doubled down in Drafting Dorian Williams (who can play both Middle and Outside).

 

Whether or not anyone thinks that's enough - that's what he's done with the position. A Draft Pick last year, 2 re-signings, and another Draft pick this year. He's addressed MLB a lot more than people think.

 

Posters are acting like Kylo Ren with the "more, more, MORE!" meme across the board. Asking for a top DE, a MLB trade, a WR trade, an OT, a Center, and/or another QB.

 

At this stage, after the Poona Ford and Latavius Murray signings, we need to come up with some money, again, after scraping the well over and over already, just to sign our Draft Picks.

 

Maybe there's a small finishing touch for depth here or there. But until we do something like an extension or two at DT - I wouldn't expect much, if anything more.

This is accurate.  Beane and McD have addressed MLB to fit their strategy. 

Now we just have to see how it plays out.

I agreed with picking up the 5th year option of Edmunds. I agreed with letting him walk. 

Hated the Bernard pick and still do. Mixed emotions on Williams. 

I'm just in a place where I don't think it matters. Offense should be more diverse and better, secondary can be elite, and pass rush might be ok. Edmunds never made a difference and you will never convince me he did. I don't care about special teams except the PK. Beane addressed the OL and the pass cathcers.  Now McD and Dorsey are in the hot seat. 

 

[BigAl2526]

At the very least, this is interesting.  Simmons has good size combined with elite speed/athleticism.

[BADOLBILZ]

 

1 hour ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Hypothetical, if you had to choose between Simmons and Kenny Murray for the Bills who you taking? I lean Murray personally, but its close. 

 

 

I looked into him as part of a Hopkins trade earlier and it seems that the Cardinals were pleased with how he played as more of a weak side LB and slot defender late in the year.   So they apparently aren't in dump mode on him.   Murray I think would be more likely to be available.

[Brand J]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Simmons at this point is a coin flip. But the talent and playmaking ability is there. He has shown that in Arizona too. They have struggled to find a fit but the Bills ask their LBs to do a lot different things to the Cardinals. In terms of a buy low proposition he is a good one. I wouldn't give anything big up for him but we have 3 6ths next year. I'd offer Arizona one of those.

Unless the Cardinals are roster purging - and I haven’t seen anything that would suggest they are - why would they let Simmons go for a 6th and weaken their team? Same principle applies to those who want to get rid of Oliver. Doesn’t make much sense from a competitive standpoint if the return is pennies on the dollar.

[PBF81]

LB is the most interesting position battle from now 'til the season starts.  

[Beck Water]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Who is the most talented football player that might be a buy low, high ceiling, linebacker?

 

Hmmmm.  Uncertain, but a valid and plausible response.

[Sierra Foothills]

Isaiah Simmons?

 

I've heard of him!!!

 

(sorry... couldn't resist)

 

 

[John from Riverside]

See, there’s this thing called the salary cap…

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Hypothetical, if you had to choose between Simmons and Kenny Murray for the Bills who you taking? I lean Murray personally, but its close. 

 

Think Murray is a more natural scheme fit if you are looking for a mike but Simmons has been a much better play than Murray in the NFL so far. Both have struggled defending the run but Simmons has been a good matchup 'backer in coverage.

[GunnerBill]

56 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

Unless the Cardinals are roster purging - and I haven’t seen anything that would suggest they are - why would they let Simmons go for a 6th and weaken their team? Same principle applies to those who want to get rid of Oliver. Doesn’t make much sense from a competitive standpoint if the return is pennies on the dollar.

 

They are certainly pick collecting and it is a new GM and a new HC neither of whom had any involvement in selecting Simmons. Maybe they like him, in which case it makes no sense. But maybe they don't? Remember Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott traded Reggie Ragland for a 5th without seeing him play a single down of football and then happily trotted Ramon Humber out there as a starter - and made the playoffs btw.

[Brand J]

9 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

They are certainly pick collecting and it is a new GM and a new HC neither of whom had any involvement in selecting Simmons. Maybe they like him, in which case it makes no sense. But maybe they don't? Remember Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott traded Reggie Ragland for a 5th without seeing him play a single down of football and then happily trotted Ramon Humber out there as a starter - and made the playoffs btw.

Which starters have they traded for draft picks?

[GunnerBill]

7 minutes ago, JayBaller10 said:

Which starters have they traded for draft picks?

 

They haven't. But at this point in 2017 nor had the Bills. It happens with new regimes that they are willing to move off the previous regime's guys and do so for below market value. The Cardinals might not be willing to part with Simmons. But I think it is a question worth asking. I don't think it is the same as the Oliver situation where he was a selection and investment of this regime.

[Thurman#1]

8 hours ago, gjv said:

 Isaiah Simmons has played the majority of his snaps at OLB and CB, but has played 508 snaps at MLB for the Cards. I would assume that's a sufficient sample size of plays at MLB for a reasonable evaluation. The Cardinals have declined his 5th-year option. Simmons' salary for next season is an affordable 1.4 mil with a cap hit of 6.5 mil. Should his 508 snaps at MLB show well, perhaps a trade for Simmons would be the Bill's answer at MLB for next season.?

 

 

For 2024, you're saying?

 

I think by then they'll be able to target much better. They'll have a lot more info about what works and what doesn't with the changes they're making with the scheme.

 

At that point if they need an expensive FA, why not pick one who's been primarily an MLB or at least an ILB?

[Thurman#1]

5 hours ago, WhoTom said:

 

So he's a poor man's Tremaine Edmunds?

 

 

 

Yeah, um, no.

 

Tremaine is now the fourth-highest paid off-ball LB in the league, behind only Roquan, Shaquille Leonard and Fred Warner.

 

Whether you guys refuse to admit it or just genuinely missed it, Tremaine was a very good LB here and then became an excellent one in his last year. The reason he's not here is because we couldn't afford him.

Edited May 7, 2023 by Thurman#1

[GreggTX]

Simmons isn't the superstar AZ expected, but he's still OK. Kinda like Oliver in that regard.