Benford - Was he being showcased? (Opinion, not a rumor)

[wppete]

There is no way the Bills trade Benford with such upside and a salary of a 5th rounder. He is way too valuable. They would trade Elam over Benford. 

[Airseven]

11 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Saw a Ravens guy on Twitter pushing for an Elam to the Ravens trade for a LB.

 

The Elam family has ties to the Ravens. Seems to think they would want Elam.

 

Seems realistic. Malik Harrison? I have no clue. But an Elam player-for-player w/ picks for balance has to be on the table.

[Logic]

I see what you're saying, but...

It's very possible that Benford is the second best outside corner on the roster.

If anyone's getting traded, in my mind, it's Kaiir Elam. I'd think he would have value to teams that play more man coverage.

[Antonio]

Just now, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Benford is a better fit for what the Bills do.

 

Elam was drafted for his press man abilities. They don’t play press man though. 

 

I really think Benford and Elam both stay. Elam will play when we need to. I think we will have some D packages where Elam will be used.

In any case it might even be better to explor a Tre trade. Not that I want it, but a player to player trade that makes some kind of sens: A starting MLB or RT and with a salary cap savings.

[ExWNYer]

I'm not advocating any trades but the CB attrition around the league has already started. FWIW, Denver just lost their starting nickel, K'Waun Williams, indefinitely.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 minutes ago, Antonio said:

 

I really think Benford and Elam both stay. Elam will play when we need to. I think we will have some D packages where Elam will be used.

In any case it might even be better to explor a Tre trade. Not that I want it, but a player to player trade that makes some kind of sens: A starting MLB or RT and with a salary cap savings.

I definitely wouldn’t trade Elam unless it’s for a similarly young talented player playing a position of need.

 

 I have zero issues with Elam when he plays. I would start him now.

[boyst]

in some conspiracy type deal Beane and McDermott showcased Benford and buried Jackson and Elam and coincedently Elam stunk.

 

The Eagles who need help think the Bills are willing to shop a starter and pay big so they take the trade and boom we get ourselves Lane Johnson at tackle!

[Augie]

23 minutes ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

Gotta keep all our CBs for teams like the Bengals and Chiefs imo

 

Not to mention,  how stupid would we feel once we have the inevitable injury or two, then find ourselves short handed at one of the most important positions in the game? 

9 minutes ago, wppete said:

There is no way the Bills trade Benford with such upside and a salary of a 5th rounder. He is way too valuable. They would trade Elam over Benford. 

 

….and I seriously doubt they trade Elam, either. He needs time to learn the game and how to use his physical skills in more of a zone defense. 

[Airseven]

Elam isn't "depth" if he can't play. He's a body. A bust. Luckily he may still have trade value given his youth and possible fit in a different scheme. Bills need to take advantage of that. 

[Alphadawg7]

27 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I think Benford will start for the Bills. 

Interesting, you’ve previously been in the camp that Dane was leading the race prior to this game.  What has changed that makes you think it’s Benford now instead of Dane?  Was it just his start this week, or has there been other reports or anything prior to the game that makes you think it’s now Benford?

 

I mean if Benford is the starter the. Obviously his start makes a lot more sense this past week.  It’s just the fact that it seems like Dane had been in that slot heading into the game and had not done anything to lose it that surprised me about Benfords start this week.

Edited August 28, 2023 by Alphadawg7

[Royale with Cheese]

Not Benford but to Elam....yes.  

 

Benford is our starter.  

[Virgil]

I think one should be traded because there are teams who need DBs and our guys have value.   I only mentioned Elam before because he seems to be DB4 and I think would fetch the most value.  
 

I don’t care who they trade, but they should trade someone.  We need more picks and will have more need of cheap labor as our cap gets tighter 

[RoyBatty is alive]

29 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

The last time Beane traded a sixth round pick entering his second season, it didn't work out too well for the Bills. I think Benford might simply be the starter. We'll see. 

Exactly who are you referring to

[Brandon]

I hope not.  With as well as Benford has played since being drafted last year,  I think that would be a mistake.  If he's not a starter at this point,  I think he will be before the season is over.

Edited August 28, 2023 by Brandon

[dave mcbride]

1 minute ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

Exactly who are you referring to

Wyatt Teller.

[Alphadawg7]

16 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

I appreciate the thread and the conversation. However, I highly doubt Benford will be traded and that he was being show cased as a starter. It's really not how the Bills operate. 

 

Benford has clearly outplayed Elam. The coaches have much more confidence in Benford. I'd be very surprised by if he's not the starter vs the Jets. 

 

Lastly, I don't think he's trade value is the greatest. Sure teams would be interested but they would use his latter round draft pick as a negative. Elam actually may have more trade value as a first  round pick. In the right system, Elam could be good. 

 

In short, I believe the Bills will carry both CBs. Benford was a great pick and a Elam looking not so great. Perhaps he can develop. I think much of his issues are the Bills system and perhaps a slow learner. He has shown flashes of being very good in man coverage. He seems to have a lot of skill that's not polished. Almost like putting a square peg in a wooden circle. 

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to trade him either.  Just seemed like Dane was the clear leader at CB2 all preseason and had played good throughout camp.  So Benford making a last minute leap frog just seemed a bit unusual given Dane did nothing to lose it.  And Beane has showcased players before in preseason before trading them (as do many GMs), so it made me wonder did he really pass Dane, or were they seeing if he might garner some trade value if they decide to move one.

 

But my personal stance has been keep all of them and that’s what I hope happens.  

[Rico]

30 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Saw a Ravens guy on Twitter pushing for an Elam to the Ravens trade for a LB.

 

The Elam family has ties to the Ravens. Seems to think they would want Elam.

Uncle Matt was an all-time bust for Ozzie Newsome, don’t think they want any more Elams. Ravens fans sure don’t anyways.

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Interesting, you’ve previously been in the camp that Dane was leading the race prior to this game.  What has changed that makes you think it’s Benford now instead of Dane?  Was it just his start this week, or has there been other reports or anything prior to the game that makes you think it’s now Benford?

 

I mean if Benford is the starter the. Obviously his start makes a lot more sense this past week.  It’s just the fact that it seems like Dane had been in that slot heading into the game and had not done anything to lose it that surprised me about Benfords start this week.

 

There have been multiple reports that Benford has just got better and better as camp has gone on and then they went with Benford on Saturday. 

 

To me it at the very least suggests the three man race is down to two and Benford and Dane were nip and tuck. But if I had to have a bet right now, I'd put it on Benford playing the most snaps other than Tre week 1... the "start" matters less to me and I suspect Benford and Dane will both play some (similar to the way Dane and Kaiir both played in the two playoff games). But I think Benford is favourite to win the snap count. 

2 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Wyatt Teller.

 

He was a 5th rounder.

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 minute ago, dave mcbride said:

Wyatt Teller.

He wasnt a 6th rd pick, he was a fifth round pick

[Buffalo_Stampede]

1 minute ago, Rico said:

Uncle Matt was an all-time bust for Ozzie Newsome, don’t think they want any more Elams. Ravens fans sure don’t anyways.

Sounded like they wanted him.