Roster 2024

[GASabresIUFan]

I've mentioned it in other threads, but I like how this team looks on paper heading into next season.  Only looking at players under contract

Offense:

QB - Allen

RB - Cook

OLine - Brown, McGovern, Morse (Bates), Torrence, Dawkins

TE - Kincaid, Knox, 

WR - Diggs, ?????, Shakir

 

Defense:

DLine - Oliver, Rousseau, Miller 

LB - Milano, Benard, Williams, Spector

CB - Douglas, Benford, Johnson, White (if healthy and not cut) and Elam

S - Poyer

 

Players under contract who I think will be cut - Gilliam (FB), Harty (WR), Hamlin (S), Hines (RB), Doyle (LT), and Neal (CB).

Others under contract - Van Denmark (T), Davidson (TE), Anderson (RT), Shorter (WR), Jonathan (DE)

 

I think that's 11 very good to great (Allen) players on offense, which only needs another 2 WRs and some OLine depth.  I'd also bring back Ty Johnson to back up Cook and draft an RB with one of our 3 6th Rd picks.

 

On defense, there are 7 excellent starters (Oliver, Rousseau, Milano, Benard, Benford, Douglas, and Johnson), plus the ever capable Poyer (if he returns).  We need another starting safety and help on the DLine, but these are not insurmountable issues, especially if Floyd and DaQuan Jones return and by some miracle, Tre White returns healthy.  If White does return, would he be moved to Free Safety to replace Hyde? I love our depth at LB, especially if Dodson is also re-signed.

 

This is the core of a very good football team that could be a SB contender with the right tweaks and some luck in the health department.

 

Edited January 23 by GASabresIUFan

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Some core backups like Dodson, Edwards, Van Demark and Isabella will return as well.

 

Only free agent I would offer a contract to is Jones

The rest can go and hopefully turn into a comp pick

Draft: 

WR

Edge

S

C

WR

OT

DT

P

 

[BillsFanForever19]

Everyone's assuming Hines is cut. And in a vacuum, it seems like a no brainer.

 

However, Beane has said he wants him next season and Hines has said he'll be here next season. The fact that there was no dispute over his lost money, the two came to an agreement on a number, and he wasn't outright released with a settlement says to me they struck a deal.

 

We saved a little cap last season. He didn't push the issue with the Union and he's back next year. 

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10098381-bills-nyheim-hines-reflects-on-jet-ski-accident-my-life-is-like-final-destination

[Process]

We really don't have that many needs. I feel way better about the roster going into this offseason than I did last year. Last year we all thought we had huge holes at MLB and RT, turns out we already had quality starters at each position already on the team. That's in addition to the needs we had at LG, RG, TE, DE, S, WR etc. 

 

WR

S

DE

DT

 

Outside of WR1 our entire starting offense is already on the team and under contract. 

[GASabresIUFan]

2 minutes ago, Process said:

Outside of WR1 our entire starting offense is already on the team and under contract. 

This is one of the reasons I started the thread.  So many people are screaming in other threads fire McD, fire Beane, we are in cap hell (we aren't), the offense sucks and the defense sucks etc..

 

However, when you put together a visual view of the roster, it reveals that Beane isn't an idiot, but has built a core of a very solid football team, which is getting younger again.  In the last 3 drafts, he has added starters Rousseau, Brown, Cook, Benard, Shakir, Benford, Kincaid, and Torrence.  He has 10 draft picks in 2024 to add more depth at WR, safety, and to fill other needs such as D Line.  

[John from Riverside]

I think white is really iffy to come back

[NewEra]

5 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Some core backups like Dodson, Edwards, Van Demark and Isabella will return as well.

 

Only free agent I would offer a contract to is Jones

The rest can go and hopefully turn into a comp pick

Draft: 

WR

Edge

S

C

WR

OT

DT

P

 

I’d be shocked if Dodson returns. Someone will pay him more and will make him a starter. 

 

5 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

Everyone's assuming Hines is cut. And in a vacuum, it seems like a no brainer.

 

However, Beane has said he wants him next season and Hines has said he'll be here next season. The fact that there was no dispute over his lost money, the two came to an agreement on a number, and he wasn't outright released with a settlement says to me they struck a deal.

 

We saved a little cap last season. He didn't push the issue with the Union and he's back next year. 

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10098381-bills-nyheim-hines-reflects-on-jet-ski-accident-my-life-is-like-final-destination

That very well may be the case….but taking a 5M cap hit for him is a poor decision imo 

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, John from Riverside said:

I think white is really iffy to come back

Yeah- I be shocked if he returns. Extend Douglas and roll with Benford, Dane (if he wants to come back for cheap) and elam.  If Dane bolts, he won’t be very hard to replace. 

 

But tres cap savings is a must for a player that has on been good 3 games (due to injury) over the last 2.5 years.  If he wants a huge pay cut to take Danes role, that would be fine, but that’s unlikely imo

[Bills!Win!]

Is Rapp a FA?

[Pete]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

Yeah- I be shocked if he returns. Extend Douglas and roll with Benford, Dane (if he wants to come back for cheap) and elam.  If Dane bolts, he won’t be very hard to replace. 

 

But tres cap savings is a must for a player that has on been good 3 games (due to injury) over the last 2.5 years.  If he wants a huge pay cut to take Danes role, that would be fine, but that’s unlikely imo

No team is giving Tra a big contract.  Im guessing he restructures for a team friendly deal

[BillsFan2313]

10 minutes ago, Bills!Win! said:

Is Rapp a FA?

 

Yeah, but he will probably return on a similar deal with a chance to start

[Matt_In_NH]

People will be very upset the bills will have to sign or draft a lot of DL.   But there are no numbers there and a lot of work to do.  I am good with a first round WR.  But people expect too much there. Need to get young and talent at safety too.   I would consider some cap moves to allow for other players now and in future years.  Morse Poyer and White is what I am thinking.  

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

No team is giving Tra a big contract.  Im guessing he restructures for a team friendly deal

I didn’t say anyone was going to give him a big contract.  I just think someone might pay him more than we will.  After two major injuries back to back- I’d pay him the minimum only.

[SoCal Deek]

Thanks for putting this together. I don’t think the opposing threads are at odds with your well outlined assessment. I believe what others are pointing out is that the Bills have painted themselves into a contract loaded corner. They have little financial wiggle room to build upon the core roster you laid out. A successful 2024 Draft is going to be crucial not only for next season but for the long term future. 

[RyanC883]

10 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

I've mentioned it in other threads, but I like how this team looks on paper heading into next season.  Only looking at players under contract

Offense:

QB - Allen

RB - Cook

OLine - Brown, McGovern, Morse (Bates), Torrence, Dawkins

TE - Kincaid, Knox, 

WR - Diggs, ?????, Shakir

 

Defense:

DLine - Oliver, Rousseau, Miller 

LB - Milano, Benard, Williams, Spector

CB - Douglas, Benford, Johnson, White (if healthy and not cut) and Elam

S - Poyer

 

Players under contract who I think will be cut - Gilliam (FB), Harty (WR), Hamlin (S), Hines (RB), Doyle (LT), and Neal (CB).

Others under contract - Van Denmark (T), Davidson (TE), Anderson (RT), Shorter (WR), Jonathan (DE)

 

I think that's 11 very good to great (Allen) players on offense, which only needs another 2 WRs and some OLine depth.  I'd also bring back Ty Johnson to back up Cook and draft an RB with one of our 3 6th Rd picks.

 

On defense, there are 7 excellent starters (Oliver, Rousseau, Milano, Benard, Douglas, and Johnson), plus the ever capable Poyer (if he returns).  We need another starting safety and help on the DLine, but these are not insurmountable issues, especially if Floyd and DaQuan Jones return and by some miracle, Tre White returns healthy.  If White does return, would he be moved to Free Safety to replace Hyde? I love our depth at LB, especially if Dodson is also re-signed.

 

This is the core of a very good football team that could be a SB contender with the right tweaks and some luck in the healthy department.

 

 

yeah, that's a pretty great roster on paper that also has experience playing together, particularly the OL.  Diggs is a question mark given his fall off this year, but I think the ??? WR will either be a round 1 pick, or a FA like Pittman.  

 

I think the other S will be a FA or a rookie pick.  (I think we get a FA WR or S starter, and go rookie with the other position).  

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

People will be very upset the bills will have to sign or draft a lot of DL.   But there are no numbers there and a lot of work to do.  I am good with a first round WR.  But people expect too much there. Need to get young and talent at safety too.   I would consider some cap moves to allow for other players now and in future years.  Morse Poyer and White is what I am thinking.  

 

I think we go DL later in the draft, particularly at interior DL.  I think the WRs coming out there year we won't be expecting "too much" from them.  Rice (KC) and the guy Green Bay drafted both had great seasons this year.  We need to hit on guys like that.  

[boyst]

6 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

I think white is really iffy to come back

i think it's more likely to have White on the roster than Miller.

 

maybe wishful thinking but i am hoping that Gooddell suspends him.

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, boyst said:

i think it's more likely to have White on the roster than Miller.

 

maybe wishful thinking but i am hoping that Gooddell suspends him.

 

won't happen if there's no charges 

[Paup 1995MVP]

14 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

yeah, that's a pretty great roster on paper that also has experience playing together, particularly the OL.  Diggs is a question mark given his fall off this year, but I think the ??? WR will either be a round 1 pick, or a FA like Pittman.  

 

I think the other S will be a FA or a rookie pick.  (I think we get a FA WR or S starter, and go rookie with the other position).  

 

 

 

 

 

I think we go DL later in the draft, particularly at interior DL.  I think the WRs coming out there year we won't be expecting "too much" from them.  Rice (KC) and the guy Green Bay drafted both had great seasons this year.  We need to hit on guys like that.  

The Diggs Miller and Knox contracts stink.  If we can get rid of all 3 (which is unlikely) and replace w more productive cheaper players, Beane will have earned his keep 10 times over.  Bills D is OLD.  We need pass rushers. WE need younger safeties.. And we need more playmakers (at least 2) at the WR position.  

[boyst]

16 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

won't happen if there's no charges 

see: Elliot

[Brand J]

10 minutes ago, Paup 1995MVP said:

The Diggs Miller and Knox contracts stink.  If we can get rid of all 3 (which is unlikely) and replace w more productive cheaper players, Beane will have earned his keep 10 times over.  Bills D is OLD.  We need pass rushers. WE need younger safeties.. And we need more playmakers (at least 2) at the WR position.  

Which is why I’m NOT a fan of trading up for a position that isn’t QB, regardless who Beane thinks he can reach. We need more young players on cost controlled contracts. There are numerous guys we could’ve picked in the 4th round the last two years that would’ve been a core starter or great depth. Every non-QB we’ve traded up for, there’s been someone who goes later who’s either just as good or better. Trade down if anything.