2024 Off Season Blueprint

[GASabresIUFan]

18 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

Can you share who has determined "these 5 players under contract likely to be cut?" There are definitely others who could also fit the "Bill" this offseason, so I'm just wondering where this certainty comes from. 

 

Also, I do agree with 4 of your "likely" cuts. I don't immediately agree with Gilliam, however. Not that his presence on the roster is vital, but he is a versatile offensive depth dude who has teams value as well. That being said, I suppose tough times with the cap should start with replacing this exact type of player with younger, cheaper players. Gotta find smart rookie UFAs who can fill these fringe roles. 

These are the highest-paid players on the roster who really don't have a place on the roster going forward.  White is injured and has been replaced by Douglas.  Hines and Harty are overpaid kick returners, who can and should be replaced by an incoming draft pick or cheap FA.  Neal and Gilliam are almost completely special teams players. Brady diminished Gilliam's role on the offense to only 17 snaps in the last 5 weeks of the season.  Neal received 48 D snaps the entire year, including only 11 snaps in the last 8 games.  The Bills can no longer afford to keep guys who are primarily special teamers.  They need depth players they trust to play on offense and defense as well as special teams given our cap problems. By the way, the Bills have Hamlin still under contract for $1,095,119 next season (about 2.3 million less than Neal is scheduled to make).  He can easily fill Neal's role, but he may be let go as well.  Hamlin's dead cap if released in only 40K.

 

As to who replaces Gilliiam's very limited role on the offense? Someone like Quentin Morris (if re-signed) and in goal-line situations we could use an extra OL or DL.  A draft pick or UDFA could also earn the spot.   The Bills have TE's TreMcKitty and Zach Davidson under cheap contracts if they need an extra big body or two. 

 

FYI: Spotrac projects these $ figures for some of our key FAs: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/

Floyd ($8.1), Jones ($6.8), Epenesa ($5.6), Rapp ($5.5), Dodson ($4.9), Dane Jackson ($3.1) 

Edited January 28 by GASabresIUFan

[Mark Vader]

4 hours ago, DJB said:

All I’ve been reading every off season are predictions that Morse will be cut for the past 3 years but he hasn’t been.

 

Its not happening he’s one of the most important pieces to our OL and we would have a glaring hole at C

If Morse stays, he will have to take a pay cut.

[machine gun kelly]

4 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

If Morse stays, he will have to take a pay cut.

Or extended for a cap savings.

[Dr. Who]

I think Alec Anderson may be a candidate at C going forward. I surmise that is one of the reasons he was on the 53-man roster all season.

Beane is going to have to hit on the draft. Last year looks good. This one may have to be better.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Doubt they sign Jackson as their #3 CB will be Elam.  The only way he's back is if no other team wants him which I don't see and he comes back late super cheap.  Jackson's the type of signing a team in cap trouble can't make.

[BrainwashedBillsFan]

Hyde won’t be back 

[bigK14094]

13 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

I’m going to predict that both Morse and Bates don’t return…. they can no longer be paying Bates $4m a year to sit on the bench …

 

They could trade him for a 4th or 5th I think … he is a starter in this league …I wouldn’t even hate keeping him and seeing what he has at C and moving on from Morse …

bates will start at center, and Morse is gone.  Problem solved.

[Warcodered]

11 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

But if Morse is cut, which could happen based on the cap savings, then the Bills would benefit from keeping Bates as an affordable and known replacement. He'd become a cheap starter.

Yeah makes zero sense to both lose Morse and his probable replacement, there's one other guy on the roster he's competing with but that just means there's already going to be a backup in position when the battle is decided.

[BBFL]

Don’t see Hyde coming back unfortunately. Think he’ll hang it up this season when he’s not resigned. If Rapp isn’t brought back then you 100% have to sign a safety from FA. Cannot rely on two rookies to play opposite Poyer and back up the spots also. 
 

FA for offense is a bit underwhelming this year in terms of what we need to add. Have to go offense minded in the draft and defense in FA as that pool of players is actually very decent. 
 

3 positions need to be addressed: DLine, Safety, WR. 

Would like an attempt to be made for some of these players if the finances can be worked out:

 

DTs:  Tart (Houston), Kinlaw (SF), Reader (Cinci’)

 

DEs: Floyd, Burns (Carolina), Clowney (Baltimore), Lawson (NYJ)

Safety: Savage (GB), Gardner Johnson (Detroit), Whitehead (NYJ), McKinney (NYG), Dugger (NE), Kearse (Dallas)

 

 

Safety FA is absolutely loaded with talent we can get 4-5 years from. Personally would love Savage, McKinney or Whitehead. Absolutely have to acquire some experienced help in the top of the backfield.