Bills Draft Needs - From the Athletic

[dollars 2 donuts]

3 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

We have 10 picks with the compensatory.   The athletic makes the assertion we won’t restructure a bunch of guys and extend some players.

 

 

We are underwater on Diggs for the next couple of years.  I think $31 million and $23 million dead cap hits in '24 and '25.

 

I am completely down with him being a Bill for a couple of more years, regardless of the drop off, because I believe he can still produce.  However, can we please just finally agree that the next/eventual new number 1 WR needs to be drafted in 2024, if for no other reason than to possibly help free up an aging Diggs?

 

I love Shakir and I like the potential in some of our WRs, but come on now...we need a #1 who can wear big boy pants this September.

 

 

 

 

[boyst]

14 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

It's a little sad that I am actively hoping that he gets suspended, because that would wipe out his guarantees so we'd be free and clear.

you're not alone.

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

It's a little sad that I am actively hoping that he gets suspended, because that would wipe out his guarantees so we'd be free and clear.

It's not sad and trust me you're not alone. That contract is a collasal bust. The sooner we move on from this failed experiment the better.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Agree with the OP. Here is my list in order of importance

 

WR x 2( 1st and 3rd round)

DE

DT

S

Punter

Backup RB

Center

 

Obviously FA can change this list. For instance I bet they will find a 3 or 4 year veryeran safety to replace Hyde.  With 10 picks they should be able to revitalize the WR group, find a new punter, find a young backup RB maybe with a little size, and find some youth to add to the DL where we got old real quick.

Morse not retiring and Brown looking like a capable OT means they can really focus on WR and DL this year. 

 

 

1 hour ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

We are underwater on Diggs for the next couple of years.  I think $31 million and $23 million dead cap hits in '24 and '25.

 

I am completely down with him being a Bill for a couple of more years, regardless of the drop off, because I believe he can still produce.  However, can we please just finally agree that the next/eventual new number 1 WR needs to be drafted in 2024, if for no other reason than to possibly help free up an aging Diggs?

 

I love Shakir and I like the potential in some of our WRs, but come on now...we need a #1 who can wear big boy pants this September.

 

 

 

 

100% agree. 

Diggs is still going to be great for another year or two. But this team needs a young star WR to help him now and replace him later.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

1 hour ago, LABILLBACKER said:

It's not sad and trust me you're not alone. That contract is a collasal bust. The sooner we move on from this failed experiment the better.

Do I think it's possible we can get one more good season out of him? Yes. Would I rely on it from here on out? No.

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Do I think it's possible we can get one more good season out of him? Yes. Would I rely on it from here on out? No.

If he was 30 and coming off his 2nd acl I'd say maybe but at 35 he's absolutely done. He'll be kept by McDermott.  He'll have 4-5 sacks and look like Epenesa.  And after year 3 we'll regret every penny we spent on him.  Burn that down Von....

[Alphadawg7]

Draft needs and priorities should NOT dictate draft order though.  For example, if at 28 there is a top prospect at a position we need such as S or DL or a reach at WR, take the better player.  I want WR early in the first as much as anyone, but I do NOT want to REACH and pass up a superior prospect at another major position of need either.  

 

This is a deep WR draft too, and if you look around the NFL many of the best WR's in the NFL now and in the past 20 years did not come from the first round of drafts.  Again, my preference would be a WR and I do think one worth taking will be there, however, if that is not the case then I don't want Beane to take a lesser prospect over a potential difference maker at another position we need to find starters in this draft for too.  

[Pete]

Joe Marino says extending Schnowman is a no brainer.  As does Cover 1.  Marino says extending Brown is a no brainer as well.  Great minds think alike

[The Jokeman]

On 2/6/2024 at 1:07 PM, mushypeaches said:

WR in the 1st round is almost an absolute must

 

I will lose my lunch if we take a safety or DL in that spot

You really feel good about Rousseau and Miller as your pass rushers next year? If this wasn't as strong year at WR I might say grab the WR in Round 1 yet with the depth I'm willing to wait assuming we lose AJE and Floyd.

[DCofNC]

On 2/6/2024 at 9:51 PM, GASabresIUFan said:

Not exactly.  We have 10/11 starters on offense returning and 9/11 on defense if Miller is healthy.  That’s not exactly needing everything.

 

 

I get that, the article makes it seem otherwise.

[GASabresIUFan]

1 hour ago, DCofNC said:

I get that, the article makes it seem otherwise.

I can understand that.  The real issue is getting and keeping quality depth when you are in a bit of a cap crunch.

 

The Bills are likely to lose Floyd, Jones, and Epenesa up front.  Those are 3 key contributors even if 2/3 weren't "starters".  If Miller can't return to a reasonable form, the D Line, no matter what Beane does will be a huge question mark entering next season.    We also only have 4 DL on the roster in Rousseau, Miller, Oliver and Jonathan and we usually carry 9.

 

The other void area is Safety.  Poyer and Hamlin are under contract, but who knows what if anything either player has at this point.

 

Ultimately these are the two areas that Beane is going to have to throw his limited FA budget at.  Some help will certainly come from the draft, but Beane has to bring in some real experienced help if this team is going to succeed on defense next season.

 

Otherwise, I'm not too concerned about our other "needs".  We'll draft a WR to replace Davis. RB depth is easy to come by cheaply or with a late draft pick.  OLine depth will come from the draft and we have excellent depth at TE, LB and CB.  

Edited February 8 by GASabresIUFan

[Mark Vader]

On 2/6/2024 at 8:52 AM, balln said:

So…. Basically need everything 

Except quarterback. 

[Boatdrinks]

On 2/7/2024 at 2:11 PM, LABILLBACKER said:

If he was 30 and coming off his 2nd acl I'd say maybe but at 35 he's absolutely done. He'll be kept by McDermott.  He'll have 4-5 sacks and look like Epenesa.  And after year 3 we'll regret every penny we spent on him.  Burn that down Von....

Might be absolutely correct on Von’s performance. However, the Bills and McDermott  have no choice but to keep Miller unless he’s suspended by the NFL. He’s not a cut candidate until after the ‘24 season. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

On 2/7/2024 at 1:18 PM, Alphadawg7 said:

Draft needs and priorities should NOT dictate draft order though.  For example, if at 28 there is a top prospect at a position we need such as S or DL or a reach at WR, take the better player.  I want WR early in the first as much as anyone, but I do NOT want to REACH and pass up a superior prospect at another major position of need either.  

 

This is a deep WR draft too, and if you look around the NFL many of the best WR's in the NFL now and in the past 20 years did not come from the first round of drafts.  Again, my preference would be a WR and I do think one worth taking will be there, however, if that is not the case then I don't want Beane to take a lesser prospect over a potential difference maker at another position we need to find starters in this draft for too.  

Then trade up for a WR. We are way past time giving Allen junk to work with outside of what Diggs WAS, and what Kincaid is. Shakir did come on, but he is a slot only who does deserve more play time. But we need a true outside threat and its past time to get one. Then get another 1-2 WR's in this draft that can contribute.  Allen can't keep trying to do it all on his own and God knows whats going on with Diggs.

[DCofNC]

6 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

Except quarterback. 

Depends on who you talk to lol, there are so many people out there that think JA sucks.  Then there’s the real world, where he could be slightly better, but 30 other teams would take him.

[Beast]

Leonard Floyd had 9.5 sacks in his first 11 games and 1 in his last 8 games.

 

I would rather move on from him.

 

I agree about starting to look for a LT.Dawkins had a much better year in 2023 but my memory of him will be him being bull rushed into Allen and Josh not being able to hit Shakir in the endzone. In other words, he has been too inconsistent and will probably command a high salary. 

Edited February 9 by Beast

[balln]

2 hours ago, Beast said:

Leonard Floyd had 9.5 sacks in his first 11 games and 1 in his last 8 games.

 

I would rather move on from him.

 

I agree about starting to look for a LT.Dawkins had a much better year in 2023 but my memory of him will be him being bull rushed into Allen and Josh not being able to hit Shakir in the endzone. In other words, he has been too inconsistent and will probably command a high salary. 

I hear that. But as usual. The nfl hits their off season “point of emphasis” in the first half. Penalties everywhere. The masses and broadcast partners grumble.

and then second half and playoffs. There’s absolutely nothing called. Point being these guys just get held.  You can’t rely on pass rushers anymore. Unless they are an absolute freak that can win immediately. 
 

and second point - just draft offense. 

[Jay_Fixit]

Need.

 

lol

[ganesh]

On 2/6/2024 at 11:37 PM, mushypeaches said:

WR in the 1st round is almost an absolute must

 

I will lose my lunch if we take a safety or DL in that spot

Let the draft come to you.  Always pick the best player available.  You don't need to keep reaching in the draft for need.  

[Big Blitz]

Can’t get over the 2 seed in the AFC needs pretty much everything - expect TE and CB.   
 

But yea tell me how Allen isn’t the MVP.

 

 

DT

WR 1 and 2B

DE

S - probably need 2 here as well

OT depth 

C 

Edited February 10 by Big Blitz