Bills resigning Rapp

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 minute ago, Aussie Joe said:

They should bring in another FA …. It’s a buyers market at Safety so get a guaranteed starter at one position. …  That might mean paying a guy $4-5m a year .

 

Draft a guy rounds 3-5 and see if they beat out Rapp… if not in 2024 then maybe 2025 ..take another guy late to battle it out with Hamlin for the last spot ..

 

Always thought Safety should be the least of their problems really …

Safety is an afterthought in Defenses right now. I wouldn't even contact anyone until after the Draft. Let the market keep dropping on them. 

And why beat out Rapp? If he can eliminate the bonehead play trying to knock someone out, he is good enough.

[Trogdor]

18 hours ago, Blank Stare said:

I agree he was off to a rough start when he was asked to play Hyde’s FS role alongside Poyer. The Bills used to always say Hyde and Poyer were interchangeable, and that’s true from a disguise perspective, but that’s somewhat of a misnomer from a player type perspective. Rapp and Poyer on the field together are like two Poyers out there.  Assuming they don’t get anyone else to man that spot, I expect he’ll play in Poyer’s role which he’s better suited for. Not saying he’s an All-Pro and there won’t be a drop off from peak Poyer, but he played better toward the end of the season in a three safety look with Hyde in his usual FS role, Rapp in Poyer’s SS role, and dropping Poyer down to LB. 
 

Time will ultimately tell, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt with DBs. They’ve earned that. 

I don't think Rapp is anywhere near Poyer in terms of play. Poyer is controlled aggression and Rapp is wild. I think he has one good series but I don't have high hopes. 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

Guys going to replace Poyer. Not sure how I feel about it. Better get his head together and lay off the unnecessary dirty plays.

[Turk71]

He was terrible last year........let's pay him starter money and consider one safety position filled? Wtf

[Turk71]

Could have gotten a much better player for that money imo. Another 'let's stick with the below average guy we know' instead of getting better. Too many of these middling contracts go to below average players and it adds up to less money for elite talent....this is not in any way a win for the Bills.   Why they needed to lock him up before free agency starts is beyond my understanding. Mark my words, much better safeties will play next season for equal or less money. 

[DJB]

On 3/7/2024 at 7:23 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

So I liked the Hyde signing. A lot actually. I didn't know anything about Poyer. 

 

On Rapp we have seen him in this defense. He isn't a total liability on the field but he os what he is. A replacement level starter. 

 

On 3/8/2024 at 12:49 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

I don't necessarily think you should just have two day 3 rookie deals at safety. We tried that with Hamlin and Johnson two years ago and they were bad. But I think there'd have been a vet out there after the dust settled who'd have signed for last year's Taylor Rapp deal - 1 year; $1.7m. 

 

I don't like this deal. People keep saying Rapp "came on down the stretch". I don't know what they were seeing that I wasn't. I suspect it is just "he had that pick to seal the Miami game" rather than any substantial evaluation of the film.

 

This is cheap as a deal if they want him to be a starter. But I really hope that isn't the plan so much as it is an "if all else fails".

 

Just curious your thoughts on your own take earlier in the season. 
 

Hard to argue against Rapp he’s been terrific this year 

Edited December 3 by DJB

[Big Turk]

On 3/6/2024 at 7:45 PM, MWK said:

What a terrible deal. He was a liability last year. Personal fouls incoming.

 

Thank God you aren't GM.

On 3/6/2024 at 7:45 PM, MWK said:

What a terrible deal. He was a liability last year. Personal fouls incoming.

 

Edited December 3 by Big Turk

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

He’s been phenomenal in my opinion. all pro worthy.

 

 

[Eastport bills]

On 3/6/2024 at 7:45 PM, MWK said:

What a terrible deal. He was a liability last year. Personal fouls incoming.

Have you been watching the games? Rapp represents  the physicality that our defense wants to play with. He’s great in run support and has some picks while  playing all the games. Our team leads in points allowed and we’re 10 and 2. What are you dissatisfied with.  When receivers run routes across the middle, it’s Rapp that they’re thinking about.

[Goin Breakdown]

I think Rapp has been very solid. Clutch at times even. 

[GASabresIUFan]

He saved the Bills 14 points against the 49ers with the shoestring tackle on CMC and the forced fumble at the goal line and those have been typical plays this season.

 

In Beane and McD we trust.

[Charles Romes]

Separating Garrett Wilson from the ball in the end zone started the epic win streak. 

[Don Otreply]

There was lots of negative noise on Rapp at the beginning of the season, it hasn’t aged well…, 

[Ralonzo]

5 minutes ago, Eastport bills said:

When receivers run routes across the middle, it’s Rapp that they’re thinking about.

 

I thought it was Funk they were thinking about.

[Don Otreply]

Just now, Ralonzo said:

 

I thought it was Funk they were thinking about.

Actually it’s R&B…, 

[Mango]

10 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

He saved the Bills 14 points against the 49ers with the shoestring tackle on CMC and the forced fumble at the goal line and those have been typical plays this season.

 

In Beane and McD we trust.

Rapp had really settled down as the season has gone on/he came back from protocol. He’s been a great player for us. Arguably as important a contributor as Bernard is. 

[billsfan89]

I thought when they resigned Rapp in the off-season it was reasonable. Not a great deal but fair for what was a high end depth safety who could also flex into a specialized "Big Nickel" role was well worth what the Bills paid him in the off-season. And he was/is going to turn 27 later this season which for a 3 year deal with a low guarantee was also a good age to lock in a player. The deal has far exceeded its value. Rapp has played like a better than average starter and made many big plays and brough a physical edge to the back end of the secondary. Thought the signing was decent but it turned out to be even better. 

[gonzo1105]

I read through the whole thread. It was mostly positive actually. Some of our well respected posters though were a touch off. Rapp has been solid for the Bills ,not replacement level,  but not  untouchable either 

[GASabresIUFan]

16 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

There was lots of negative noise on Rapp at the beginning of the season, it hasn’t aged well…, 

Same posters who say fire McD and Beane.......

[GASabresIUFan]

The development of Rapp as a Bills' safety is on a very similar curve to Hyde and Poyer.  He isn't at the level they achieved at their peaks, but his improvement year over year has been something to watch.

 

Remember Buffalo wasn't Hyde or Poyer first stop.  Rapp started 48 of 57 games for the Rams before coming to Buffalo.  Despite starting all those games including 33 of 33 his final two years, the Rams let him walk and sign with the Bills for 1 year at 1.77.  The Bills then extended him this off-season. 

 

Hyde came to Buffalo after 4 years in GB and Poyer after 4 years in Cleve, but neither had Rapp's starting experience when they joined the Bills.  Rapp is just more evidence that Beane/McD know what they are looking for and see things in players, especially DBs, that other teams miss.  Douglas is also a better player here than he was in GB.