What to do for Edge Rusher?

[EmotionallyUnstable]

13 minutes ago, stuvian said:

Matthew Judon

Hassan Reddick 

Josh Sweat 

Chase Young 

All Free agents going into 2025

God I’m not real keen on any of those options. Sweat might be the one that makes the most sense but Spotrac has his market value at 15 mil…no thanks. 

[BADOLBILZ]

31 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Maybe I’m naive in this, but I would not for a second think any roster move as large as this would be influenced at all by the desire to sell more tickets. 
 

Pegula may like it, but why would Beane and co care at all? 

 

Basically,  a PSL is a 30 year commitment to buy tickets.   Because once PSL's are sold, the retention rate of season ticket holders becomes MUCH higher.   People loathe to walk away from their investment.  The Bills season ticket numbers look great now but they fluctuated greatly with the teams performance over the years.   We aren't talking about selling tickets for one season here.   And it's not just the value of the ticket.   I believe selling inside the stadium will become a much bigger part of the experience going forward.   Selling merchandise and encouraging live in game wagering etc..  It's going to be very different next door.  As an organization you want the people on site to drain their wallets and strengthen your franchise economically.   I could go on but it just causes a lot of poo-pooing like all the years I insisted to our on-paper hole-patching short-sighted wallers that the Bills should always pick a QB in round 1 every year until they are sure they hit one because the future of the franchise relies on a new stadium and great, charismatic QB's get those built.   I rest my case.   

[Sojourner]

54 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Basically,  a PSL is a 30 year commitment to buy tickets.   Because once PSL's are sold, the retention rate of season ticket holders becomes MUCH higher.   People loathe to walk away from their investment.  The Bills season ticket numbers look great now but they fluctuated greatly with the teams performance over the years.   We aren't talking about selling tickets for one season here.   And it's not just the value of the ticket.   I believe selling inside the stadium will become a much bigger part of the experience going forward.   Selling merchandise and encouraging live in game wagering etc..  It's going to be very different next door.  As an organization you want the people on site to drain their wallets and strengthen your franchise economically.   I could go on but it just causes a lot of poo-pooing like all the years I insisted to our on-paper hole-patching short-sighted wallers that the Bills should always pick a QB in round 1 every year until they are sure they hit one because the future of the franchise relies on a new stadium and great, charismatic QB's get those built.   I rest my case.   

As much as I enjoy the success there was a charm to just going to a game with moderate expectation during those drought years. The prices were awesome too. Some games I could get tickets for my father, brother then me and my oldest for what one ticket now can end up costing. God knows what the prices are going to end up being. That’s literally the price of success lol
 

I get it, it’s a business and you hit it on the head, next door is going to be a very different environment. The Ralph already is… 

[JP51]

15 hours ago, stuvian said:

Matthew Judon

Hassan Reddick 

Josh Sweat 

Chase Young 

All Free agents going into 2025

Not that he has a lot left in tank but I always liked Judon's game with the Pats he seemed like the one dog they had

[EmotionallyUnstable]

12 hours ago, Sojourner said:

As much as I enjoy the success there was a charm to just going to a game with moderate expectation during those drought years. The prices were awesome too. Some games I could get tickets for my father, brother then me and my oldest for what one ticket now can end up costing. God knows what the prices are going to end up being. That’s literally the price of success lol
 

I get it, it’s a business and you hit it on the head, next door is going to be a very different environment. The Ralph already is… 

Growing up in the drought years (I was 9 for the music city miracle), their was a silver lining to being terrible all those years…going to the games buying tickets post-kick off on the corner of southwestern was pennies on the dollar. 
 

As a college kid, I was able to see plenty of games on a budget. I cannot imagine what it’s like now for those who want to catch a game on a budget 

[Sierra Foothills]

On 11/9/2024 at 7:50 PM, EmotionallyUnstable said:

Expiring contacts for Smoot and Toohill.

 

I would agree Von is likely done. Leaving you with 3 guys locked in. Smoot or Toohill replacement level guys are cheap and they could re-up on one of those guys or something similar. 
 

I also imagine at least a day 1 or day 2 pick invested into the edge. I do not foresee a major upgrade in FA or trade coming our way in the foreseeable future.

 

I definitely like what I've seen from Smoot. Very good all-around DE. I'd be happy to bring him back, but to the subject... yes the Bills need to upgrade their edge rushers.

 

On 1/12/2025 at 4:02 PM, ghostwriter said:

Groot is a lot better than people think.

 

The problem is he's simply not a constant pass rushing force. I hope there's still some more ceiling.

 

On 1/12/2025 at 4:26 PM, No_Matter_What said:

I don't watch any college but Tankathon says it is. They are currently projecting 11 DL in round one.

 

I'd say there is 80+% chance we are taking DL at 32.

 

Tankathon? That's awesome.

 

On 1/16/2025 at 6:03 AM, frostbitmic said:

Deone Walker - DT - Kentucky - 6'6" 348 ... He'd plug a hole.

 

Or two...

 

On 1/16/2025 at 6:45 AM, SCBills said:

Chris Jones was pick 37.   

 

Yea, you have to get lucky, but there are DT's that can make a difference available late RD1 and into RD2.  

 

Yes, thank you.

 

People here too often get blinded by the belief that elite players are only available in the high first round.

 

On 1/16/2025 at 7:28 AM, Billsfed1 said:

 

 

On 1/16/2025 at 7:32 AM, Augie said:

So, we love him, right? 

 

We do but many of us loved Crosby before his public declaration of fondness for the Bills.

 

On 1/16/2025 at 12:40 PM, Mr. WEO said:

Dareus Marcel

 

He can change the order of his name and even drop that extra "L" but he's not fooling anyone... especially with that stupid captain's hat.

 

On 1/16/2025 at 12:56 PM, BearNorth said:

Of the top 15 edge rushers in the league [Household names mostly, Hendrickson, Garrett, Watt, Bosa ...] Average height is right at 6-4, average weight is right at 260.  Four teams with two edges graded in top 15 - Steelers [Watt, Highsmith], Texans [Anderson, Hunter], Cleveland [Garrett, McGuire] and Bills [Von, Groot].

 

As a homer I'd still say that our duo is the weakest of this group.

 

On 1/12/2025 at 4:00 PM, thenorthremembers said:

Keep drafting one up until you find one.  Free agents are free agents for a reason.

 

On the other hand, every year there's good value in free agency. Also there might be some veterans available for trade. For example I can't believe the Giants got Brian Burns for so cheap... a former 1st rounder with 46 sacks in 5 years for a 2nd rounder??? Sign me up.

 

On 1/16/2025 at 1:03 PM, LABILLBACKER said:

Malcolm Koonce (26)

Raiders UFA

Coming off injury 

He would be my #1 target and we would not have to pay crazy cap $.

 

As @BADOLBILZ points out, the Bills have their "prototypes" and while they might make an exception such as Solomon they'd more likely disqualify players who don't fit their profile. Just a guess but Koonce seems like he's shorter than what the Bills would go for.

 

[DrDawkinstein]

16 hours ago, stuvian said:

Matthew Judon

Hassan Reddick 

Josh Sweat 

Chase Young 

All Free agents going into 2025

 

2017 me is super pumped for this. Present day me, not so much.

[boyst]

15 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

2017 me is super pumped for this. Present day me, not so much.

We gotta find a calias Campbell type that is good at an older age who can contribute. 

[Sierra Foothills]

I'd be fine if the Bills tested the waters for Chase Young.

 

60 games played, 32 starts, 22 sacks... 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 12 passes defensed... freak athlete and fits close to the Bills prototype at 6'5" and 265 pounds.

 

MAYBE he can be had for a prove-it contract with strong incentives.

 

[Solomon Grundy]

On 1/17/2025 at 8:23 PM, stuvian said:

Matthew Judon

Hassan Reddick 

Josh Sweat 

Chase Young 

All Free agents going into 2025

Trey Hendrickson 

[EmotionallyUnstable]

1 hour ago, Sierra Foothills said:

I'd be fine if the Bills tested the waters for Chase Young.

 

60 games played, 32 starts, 22 sacks... 7 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 12 passes defensed... freak athlete and fits close to the Bills prototype at 6'5" and 265 pounds.

 

MAYBE he can be had for a prove-it contract with strong incentives.

 

If you don’t re-sign smoot, this is a guy that could come in and compete for snaps but I wouldn’t be expecting very much from him. 
 

I still see this future as:

 

Groot

AJ

Rookie

Solomon

Smoot/Young(if you want it)

[Nihilarian]

On 1/17/2025 at 11:51 AM, JP51 said:

I dont know how you get a Garrett or Parsons etc... without breaking the bank at the cost of other players and what capital it would take... but I will say this.. and said it before... The Bills Superbowl teams had Bruce Smith... not that you will ever replicate him... but I do firmly believe that you need a Defensive player at the level other teams have to game plan around... I do not believe we have that today... Von I think was supposed to be that guy on a hope he could continue at his age... that worked out only fairly well... for a bit.. but I do think getting a player like that is critical for us. Lets hope our Defense as it stands can pull it off...  

Those late '80s, and early '90s Bills also had LB Cornelius Bennett on the other side of Bruce to help rush the passer and LB Daryl Tally behind Smith to help stop the run. All Buffalo needed to do in those days was get a lead and it was lights out as Bruce and Co. could wreak havoc. So Buffalo had two elite pass rushers back then. One from the draft and the other in a blockbuster trade. 

 

Brandon Beane has done very well considering he hasn't had any top-five draft picks and he did find an absolute jewel in Josh Allen with the 7th pick in 2018.

 

Buffalo does need a better pass rush, and a better run-stopper too.

[Maine-iac]

On 1/17/2025 at 8:23 PM, stuvian said:

Matthew Judon

Hassan Reddick 

Josh Sweat 

Chase Young 

All Free agents going into 2025

I actually think Chase might be the answer.  He's had two healthy seasons.  He's still very young.  His sack numbers weren't huge this year but if you look at hurries and knock downs he's very similar to Groot.  I'm not sure he's going to come in have 15 sacks but I do think he can pressure a QB and he's also good against the run.  He's also not going to break the bank.

[Maine-iac]

16 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

Those late '80s, and early '90s Bills also had LB Cornelius Bennett on the other side of Bruce to help rush the passer and LB Daryl Tally behind Smith to help stop the run. All Buffalo needed to do in those days was get a lead and it was lights out as Bruce and Co. could wreak havoc. So Buffalo had two elite pass rushers back then. One from the draft and the other in a blockbuster trade. 

 

Brandon Beane has done very well considering he hasn't had any top-five draft picks and he did find an absolute jewel in Josh Allen with the 7th pick in 2018.

 

Buffalo does need a better pass rush, and a better run-stopper too.

Hansen and Wright weren't slouches either.