Benford, Bernard & Shakir…re-sign all of them?

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

I'd re-sign all 3 and Groot.

 

Bernards a team captain who makes a number of splash plays, has a great understanding of the game, and plays his best ball in the end of games.

Shakir's a great slot WR.  He's like 20th in yards (pre-bye week), and he doesn't get much in the end zone.  Kirk/Jeudy's 18Mish AAV seems logical and fair for both parties.

Benford is going to get a big payday and i hope its here.  He's physical in coverage, a good tackler, and has been starting here 3 years now.  Interested to see what happens opposite him, as i don't see it being Elam.  Douglas has been solid here so i could see a short term extension that has an out once benfords money hits the cap in 2026.  Lets you draft some additional potential replacements in 2025.  

[ColoradoBills]

17 minutes ago, Special K said:

 

Groot will offset with Von Miller coming off the books, I believe??

 

Not to mention the 27 Million of dead cap that comes off the books for Diggs

 

Groot gets signed.  My comments on the DL were explained above.  I just don't know what moves still need to be made.

Diggs dead savings is already spent.

 

After the expected cap increase Beane has $10M in cap plus $8M more after cutting Miller.  He still is tight to the cap with only 40 signed in 2025.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap/_/year/2025/sort/cap_total

 

10 minutes ago, Draconator said:

Don't forget to add a new Allen deal to the mix. If the Bills win the Superbowl or get to the Superbowl, Allen could be around the $80 Million a year mark. 

 

Allen is honoring his contract.  He is not going to force Beane in renegotiations IMO. 

[Draconator]

Just now, ColoradoBills said:

Allen is honoring his contract.  He is not going to force Beane in renegotiations IMO. 

Never said Allen wouldn't honor his contract, but in the time everyone would be resigned, Allen's deal would come up, and Beane/Pegula is going to take care of their superstar.

[ColoradoBills]

2 minutes ago, Draconator said:

Never said Allen wouldn't honor his contract, but in the time everyone would be resigned, Allen's deal would come up, and Beane/Pegula is going to take care of their superstar.

 

Agree.  What I meant is when Josh signed that longer than normal contract it pushed out his next one the corresponding number of years.

He extends during 2026 or in the beginning of 2027 IMO.  Won't cost big money until 2028.  That helps Beane a lot in my book.

[dorquemada]

1 hour ago, Simon said:

I love Shakir both as a player and a person, but I'm not sure the Bills will be able to afford him.

They are likely not going to break the bank for a slot receiver, nor should they, but it's also likely that somebody else will.

 

Hard disagree.  Shakir has saved them how many times this season with an amazing catch to keep a drive alive. They're not going to replace that.  He's the best slot receiver in the NFL right now, and absolutely critical to the success we've seen so far this year.  It would be the apex foolishness to let him walk then try to bring someone else in.  They can cut almost anyone else but they need to keep him

[peterpan]

1 hour ago, US Egg said:

Shakir's admitted blackout issue could be a concern.

 

Given the cause it might not be going away anytime soon. 

Huh? I must have missed something.  What are you talking about ??

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I am sure Beane is going to try. I'll be honest, I'm a big fan of the "draft and develop" model. There are more stories about a high priced free agent from another team failing to live up to the contract than the other way around. You know these guys work with the pieces around them in your system.

 

Draft for potential high level talent, cover deficiencies with journeymen while you develop, do your best to retain the talent you hit on. It's a formula for long term success.

 

I honestly suspect that after the end of this year Beane gets one of those three locked up and starts working on the others before the end of 2025.

[US Egg]

1 minute ago, peterpan said:

Huh? I must have missed something.  What are you talking about ??

 

[colin]

i think we keep drafting and if a pick is close enough or better, we stick with the pick and let the vet walk (which we did w edmunds which we did with tre, which we did w moss and singletary, which we did w that rt from the jets who brown replaced, and gabe davis).

 

we goofed up resigning diggs for what we did (elite money, not elite performance, maybe age was the only tell), we goofed w knox (we didn't have anyone else) and we goofed with milano kinda sorta because he's hurt too much.  sometimes you just have bad luck, mind you.

 

i think shakir gets signed to top level slot money (i don't even know what that is, but i think it's close to what gabe davis signed for), banford is mcd's adopted son, so he gets top corner money, bernard is a couple injuries away from being a hard signing, but he could get the mkt equiv of what milano got (i figure about 20% or so higher given how the cap has grown).

 

over time we are gonna let dawkins walk unless he stays cheap, cooper is likely gonna cost too much, knox is gonna go, and unless milano comes back, helps us win a chip, and balls out healthy next year, i think he's done too.  douglas will go, and at least one other OL will go too.

 

*music plays*

 

it's the circle of liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifeeeeeeeee

[transplantbillsfan]

Yes.  That draft Beane knocked it outta the park.  The only solid contributor from that draft you don't sign is Cook because you don't pay RBs unless it's CMC or Saquan level.

[peterpan]

Bernard is awesome in this defense but, I’m not sure how other teams would value and smaller coverage MLB 

[DC Greg]

Obviously we'd want all 3. I feel like with the cap situation, Beane could find a way to make it work while still leaving space for other important assets. TB is the priority for me of all of them... I feel like he's so critical for this defense. Shakir should be able to be get done on a comparatively cheaper deal than the high end outside WRs in the league, so that should work.

 

Benford is the toughest. He's going to command a huge deal. I know shutdown corners are important, but I'm just not sure if it will be the best move for this team to put a ton of money there. Obviously you'd love to have him, but it depends on how it fits with the cap. I feel like they can draft and develop serviceable DBs and may want to invest the big $ in other areas. I'll trust whatever Beane chooses to do though. He's a wizard.

[Augie]

32 minutes ago, DC Greg said:

Obviously we'd want all 3. I feel like with the cap situation, Beane could find a way to make it work while still leaving space for other important assets. TB is the priority for me of all of them... I feel like he's so critical for this defense. Shakir should be able to be get done on a comparatively cheaper deal than the high end outside WRs in the league, so that should work.

 

Benford is the toughest. He's going to command a huge deal. I know shutdown corners are important, but I'm just not sure if it will be the best move for this team to put a ton of money there. Obviously you'd love to have him, but it depends on how it fits with the cap. I feel like they can draft and develop serviceable DBs and may want to invest the big $ in other areas. I'll trust whatever Beane chooses to do though. He's a wizard.

 

I think we are benefitted by having mostly a zone scheme. Those CB’s don’t get the top dollars like the lockdown guys, but oh what I could do with what a “semi-elite” CB makes in one year. 

 

Hell, who am I kidding……one game!  😂 

 

EDIT: I could probably retire at halftime!  

 

.

Edited November 18 by Augie

[machine gun kelly]

Agreed on e tending these guys which is why I think we hold off on finding some free agent next year.  We also have Douglas warrants a two year deal.  Keep the gang together.  Wee a top team for a reason.

[LabattBlue]

1 hour ago, dorquemada said:

 

Hard disagree.  Shakir has saved them how many times this season with an amazing catch to keep a drive alive. They're not going to replace that.  He's the best slot receiver in the NFL right now, and absolutely critical to the success we've seen so far this year.  It would be the apex foolishness to let him walk then try to bring someone else in.  They can cut almost anyone else but they need to keep him

Amon-Ra St Brown says hello!

[Jerry Jabber]

Re-sign Cooper!

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

No, yes, yes 

[Saint Doug]

It’s not popular and I wouldn’t like to see it, but let Benford walk. Corners demand way too much money and McD’s defense has had success plugging anyone (but Elam) in. 

[ghostwriter]

2025

1.) Amari Cooper

2.) Rasul Douglas

 

2026

1.) Connor McGovern

2.) AJ Epenesa

3.) Greg Rousseau

4.) Kaiir Elam

5.) David Edwards 

6.) James Cook

7.) Terrel Bernard

8.) Khalil Shakir

9.) Christian Benford

10.) Cam Lewis

11.) Ja’Marcus Ingram

 

[klos63]

4 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

Benford, Bernard & Shakir will all be FA after 2025 season. Likelihood that all 3 get signed to extensions?

 

A case could be made for keeping all of them in the fold. 

Probably a huge no brainer.