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

[DapperCam]

- Benford, yes.
- Bernard I’m a little bit hesitant on because he’s always injured. I wouldn’t break the bank on him, and might let him test the market and then circle back on a deal. He is a great player in our scheme when he’s out there.

- Shakir I like a lot, but I wouldn’t pay him WR1 or high end WR2 money. I’m afraid some team will overpay him. Josh Allen has gotten so many dudes paid.

[Mister Defense]

This should not even be a question, is not for the Bills.

 

Some of the best young players at their positions in the game already, and just starting their careers.

 

Next silly question is likely: should the Bills sign Cook to an extension?  ('As running backs are a dime a dozen..')

 

Duh.

 

I think McBeane are much too smart to not get these current and future stars signed to long term deals.

 

 

[SUNTANBILLS FAN]

21 minutes ago, DapperCam said:

- Benford, yes.
- Bernard I’m a little bit hesitant on because he’s always injured. I wouldn’t break the bank on him, and might let him test the market and then circle back on a deal. He is a great player in our scheme when he’s out there.

- Shakir I like a lot, but I wouldn’t pay him WR1 or high end WR2 money. I’m afraid some team will overpay him. Josh Allen has gotten so many dudes paid.

All of them common we have cap to do it! Also resign coop 

[GaryPinC]

1 hour ago, DapperCam said:

- Benford, yes.
- Bernard I’m a little bit hesitant on because he’s always injured. I wouldn’t break the bank on him, and might let him test the market and then circle back on a deal. He is a great player in our scheme when he’s out there.

- Shakir I like a lot, but I wouldn’t pay him WR1 or high end WR2 money. I’m afraid some team will overpay him. Josh Allen has gotten so many dudes paid.

They're all playmakers so I say definitely yes despite Benford injury concerns.

[DCofNC]

On 11/18/2024 at 2:09 PM, GASabresIUFan said:

The best slot receiver in the NFL will come with a sizeable price tag.  

 

Can't wait until the heads on the this board explode when they re-sign Cook as well.  Don't forget Torrence and Groot have only one year left on their rookie deals.  Torrence (2025 - $9.385 cap hit) is also going to be extended.  Groot has a club option for 2025 (13.875 cap hit) which the Bills will certainly exercise if they  don't extend him as well.  

Shakir is not the best slot in the NFL, he’s having a nice year, but still going to struggle to break 1k yards, don’t get to far out in front of your skis.   He’s a really good player and I absolutely want him back, he’s probably going to go over 20M a season.  The fact is they still need an outside WR1 too, so unless they draft one this year, they have to sign one at presumably over 20M a year, the money is going to be tough to figure out.

 

There are going to be guys they have to let walk.  That list is going to include Cook, as well as others they have drafted, there’s just not enough to go around.  I think Groot is the exact type of player you let go of, he’s been a solid starter and will have been relatively cheap for 5 years, but he’s no game changer and he’s going to be paid like one, thanks but no thanks.  He’s kind of Ed Oliver in the DE form in that respect. Torrence is another one to watch, he’s going to get paid, is he going to play like last week or the first 8 weeks.  1 version is worth a contract, the other is what you can’t afford to pay.

[HerdMentality]

I ask myself, What would Joe Douglas do?

[Richard Noggin]

On 11/18/2024 at 2:09 PM, GASabresIUFan said:

The best slot receiver in the NFL will come with a sizeable price tag.  

 

Can't wait until the heads on the this board explode when they re-sign Cook as well.  Don't forget Torrence and Groot have only one year left on their rookie deals.  Torrence (2025 - $9.385 cap hit) is also going to be extended.  Groot has a club option for 2025 (13.875 cap hit) which the Bills will certainly exercise if they  don't extend him as well.  

 

Not sure if Shakir is the BEST slot WR in the NFL (Detroit has a dude who's effectively their WR1 from the slot, mostly), and DEF don't think Cook is a priority re-sign, despite how dang special he is at beating angles and stealing yards. 

 

On 11/18/2024 at 2:24 PM, Virgil said:

Bernard is tough for me with his injury history.  I think we give him a contract that gives us some fair outs.  

 

I also don't know if another team is really going to bid hard on him, as I do believe part of his success is system related.

 

Only Milano and Bernard have been truly special in this system. Much higher drafted dudes have failed to approach their impact (when healthy, of course). Edmunds, for example. I agree that Babich and Co. are elite developmental coaches, but Bernard is kinda special. Wouldn't fit as well into a 3-4/odd-man front scheme, but he's a playmaker and a leader already. His skills are transferrable. 

 

6 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

It's an interesting and relevant topic but I am in no rush to extend any of them.

 

Benford and Bernard are very good players but the combination of having not been particularly durable and being back 7 "system fit" defenders in a McDermott defense tells me that you should probably play those deals out and draft and develop as if they won't be there in 2026.   

 

Shakir is tremendous from the slot but I don't think I could justify extending him for his market value.   Would have to be way under market and considering the punishment he takes I'd be inclined to wait until he puts in a 120+ target kinda' workload (this season + playoffs) and then see if he can bounce back none the worse for it well into next season.   He's sort of the Taron Johnson of the offense guy to me.   I think they originally extended Taron in October or November during his walk season.  Worst case scenario you are stuck replacing the easiest WR position to replace.

 

After extending Allen,  Greg Rousseau is by far the Bills biggest priority because he's a potential very long term difference maker at the LOS and has a big cap 2025 hit that can be worked down by extending him.   I could see the Bills trying to pair Groot up with an elite pass rusher on the other side.  Then maybe just drafting and developing back 7 replacements,  which has worked out pretty well so far.   That might be the most prudent way to go about it. 

 

 

LOVE this compelling counterargument to the general consensus of Re-Sign At All Costs. Feels like McBeane will be less patient and cold than what you've proposed, as these players are pivotal, drafted and developed examples of everything McD values, but it's a smart call to more sober, calculated cap management. 

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

18 hours ago, Billzgobowlin said:

This is a hard one for me.  He dominates some games and completely disappears during others. 

 

Think you're just looking at the stats.  There's alot more going on with him that doesn't  end up on the stat sheet..

[Kelly to Allen]

Yes duh

[billsbackto81]

On 11/18/2024 at 2:25 PM, MJS said:

It depends on his production. He is on pace for about 1,000 yards and 3 or 4 TDs. That's pretty good for a slot receiver, but he isn't going to get paid like a #1 receiver, but I could see him getting 12 to 15 million per year.

That would be a bargain for someone with his consistently and YAC ability. 

[Nephilim17]

15 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

Not sure if Shakir is the BEST slot WR in the NFL (Detroit has a dude who's effectively their WR1 from the slot, mostly), and DEF don't think Cook is a priority re-sign, despite how dang special he is at beating angles and stealing yards. 

 

Shakir is pretty damn good and will set the Bills' record for slot yards in a season (and don't say it's because it's a 17-game season as he already missed a game. Also...

 

"The Bills’ slot receiver ranks No. 2 in the NFL in yards after the catch with 462, behind only Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase, who has 489, according to Pro Football Focus."