Needs for next year

[khlax3]

With it being a bye week and more than half the season figured it would be a good opportunity to get everyone’s thoughts on the teams needs for next year:

 

OL- I don’t think any FA or draft investment is needed here. We bring back all 9 olineman and a couple promising guys on the PS

 

RB- Cook and Davis are a nice 1-2 punch. My guess is being back Ty Johnson on a minimum deal and then have Gore compete not much of an investment needed

 

TE- Kincaid and Knox will be back. The question is do we bring Morris back on minimum deal or just promote Davidson from practice squad? Again not much of an investment if any needed.

 

QB- Allen is here and that’s all that matters. They seem to like Mitch they might bring him back on a 2 year minimum type deal but I would like to use one of the day 3 picks to draft a guy who will be here cheap for 4 years.

 

WR- Shakir, Coleman, Samuel are all back. I think a 2-3 year deal for cooper and another 1 year deal for Hollins makes sense. Use a day 3 pick on a wr to develop.

 

If the bills can get cooper back they need to make very little investment in the offense through FA and the draft. 
 

on defense this is where I see a lot of high draft picks being used

 

LB- Milano, Bernard, Williams, Spector, Andreson are all under contract. Morrow will likely walk and I could see someone like Dodson returning on a 1 year deal to fill out the depth chart

 

CB- Benford and Johnson are the guys, Elam will be here as will Ingram and Lewis. An investment will need to be made here. The question is will they purse a vet or use an early pick.

 

DL- Groot, epenesa, Oliver, Carter are the young core. Do the move on from miller and jones? Do they bring back smoot? I expect multiple draft picks and possibly a FA or 2 signing. Solomon will also factor in here as depth

 

S- Rapp will be a starter, bishop and Lewis will be here. Do they re-sign Hamlin? Should they? Is Rapp and Bishop the starters with Cine and Lewis the back up? Seems like an investment needs to be made if Hamlin walks

 

thoughts!?

 

[Malazan]

This season isn't over yet. The perception of needs will likely change.

Edited November 18 by Malazan

[Simon]

The Bills don't seem like they often fall into the trap of drafting for immediate need.

I wonder if you might get a more accurate read on their intent if you look at what their needs might be a couple years down the road.

[Special K]

2 minutes ago, Malazan said:

This season isn't over yet

 

Yeah......you only talk about the draft this early when you have a record like the Jets and Pats!!👍

[Magox]

We need DT's, massive ones at that.

 

We need for Cole Bishop to take over one of the positions and if they don't believe he's the answer (which I believe he will be), they need to upgrade at that position.

 

We will have James Cook for another year but he won't most likely be retained afterwards because of needing to sign Rousseau, Bernard, Benford and Shakir and unfortunately I don't believe Cook will make the cut.

 

We will need to get another CB or two.  I love Rasul Douglas, but there just isn't enough money to bring back everyone and replacing him will be paramount, specially with the prospect that Kaiir most likely won't be returning (which I think he should).   I'm thinking CB will be one of the premium top 3 draft choices.

 

DE/IOL/TE could be picks as well.   I think Knox's contract is untenable with all the people that need to be signed.  DE, the same in that Von Miller could end up being cut, my preference is that he plays one more year considering that he has playing at a good level.   IOL would be good to have for depth purposes.

[MiracleAtRich1393]

2 minutes ago, khlax3 said:

With it being a bye week and more than half the season figured it would be a good opportunity to get everyone’s thoughts on the teams needs for next year:

 

OL- I don’t think any FA or draft investment is needed here. We bring back all 9 olineman and a couple promising guys on the PS

 

RB- Cook and Davis are a nice 1-2 punch. My guess is being back Ty Johnson on a minimum deal and then have Gore compete not much of an investment needed

 

TE- Kincaid and Knox will be back. The question is do we bring Morris back on minimum deal or just promote Davidson from practice squad? Again not much of an investment if any needed.

 

QB- Allen is here and that’s all that matters. They seem to like Mitch they might bring him back on a 2 year minimum type deal but I would like to use one of the day 3 picks to draft a guy who will be here cheap for 4 years.

 

WR- Shakir, Coleman, Samuel are all back. I think a 2-3 year deal for cooper and another 1 year deal for Hollins makes sense. Use a day 3 pick on a wr to develop.

 

If the bills can get cooper back they need to make very little investment in the offense through FA and the draft. 
 

on defense this is where I see a lot of high draft picks being used

 

LB- Milano, Bernard, Williams, Spector, Andreson are all under contract. Morrow will likely walk and I could see someone like Dodson returning on a 1 year deal to fill out the depth chart

 

CB- Benford and Johnson are the guys, Elam will be here as will Ingram and Lewis. An investment will need to be made here. The question is will they purse a vet or use an early pick.

 

DL- Groot, epenesa, Oliver, Carter are the young core. Do the move on from miller and jones? Do they bring back smoot? I expect multiple draft picks and possibly a FA or 2 signing. Solomon will also factor in here as depth

 

S- Rapp will be a starter, bishop and Lewis will be here. Do they re-sign Hamlin? Should they? Is Rapp and Bishop the starters with Cine and Lewis the back up? Seems like an investment needs to be made if Hamlin walks

 

thoughts!?

 

CB & S: low cost FAs & day 3 picks with scheme fit. 

 

LB: drafted Olufoshio this year, he will be the depth.

 

RB: day 3 pick or UDFA with pass pro, speed, and receiving ability to be 3rd on depth chart for a year and backfill Cook leaving as a FA the following year while RayDay takes over #1 duties

 

TE: traits-y upside receiving TE on day 3

 

OL: give me another day 3 upside pick like Grable anywhere on the OLine all day

 

DL & WR: hammer these with the first & both seconds. 1Tech, DE, separator WR (blazing speed a nice bonus obviously). 

 

 

[Nephilim17]

I'd like O-line depth/future starter, a speed outside WR as depth/future starter/possible starter if we don't resign Cooper, and another RB as I don't want to pay Cook what the market will command.

 

On D, CB, edge rusher, 1 tech. Maybe safety. Whatever's best value where we are.

[Don Otreply]

Not concerned with next year at the middle of a season we are 9-2 and in control of our own destiny, 

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Shortchaz]

D-line, need to find elite talent. One player could elevate the line from good to great. 

[strive_for_five_guy]

Generally agree with OP’s assessment.  On the offensive side, need to draft another WR in the early rounds. Otherwise, fill gaps on defense like D Line, CB, etc.  Luckily a lot of those picks seem like they can be for depth to start off, rather than urgent needs.  Assuming the next two months don’t turn into a health ****show.

[GASabresIUFan]

The Bills have 40 players under contract for next season (Cost: 265 Million)

 

Offense (17)

QB (2) - Allen, Trubisky

RB (2) - Cook & Davis

TE (2) - Kincaid & Knox

WR (3) - Coleman, Shakir and Samuel

OL (8) - Brown, Clayton, Dawkins, Grable, Edwards, Torrence, McGovern, SVPG 

 

Defense (21)

DT (3) - Oliver, Jones, Carter

Edge/DE (4) - Groot, Miller, Epenesa, Solomon

LB (6) - Bernard, Spector, Milano, Andreessen, Ulofoshio & Williams

CB (5) - Johnson, Benford, Elam, Ingram & Codrington

DB (1) - Lewis

S (2) - Bishop & Rapp

 

Specialists (2) - Martin and Bass

 

Dead cap (with 3 deals on void years - Smoot, Douglas & A Johnson) - 11.1 million approx

 

So what do we need?

 

On offense - 2 WRs, 1 depth TE, 1 depth RB, at least 2 OL (Anderson & Van Denmark?).  Gore vs Johnson for 3rd RB?  Re-sign Amari?

 

On defense - At least 3 DE/DT, maybe a starting CB and depth at safety.  Hamlin re-sign?  

 

I'm sure Ferguson will be back as the long snapper.

 

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

Edited November 18 by GASabresIUFan

[GASabresIUFan]

For the 2025 draft with a 1st and 2 2nd, but no 3rd, I expect WR, CB and a pass rusher to be the highest priority list, but a re-sign of Cooper and faith in Elam could quickly change the list.

[RiotAct]

Super Bowl Champs banner

[billsfan89]

I'm just worried about this season, roster is in good shape overall. 

[Dr Krentist]

Not sure what the team needs, but I need a drink

[FireChans]

1 hour ago, Simon said:

The Bills don't seem like they often fall into the trap of drafting for immediate need.

I wonder if you might get a more accurate read on their intent if you look at what their needs might be a couple years down the road.

Not sure I agree with this.

 

WR was immediate need this year and that’s who we took first.

 

Last year was TE. So point to “non-need.”

 

Year before was CB. That was immediate need with Tre coming off injury. 
 

Year before was DE. That was immediate need with Addison and Hughes at 100 years old. 
 

Year before was DE in round two. Kinda ditto.

 

Year before was DT and RT in the top 2 picks. I think 3T and RT were probably right up there as needs.

 

Year before was QB (always the biggest need when you don’t have one) and MLB (need) but that 2017 team was so bad that any pick was probably a need.

 

 

[Logic]

Bail money to get me out of jail after I drunkenly punch a police horse during the Bills' Super Bowl parade.

[skibum]

Lombardi trophy case

[Saint Doug]

Draft a DB. I don’t like giving out $20-30M contracts to corners in this defense. Rasul is going to cost some and Benford is going to get at least $23M but probably more. 

[Sojourner]

Wild take but I’d like them to do better at acquiring a backup QB with actual talent in spot fill. 
 

Now I know this will irk some but Josh is still a mad man at actively heading towards contact and there’s a litany of events where players don’t take it easy on bringing him down like they do Mahomes, Lamar or some of the other QBs out there. 
 

The minute Josh goes down we are screwed. Need someone of even a little quality. 
 

 

Pass rusher and Safety is again probably the only other needs.