Priority Free Agents for Buffalo? Early Draft talk..

[gonzo1105]

Might get a little flak for this because we're still in season but I'm all for it.

 

I wont get into who's # 1 vs # 4 in the priority list but I believe the Bills will try to re-sign Rousseau, Benford, Shakir, and Bernard. Cook might be playing himself into a contract but not sure how high the Bills will go to retain him. I expect Douglas to walk for sure and I think they will offer Cooper a contract and we'll see if his happy to just be winning schtick is for real or not but seems like a genuine likable guy who cares about it more than stats. We shall see.

 

As for the draft, its very early because we dont have a clear picture of who is declaring yet but my priorities for the Bills are

 

High Priority:

Defensive End

Defensive Tackle

Cornerback

 

Medium Priority:

Wide Receiver

Linebacker

Safety

 

Low Priority:

Tight End

Running Back

Backup QB

 

I have not done a full fledged scout obviously as its still early and we don't have near enough information yet on prospects but some players I like are:

 

Mike Green DE Marshall

Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma

Jordan Burch DE/DT Oregon

Nic Scourton DE Texas A&M

Andrew Mukuba SAF Texas

Mason Taylor TE LSU (Can return to school)

Shavon Revel CB East Carolina (Wouldn't make it to Bills pick but got seriously injured so there is a chance)

Tre Harris WR Miss

Tory Horton WR Colorado State

Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina

Fadil Diggs DE Syracuse

Jackson Woodard LB UNLV

 

 

[The Cincinnati Kid]

🚫

[GASabresIUFan]

1 hour ago, ghostwriter said:

1.) Greg Rousseau | He’s closing in on 10 sacks and 20 TFL.. He’s probably the pick of the litter and our trusty stalwart on defense.

 

2.) James Cook | I am usually against signing RBs to big money but this guy is just so good and he consistently takes some of the pressure off Josh. 

3.) Khalil Shakir | If we can get this guy signed to a $10M-$12M per year contract, he would be a great signing. I would not pay him big money.

 

4.) Connor McGovern | Why not? He won’t cost a lot and he’s good.

 

5.) Christian Benford | Is he a system corner? Or is he good? In a DB happy system, do we let him walk?

You do realize that all these guys are under contract for next year, and don't forget Bernard as well.  

 

McGovern is under contract for next season for 9.385 and would be the 9th highest paid Bill according to Spotrac.  I can see him being extended for a year or two to actually bring down his cap hit next year.

 

Groot's deal has him at 13.387.  Again like McGovern can be extended and reduce his cap hit next year.  

 

The other 3 plus Bernard, I can see Beane not extending them until after the next season.  Cook's 2025 cap hit is 1.856, Bernard is 1.633, Benford is 1.148 and Shakir is 1.186.  With limited cap space, it doesn't make to much sense to extend them and increase their 2025 cap hits.  

 

 

[ghostwriter]

26 minutes ago, Franchiseneedsme said:

Are we able to cut Milano in the off-season? Would we save some money? Give me D Williams at this point and save some money. I like Milano but he's average at best. Can't keep big money on mediocre  players. Got to make hard decisions

Von too.

[LABILLBACKER]

31 minutes ago, Franchiseneedsme said:

Are we able to cut Milano in the off-season? Would we save some money? Give me D Williams at this point and save some money. I like Milano but he's average at best. Can't keep big money on mediocre  players. Got to make hard decisions

No...his dead cap after this year is 17.2M....but it drops to 11M after next season.  He's turning 30 soon and I don't have alot of faith we'll ever see the Matt Milano of 22/23?

[LABILLBACKER]

15 minutes ago, ghostwriter said:

Von too.

You say goodbye to Von after this season with a 15M dead cap.

[Sojourner]

16 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

You do realize that all these guys are under contract for next year, and don't forget Bernard as well.  

 

McGovern is under contract for next season for 9.385 and would be the 9th highest paid Bill according to Spotrac.  I can see him being extended for a year or two to actually bring down his cap hit next year.

 

Groot's deal has him at 13.387.  Again like McGovern can be extended and reduce his cap hit next year.  

 

The other 3 plus Bernard, I can see Beane not extending them until after the next season.  Cook's 2025 cap hit is 1.856, Bernard is 1.633, Benford is 1.148 and Shakir is 1.186.  With limited cap space, it doesn't make to much sense to extend them and increase their 2025 cap hits.  

 

 

 

“But with $61M in cap space, I would argue that Buffalo should get an early jump on our 2026 free agent crop.”

 

 

Yeah man, he said it in the third sentence/paragraph to his post. 
 

🤷‍♂️

[GASabresIUFan]

1 hour ago, Sojourner said:

 

“But with $61M in cap space, I would argue that Buffalo should get an early jump on our 2026 free agent crop.”

 

 

Yeah man, he said it in the third sentence/paragraph to his post. 
 

🤷‍♂️

I'm not sure where he gets the 61 million from.  According to Spotrac our cap space for next year with 40 players under contract is 9.329 million with the cap expected to be about 273 million.  Our 40 players currently cost 264 million 

Edited 11 hours ago by GASabresIUFan

[gonzo1105]

2 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

I'm not sure where he gets the 61 million from.  According to Spotrac our cap for next year with 40 players under contract is 9.329 million with the cap expected to be about 273 million.  Our 40 players currently cost 264 million 

 

Maybe confused with 2025 cap space vs 2026 cap space? I haven't looked to be honest.

[GASabresIUFan]

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

Quote

 

Total Cap Allocations

$264,895,199 / 8th

 

Cap Space

$9,329,569 / 28th

 

Reserve Lists

$0 / 20th

 

Dead Cap

$5,441,186 / 22nd

 

They expect a cap of 273.3 with a rollover of 975K bring the Bills cap to 274.2.  

 

 

[Sojourner]

6 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

I'm not sure where he gets the 61 million from.  According to Spotrac our cap for next year with 40 players under contract is 9.329 million with the cap expected to be about 273 million.  Our 40 players currently cost 264 million 

I don’t either but I understood what he was referencing. Locking guys up before they improve their price tag on a contract year. 

[GASabresIUFan]

1 minute ago, Sojourner said:

I don’t either but I understood what he was referencing. Locking guys up before they improve their price tag on a contract year. 

I'd love to lock up all the young studs on rookie deals, but I don't think it's feasible this off-season without some major restructuring of nearly all the highest paid players deals.  Pegula has already talked about restructuring Josh's deal to give him a raise.  

[Bad Things]

1 hour ago, Franchiseneedsme said:

Are we able to cut Milano in the off-season? Would we save some money? Give me D Williams at this point and save some money. I like Milano but he's average at best. Can't keep big money on mediocre  players. Got to make hard decisions

 

What are you basing your "he's average at best" comment on?

The last few weeks since he's come back from 2 serious injuries, or his overall career.  If it's the latter, you need to get your head examined.  If you're basing this all on the last few games, I think we all owe Milano the benefit of the doubt that he'll be able to fully come back.  When he was healthy, he was a joy to watch play.  Quick, strong and smart.

I can't believe you'd consider just throwing him out to the curb like that.

 

I'm dying to see a healthy tandem of Milano and Bernard playing next to each other.

[stinky finger]

4 minutes ago, Bad Things said:

 

What are you basing your "he's average at best" comment on?

The last few weeks since he's come back from 2 serious injuries, or his overall career.  If it's the latter, you need to get your head examined.  If you're basing this all on the last few games, I think we all owe Milano the benefit of the doubt that he'll be able to fully come back.  When he was healthy, he was a joy to watch play.  Quick, strong and smart.

I can't believe you'd consider just throwing him out to the curb like that.

 

I'm dying to see a healthy tandem of Milano and Bernard playing next to each other.

 

This thinking is too sentimental. 

 

Better a year too early than a year too late. He just can't stay healthy making him unreliable.

[Dr.Sack]

I like the current team. 

[GASabresIUFan]

FYI

 

Vonn Miller 2025 Cap hit $23.874 with a dead cap of 15.417.  He is a prime candidate for restructure or release.

 

Matt Milano 2025 Cap hit $16.122 with a dead cap if 17.253.  Releasing him actually hurts our cap situation unless it's a June 1 waiver.  Beane would be better off restructuring his deal and maybe adding a 2nd void year to bring his cap number down.  Odds favor this kind of move and him playing at least another year with the Bills.

 

 

[Freddie's Dead]

Right now the offense runs through Cook and Shakir.  Some are advocating that we jettison one or both if "the price ain't right".  Price be damned, you can't rip that big a hole in this offense.  I've had it up to here with the over investment in defense.  Time to go all in on the best QB in the known universe and create an unstoppable offense.

[LABILLBACKER]

 

 

59 minutes ago, Freddie's Dead said:

Right now the offense runs through Cook and Shakir.  Some are advocating that we jettison one or both if "the price ain't right".  Price be damned, you can't rip that big a hole in this offense.  I've had it up to here with the over investment in defense.  Time to go all in on the best QB in the known universe and create an unstoppable offense.

Agree... I'm making every effort to sign Cook & Shakir. Then Benford & Bernard.  I'm letting Groot play out his last year. Von will probably be released and try to sign Koonce. Maybe sign Hill 1T from Cincy?  Not alot of FA 1T's available this spring. 

[MJS]

I don't want to resign Rousseau. In fact, I'd move on from as much of the dline as possible and get some high draft picks and free agents in to replace them. I'm sick of them doing nothing in important games. I want a reset.

[Sojourner]

9 minutes ago, MJS said:

I don't want to resign Rousseau. In fact, I'd move on from as much of the dline as possible and get some high draft picks and free agents in to replace them. I'm sick of them doing nothing in important games. I want a reset.

Totally understand that sentiment but Groot has talent. If he wants top 10 money @ the position? No thanks. Especially if there’s someone else who becomes available in the FA pool. 

If he can be had for that 10-15 range of money? Yeah, I’d do that. 

I think he’s a quality young player but, and this is where I could get behind moving on, he does leave a lot to be desired some games and seems to go through stretches or bursts where he’s dominant. Consistent ones are hard to find, there’s fewer of them than there ever had been league wide.