Priority Free Agents for Buffalo? Early Draft talk..

[Straight Hucklebuck]

5 hours ago, ghostwriter said:

Amari Cooper and Rasul Douglas are our high profile FAs this offseason, I’d argue against signing either of them..

 

Mack Hollins and Ty Johnson I would welcome back at the right price.. As I would Damar Hamlin and Alec Anderson..

 

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

 

I see our FAs in this order priority wise:

 

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?

 

I think if we can lockdown Rousseau, Cook and Shakir at the right price, we are in a good place going into the Draft…

 

Who do you guys think Buffalo should target in Free Agency/Draft?

 

Any early Draft prospects we should keep an eye out for?

Amari - Walk - Can’t sink money into 30-year old WRs. 

 

Douglas - Walk - Get younger at the position not older. 

 

Rousseau - The dilemma here is he is your only real difference making Defensive Lineman and he’s 24 years old. 
 

James Cook - Last year of rookie deal so I have no problems letting him play that out and possibly franchising for his 26th age season.

 

Ray Davis is not a viable #1 though, so you’ll have to draft someone higher than a 4th-Rounder. 

 

Shakir - He’s the only game in and game out dependable WR that Allen has. But he needs to paid like a Top-6 slot, not as a low-end WR1 in the franchise neighborhood of $20.6M a year. So I agree, must set a firm price limit. 

 

Benford - I don’t think he’s a true lock down corner, but he makes plays by never giving up and raking at the ball. I’d try and keep him, because there is no pipeline of young talent behind him. He’s the only building block you have. 

 

Connor McGovern - I have to think the Bills would want to keep this offensive line together at least one more years. Dawkins is still good, and they’ve been durable. 

[Bad Things]

4 hours ago, stinky finger said:

 

This thinking is too sentimental. 

 

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

Sentimental?  Are you kidding me?

 

Matt Milano is a stud of a player and was an All-Pro in 2023.

Wanting the best players on your time is sentimental?

 

You sound like the other fools making comments on how we should fire our 12-3 coach.

[DCofNC]

12 hours ago, ghostwriter said:

Rousseau is arguably our best player on defense and outside of Josh Allen, James Cook has been our biggest difference maker on offense.. I think you sign these two men first.. Both are apex players.

 

My problem with Shakir is I’m seeing $19M/yr averages and I think that’s an absolutely ridiculous amount of money to pay a #3 guy. Without Josh his production falls way down. Why not take that money and sign a true #1 or even just draft one? I mean, for $10M-$12M sure! But $19M? C’mon man.

Being that #1 WRs are readily available at the backend of every draft and barely cost more than $19M a year in FA, I totally see your point!  Get a grip, in today’s league, Shakir is going to be paid $20M, either pay him or somebody else will.  Davis got 13M FFS.

 

Groot is the leader of the worst DL, possibly in the league, thanks but I’m not paying him top dollar.   If you can bring him back at ~15M a year, you do it, but much more than that is wasted opportunity cost.   They need to trim the fat, Von can keep right on running wide to another team, the entire stable of DTs minus Carter should be replaced (Oliver can’t/wont be). Smoot coming back would be nice, but beyond that, there’s absolutely no reason to be worried about keeping anyone on the DL and really aside from Bernard, anyone in the front 7 period.  They are all replacement level or at best rotational guys.
 

Cook, while very good, is not discernible from Davis or Johnson who will be virtually free in comparison.  So, I’m not tying up more money on a RB. 

[stinky finger]

5 hours ago, Bad Things said:

Sentimental?  Are you kidding me?

 

Matt Milano is a stud of a player and was an All-Pro in 2023.

Wanting the best players on your time is sentimental?

 

You sound like the other fools making comments on how we should fire our 12-3 coach.

 

Nope. Not kidding. You're being sentimental. Did you call me a fool?

 

Perhaps some Xmas caroling would do you good. You seem a little tense and out of sorts. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

12 hours ago, ghostwriter said:

EDGE or pass rushers in general are worth the money. People fail to realize that Rousseau has nearly 20 TFL this year as well.

I can’t believe how slept on he is haha even von has been playing pretty well.  Seems like our DEs get pressure but can’t clean up because our DTs are pretty bad