Bill's Free Agents 2025

[Freddie's Dead]

Who is Bill?

[BillsFanForever19]

3 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

These are non-essential pieces.

 

The bigger moves will be the guys who are in line for extensions. Who does Beane see as a priority? 
 

Groot

Benford

Bernard

Shakir

Cook

 

These moves will mold the future. Which of these guys do we see locked up long term? Which will hit their contract year playing out their final deal? 

 

My guess if they extend Groot and Benford, Shakir would be the next one on my list. I think they’ll play out Cook and Bernard.

 

I know re-signing a Running Back after their Rookie deal goes against everything certain posters on this board stand for. And it goes against my general thinking as well.

 

However, James Cook has become an exception for me. This regime spent Draft Picks and Cap Space over the years trying to find a Running game like we got this year by Drafting guys like Singletary and Moss and bringing in veteran's like Gore, Breida, and Hines.

 

Without a RB like Cook, we wouldn't have gotten to where we were. You aren't likely to replace a guy like him by just Drafting another. I think we can carefully arrange a contract that would be worth keeping here and beyond my thoughts on it, I have a sinking feeling they want to and will do it.

 

I could see a scenario where Rousseau could be a surprise move on from candidate. If we were to do something big at Defensive End this offseason, it wouldn't shock me if they then went with a more inexpensive option opposite them.

 

Bernard is honestly the last person I would extend on the list. While he definitely exceeded expectations last year, I felt this year he was extremely underwhelming. He felt like he was constantly out of position. The middle of the field was a barren wasteland of yardage all year long. And outside of the strip and recovery against Mark Andrews in the Playoffs and the game sealing pick on Mahomes in the regular season, I really fail to remember him hopping off the screen otherwise. As opposed to last year where he was regularly doing so. He'd have to have a BIG bounce back next year for me to consider paying him.

Edited Wednesday at 04:54 AM by BillsFanForever19

[Jimmy Harris 69]

These names jump out at me. I expect Ty Johnson to be difficult to sign  he earned a lot of money this year and a likely ridiculous offer from some team probably in the AFC East. Maybe Amari Cooper will come back on a one year deal. Reid Ferguson still does a good job, but I’m not against replacing him with a younger cheaper man. Rasul Douglas looked slow this year; could he play safety? I’ve had all I can take from Damar Hamlin, though I expect you’ll be back. (He’s a coach fav). Another loss to the Chiefs showed the Bills defense needs stars in the backfield and on the line. Allen said it in his presser, the Bills need talent. McDermott relying on broken down mediocre veterans is leaving us with empty tanks in January. 
RB Ty Johnson

DT Jordan Phillips

DE Dawuane Smoot

LS Reid Ferguson

FB Reggie Gilliam

WR Mack Hollins

DT Austin Johnson

WR Amari Cooper

CB Rasul Douglas

[Kelly to Allen]

1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I know re-signing a Running Back after their Rookie deal goes against everything certain posters on this board stand for. And it goes against my general thinking as well.

 

However, James Cook has become an exception for me. This regime spent Draft Picks and Cap Space over the years trying to find a Running game like we got this year by Drafting guys like Singletary and Moss and bringing in veteran's like Gore, Breida, and Hines.

 

Without a RB like Cook, we wouldn't have gotten to where we were. You aren't likely to replace a guy like him by just Drafting another. I think we can carefully arrange a contract that would be worth keeping here and beyond my thoughts on it, I have a sinking feeling they want to and will do it.

 

I could see a scenario where Rousseau could be a surprise move on from candidate. If we were to do something big at Defensive End this offseason, it wouldn't shock me if they then went with a more inexpensive option opposite them.

 

Bernard is honestly the last person I would extend on the list. While he definitely exceeded expectations last year, I felt this year he was extremely underwhelming. He felt like he was constantly out of position. The middle of the field was a barren wasteland of yardage all year long. And outside of the strip and recovery against Mark Andrews in the Playoffs and the game sealing pick on Mahomes in the regular season, I really fail to remember him hopping off the screen otherwise. As opposed to last year where he was regularly doing so. He'd have to have a BIG bounce back next year for me to consider paying him.

 

 

Giving a RB a big contract would just tell me this front office is worse than I realized. 

[sven233]

2 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

How much do you think he going to want ? Saquon is on $12m …

 

I know his brother been yapping … but it’s not up to him 

 

I'm thinking that is the starting number for his agent.  I am not positive he gets it, but all it takes is one team to want to.  If the Bills can do a deal early this offseason and get him to agree under $10 million I would be shocked.  I think with Saquon's season and Henry's season and the impact they have proven to have on their teams, I think the numbers for the top backs are going to creep higher than what most of us a comfortable spending.

[Kelly to Allen]

Resign 

 

Hollins 1 yr -3 mil

Davidson 

Clapp

Ty Johnson 2 yrs 6 mil 

Gilliam 2 yrs 

 

Smoot vet min

Ankou 

A. Johnson vet min

Maybe Jordan Phillips on a vet min

Toohill or Jonathan 

Damar on a cheap 2 yr deal 

Probably Douglas for a 2 year deal

Edited Wednesday at 07:20 AM by Kelly to Allen

[LABILLBACKER]

6 hours ago, Sojourner said:

IMO, Absolute musts:

Reid Ferguson

Mack Hollins

Wouldn’t be opposed:

 

Ty Johnson

Reggie Gilliam

 

The rest? They can be replaced. Amari and Douglas had their moments but for their price tags I feel you can do better for absolute key needs. 

 

UFA.....I'm only signing Ferguson,  Hollins and Johnson. The rest can peddle their skills somewhere else.  Cooper & Rasul were disappointments. This team desperately needs stone cold killers on Defense.  Not meh inconsistent retreats like Phillips.

[ghostwriter]

Cook, Shakir and Rousseau.

[LABILLBACKER]

6 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

These are non-essential pieces.

 

The bigger moves will be the guys who are in line for extensions. Who does Beane see as a priority? 
 

Groot

Benford

Bernard

Shakir

Cook

 

These moves will mold the future. Which of these guys do we see locked up long term? Which will hit their contract year playing out their final deal? 

 

My guess if they extend Groot and Benford, Shakir would be the next one on my list. I think they’ll play out Cook and Bernard.

 

 

I'm extending everyone on reasonable deals except Rousseau. I'm letting Von, Rousseau and Epenesa walk when contracts are up.  Start re-drafting your DL.

[Kelly to Allen]

7 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

I'm extending everyone on reasonable deals except Rousseau. I'm letting Von, Rousseau and Epenesa walk when contracts are up.  Start re-drafting your DL.

 

They'll probably keep Rousseau just because he's really the only true talent we have up front and only 24. Him and Oliver 

 

They really do need to overhaul the defense tho in the draft 

 

Like 2 CBS

A safety 

A linebacker 

And probably 3-4 dlineman 

 

7-9 picks need to be spent on defense. The cb rooms athletic ability needs to be upgraded dramatically. 

Edited Wednesday at 08:03 AM by Kelly to Allen

[LABILLBACKER]

1 minute ago, Kelly to Allen said:

 

They'll probably keep Rousseau just because he's really the only true talent we have up front and only 24. Him and Oliver 

I doubt we keep him, especially if he thinks he's worth 18M/ yr.  His projected 5th year option salary is 13.4 so we'll do the same thing we did with Edmunds.  Keep him for his 5th year then wave goodbye. 

[Kelly to Allen]

3 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

I doubt we keep him, especially if he thinks he's worth 18M/ yr.  His projected 5th year option salary is 13.4 so we'll do the same thing we did with Edmunds.  Keep him for his 5th year then wave goodbye. 

 

I really wonder if we had a truly great pass rusher like Myles Garrett opposite Rousseau, you'd probably see Rousseau get 12-14 sacks. 

 

But I get your point. He's not really a true difference maker. 

 

 

I really wish Beane would trade up for Abdul Carter similar to when we traded for Cornelius Bennett 

 

We just don't have" that guy" on defense. 

Edited Wednesday at 08:11 AM by Kelly to Allen

[BillsFanForever19]

37 minutes ago, ghostwriter said:

Cook, Shakir and Rousseau.

 

If it's only 3 of the 5 - it's Benford, Shakir, Cook for me.

 

I was on the fence for paying Bernard and this year sealed it for me.

 

Rousseau is good at setting the Edge, but he's never had more than 8 sacks in a year in his 4 seasons here. 25 total over 4 years is just not enough to justify the kind of contract he's going to command. 

 

We need to go out and get something better than Epenesa this offseason opposite Rousseau. Hopefully someone who gets more sacks than Rousseau. Depending on how big that fish is, I'd probably move on from Rousseau after 2025.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Johnson and Hollins for sure. Ferguson is fine as a LS. 

 

Cooper I don't know. The Browns wanted to move on from him and we didn't use him. Maybe he is washed but he made some great catches for this team when he was used.

Still think he can be a good #1 for a couple more years. Seems to like Buffalo and Josh like him.

I'd make a play for him but perhaps let him see what his market is first. Beane has done that before.

 

All the rest of the unrestricted can go. Gilliam was never as useless as I claimed but we have 10 draft picks.  Let Gilliam walk and replace him with a 5th round FB. Will be just as good/useless and far cheaper. 

 

Morris is acceptable TE3 but not sure he is any better than a mid to late round draft prospect and again far less expensive. 

Anderson/Van Demark should stay. 

[Julio Hopkins]

Cooper only played 32 snaps in the Chiefs game and 21 snaps in the Ravens game.  Literally no point in bringing him back if they won't use him.  

[BillsFanForever19]

33 minutes ago, Julio Hopkins said:

Cooper only played 32 snaps in the Chiefs game and 21 snaps in the Ravens game.  Literally no point in bringing him back if they won't use him.  

 

This whole situation concerns me. 

 

Once Joe Brady took over, Stefon Diggs became a decoy. And came off the field more than he ever had. And we became a much more Run focused Offense. It's my belief that this was the breaking point for Diggs.

 

Then we make the move for Amari Cooper. Who comes in and is used mainly as a decoy. And ultimately not seeing the field much. The only reason I see for this is that he wasn't the down field blocker that Mack Hollins and Keon Coleman are.

 

Many fans, myself included, want a bonafide veteran #1 WR to come in this offseason. But I fear that with how Diggs was used, how we approached the position this past offseason, and now seeing how Cooper was used that Brady isn't interested in a guy unless he's willing to get his hands dirty on the regular and not be a focal point of the Offense. And most stud WR's aren't interested in that.

[Pete]

8 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

Jordan Phillips wants to come back …. 
 

Probably chuck him a few hundred grand guaranteed and see if he can make the team… or is it time to cut bait ?

Phillips said he’s retired, unless the Bills call him.  Jordan said he’s will always answer Buffalos calls.  We have Jordan if we need him late season add

[Pete]

Hollins and Johnson priority 1 to re-sign.

Gilliam is important too

Alex Anderson is a restricted FA.  I’d sign to 2nd round tender- teams are desperate for OL and we re-signed VandeMark and we have Grable.

Smoot was one of our better DEs- for the right price, or upgrade.

 

Von needs his own thread.  Hes on books for about 15 million. And if we cut him, we gain approximately 8 million in cap space, put have about 15 in dead cap.  We save more in cap space, post June 1, but would have big chunks dead cap this year and next year.  At this point, I’d rework Vons contract, and incentive it.  Von wants to return, he’s useful, it makes sense cap wise, but there is a lot to consider 

[nuklz2594]

tommy doyle. gotta feel for the guy. give him a shot one last time?

[Aussie Joe]

4 hours ago, Pete said:

Phillips said he’s retired, unless the Bills call him.  Jordan said he’s will always answer Buffalos calls.  We have Jordan if we need him late season add

Did he use the word “retire “? Must have missed that … the quote I heard was that he would be prepared to come back next year ..but only with Buffalo …. 
 

 

Edited Wednesday at 02:43 PM by Aussie Joe