What Position in Free Agency Puts Buffalo Over the Top?

[bobobonators]

Myles would seem like the obvious answer. I hesitate putting all our eggs in this basket. He’s going to be on the wrong side of 30 and any type of significant injury will have significant impacts on his performance and this team. 
 

We need to draft better. Every year there are players similar to Myles in the draft.
 

Just like McD changed his coaching style over the years and became more aggressive, Beane and McD need to adjust their drafting style and become more aggressive. Focus less on system fit and character, and focus more on pure raw talent. We are no longer rebuilding a losing franchise, we are at the top of the AFC every year. We don’t have to rely so much on character fits. 

Tee Higgins will not put the Bills over the top. He is always injured - every season. 
 

I think the obvious answer has to be a game wrecker on DL. Question is do we trade draft picks to move up in the draft and try to hit a HR or do we do that with Myles?

Edited Saturday at 02:19 PM by bobobonators

[Dr. Who]

18 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Myles would seem like the obvious answer. I hesitate putting all our eggs in this basket. He’s going to be on the wrong side of 30 and any type of significant injury will have significant impacts on his performance and this team. 
 

We need to draft better. Every year there are players similar to Myles in the draft.
 

Just like McD changed his coaching style over the years and became more aggressive, Beane and McD need to adjust their drafting style and become more aggressive. Focus less on system fit and character, and focus more on pure raw talent. We are no longer rebuilding a losing franchise, we are at the top of the AFC every year. We don’t have to rely so much on character fits. 

Tee Higgins will not put the Bills over the top. He is always injured - every season. 
 

I think the obvious answer has to be a game wrecker on DL. Question is do we trade draft picks to move up in the draft and try to hit a HR or do we do that with Myles?

I am dubious about that. You're not going to move up in the draft for a player of that quality. 

If you stay at #30 and retain the pick, it's likely DT or CB imo.

Edited Saturday at 02:33 PM by Dr. Who

[gonzo1105]

None just make more plays than the Chiefs when it matters. Get younger and faster. If you want to spend some capital on a difference maker than sure but adding one player at one position may not make a difference 

[bobobonators]

9 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

I am dubious about that. You're not going to move up in the draft for a player of that quality. 

If you stay at #30 and retain the pick, it's likely DT or CB imo.

Trey Hendrickson - 3rd round

maxx Crosby - 4th round

chris Jones - 2nd round

aaron Donald - mid 1st round

D Hunter - 3rd round

tj watt - end of 1st round

 

You don’t need a top 5 pick to get stud DL. Draft better. 

Edited Saturday at 02:43 PM by bobobonators

[Chicharito]

I would take a flyer in Elijah Moore at WR. 4.3 40. That speed creates separation. That is what this offense is missing. Should be cheap option as well. Myles Garrett in a trade. Then go in with Jermey Chinn at S. Whatever we do don’t resign Hamlin or cooper.

[bobobonators]

Just now, Chicharito said:

I would take a flyer in Elijah Moore at WR. 4.3 40. That speed creates separation. That is what this offense is missing. Should be cheap option as well. Myles Garrett in a trade. Then go in with Jermey Chinn at S. Whatever we do don’t resign Hamlin or cooper.

I agree about Hamlin. He’d be solid depth/ST. No way should he be starting. 

[Dr. Who]

8 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Trey Hendrickson - 3rd round

maxx Crosby - 4th round

chris Jones - 2nd round

aaron Donald - mid 1st round

D Hunter - 3rd round

tj watt - end of 1st round

 

You don’t need a top 5 pick to get stud DL. Draft better. 

I'd be looking to add a fella that is ready to be a game-changer right now. You're trading for that if it's an Edge. Everyone knows Beane needs to draft better in the early rounds, including Beane. 

[bobobonators]

2 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

I'd be looking to add a fella that is ready to be a game-changer right now. You're trading for that if it's an Edge. Everyone knows Beane needs to draft better in the early rounds, including Beane. 

I understand. I absolutely think Myles would be a game wrecker for us. Perhaps I feel hesitant bc we got burned on Von Miller. I fear spending draft picks + salary cap on such an older player. We realistically would have a 2yr window with him.  If you miss on a young player at least you only lose draft picks. 
 

I concede that if Myles were to stay healthy and perform like he has to date, he would completely put us over the top imo. 

Edited Saturday at 02:57 PM by bobobonators

[TheBeaneBandit]

40 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

Myles would seem like the obvious answer. I hesitate putting all our eggs in this basket. He’s going to be on the wrong side of 30 and any type of significant injury will have significant impacts on his performance and this team. 
 

We need to draft better. Every year there are players similar to Myles in the draft.
 

Just like McD changed his coaching style over the years and became more aggressive, Beane and McD need to adjust their drafting style and become more aggressive. Focus less on system fit and character, and focus more on pure raw talent. We are no longer rebuilding a losing franchise, we are at the top of the AFC every year. We don’t have to rely so much on character fits. 

Tee Higgins will not put the Bills over the top. He is always injured - every season. 
 

I think the obvious answer has to be a game wrecker on DL. Question is do we trade draft picks to move up in the draft and try to hit a HR or do we do that with Myles?

Umm, Garrett will be on the wrong side of 30 in two years. Hopefully we save draft capital and just sign Trey Hendrickson. Too many holes on D to count on one home run swing.

[Don Otreply]

It will take a minimum of two positions, 

 

1) A pass rusher that is allowed to rush the passer 

 

2) A wide out with great hand, that runs routes correctly, and has very good on field speed, 

[SoTier]

1 hour ago, gonzo1105 said:

None just make more plays than the Chiefs when it matters. Get younger and faster. If you want to spend some capital on a difference maker than sure but adding one player at one position may not make a difference 

 

That may be true if you assume that all positions are equal but they aren't.   QB, pass rusher (DE or EDGE), and LT are the positions in which 1 player can definitely make a huge difference.   The Bills have the QB and the LT.  They need the pass rusher, and there's no one likely to be available in this draft than Garrett.

 

1 hour ago, bobobonators said:

Trey Hendrickson - 3rd round

maxx Crosby - 4th round

chris Jones - 2nd round

aaron Donald - mid 1st round

D Hunter - 3rd round

 

You don’t need a top 5 pick to get stud DL. Draft better. 

 

Even a blind squirrel can find a nut, so yeah, sometimes teams get lucky and find great players outside of where they're likely to be found.  After all, the Bills found one of the all time great LTs in NFL history, Jason Peters, as an UDFA, and Patriots found the GOAT, Tom Brady, in the 6th round of the 2000 draft.   It's not a sound strategy for building a Super Bowl team, however.

 

FYI none of the DEs you listed started from Day1, and three of them didn't start full time for 2 or 3 years.

• Trey Hendrickson didn't become a full time starter until his 4th season when he was switched from LB to RDE.
• Maxx Crosby started 10 games as a rookie for the 7-9 Raiders, a team that has had only 1 winning season since he was drafted.
• Chris Jones and Danielle Hunter didn't start full time until their third seasons.

Aaron Donald was a DT not a DE or LB, and DTs aren't frequently drafted in the top 5.  Since 2017, only 2 DTs were drafted in the Top 5:  Malik McDowell and Quinnen Williams. Only 6 other DTs were drafted 6-10 during that same period, including Ed Oliver.

 

Top pass rushers who can make impacts as rookies aren't generally found outside the top 10 unless there's some unusual circumstance, most notably, a run on QBs at the top of the draft.  Micah Parsons, a LB who was DROY, was drafted #12 in 2021 when 4 QBs were drafted before him.  Jared Verse, a DE who was DROY for 2024 was drafted #19 when 6 QBs were drafted before him.

 

In order to move up into the top half of the draft where the best DE prospects are usually taken, the Bills are going to have to trade up, giving up draft capital and/or players ... and there's no guarantee that even a Top 5 prospect will become a game wrecking pass rusher.    I'd sooner spend those resources on a proven pass rusher even if he costs a lot more.

 

The Bills need to improve their defense for 2025, not wait around for a rookie to maybe develop.  That defensive improvement starts with the DL, and adding Garrett or Crosby would make all of the other DLers better.  A better pass rush takes a lot of pressure off the LBs and DBs, so the entire defense is better.

 

Edited Saturday at 04:19 PM by SoTier

[L Ron Burgundy]

The premise of the thread is flawed.  I see nothing in FA that will put us over.  Maybe some good players will get released but we're looking for value and won't seek top $ guys.

 

Trades are only way we're getting elite talent.   

[TheBeaneBandit]

1 hour ago, Don Otreply said:

It will take a minimum of two positions, 

 

1) A pass rusher that is allowed to rush the passer 

 

2) A wide out with great hand, that runs routes correctly, and has very good on field speed, 

Our secondary is also severely slow and lacking athleticism.

[Don Otreply]

15 minutes ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

Our secondary is also severely slow and lacking athleticism.

Need sped and size there as well 👍

[L Ron Burgundy]

1 hour ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

Umm, Garrett will be on the wrong side of 30 in two years. Hopefully we save draft capital and just sign Trey Hendrickson. Too many holes on D to count on one home run swing.

Unless I'm mistaken, Hendrickson is signed for this upcoming season.  He's not a free agent.  So you'd have to trade for him.  He wants a long-term deal so he's possibly available but again we're talking about giving up resources.  A lot.

 

Garret has 3-4 great seasons still.  Barring injury.

[jahnyc]

We have significant needs on defense.  You can justify a point of view that we need starting level players at the following positions: DE (especially if Miller is not back), DT (Jones' play has declined and he is getting old), CB (Elam is a bust and Douglas' is a FA and his play declined this year), and safety (Hamlin is a FA and Bishop is a bit of an unknown at this point).

 

The most significant hole on offense is at WR.  Shakir is great, but we need help at WR, particularly with Cooper being a free agent and doubts that Coleman can develop.

[Johnnieo64]

21 hours ago, Logic said:

I like Crosby. I would be happy to acquire him.

The question posited was "what puts Buffalo over the top", and to me, Garrett is the only answer.

Crosby would be a nice addition. As would DJ Reed. As would Tee Higgins or (insert free agent you like here).

But putting them OVER THE TOP?

To me, that's a game wrecker. And the only game wrecker I see realistically available (albeit via trade rather than free agency) is Myles Garrett. He is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and is smack dab in the middle of his prime (unlike the last pass rusher we paid a premium price to add to the roster). While other additions would improve this roster, Garrett would TRANSFORM it.

 

The only thing that is going to put the Bills over the top is not only a difference maker on defense, but a whole systemic change to the defense. And as long as McDermott is here that us never going to happen. So every year we will be good, make the playoffs, win a playoff game and then be out. We were lucky to get past the Ravens this year. Sad but true as Metallica says!

[TheBeaneBandit]

41 minutes ago, L Ron Burgundy said:

Unless I'm mistaken, Hendrickson is signed for this upcoming season.  He's not a free agent.  So you'd have to trade for him.  He wants a long-term deal so he's possibly available but again we're talking about giving up resources.  A lot.

 

Garret has 3-4 great seasons still.  Barring injury.

Pretty sure he's a free agent that's why I mentioned him. I'll check....

1 minute ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

Pretty sure he's a free agent that's why I mentioned him. I'll check....

***** he signed a one-year extension..... What a loser lol

[The Firebaugh Kid]

2 hours ago, Chicharito said:

I would take a flyer in Elijah Moore at WR. 4.3 40. That speed creates separation. That is what this offense is missing. Should be cheap option as well. Myles Garrett in a trade. Then go in with Jermey Chinn at S. Whatever we do don’t resign Hamlin or cooper.

I would love that signing personally (Moore) I loved him coming out of college. Van Jefferson same thing I don’t think he’s ever really been given a chance. 

Edited Saturday at 05:34 PM by The Firebaugh Kid

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Bills FAs:

 

Amari Cooper

Rasul Douglas

Austin Johnson

Mack Hollins

Dawaune Smoot

Reggie Gilliam

Ty Johnson

Quinton Jefferson

Jordan Phillips

Reid Ferguson

Quinton Morris - RFA

Tommy Doyle 

Damar Hamlin

Alec Anderson - ERFA

 

Out of that group - Hollins, Ty Johnson, Reid Ferguson, and do the bare minimum to keep Alec Anderson maybe.

 

But honestly, would I disagree with letting all of these players walk? No.

 

The problem is the same for the Bills - cap space - 29th heading into 2025.
 

3rd-year in a row that the Bills have no room.

 

Von and Oliver counting $44M against the cap. 

 

Dawson Knox $14.6M - something has to be done with that contract. 
 

Matt Milano $15.8M is not a bargain. 

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 05:47 PM by Straight Hucklebuck