Shakir, Benford, Cook and Bernard: Who Gets a Contract Extension?

[KOKBILLS]

2 hours ago, NoName said:

According to and article on DC, all four will be free agents at the end of the 2025-26 season.  The article also says that based on Spotrac, the four players (I typed Coleman by mistake, the title should say Benford instead of Coleman) are projected to get the following contracts:

 

• Benford 4 years for 91.9 Mil or 22.6 per year
• Shakir 19.3 mil per year (it didn't state years)
• Cook 10.2 mil per year (it didn't state years)
• Bernard 6.7 mil per year (it didn't state years)

Based on these projections:

which order would you prioritize signing the four soon to be free agents and why?

Should the Bills resign all four? If not, who should they keep?

 

I think Bernard will be the 1st because he's a Captain, it's a low AAV, and it will be a home town deal.

Benford will be next because it's a premium position and the Bills are lost at CB without him...

 

Shakir is super tricky... I don't know... I love the guy and I'll take him over almost any slot in the league... But WR salaries are through the roof and I think the value in this offense, if it stays everyone eats, may be in question at almost 20M AAV... Still, how do you not re-sign that guy?

 

I've been pretty clear on my stance where Jimbo is concerned. Love him, but anything over 10M AAV and I'm pretty much out... Furthermore I have to wonder if it's not a better team building strategy to trade him now while he's at peak value, save the 5.2M on the cap in 2025, and Draft a RB somewhere in Rds. 2-5 in what looks to be an absolutely loaded RB class... 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Benford and Shakir would be the first two

[HappyDays]

Benford - I guess this is an unpopular opinion now but I'd extend him this offseason. Part of it is I don't think Spotrac's valuation is right - people put too much stock in their number, the actual AAV often turns out to be wildly different. No one across the NFL media sphere has recognized Benford and no fanbase is clamoring for their organization to sign him. That stuff matters when franchises have to sell moves to their fans, and I just can't see someone offering him $22M AAV. He's primarily a zone corner in a CB-friendly scheme and he's had an injury history. All of the concerns we have about extending him will lower his market value.

I don't personally worry about the concussions. 4 years ago everyone was sure Morse was one concussion away from retiring but he's still playing. Concussions are random. If anything it just gives us leverage at the negotiating table.

It's become clear to me that McDermott's scheme although CB-friendly also works much better when you have good CBs on the field. We made it work with the likes of Dane Jackson and Levi Wallace, but it was its most dominant version when Tre White was in his prime. Benford isn't quite at that level but he's still a plus player. I'd much rather just have that spot locked up and look to the draft to try and find a true shutdown CB, versus completely starting over at CB in 2026.

 

Shakir - Let him play out his deal, than tag and trade him in 2026 if you know you can get a 3rd or more. I really appreciate what Shakir brings to the offense but slot WRs with YAC ability can be found on any day of the draft. He isn't going to become an outside/downfield WR and that's where we need to make our biggest investments.

 

Bernard - Let him play out the year and see. If he stays relatively healthy and plays well I'd be comfortable giving him like $7M AAV in 2026. If he has a repeat of 2024 give him 1 year $4M or something like that. A player with his size and injury history isn't going to blow up the FA market no matter how he performs this year.

 

Cook - I've laid out my thoughts in the other thread. I'd look for a trade partner now, ideally a 3rd but I'd take a 4th if it's the best offer. That's $5.2M in immediate cap savings which is fairly significant and you can use the pick to draft another RB.

 

Edited February 14 by HappyDays

[27yankees]

Benford, Shakir, Cook (walks)

Henderson OSU RB in the bottom of 2nd round

Nick Nash WR 4-5 Round

Use whatever money available and shore up the Line. Couple DT's in Draft worth trading next years #1 for extra early picks.

[Mr. WEO]

The Bills blew 10% of the cap on Cooper and 8 million on Sanders! Toss in 10 million for Knox.

 

20 million for a guy with 1600 yards in 3 seasons is wild, but I wouldn't put it past Beane... 

[Goin Breakdown]

I say let Coleman go. He's asking too much. 

[DeltaDigital]

4 hours ago, NoName said:

According to and article on DC, all four will be free agents at the end of the 2025-26 season.  The article also says that based on Spotrac, the four players are projected to get the following contracts:

 

• Benford 4 years for 91.9 Mil or 22.6 per year
• Shakir 19.3 mil per year (it didn't state years)
• Cook 10.2 mil per year (it didn't state years)
• Bernard 6.7 mil per year (it didn't state years)

Based on these projections:

which order would you prioritize signing the four soon to be free agents and why?

Should the Bills resign all four? If not, who should they keep?

Trade em all. cept cook. 

[H2o]

Shakir, but not for $19M per. 

[4th&long]

Not cook. 

[eball]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Something that just struck me on this.... I think Beane has a real strong motive for his own professional reputation to keep at least three of these guys. 2022 was his best draft since his first one. He found four guys outside round 1 who we are all talking about here as being worth at least considering for big money extensions. 

 

Take out 2022. Look at his draft record 2019-2024 with 2022 excluded. From the 5 drafts that remain he has Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau, Dawson Knox, Spencer Brown and Tyler Bass. 

 

Okay maybe a Kincaid or a Torrence or a Coleman can still rebound. But without that 2022 class there are not a ton of starters on the Bills roster that he has drafted since 2018 and even fewer impact starters.

 

Great point…but I hope it doesn’t mean he overpays.  I’d like to think Beane’s ego doesn’t get the best of him.

 

[Pokebball]

Hard to make the call, today, in a bubble. The Bills really do have to score well in the draft. Who the Bills get will certainly provide a much better answer to your question. In the bubble, today, I believe Benford

[billsfan714]

I dont want to see this offense without Cook and Shakir.  Cook gets yards in chunks and Shakir is great after the catch.   Both are slippery, eel type runners.  Don't want to go back to the days of no speed guys Moss and Singletary types and catch and fall type receiver.

Edited February 14 by billsfan714

[slaphappy]

I love Cook but 15 mil is too much...

[T master]

8 hours ago, NoName said:

According to and article on DC, all four will be free agents at the end of the 2025-26 season.  The article also says that based on Spotrac, the four players are projected to get the following contracts:

 

• Benford 4 years for 91.9 Mil or 22.6 per year
• Shakir 19.3 mil per year (it didn't state years)
• Cook 10.2 mil per year (it didn't state years)
• Bernard 6.7 mil per year (it didn't state years)

Based on these projections:

which order would you prioritize signing the four soon to be free agents and why?

Should the Bills resign all four? If not, who should they keep?

 

It has been said that Cook has put out there that he wants $15 Mill a yr if he sticks to that he'll be gone, Benford aint gonna get that here he's good but he's not a shut down corner, i believe Shakir could be close to that, Bernard is okay at that money .

 

But don't forget Hollins the bare foot wonder & others that need to be here plus they have to re up Josh, the cap is going to be tricky to say the least .

[klos63]

Benford for sure.  Cook next.  Not sure Bernard is good enough for a 2nd contract,  I think we need to see a big season in 2025 to justify. 

Shakir is excellent,  but until Brady decides open up the passing game, gotta wonder if he's worth a big contract.

4 minutes ago, T master said:

 

It has been said that Cook has put out there that he wants $15 Mill a yr if he sticks to that he'll be gone, Benford aint gonna get that here he's good but he's not a shut down corner, i believe Shakir could be close to that, Bernard is okay at that money .

 

But don't forget Hollins the bare foot wonder & others that need to be here plus they have to re up Josh, the cap is going to be tricky to say the least .

Could justify a Hollins extension because of his special teams play adding to his value.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

Based on how I believe Beane values specific positions on the team, I’d guess: 

 

1. Groot

2. Benford

3. Shakir

4. Cook

5. Bernard

 

This is based on the amount of assets we’ve put into these positions which indicates to be how they perceive the worth or necessity of having talent there. 
 

Now the level of talent and price all factor into this, but in terms of positional value, there is no doubt that DE and CB would out weigh the players at the other positions. 

[ghostwriter]

I think you go after the low hanging fruit. Rasul Douglas for $8M/year. James Cook for $10M/year (no more than $12.5M). Terrell Bernard for $10M/year. Khalil Shakir for $13M/year.

 

Then you revisit Gregory Rousseau and Christian Benford in the 2026 offseason.

 

I would not pay Amari Cooper at this point unless it’s a bargain.

[Ralonzo]

9 hours ago, dorquemada said:

Shakir is a must keep piece.  Benford/Bernard if the price is right because otherwise you're just making a hole to fill.  Cook, i'd keep him at 10, but 15?  Seems like trading him for a pick and getting the guy from OSU would be the better play?  It's a shame because I like Cook but get that bag man

 

19M projected for a slot guy? That's gonna be a no. Those guys get drafted in the 5th round for a reason, to paraphrase Monos. Benford projecting 4/90 makes a high choice this year on CB imperative.

 

Bernard and Cook at those numbers are doable.

[BADOLBILZ]

6 hours ago, HappyDays said:

Benford - I guess this is an unpopular opinion now but I'd extend him this offseason. Part of it is I don't think Spotrac's valuation is right - people put too much stock in their number, the actual AAV often turns out to be wildly different. No one across the NFL media sphere has recognized Benford and no fanbase is clamoring for their organization to sign him. That stuff matters when franchises have to sell moves to their fans, and I just can't see someone offering him $22M AAV. He's primarily a zone corner in a CB-friendly scheme and he's had an injury history. All of the concerns we have about extending him will lower his market value.

I don't personally worry about the concussions. 4 years ago everyone was sure Morse was one concussion away from retiring but he's still playing. Concussions are random. If anything it just gives us leverage at the negotiating table.

It's become clear to me that McDermott's scheme although CB-friendly also works much better when you have good CBs on the field. We made it work with the likes of Dane Jackson and Levi Wallace, but it was its most dominant version when Tre White was in his prime. Benford isn't quite at that level but he's still a plus player. I'd much rather just have that spot locked up and look to the draft to try and find a true shutdown CB, versus completely starting over at CB in 2026.

 

Shakir - Let him play out his deal, than tag and trade him in 2026 if you know you can get a 3rd or more. I really appreciate what Shakir brings to the offense but slot WRs with YAC ability can be found on any day of the draft. He isn't going to become an outside/downfield WR and that's where we need to make our biggest investments.

 

Bernard - Let him play out the year and see. If he stays relatively healthy and plays well I'd be comfortable giving him like $7M AAV in 2026. If he has a repeat of 2024 give him 1 year $4M or something like that. A player with his size and injury history isn't going to blow up the FA market no matter how he performs this year.

 

Cook - I've laid out my thoughts in the other thread. I'd look for a trade partner now, ideally a 3rd but I'd take a 4th if it's the best offer. That's $5.2M in immediate cap savings which is fairly significant and you can use the pick to draft another RB.

 

 

 

Concussions aren't random.   It wasn't random that Benford got them in back-to-back games.  The first one was the primary cause of the second one.

 

Morse stopped getting them when he changed behavior and became less physical of a blocker.   Eric Wood made a similar alteration to his game at center after breaking his leg and tearing his ACL when playing hard instead of smart.  He went from a tone setting brawler to a guy who had to play angles and block edges of defenders to survive.  That's why he was trash in Marrone's man blocking run game.  

 

But back to Benford........once you've rung that concussion bell to the point that Benford has......they become easier to get.   Think of it like a sprained brain stem.  If you badly sprain a joint it's easy to re-sprain that joint for a long time.  Having had a very bad one, I know.  And Benford is not a Center playing in closed quarters most of the time.......he is going to have to tackle runners at high speed in the open field and he is going to be the victim of high speed friendly fire at the tackle point.   If you recall, the last concussion Morse had was a blitzing LB hitting him at high speed.   Not your typical interaction at center.  As messed up as Benford was after that second brain injury there is no chance I am extending him.   That could quickly turn into a full waste of all guaranteed money.   

[FireChans]

8 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Something that just struck me on this.... I think Beane has a real strong motive for his own professional reputation to keep at least three of these guys. 2022 was his best draft since his first one. He found four guys outside round 1 who we are all talking about here as being worth at least considering for big money extensions. 

 

Take out 2022. Look at his draft record 2019-2024 with 2022 excluded. From the 5 drafts that remain he has Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau, Dawson Knox, Spencer Brown and Tyler Bass. 

 

Okay maybe a Kincaid or a Torrence or a Coleman can still rebound. But without that 2022 class there are not a ton of starters on the Bills roster that he has drafted since 2018 and even fewer impact starters.

This was a big reason why folks thought the Spencer Brown extension was early. Beane needed a W on the roster.

6 hours ago, HappyDays said:

Benford - I guess this is an unpopular opinion now but I'd extend him this offseason. Part of it is I don't think Spotrac's valuation is right - people put too much stock in their number, the actual AAV often turns out to be wildly different. No one across the NFL media sphere has recognized Benford and no fanbase is clamoring for their organization to sign him. That stuff matters when franchises have to sell moves to their fans, and I just can't see someone offering him $22M AAV. He's primarily a zone corner in a CB-friendly scheme and he's had an injury history. All of the concerns we have about extending him will lower his market value.

I don't personally worry about the concussions. 4 years ago everyone was sure Morse was one concussion away from retiring but he's still playing. Concussions are random. If anything it just gives us leverage at the negotiating table.

It's become clear to me that McDermott's scheme although CB-friendly also works much better when you have good CBs on the field. We made it work with the likes of Dane Jackson and Levi Wallace, but it was its most dominant version when Tre White was in his prime. Benford isn't quite at that level but he's still a plus player. I'd much rather just have that spot locked up and look to the draft to try and find a true shutdown CB, versus completely starting over at CB in 2026.

 

Shakir - Let him play out his deal, than tag and trade him in 2026 if you know you can get a 3rd or more. I really appreciate what Shakir brings to the offense but slot WRs with YAC ability can be found on any day of the draft. He isn't going to become an outside/downfield WR and that's where we need to make our biggest investments.

 

Bernard - Let him play out the year and see. If he stays relatively healthy and plays well I'd be comfortable giving him like $7M AAV in 2026. If he has a repeat of 2024 give him 1 year $4M or something like that. A player with his size and injury history isn't going to blow up the FA market no matter how he performs this year.

 

Cook - I've laid out my thoughts in the other thread. I'd look for a trade partner now, ideally a 3rd but I'd take a 4th if it's the best offer. That's $5.2M in immediate cap savings which is fairly significant and you can use the pick to draft another RB.

 

I’m okay with not rushing to get Benford extended or not.

 

Okay with Bernard.

 

agree moving on from Cook/Shakir makes the most sense.