Free Agents we like for the 2025 Bills?

[djp14150]

I’d be instead targeting folks who want to prove it contracts ( not coming off them) these are some of the back ups/ secondary players on other teams or thise who got injured last year

 

these players can sign for a low/ bonus contract. They will be playing for a team who will be features tv game for about 11 weeks during the season 

National tv games ( include primary 425 Sunday ( Cincinnati, KC, houston, Philadelphia , Baltimore, Miami ( both) , jets, Steelers, Tampa bay. Atlanta)

Lead 1 pm  patriots, jets, Carolina

 

[Billl]

3 hours ago, ProcessTruster said:

I need to sign Cook and Shakir as they make this offense go. 

Cook does, but I disagree on Shakir.  He was way overused this season.  He was used perfectly in 2023 and was an incredibly efficient player.  He’s also a case study in diminishing returns.  When people just assume that if you double a player’s targets then you can pencil them in for double the production, I’d refer them to Shakir’s 2024 season.  He got more than double the targets, but his production barely moved, and his efficiency took a nosedive.  

 

He’s excellent in his 2023 role, but trying to run an offense through him is a terrible idea.  Let him be a complimentary piece similar to a Cole Beasley.  Shakir should be getting around 60-70 targets a season.  If someone offers him $20mm AAV, you shake his hand and wish him well.

[Thrivefourfive]

2 hours ago, FireChans said:

I mean, we banked on Curtis Samuel last year and we had to trade a day 2 pick to rent a WR for half the year. Samuel of course had like 200 yards.

 

So your stance of “let’s bank on him again, idiots!” is pretty ironic.

Samuel is a 10 yards per reception guy. Do the math. For him to have numbers that would make his existence worth it he needs 80 catches, 120 targets—he’s a 65% catch rate guy. And now he can’t be depended on because of age and injury, he turns 30 before the season opener.

 

This is Beane’s miss, and I’m done not adding that every time we talk about misses. Talk up the hits too, but given his job title, we should expect hits, not glorify them. 

[3rdand12]

4 hours ago, Desert Bills Fan said:

Seems like a lot of consensus that these are the priority areas we should look at in FA

speed receiver

big run stuffing DT

Safety 

 

and Myles

[oldmanfan]

51 minutes ago, Thrivefourfive said:

Samuel is a 10 yards per reception guy. Do the math. For him to have numbers that would make his existence worth it he needs 80 catches, 120 targets—he’s a 65% catch rate guy. And now he can’t be depended on because of age and injury, he turns 30 before the season opener.

 

This is Beane’s miss, and I’m done not adding that every time we talk about misses. Talk up the hits too, but given his job title, we should expect hits, not glorify them. 

Everyone knows Samuel was hurt most of the year, don’t they?

[3rdand12]

3 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Everyone knows Samuel was hurt most of the year, don’t they?

Some folks can't forgive that ?  and just hit F5 for next season.

Regardless.

 Bills still have some sincere needs to be resolved this off season.

Started my list with 3. DE of fame and fortunes , Proven WR who plays the boundary and can find the endzone on a deep post

 And a Ted Washington v2025 

 Now its 5

Starting CB and upgrading vet safety to start or mix in day one

[oldmanfan]

1 hour ago, 3rdand12 said:

Some folks can't forgive that ?  and just hit F5 for next season.

Regardless.

 Bills still have some sincere needs to be resolved this off season.

Started my list with 3. DE of fame and fortunes , Proven WR who plays the boundary and can find the endzone on a deep post

 And a Ted Washington v2025 

 Now its 5

Starting CB and upgrading vet safety to start or mix in day one

I’m thinking they go after a high profile WR or DE in free agency or trade.  And I am always in favor of drafting a big tub of goo to anchor the D line.  Looks like there’s a ton of those in the draft this year.

 

 

[BlueRed]

I’m intrigued by some of the value edge rushers that might be available:

 

Josh Uche (KC) - 26 years

Joseph Ossai (CIN) - 24 years

Matthew Judon (ATL) - 32 years

 

Spotrac estimates these guys will be 4 mil or less per year. I’d take a swing or 2 at guys like this in addition to adding more through the draft. 

[Thurman#1]

23 hours ago, Shortchaz said:

Be a long time before the bills pay a wr $30 million a year 

 

 

Yup, that's my guess.

 

Shiniest toy in the store will always have people standing in the aisles.

 

I see them bringing in a solid #2. Possibly that's Cooper. My guess is it depends on the price. They did really really well last year without anybody great. They should still try to upgrade.

 

The only massive salary cap hit I see them taking is maybe Myles Garrett. And that won't be for running fly routes.

[Thrivefourfive]

9 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

Everyone knows Samuel was hurt most of the year, don’t they?

Yes. That’s a problem. We going to saying this again next off season if he’s hurt again, or when do we stop with the hurt excuse? 

 

Getting hurt is part of a player’s profile. It affects their bottomline. It factors into how I see things going with Beane’s signing. 

[Richard Noggin]

Just now, Thrivefourfive said:

Yes. That’s a problem. We going to saying this again next off season if he’s hurt again, or when do we stop with the hurt excuse? 

 

Getting hurt is part of a player’s profile. It affects their bottomline. It factors into how I see things going with Beane’s signing. 

 

Agreed. But past availability isn't always a predictor of future outcomes. See also: John Brown's first FA stint with Buffalo. 

 

The Bills cannot RELY on Samuel being healthy and productive in a top-3 role, but they can hope for a luckier season in '25 while also adding a Cooper-ish piece and/or downfield burner. 

[Thrivefourfive]

1 minute ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

Agreed. But past availability isn't always a predictor of future outcomes. See also: John Brown's first FA stint with Buffalo. 

 

The Bills cannot RELY on Samuel being healthy and productive in a top-3 role, but they can hope for a luckier season in '25 while also adding a Cooper-ish piece and/or downfield burner. 

I mean, they’re stuck with Samuel. It’s not like they could trade him 🤣 All they have is hope, because nothing in 2024 pointed towards success. To me, it’s a bad signing as it stands now. If hope is the answer, okay

I used to think another WR for this season was always in the cards, but no way, right. Samuel, Coleman, Cooper, Hollins. Beane’s attempt to solidify the WR room started in FA and ended on draft D2 2024, and Cooper was a ditch effort. That’s a pretty glaringly poor outcome, no?

[LABILLBACKER]

On 2/14/2025 at 5:49 PM, BigdaddyinOrlando said:

I think they will sign, in addition to a trade for a Crosby or Garret, a solid/really good corner or safety, but I kinda like signing Slayton. Think he would really have a great year here and open up the field for everyone else. After that spend all the assets on the defense and hopefully we luck into a couple big time standouts!

Just give me Cosby & DJ Reed and we can go DT/WR in the draft.

[GunnerBill]

14 hours ago, Billl said:

Cook does, but I disagree on Shakir.  He was way overused this season.  He was used perfectly in 2023 and was an incredibly efficient player.  He’s also a case study in diminishing returns.  When people just assume that if you double a player’s targets then you can pencil them in for double the production, I’d refer them to Shakir’s 2024 season.  He got more than double the targets, but his production barely moved, and his efficiency took a nosedive.  

 

He’s excellent in his 2023 role, but trying to run an offense through him is a terrible idea.  Let him be a complimentary piece similar to a Cole Beasley.  Shakir should be getting around 60-70 targets a season.  If someone offers him $20mm AAV, you shake his hand and wish him well.

 

I agree to an extent. I think the sweet spot is probably somewhere between the two. Remember in 2023 he really only found that role 2nd half of the season. But I agree his role is a complimentary piece not a feature piece. The over reliance on him in 2024 was less a result of wanting to make Shakir a feature guy and more a result of not having a guy to feature IMO.

 

I agree I wouldn't sign him at $20m AAV. Not unless that is simply a fluff number and the guaranteed portions are pretty small. Like if it is announced as 4 years, $80m but is really 3 years $45m I can live with that. Also depends how they go about trying to acquire a legit boundary guy. If they go a vet route - trade of FA - then paying that guy means no space for Shakir. If they go the draft route then I think you can find a way to do Shakir (at the lower rate though not at a true $20m AAV) for 3 years. 

[BobbyC81]

On 2/14/2025 at 7:29 PM, reddogblitz said:

I want Tee Higgins real bad and I don't care how much I it costs.  You get what you pay for.

Well, there are things like the salary cap and being able to put together a 53 man roster.  

[NastyNateSoldiers]

21 hours ago, ROCBillsBeliever said:

 

"Yeah, REAL directors of player personnel draft E.J. Manuel, then gripe about Beane's picks in a self-aggrandizing podcast with a lapdog and a poorly mixed cocktail..."

 

-Jim Monos, Probably

That was Buddy Nix pick . 

[oldmanfan]

6 hours ago, Thrivefourfive said:

Yes. That’s a problem. We going to saying this again next off season if he’s hurt again, or when do we stop with the hurt excuse? 

 

Getting hurt is part of a player’s profile. It affects their bottomline. It factors into how I see things going with Beane’s signing. 

So we are just supposed to ignore injuries now?  Sure.

[NastyNateSoldiers]

I can see the Bills 

#1 - Players that will either be cut, traded or not resigned Milano, Elam, Jones, Cooper , Rapp and possibly Cook depending on how things go this off-season. 

 

#2-Trade for Myles Garrett giving up 2 firsts 25&26 and 2nd 25. 

 

#3- Signing a pure run stuffer maybe Bj Hill or T Slayton from Packers 

 

#4- Adding a Speedster at Wr Dyami Brown or Marquis Brown . 

 

#5 - Sign  SS Jeremy Chinn 

 

#6 Draft a outside corner with 2nd Rd pk and the rest of the draft go bpa . 

 

[CSBill]

On 2/14/2025 at 8:35 PM, ghostwriter said:

Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

If we truly want to swing for the fences this Free Agency and really pay someone. Pay Tee Higgins NOT Khalil Shakir. Maybe $20M/year would get it done? 

 

Tedarrell Slaton, NT, Green Bay Packers

6’4 330lbs run stopping behemoth, brings size, youth and physicality to our DL. Will most likely get about $4M/year.

 

Marcus Maye, S, Chargers

Experienced veteran, adds depth to safety, will probably get around the veteran minimum.

 

 

Of these three, Slaton would make the most difference for us. Beef on the D-line is a huge need (and the price is right).

[ROCBillsBeliever]

1 hour ago, NastyNateSoldiers said:

That was Buddy Nix pick .