Would you trade Matt Milano?

[Aussie Joe]

I can’t see anyone lining up to give up an asset and then pay Milano a base of $9.3M …

 

I’ve been thinking that Milano and Daquan Jones are the likely candidates to get the Beane annual haircut deal for 2025 …

[Mister Defense]

10 hours ago, Jay_Fixit said:

I’m trading Milano before Cook I’ll tell you that right now.

??

 

You obviously did not hear that running backs are a dime a dozen?  In fact, about 20 or so geniuses on this board have been saying that for year, and still, despite what everyone else has seen with their own eyes.

 

'Let Cook walk'!

 

But why would the Bills trade away either of their two top players right now, creating more needs to fill in the draft and off season?

 

[Neo]

10 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

??

 

You obviously did not hear that running backs are a dime a dozen?  In fact, about 20 or so geniuses on this board have been saying that for year, and still, despite what everyone else has seen with their own eyes.

 

'Let Cook walk'!

 

But why would the Bills trade away either of their two top players right now, creating more needs to fill in the draft and off season?

 

 

 

I’m not sure I read anyone say “dime a dozen” except when using a well known phrase in a well understood context.   What I have heard many say is that $15 million can be allocated better on a team with Buffalo’s current cap situation and positional needs.  I’m no genius, but I wouldn’t pay Cook $15 million even knowing it will cost me more than .833333 cents to replace him.

[Utah John]

Whatever the Bills would get for Milano wouldn't be enough to replace him with a player as good as he is.  

 

Plus the salary cap hit for trading him would preclude bringing in a FA.

Edited Saturday at 05:26 PM by Utah John

[BarleyNY]

4 hours ago, boater said:

Untradable, at least for anything of value.

 

But there are worse things in life than having Milano as a healthy starter for us next year, so I'm not crying in my beer.

Agreed. No one is going to give up a pick to pay Milano $10M next season when they can’t rely on him to stay healthy. The Bills probably have to keep him for 2025, but that’ll be it. Maybe the Bills play hardball and get him to convert some salary to active roster bonuses.

[Magox]

Milano is still playing well, let him play out his contract.

[Buffalo Ballin]

Not right now.

 

Summer 2026? Yes, absolutely.

[Pokebball]

12 hours ago, Drewski said:

I read some articles saying he's a trade candidate. Thoughts? 

 

And what would you want for him? 

 

Would be hard to see him go but it's all business in the end...

for who?

[Wizard]

Cook's following his brother...right off a cliff.

 

Despite having Josh Allen, a city that invested in him, and a coordinator that helped scheme him to his potential, the whole Instagram, X, social media crap and scrubbing his account let's us know he's a talented player but a classless teammate and of lower character.

 

If he wants 3 years for 30-33 million or 4 years for 40 million, then he can talk.

 

This whole 15+million and scrubbing his account is this more recently self-absorbed move that only will hurt him down the road.

Cook's following his brother...right off a cliff.

 

Despite having Josh Allen, a city that invested in him, and a coordinator that helped scheme him to his potential, the whole Instagram, X, social media crap and scrubbing his account let's us know he's a talented player but a classless teammate and of lower character.

 

If he wants 3 years for 30-33 million or 4 years for 40 million, then he can talk.

 

This whole 15+million and scrubbing his account is this more recently self-absorbed move that only will hurt him down the road.

 

Give me a 2nd for Cook. Get Skatterbo, Sampson, or Devin Neal with a pick somewhere in rounds 3-5 on a rookie deal, save some money and use that extra 2nd rounder as part of a Garrett, Crosby, or Lawrence package, or draft that 2nd CB or that additional DT/DL Bills need.

[JaCrispy]

I might be willing to trade Milano, if the offer is good enough…However I am really intrigued about trading James Cook, if someone offers a 1st rounder…👍

[Billl]

12 hours ago, Drewski said:

I read some articles saying he's a trade candidate. Thoughts? 

 

And what would you want for him? 

 

Would be hard to see him go but it's all business in the end...

When thinking about trading a player and his value, first put yourself in the shoes of the other GM.  What would you be willing to give up in order to acquire a 31 year old coverage Linebacker who has missed 25 games over the past two seasons?  You’d be looking at one of those swaps of 7th round picks type of trades.

[TheBeaneBandit]

44 minutes ago, JaCrispy said:

I might be willing to trade Milano, if the offer is good enough…However I am really intrigued about trading James Cook, if someone offers a 1st rounder…👍

Maybe 30 years ago. But that doesn't mean I'm not listening to other avenues...

[djp14150]

12 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

Huh?

 

He missed almost two years of Football. He came back and started to look more like himself. But didn't fully look like his old self. He'd have extremely little trade value.

 

Then there's the cap ramifications. Making his trade value even less. And the massive Dead Cap hit we'd take. It makes pretty much no sense, any way you slice it.

The only way I see it happening is a player for player trade

[bigK14094]

Milano will be physically healed in 2025, and may be back to form.  LB's have  been known to play well into their 30's in the NFL, and Milano may be one of those.  I vote to keep him.  Cook, on the other hand is really more of a commodity.  Behind the OL as it exists, most  fair rb's would look good.  imho.

[Mister Defense]

2 hours ago, Neo said:

 

 

I’m not sure I read anyone say “dime a dozen” except when using a well known phrase in a well understood context.   What I have heard many say is that $15 million can be allocated better on a team with Buffalo’s current cap situation and positional needs.  I’m no genius, but I wouldn’t pay Cook $15 million even knowing it will cost me more than .833333 cents to replace him.

 

They will likely sign him for @12 million a year, with some extra incentives.

 

I cannot imagine any Bills fan thinking that is overpaying for what is likely the 2nd best player on the team, one of the best running and receiving running backs in the league, and a big difference maker on this offense. Yes, underutilized this year, but that will not be the case next year..

 

To not do so would be a phenomenally ignorant and stupid move, creating a big hole in the offense as you lose one of the most dynamic play makers on the team--and in the league. At 25 years old.  It would go down in team history as one of the worst moves ever.

 

That is what the old, ignorant Bills would do--not this incarnation of the team.  I have significant confidence that they pay Cook very well, and lock him up for 4-5 years. 

 

 

[klos63]

He was improving each week last season.  I felt very comfortable with him in the playoffs. 

He's an impact player,  wouldn't consider trading him. 

Improve the Dline, Milano battles for all pro again. 

[Fan in Chicago]

Milano is of course fantastic when he is healthy but his availability has been low. I hold my breath every time he makes a hard tackle. The Bills spent much of the last off season clearing out older and oft injured players. I haven't looked at his cap hit but should be seriously considered a trade candidate. 

[nedboy7]

In a defense lacking talent trading one of our top players might be a short sighted idea.  Funny how there are so many comments about how we lack top tier talent, followed by trade everyone who has value but Josh. 

[Richard Noggin]

13 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

To play devils advocate a bit, the Bills took a $31M dead cap hit to trade Diggs. And while it's true it was to get rid of an obvious headache of a player, it shows Beane doesn't view dead cap as a nonstarter issue.

 

I don't expect to see him traded nor do I think I would unless a team made a crazy generous offer for a guy that has been injured so often. I DO expect the Bills to approach him for a pay cut however. 

 

Beane was probably more willing to eat a serious dead cap hit for Diggs due to...well, Diggs. 

 

There is no addition by subtraction or trade ultimatum at play with Milano. So taking on considerable dead cap would only make sense if someone coughed up a real asset, and even then...

[HamptonBillsfan]

If you could get a high 2nd round pick you would have to take it. Matt is great but he can’t stay on the field and as he gets older injuries are easier to come by. I think Dorian Williams can be an adequate replacement while a young drafted LB develops .