Bills and Khalil Shakir agree to 4-year extension ($60.2 million/$32 million guaranteed)

[Big Turk]

Very fair deal for both sides.  Beane is pretty great at getting players to sign team friendly deals without feeling like they are getting shafted.  Not sure how he does it...

[BullBuchanan]

44 minutes ago, Magox said:

 

Can't happen, you can't get guys like Crosby, Garrett or Parsons for that amount of money.   Parsons will end up signing somewhere around $33M AAV.

 

That's the going rate for people of Rousseau's and Benford's quality what I suggested above.   Rousseau is an above average ascending starting DE, that's what they cost.  Benford's level of play has been near elite and that's what they cost.   You don't get rid of your two most valuable defenders who are young and ascending because you don't want to pay the going rates.   

 

The salary cap has exploded the past 2 years by $50M and 4 years from now it will be up somewhere between $100 - $130 M more.     Inflation baby!!

 

Didn't you and I have some arguments regarding Spencer Brown?   You said $17M a year was way too much, I said that it wasn't.  Turns out that you were right that $17M was what he was worth, he really is worth closer to $20M AAV.  

Where are you getting that is the going rate?

$23M would make Rousseau the 10th highest paid DE in the league, putting him just below Crosby and above Chubb. I don't think he's in that discussion as far as talent goes. Every player above him is a legitimate difference maker and there are plenty below him that are as well. It would definitely stand out to me as one of the weaker values in the top 20. Greenard who just signed last year for $19M seems like much better value.

Benford has done a very nice job, but you're going to make him the 3rd highest paid CB in the league with his injury history? He's also got a great head start on CTE. I'm not going anywhere near top 3 money.

Edited 4 hours ago by BullBuchanan

[GASabresIUFan]

5 minutes ago, klos63 said:

Different positions have different value. 

I want to sign cook to an extension,  but this comparison is apples and oranges.

Cook will get a nice contact from us,  I don't think he's going anywhere. 

This is the problem with conventional thinking about any sport.  The Bills score 30-31 points a game.  That equates to about 4 TDs and a FG.  To produce those points, the Bills need to average about 370 yards per game or about 6300 yards per season.  Why do I care where the yards come from as long as I get the yardage?  Why would I pay 15 mill for a 900 yard WR if I can get a 1400 yard RB for the same price who is effective in both the running game, protecting the QB and the passing game?  

 

There was 27 WRs last season costing their teams $15 mill or more in cap.  Only one of the 27 produced 1400+ yards and only 3 produced 1250 yards.  Only 4 of the 27 produced double digits in TDs.  That doesn't seem like a good allocation of limited cap space.

[Magox]

7 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

Where are you getting that is the going rate?

$23M would make Rousseau the 10th highest paid DE in the league, putting him just below Crosby and above Chubb. I don't think he's in that discussion as far as talent goes. Every player above him is a legitimate difference maker and there are plenty below him that are as well. It would definitely stand out to me as one of the weaker values in the top 20. Greenard who just signed last year for $19M seems like much better value.

Benford has done a very nice job, but you're going to make him the 3rd highest paid CB in the league with his injury history? He's also got a great head start on CTE. I'm not going anywhere near top 3 money.

That’s the going rate for someone who signs a deal this year.   If Crosby were to sign a new extension today he would be $30m+

[NewEra]

26 minutes ago, MarkyMannn said:

Just looked at Shakir on Spotrac yesterday. They had him at $19+ so this is good. 

 

Imo Cook is too explosive a player to let go. I think he comes in at $12m. I recall his brother got burned on his career earnings, so I'm sure he's influencing James to get it now, and a lot

The question is- will he sign for 12M?  

[The Jokeman]

Just now, NewEra said:

The question is- will he sign for 12M?  

I get he wants to set the market but based on other RB salaries and his production that's what the market says he deserves. If he balks at it let him walk. 

[MikePJ76]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6159126/2025/02/25/bills-khalil-shakir-contract-extension/

 

 

What stands out most about Shakir’s on-field ability was his consistency, dependability when targeted and underrated run-after-catch ability. While Shakir primarily lined up as the slot receiver, he also did much more than just work the middle areas of the field. He was a critical target on wide receiver screens to try and spread out a defense. When plays broke down, and Allen needed to improvise, Shakir showed a terrific knack for finding open space and, even at times, getting behind the defense for a big play. On top of all that, his contact balance to fight through tackle attempts is one of the best in the league.

 

While he isn’t the flashy receiver with gaudy stats, his consistency reflects the perfect embodiment of the type of glue guy the Bills have tried to keep since head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane arrived in 2017.

[Warriorspikes51]

didn't Shakir finish 2nd in YAC last year?

[Matt_In_NH]

21 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

All that for 800 yards a year and someone who doesn't command the double team

 

“All that”.  lol.  You obviously don’t understand his value or position. 

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

30 minutes ago, boyst said:

[Coach Tuesday]

24 minutes ago, Pine Barrens Mafia said:

All that for 800 yards a year and someone who doesn't command the double team

 

Will 2025 finally be the year you take in external information and use it to change your opinion about something?  I’m guessing no…

[klos63]

12 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

This is the problem with conventional thinking about any sport.  The Bills score 30-31 points a game.  That equates to about 4 TDs and a FG.  To produce those points, the Bills need to average about 370 yards per game or about 6300 yards per season.  Why do I care where the yards come from as long as I get the yardage?  Why would I pay 15 mill for a 900 yard WR if I can get a 1400 yard RB for the same price who is effective in both the running game, protecting the QB and the passing game?  

 

There was 27 WRs last season costing their teams $15 mill or more in cap.  Only one of the 27 produced 1400+ yards and only 3 produced 1250 yards.  Only 4 of the 27 produced double digits in TDs.  That doesn't seem like a good allocation of limited cap space.

This is the problem with people who think they know more than those that do this for a living. 

Simply, we need wr and rbs.

Just because we signed Shakir doesn't mean we won't sign Cook. 

 

And while we don't know the specifics yet,  I doubt Shakir will be 15mm on the cap this coming season. 

Shakir is very valuable to this offense. I'm glad we signed him. 

 

[BullBuchanan]

4 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

This is the problem with conventional thinking about any sport.  The Bills score 30-31 points a game.  That equates to about 4 TDs and a FG.  To produce those points, the Bills need to average about 370 yards per game or about 6300 yards per season.  Why do I care where the yards come from as long as I get the yardage?  Why would I pay 15 mill for a 900 yard WR if I can get a 1400 yard RB for the same price who is effective in both the running game, protecting the QB and the passing game?  

 

There was 27 WRs last season costing their teams $15 mill or more in cap.  Only one of the 27 produced 1400+ yards and only 3 produced 1250 yards.  Only 4 of the 27 produced double digits in TDs.  That doesn't seem like a good allocation of limited cap space.

I think it comes down to position group efficiency and the dropoff in talent at the positions. You typically only have 1 RB that gets starting level snaps, but you have 3 WRs that do. The top 3 receivers for the bills last year only combined for ~1900 yards. Jamarr Chase got 1700 by himself. They're maximizing the impact of their limited starting spots there vs a team like the Bills that had Shakiir putting up high end WR2 numbers and then had a logjam of guys putting up 300-550 yards.

As far as why you don't just lean on the RB for yards, I think it's harder these days to just run the ball with success all game when the other team knows you're going to do it. Only a couple of teams a year seem to be able to do it.

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

13 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

This is the problem with conventional thinking about any sport.  The Bills score 30-31 points a game.  That equates to about 4 TDs and a FG.  To produce those points, the Bills need to average about 370 yards per game or about 6300 yards per season.  Why do I care where the yards come from as long as I get the yardage?  Why would I pay 15 mill for a 900 yard WR if I can get a 1400 yard RB for the same price who is effective in both the running game, protecting the QB and the passing game?  

 

There was 27 WRs last season costing their teams $15 mill or more in cap.  Only one of the 27 produced 1400+ yards and only 3 produced 1250 yards.  Only 4 of the 27 produced double digits in TDs.  That doesn't seem like a good allocation of limited cap space.

It's about value vs. the next best available option. How much better was Cook vs. Davis or Johnson? How much better is Shakir vs. whoever else they could put in the slot? It's a small gap vs. a large gap. Market economics, check it out. 

[Big Turk]

20 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

Where are you getting that is the going rate?

$23M would make Rousseau the 10th highest paid DE in the league, putting him just below Crosby and above Chubb. I don't think he's in that discussion as far as talent goes. Every player above him is a legitimate difference maker and there are plenty below him that are as well. It would definitely stand out to me as one of the weaker values in the top 20. Greenard who just signed last year for $19M seems like much better value.

Benford has done a very nice job, but you're going to make him the 3rd highest paid CB in the league with his injury history? He's also got a great head start on CTE. I'm not going anywhere near top 3 money.

 

That's the problem -  it isn't about "how good they are" compared to other players, it's "Where is the market" based on the UFA's available and that the "best" of them typically is getting near top dollar from someone.  Not fair, but that's how it works...otherwise there wouldn't be 10+ QBs making more than Allen.

Edited 3 hours ago by Big Turk

[TheWeatherMan]

1 hour ago, Magox said:

Now we just need to get Cook at around $12m AAV, Bernard at around $10m AAV, Rousseau at around $23m AAV and Benford around $21m AAV.

 

Get all these deals done and that frees up close to $20m from this years cap, extend Josh to an additional 4 years $245m and that will free up another $12m

Bernard-yes, Cook-no, Shakir-yes and great deal, Rousseau-no, Benford is a big? With injuries.  
 

Not giving Cook Barkley money, Rousseau just ain’t it ($20M players don’t disappear in the playoffs), and gambling on a player with a history of scary concussions isn’t wise.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

I'm for this - seems fair for a combination of what he's done to earn it and what he will produce.  Getting paid before free agency is a huge benefit to a player too.  Slightly above the gabe davis number, but for a player who has been the most consistent offensive performer on the roster other than Josh Allen.  

 

Cook for example: cleaned up his fumbling issues quite a bit, but 4 fumbles a year ago - combined with several concentration drops - has me reluctant to set the market with him at RB.  It's tough to fully commit to the 2024 version and ignore the wrinkles going into last year that had everyone putting Breece Hall above him in most divisional rankings (let alone leaguewide). 

[Rigotz]

1. Other than Josh Allen, my favorite player to watch. Many would agree.

 

2. With the cap going up, an AVERAGE #2 WR will cost $15M/Yr. Think about Gabe Davis’s $13M/Yr. Over the years, this deal will look better and better.

 

3. Supremely high character guy, clutch, and dependable.

 

10/10 extension. A+.

[MiracleAtRich1393]

1 hour ago, Magox said:

Now we just need to get Cook at around $12m AAV, Bernard at around $10m AAV, Rousseau at around $23m AAV and Benford around $21m AAV.

 

Get all these deals done and that frees up close to $20m from this years cap, extend Josh to an additional 4 years $245m and that will free up another $12m

More than enough to fit Garrett or Crosby, LFG!

[BullBuchanan]

5 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

That's the problem -  it isn't about "how good they are" compared to other players, it's "Where is the market" based on the UFA's available and that the "best" of them typically is getting near top dollar from someone.  Not fair, but that's how it works...otherwise there wouldn't be 10+ QBs making more than Allen.

I understand that, but I'm rejecting the deal based on the value of the market vs the return I get for my money. I'd rather trade Rousseau or let him walk and get a comp pick vs lock up that much of my cap in him.