UPDATE: DK Metcalf requests trade to a contender

[colin]

the more i read the thread, the more convinced i am that

 

1) aside from an actual difference maker on D, our depth there is putrid.  we can't have a single injury to a position group and have a non replacement level guy on the field, and we have that at every group and at safety without any injuries.

 

2) we really need to get our coverage better.  pass rush and run d need improvement, but our ability to cover anything besides deep passes is putrid.  pass rush helps with that, but being able to play man or zone quickly and with any impact is more important

 

3)  one single knock out guy on our O is an absolute cheat code.  cook looks like a top 4 back on our O, ty johnson looks like a top 3 3rd down back, and rookie ray davis looks like a monster.  the oline and allen made that happen.  if we had one single guy on the outside it would ruin defensive plans against us.  allen is able to create and extend better than anyone i've ever seen, a monster deep is just nightmare fuel.

 

if the price isn't too dear, dk metcalf puts us over the top on o, and we would have a few ways to get the d to where it's good enough to keep teams behind us on the scoreboard.

[BillsVet]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

The only year that injuries were a legitimate "excuse" for the Bills defense was 2023. They had significant cluster injuries all at the same time and were down to a 6th choice starter a spot. That is really hard to sustain against a high end opponent in the playoffs. Sure they have been unlucky to lose guys other years (and they have definitely suffered more serious season enders to their defensive stars than the average team - White x2, Milano, Von) but in a one off game in the playoffs being down a single guy isn't an excuse. Most teams will suffer that at some point. That's the attrition of the NFL. You gotta come through.

 

Agree and perhaps it's more of a fan reason than the team's.  

 

At the same time, I'm still amazed that the OL has not had anyone miss more than 1 game based on snap counts.  Very fortunate.  

[GunnerBill]

8 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

Agree and perhaps it's more of a fan reason than the team's.  

 

At the same time, I'm still amazed that the OL has not had anyone miss more than 1 game based on snap counts.  Very fortunate.  

 

Yep, they have had exceptional offensive line health for the past two years. Think their starters played every game in 2023 and only Brown missed one in 2024. 

Edited Tuesday at 12:42 PM by GunnerBill

[MikePJ76]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The only year that injuries were a legitimate "excuse" for the Bills defense was 2023. They had significant cluster injuries all at the same time and were down to a 6th choice starter a spot. That is really hard to sustain against a high end opponent in the playoffs. Sure they have been unlucky to lose guys other years (and they have definitely suffered more serious season enders to their defensive stars than the average team - White x2, Milano, Von) but in a one off game in the playoffs being down a single guy isn't an excuse. Most teams will suffer that at some point. That's the attrition of the NFL. You gotta come through.

They were down rapp and benford at KC last year.  
 

seems your top safety and corner is a lot more than just “a single guy”

 

 

[Nihilarian]

14 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

They were down rapp and benford at KC last year.  
 

seems your top safety and corner is a lot more than just “a single guy”

This!

 

The Bills had the #1 defense in 2021 with Poyer, Hyde, and Tre White, even with Levi Wallace. Hyde and Poyer both had 5 INTs on the year.  Pass rush was ok with Mario Addison leading the team with 7 sacks. That secondary was very good.

 

Huge drop off when Rapp and Benford were both out. Add to that little or no pass rush and you have a really bad defense. 

 

The 2025 Bills need to improve their secondary and pass rush, and with both improved, you have a more balanced unit. 

[FireChans]

50 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

This!

 

The Bills had the #1 defense in 2021 with Poyer, Hyde, and Tre White, even with Levi Wallace. Hyde and Poyer both had 5 INTs on the year.  Pass rush was ok with Mario Addison leading the team with 7 sacks. That secondary was very good.

 

Huge drop off when Rapp and Benford were both out. Add to that little or no pass rush and you have a really bad defense. 

 

The 2025 Bills need to improve their secondary and pass rush, and with both improved, you have a more balanced unit. 

This brings me back to the drought days where all we needed was a QB, an OL and some pass catchers. 

[BigDingus]

3 hours ago, Nihilarian said:

This!

 

The Bills had the #1 defense in 2021 with Poyer, Hyde, and Tre White, even with Levi Wallace. Hyde and Poyer both had 5 INTs on the year.  Pass rush was ok with Mario Addison leading the team with 7 sacks. That secondary was very good.

 

Huge drop off when Rapp and Benford were both out. Add to that little or no pass rush and you have a really bad defense. 

 

The 2025 Bills need to improve their secondary and pass rush, and with both improved, you have a more balanced unit. 

 

But even when we had prime Poyer, Hyde & White (along with Milano & Edmunds), our D still looked the same in the playoffs. The best game they ever had against a good QB was against the Ravens in the Divisional round. The 4 losses to the Chiefs & 1 to the Bengals looked the same regardless of who we had out there, all because McDermott.

[Nihilarian]

1 minute ago, BigDingus said:

 

But even when we had prime Poyer, Hyde & White (along with Milano & Edmunds), our D still looked the same in the playoffs. The best game they ever had against a good QB was against the Ravens in the Divisional round. The 4 losses to the Chiefs & 1 to the Bengals looked the same regardless of who we had out there, all because McDermott.

Ahhh, least we forget the 13 seconds that Frazier went into a "prevent defense" that prevented Buffalo from winning that game. Such Imfamy!

 

Greatest game ever, 36-42. 

 

 

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, BigDingus said:

 

But even when we had prime Poyer, Hyde & White (along with Milano & Edmunds), our D still looked the same in the playoffs. The best game they ever had against a good QB was against the Ravens in the Divisional round. The 4 losses to the Chiefs & 1 to the Bengals looked the same regardless of who we had out there, all because McDermott.

Three of the four times they got the first round bye too which is huge.  The year they didn't we had to play on short rest because of a blizzard that delayed the game a day and had a cluster of injuries at LB.  I think the Chiefs had two extra days of rest.

 

The sole focus of the Bills this year should be to aim for that #1 seed.  Two of the four teams are in rebuild mode in our division and it's always something with the Dolphins.  I doubt the Chiefs go 15-2 again as there was some luck involved in that record and the Chargers/Broncos are teams on the rise.  The AFC North will cannibalize each other like always.  The only competition might actually be the Texans and beating them gives us the tie breaker.  If we get the one seed and still lose to the Chiefs than we might just have to just beg the league to switch conferences.

[HappyDays]

Major update:

 

 

[DapperCam]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Major update:

 

 

Go get him Beane!

[colin]

3 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Major update:

 

 

 

 

I need a giddy excited emote for posts.  frankly, we could use a few more.

 

and im glad a man w a wooden hand like yourself can post such swift news.  damn the alligator.

[GunnerBill]

He has formally requested a trade and Seattle are allowing him to explore options!!!

 

 

[DJB]

This is the guy we need. A real X WR. 

[Roundybout]

Get him. 
 

Seattle has absolutely nothing at tight end. Send them Kincaid and a second rounder and go get Josh a buddy. 

[HappyDays]

4 minutes ago, colin said:

and im glad a man w a wooden hand like yourself can post such swift news.  damn the alligator.

 

True story - I was told this was coming 30 minutes ago and was frantically refreshing Adam Schefter's page.

[colin]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

True story - I was told this was coming 30 minutes ago and was frantically refreshing Adam Schefter's page.

when i'm frantically using the internet with one hand, it tends to mean a different thing than for you my handicapable friend.

[Mat68]

2 minutes ago, DJB said:

This is the guy we need. A real X WR. 

Agreed.  Put Coleman in the role Hollins played.  With depth of the Defensive line class i am good with adding 2 lineman early. 

[SCBills]

DK would be to JA what Henry was to Lamar.  Just disgusting potential. 

[iccrewman112]

Step 1 - Trade for Cody Ford from Cincinnati. 
 

Step 2 - Trade Ford to Seattle for Metcalf

 

Right the wrong from one of the biggest 2nd round blunders I can remember in Bills history.