Bernard signs 4 year, 50 mill extension

[TheBeaneBandit]

6 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

For the cap nerds out there, do these extensions with Shakir and Bernard basically create a bunch of cap room this year by shifting this year’s money to signing bonuses?  

Doesn't really change anything this year but doing this now helps us immensely in future years. 

Edited Friday at 02:52 PM by TheBeaneBandit

[billsfan89]

8 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

At this very moment its a moderate overpay.   That said, you were able to get your 25 year old starting inside linebacker locked up for 4 years and not have to pay him a top 5 at his position.  Forward looking contract and for far less than the Bears paid our former MLB.     

He’s a top 10 MLB in the league at age 25, seems like a fair deal

[todd]

21 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Hmm not a fan of this at all. We'll see what the actual contract looks like I guess. Paying a small injury prone player at a non-premium position coming off a down year is just not good business. I'm getting a bit worried that their mindset this offseason is "run it back." That can't be the plan. There needs to be an infusion of more high end talent which is going to be a challenge when we're paying good not great players.

Who would you get instead for similar money? That’s a fa. No idiotic unrealistic trades, because those are pure speculation. What fa would you get instead who is as good for that price?

 

Hint: there’s NOBODY

[YoloinOhio]

Cheaper than I thought for a young all pro mlb who is the singular defensive captain 

[DJB]

25 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Hmm not a fan of this at all. We'll see what the actual contract looks like I guess. Paying a small injury prone player at a non-premium position coming off a down year is just not good business. I'm getting a bit worried that their mindset this offseason is "run it back." That can't be the plan. There needs to be an infusion of more high end talent which is going to be a challenge when we're paying good not great players.

Bernard looked all pro the year before when we had actual production from our DT’s. 

 

Its a more than fair contract and he’s a leader and makes plays 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

8 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Yeah, I am with this. Off-ball linebackers are really not the rage these days. It seems high but I'll wait for some of the details. He's missed a good amount of time and really only had 1 productive season. He was ok this year. 

 

And I am not a huge re-sign Cook guy...but if they give Bernard this contract, and let Cook walk, it's a problem imo. 

One productive season? First of all, he has only been a starter for 2 full seasons as he basically red-shirted his rookie year. Secondly, you are saying he wasn’t “productive” last year? How about the game ending interception against Mahomes? How about containing Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson in the divisional? The best team in the NFL IMO. 

[Ralonzo]

18 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

This is good to get out in front of the cap. Actual money doesn't matter to me because it's not my money. What matters is the percentage of the cap. The cap keeps going up and contracts go up with it. So any extension at the current cap will be good value by this time in two years. And the fact that this is a good deal at the current cap means it will be of tremendous value in 2 years.

 

I was thinking the exact opposite - latching onto players for extensions on expiring contracts before the draft & FA disincentivizes you from looking to upgrade the positions. GM's find plus slot guys and linebackers on Day 3 every year. Why these guys at these positions? Unless it's a screaming hometown discount which neither is. Just not seeing the overall plan, except Beane plan seems to be to put together a complete roster before the draft so he can just pick BPA (and then doesn't).

Edited Friday at 02:57 PM by Ralonzo

[billrooter]

38 minutes ago, todd said:

25 mil guaranteed for a very good (and sometimes great) starting LB is a fantastic thing. So many people not liking this is confounding. Who else of the same caliber could you get at that price for 4 years? 
 

hint: nobody.

What did Tremaine sign for 2 years ago, 18-19 a season I think? IMO Benford is a better player, at least you notice his production. Not to mention this contract actually kicks in 2026 I believe, that's the case great deal 🤞as long as he stays healthy and performa like he did year 1 or closer to it.

Edited Friday at 03:00 PM by billrooter

[BuffaloBillyG]

20 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I hope so. The guaranteed money is low enough that it's possible. That would be the one saving grace. That AAV is really shockingly high though. I can't imagine any other team out there giving him that kind of value. It's the opposite of a hometown discount.

And no one thought Edmunds would approach the number he got from the Bears either.

 

But you got an ascending, young athletic player with starting experience and team leadership out in the open market...really no telling how much value he would have IMO. Especially  with more and more teams going lighter/faster on defense these days.

 

But I do think it would go for more than $25M in guaranteed cash. 

[HappyDays]

6 minutes ago, todd said:

Who would you get instead for similar money? That’s a fa. No idiotic unrealistic trades, because those are pure speculation. What fa would you get instead who is as good for that price?

 

Hint: there’s NOBODY

 

Bernard was under contract another year. We didn't need to do anything other than let him play out the season and see what happens. If he stays healthy and has a great year and earns a big FA contract from some other team in 2026 you live with it... he's just a LB, one with an extensive injury history. The potential downside of extending a player like him early is a lot worse than the potential downside of letting it play out.

[Virgil]

Stay….healthy…..

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

Solid deal for both imo, now if he stays healthy we will all be saying it's a steal most likely.

[Einstein's Dog]

22 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Literally no one in the FO cares about this. Nor does it change the offers at all.

 

I'm sure by now Beane has made his offer to Cook's camp. There is not a lot of back and forth in early extensions because the team does not want to negotiate against itself. They typically make an offer, and unless the player's camp comes back with a change in their starting number, won't keep making new offers.

 

The only folks that care about social media are fans (aka grown ass men with apparently nothing else to do).

How can you say no one in the FO cares when Beane said he would prefer not to negotiate on social media?

 

And Beane also said something to the effect of the $15M was nowhere near what he had in mind.  So if Beane made his offer and we haven't heard anything and there is not a lot of back and forth - those are all indications of potential problems.

[klos63]

13 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Cheaper than I thought for a young all pro mlb who is the singular defensive captain 

He was all pro?

[Allen2Moulds]

I love this extension. I know he's a bit undersized that leads to durability issues. That being said. A 4 year deal is short enough to get out of it, if we need to get out of it.

 

I will also say that LBs, are only as good as the lines they play behind. I remember Ray Lewis looking absolutely washed, after the Ravens lost Sam Adam's and Tony Siragusa. Once they drafted Ngata, he was back to his all-time great self. 

Bernard is an extremely cerebral/instinctive player. Next step, beef up the dline.

[Einstein's Dog]

3 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Bernard was under contract another year. We didn't need to do anything other than let him play out the season and see what happens. If he stays healthy and has a great year and earns a big FA contract from some other team in 2026 you live with it... he's just a LB, one with an extensive injury history. The potential downside of extending a player like him early is a lot worse than the potential downside of letting it play out.

I don't agree with you on this Happy. 

 

I'm thinking we're going to see a lot of churn on parts of the defense (DL + S+ new CB) and Beane/McD want to lock up some of what they have now. 

 

I also think it is one of those deals where it will look even better in a year.

[JohnNord]

1 hour ago, beebe said:

 

We debated about which of the 5 remaining players to re-sign but IMO played this perfectly by getting Shakir and Bernard re-signed.
 

If worst comes to worst, Buffalo can’t afford to franchise tag Shakir or Bernard.  While good neither player is worth the franchise tag contract at $24M and $25M respectively.  
 

You can make an argument to justify tagging Benford ($20M), Rosseau ($22M) and especially Cook ($13M) 

 

I’d expect Benford to get re-signed next though.  I don’t think Rosseau gets a new deal this season.  Maybe Cook at more reasonable terms.  

[GETTOTHE50]

Congrats Bernard. He’s a good bill on and off the field. Happy for him 

[Warriorspikes51]

10 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Bernard was under contract another year. We didn't need to do anything other than let him play out the season and see what happens. If he stays healthy and has a great year and earns a big FA contract from some other team in 2026 you live with it... he's just a LB, one with an extensive injury history. The potential downside of extending a player like him early is a lot worse than the potential downside of letting it play out.

25 mil guaranteed shouldn't be that much of a hindrance in a worst case scenario 

[todd]

12 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Bernard was under contract another year. We didn't need to do anything other than let him play out the season and see what happens. If he stays healthy and has a great year and earns a big FA contract from some other team in 2026 you live with it... he's just a LB, one with an extensive injury history. The potential downside of extending a player like him early is a lot worse than the potential downside of letting it play out.

So basically nobody. There’s no better deal with an equal or better player. Cop out.