Free Agency Rumor Thread

[Low Positive]

3 minutes ago, DrMaxPower said:

I would have thought Benford was 1st priority of the potential extensions. Now I'm wondering if the 2nd concussion has scared them off.

 

I wouldn't be shocked to see them wait and see how the season goes and revisit half way through.

Or, Benford might be waiting for Sauce and Surtain to be extended and thereby driving the market for corners up. 

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

If the Bills don't learn from the mistake they made the year they drafted Elam, and they go into the draft with a gaping hole at CB2 and the whole world knowing they need to draft a corner....I'm gonna scream.

Luckily, I think (hope?) that Beane is not stupid enough to make that mistake again. Even Dane Jackson or Tre'Davious White would provide a baseline/floor so that the Bills aren't desperate on draft day.

We put ourselves in the same position with WR last year.  I don't think Beane's learned.

[Logic]

9 minutes ago, DrMaxPower said:

I would have thought Benford was 1st priority of the potential extensions. Now I'm wondering if the 2nd concussion has scared them off.

 

I wouldn't be shocked to see them wait and see how the season goes and revisit half way through.

I think cornerback is just a tricky market, made all the more so by some of the recent deals.

Some players are happy to get a deal done early and sign to team friendly terms, but not ALL players.

Maybe negotiations just haven't gone as swimmingly as they did with the players who already signed. Maybe Benford is someone they're gonna do this coming offseason. 

Lots of variables behind the scenes to which we just aren't privy. 

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

I would have GLADLY signed him for that

 

worst case he’s a camp cut

 

best case he’s a stud again

 

His speed is crazy

You want to roster four RB's?

[Logic]

1 minute ago, Doc Brown said:

We put ourselves in the same position with WR last year.  I don't think Beane's learned.

I'm a Brandon Beane fan, but...

Two of the bones I'd like to pick with him are:

1.) He talks a big game about "BPA at a position of need", but nine times of ten, he just picks based on need. It has hurt the roster building of this team repeatedly.

2.) Part of the reason he feels like he HAS to do the above is that he has a habit of taking care of all but ONE position leading into the draft. Everybody and their brother then knows what position he's going to take. It can lead to teams jumping on front of him, and it also (as mentioned above) leads to him taking inferior players simply because he has painted himself into a corner.

I really, REALLY hope he has learned his lesson on these issues. But maybe a leopard really doesn't change his spots...

[LEBills]

49 minutes ago, turbo044 said:

1st RD CB's aren't a sure thing.....Elam....so expect a UFA signing too

I know, but I also know that Beane drafts for need early and even with a UFA our CB room is probably the thinnest on the team.

[turbo044]

10 minutes ago, Doc Brown said:

We put ourselves in the same position with WR last year.  I don't think Beane's learned.

2nd official day of UFA - move back from the ledge, BB will sign someone at CB

[Doc Brown]

2 minutes ago, turbo044 said:

2nd official day of UFA - move back from the ledge, BB will sign someone at CB

I'm not saying we won't sign a CB but just pointing out that Beane obviously didn't learn his lesson with Elam.

[turbo044]

1 minute ago, Doc Brown said:

I'm not saying we won't sign a CB but just pointing out that Beane obviously didn't learn his lesson with Elam.

We don't know that.  why can't he still sign a gilmore or Samual type (or both) and let them compete with a high draft pick? If no CB is signed, then yes, he hasn't learned from elam.

[Doc Brown]

11 minutes ago, Logic said:

I'm a Brandon Beane fan, but...

Two of the bones I'd like to pick with him are:

1.) He talks a big game about "BPA at a position of need", but nine times of ten, he just picks based on need. It has hurt the roster building of this team repeatedly.

2.) Part of the reason he feels like he HAS to do the above is that he has a habit of taking care of all but ONE position leading into the draft. Everybody and their brother then knows what position he's going to take. It can lead to teams jumping on front of him, and it also (as mentioned above) leads to him taking inferior players simply because he has painted himself into a corner.

I really, REALLY hope he has learned his lesson on these issues. But maybe a leopard really doesn't change his spots...

I tend to agree.  Even the Rousseau pick people could guess that Beane was pry drafting a DE in the first round of the draft because we got hardly any pressure on Mahomes in the AFC Championship game in 2020.  The only surprising first round pick I remember with Beane was Kincaid.

1 minute ago, turbo044 said:

We don't know that.  why can't he still sign a gilmore or Samual type (or both) and let them compete with a high draft pick? If no CB is signed, then yes, he hasn't learned from elam.

I'm not saying CB is out of play in round 1 if we sign one.  I am saying that teams would have no clue what we're looking for in the 1st round in the draft (besides QB) if we did.

[Draconator]

 

[TheBeaneBandit]

32 minutes ago, Logic said:

I'm a Brandon Beane fan, but...

Two of the bones I'd like to pick with him are:

1.) He talks a big game about "BPA at a position of need", but nine times of ten, he just picks based on need. It has hurt the roster building of this team repeatedly.

2.) Part of the reason he feels like he HAS to do the above is that he has a habit of taking care of all but ONE position leading into the draft. Everybody and their brother then knows what position he's going to take. It can lead to teams jumping on front of him, and it also (as mentioned above) leads to him taking inferior players simply because he has painted himself into a corner.

I really, REALLY hope he has learned his lesson on these issues. But maybe a leopard really doesn't change his spots...

I don't know who disagreed with this but this is spot on. As of right now everyone in the entire league knows the first pick is going to be a corner.

[Logic]

2 minutes ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

I don't know who disagreed with this but this is spot on. As of right now everyone in the entire league knows the first pick is going to be a corner.

It's really my only remaining wish for free agency: Sign a corner that at least COULD start capably. At the very least, a Dane Jackson type. I really doubt that players of his tier would command much, and the Bills certainly have the money to do it.

If they sign a corner, they'll truly be going into the draft able to take a DE, DT, CB, WR, or S in round one, knowing that if they DON'T opt to take someone from any of those positions, they'll still be okay.

Besides, this isn't exactly the best year for corners. I'd much rather see them lean into the strength of the DL class or finish off this receiving corps with a premium talent.

[Augie]

48 minutes ago, DrMaxPower said:

I would have thought Benford was 1st priority of the potential extensions. Now I'm wondering if the 2nd concussion has scared them off.

 

I wouldn't be shocked to see them wait and see how the season goes and revisit half way through.

 

That was my thought. Let’s see you run around and play some football for a bit so we know he’s not gone full-Tua on us. Don’t get trapped in a nightmare high dollar contract if you have doubts. We can still offer when we feel more comfortable. I hope that’s just an abundance of caution, but can you imagine the meltdown here if we paid him huge $$$ and he’s in concussion protocol all season. 

[ColoradoBills]

1 minute ago, Logic said:

It's really my only remaining wish for free agency: Sign a corner that at least COULD start capably. At the very least, a Dane Jackson type. I really doubt that players of his tier would command much, and the Bills certainly have the money to do it.

If they sign a corner, they'll truly be going into the draft able to take a DE, DT, CB, WR, or S in round one, knowing that if they DON'T opt to take someone from any of those positions, they'll still be okay.

Besides, this isn't exactly the best year for corners. I'd much rather see them lean into the strength of the DL class or finish off this receiving corps with a premium talent.

 

Not a lot of quality left in the FA market.

I'm hoping Beane is looking in the trade route.

I would even look to trading a player in a package or player for player deal.

[mjt328]

35 minutes ago, Logic said:

I'm a Brandon Beane fan, but...

Two of the bones I'd like to pick with him are:

1.) He talks a big game about "BPA at a position of need", but nine times of ten, he just picks based on need. It has hurt the roster building of this team repeatedly.

2.) Part of the reason he feels like he HAS to do the above is that he has a habit of taking care of all but ONE position leading into the draft. Everybody and their brother then knows what position he's going to take. It can lead to teams jumping on front of him, and it also (as mentioned above) leads to him taking inferior players simply because he has painted himself into a corner.

I really, REALLY hope he has learned his lesson on these issues. But maybe a leopard really doesn't change his spots...

 

Unfortunately, I have to agree.

The Bills are ridiculously predictable with their first pick.  Maybe not with the exact player.  But at least when it comes to the position we are targeting.

 

2018 - Obviously were going to trade up for a QB.  Everyone knew this 12 months in advance.  Got Josh Allen.

2019 - Big hole at DT after Kyle Williams retired.  Drafts Ed Oliver.

2020 - Needed a #1 receiver.  Traded for Stefon Diggs.

2021 - Needed a pass rusher really bad.  Took Groot.

2022 - Giant hole at CB.  Took Elam.

2023 - Needed a receiver.  All were gone, so he took Dalton Kincaid instead.

2024 - Needed a receiver.  Again.  This time he landed Keon Coleman.

 

And yes, you are also 100% correct about the reason too.

Every draft we seem to have one massive need, a couple smaller needs and the rest is mostly depth/roster filler.

 

[RyanC883]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

If the Bills don't learn from the mistake they made the year they drafted Elam, and they go into the draft with a gaping hole at CB2 and the whole world knowing they need to draft a corner....I'm gonna scream.

Luckily, I think (hope?) that Beane is not stupid enough to make that mistake again. Even Dane Jackson or Tre'Davious White would provide a baseline/floor so that the Bills aren't desperate on draft day.

 

I’d say even having Douglas back.  Seems like a lot of decent CB2 options in FA that would prevent us from “needing” a CB in Rd. 1. 

[Logic]

5 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

I’d say even having Douglas back.  Seems like a lot of decent CB2 options in FA that would prevent us from “needing” a CB in Rd. 1. 

This is one I'm keeping my eye on, as well. 

I'd find it quite feasible that Douglas went looking for one last big payday and hasn't yet found it.

Like with other veterans left on the market, I could see him returning to Buffalo on a one year deal.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Seeing the Saints are in on Kupp. If they get him I wonder if they would make Olave available. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

4 minutes ago, Logic said:

This is one I'm keeping my eye on, as well. 

I'd find it quite feasible that Douglas went looking for one last big payday and hasn't yet found it.

Like with other veterans left on the market, I could see him returning to Buffalo on a one year deal.

I wasn't thrilled with how he played last year.