Bills Sign WR Josh Palmer 3-$36M

[GASabresIUFan]

On 3/25/2025 at 1:51 PM, ColoradoBills said:

I will reverse your logic and say if they believe that much in QJ, how well do you trust their evaluation of Palmer?

They were smart enough to draft McConkey and we took Coleman instead of Worthy, McConkey, Pearsall and Legette.  We also signed the redundant Samuel as a FA.  Maybe our judgement on WR is just as suspect if not more.  

[Mat68]

38 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I wasn't necessarily saying Palmer is the same player as Gabe - they are different in style - but I think they are the same tier of guy. Low end #2s who you are delighted if they are you first guy in off the bench but always think are upgradeable as your #2. 

 

As for the Sanders comparison, sure he did break out later but he got better each year in Pittsburgh as his playing time increased so it was easier to just say that was opportunity. In his final year there he was a very good #2 to the best WR in football at the time. It's also worth saying he went to Denver as the #2 as well to Demaryious Thomas and his numbers were not as good as the guy he replaced in that role from the previous year - Eric Decker - who went to the Jets. I see the style similarity but I do think Sanders was a tier above and was going to his new team as the #2 whereas Palmer comes here as, for the moment, the #1 outside guy. 

 

I don't hate the Palmer move or the contract. I'm fine with it. As I keep saying, he will have a career year with Josh Allen if he stays healthy. But he isn't suddenly going to be come a game breaking receiver. A bit like when John Brown came here and had a career year, but he was still John Brown just with a better Quarterback hence better numbers. 

 

On Coleman - I agree. I was saying long before that draft and before it became trendy after Matt Harmon said it, Keon Coleman is a big slot. That is where his skillset is best suited. His strength is after the catch ball in hand not separating downfield. The question if Coleman moves inside isn't who comes off the field between he and Palmer... it's who comes off the field between he and Shakir. That's the pair long term I am less sure about co-existing and you can add Kincaid into that mix too IMO. All three are at their best as slot receivers (though they have very different styles). The Bills' issue is other than Palmer they don't have anyone who is best outside. 

I think Shakir will be the Z.  More so the motion wr.  Diggs was mainly that as well.  I think player groupings will be dictated by matchup and game script.  I can see any of the three Coleman, Palmer and Shakir on the field in 2 wr situations.  I think Shakir will be  the focal point of the passing game.  Coleman, Palmer and Samuel fitting in around him.  Samuel and Coleman both pair well off of Shakir moving around. 

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, Mat68 said:

I think Shakir will be the Z.  More so the motion wr.  Diggs was mainly that as well.  I think player groupings will be dictated by matchup and game script.  I can see any of the three Coleman, Palmer and Shakir on the field in 2 wr situations.  I think Shakir will be  the focal point of the passing game.  Coleman, Palmer and Samuel fitting in around him.  Samuel and Coleman both pair well off of Shakir moving around. 

 

Shakir is 100% a slot only. I can't believe this is even still a conversation. It is proven beyond doubt at this point.

[FireChans]

6 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Shakir is 100% a slot only. I can't believe this is even still a conversation. It is proven beyond doubt at this point.

The Bills only acquired Cooper, Coleman, Palmer and Mack Hollins to start on the boundary instead of Shakir to keep defenses guessing. 

[ColoradoBills]

3 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

They were smart enough to draft McConkey and we took Coleman instead of Worthy, McConkey, Pearsall and Legette.  We also signed the redundant Samuel as a FA.  Maybe our judgement on WR is just as suspect if not more.  

 

I'm talking about Palmer.  Why are you bringing this up.

 

If you want to compare Coleman (who was injured) he had more yards than Pearsall and Legette.  

Maybe McConkey should of went 4th overall instead of MHJ.

 

Members of this board went ballistic about Beane not drafting more WRs after Coleman.

Every WR (all 26 of them) had less than 476 yards receiving.

Good thing Beane didn't waste picks on them.

[GASabresIUFan]

18 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

I'm talking about Palmer.  Why are you bringing this up.

Your implication was that LAC's front office doesn't know how to evaluate WR talent and therefore were incorrect for moving on from Palmer.  I'm responding by saying that did a better job in the last draft choosing a WR than we were and Beane's history in evaluating WR talent is also spotty.  

18 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

Every WR (all 26 of them) had less than 476 yards receiving.

You mean after McConkey who had 1149 yards and who was taken immediately after Coleman.

Edited Saturday at 04:17 PM by GASabresIUFan

[ColoradoBills]

Just now, GASabresIUFan said:

Your implication was that LAC's from office doesn't know how to evaluate WR talent and therefore were incorrect for moving on from Palmer.  I'm responding by saying that did a better job in the last draft choosing a WR than we were and Beane's history in evaluating WR talent is also spotty.  

 

I was replying to Gunner's comment.  All I said is the new staff may have overlooked him compared to their top 2 high draft picks WRs.

Gunner was commenting on how bad Q. Johnston has been and that it reflected on Palmer.  I said they are keeping QJ so what does that

say about their evaluations.

 

None of this matters to me until I see how Palmer fits in with Josh this year.

[GunnerBill]

16 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

I was replying to Gunner's comment.  All I said is the new staff may have overlooked him compared to their top 2 high draft picks WRs.

 

Except of course this regime has zero responsibility for Q.

[ColoradoBills]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Except of course this regime has zero responsibility for Q.

 

I wonder is their fan message board is screaming to trade him.  LOL.

[SoonerBillsFan]

5 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

I was replying to Gunner's comment.  All I said is the new staff may have overlooked him compared to their top 2 high draft picks WRs.

Gunner was commenting on how bad Q. Johnston has been and that it reflected on Palmer.  I said they are keeping QJ so what does that

say about their evaluations.

 

None of this matters to me until I see how Palmer fits in with Josh this year.

Beane should have traded up for BTJ.

[Chandler#81]

I believe he’ll effectively counter what I anticipate being new defenses we’ll see this year as opponents will focus on film study of last years thrilling offense. He is hands down our best receiver since we dumped Diggs & Davis.

[JaCrispy]

6 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Beane should have traded up for BTJ.

Anyone but Coleslaw would’ve been fine with me…Just like with EJ, anytime a team has to trade BACK, to draft you (especially if it’s a position of need) it’s usually not a good sign…

 

It either means the team didn’t think highly enough of you to take you at their original spot, or they settled for you- because the players (they really wanted) were gone…

 

And what ya know- we are back in the same position this year…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 12:15 PM by JaCrispy

[mikemac2001]

1 hour ago, JaCrispy said:

Anyone but Coleslaw would’ve been fine with me…Just like with EJ, anytime a team has to trade BACK, to draft you (especially if it’s a position of need) it’s usually not a good sign…

 

It either means the team didn’t think highly enough of you to take you at their original spot, or they settled for you- because the players (they really wanted) were gone…

 

And what ya know- we are back in the same position this year…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or they didn’t have any players rated at that spot and knew they could get 1-2 of the guys they wanted if they traded back. 
 

it’s trying to maximize value in the draft and not reach for needs or positions 

 

 

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

19 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Shakir is 100% a slot only. I can't believe this is even still a conversation. It is proven beyond doubt at this point.

Sure.

 

But where does that leave Coleman?

[FireChans]

7 minutes ago, JakeFrommStateFarm said:

Sure.

 

But where does that leave Coleman?

A bad fit unless he significantly progresses

[Motorin']

20 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Shakir is 100% a slot only. I can't believe this is even still a conversation. It is proven beyond doubt at this point.

 

He played 402 of 585 snaps in the slot last year-- 68%. 

 

Do you consider 30% of snaps at z or x insignificant? Or are you thinking snaps at z are basically the same thing as snaps at slot?

[nosejob]

1 hour ago, mikemac2001 said:

Or they didn’t have any players rated at that spot and knew they could get 1-2 of the guys they wanted if they traded back. 
 

it’s trying to maximize value in the draft and not reach for needs or positions 

 

 

I hate the trade back mind set. the only team thinking that way should be the champs. I get that some QB hungry team may be looking to get back up, but I would still just use a future pick to fill in where we're missing picks.  A 2 and 4 from next year for a 3rd this year....or whatever.

 

That way we're not screwing around and can identify needs and players for each particular spot. Last second phone calls are no way to run a draft.

Edited Saturday at 03:27 PM by nosejob

[Einstein]

On 3/25/2025 at 2:45 PM, HappyDays said:

 

We definitely could have afforded Metcalf. No question... Beane wasn't willing to meet the draft capital required to beat Pittsburgh's 2nd, that's all.

Here are Beane's 2nd round picks if anyone wants to compare what we would have potentially had to give up.

Cole Bishop

Boogie Basham

OCyrus Torrence

AJ Epenesa

Cody Ford

James Cook

[mikemac2001]

59 minutes ago, nosejob said:

I hate the trade back mind set. the only team thinking that way should be the champs. I get that some QB hungry team may be looking to get back up, but I would still just use a future pick to fill in where we're missing picks.  A 2 and 4 from next year for a 3rd this year....or whatever.

 

That way we're not screwing around and can identify needs and players for each particular spot. Last second phone calls are no way to run a draft.

I wasn’t saying they should just trade back 

 

but if your at spot 25 and you everyone else is graded in the 40s for you trading back to 35 you still can grab the 1-3 players you are targeting

 

i dont want them picking just to pick if they have lower values for them. Now if they value a guy at 25 or around that then don’t trade back.

 

i think every scenario is different and we obviously don’t know there boards 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Motorin' said:

 

He played 402 of 585 snaps in the slot last year-- 68%. 

 

Do you consider 30% of snaps at z or x insignificant? Or are you thinking snaps at z are basically the same thing as snaps at slot?

 

When he is wide the Bills run it. I did have the breakdown late in the season (around week 14 or 15 or so). Can't put my hands on it right now - and I don't know that I saw an updated number at the end of the year - but it was like 80% of the time Shakir splits wide the Bills run it and his actual receptions from wide splits were like 10 or 11 I think.