Bills Sign WR Josh Palmer 3-$36M

[Beast]

If he is such an elite separator that has great hands and can get down the field……why such mediocre numbers? The way people are describing him in this thread, he had to have been the most under-utilized player in the league.

[Richard Noggin]

1 hour ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Consider me medium-whelmed.

 

Just kinda whelmed?

[Victory Formation]

15 minutes ago, Beast said:

If he is such an elite separator that has great hands and can get down the field……why such mediocre numbers? The way people are describing him in this thread, he had to have been the most under-utilized player in the league.

I am very underwhelmed so far… I love the Allen and Rousseau extensions but I have a real bad feeling about Hoecht and Palmer.. What the eff are we even doing?

Edited yesterday at 02:57 AM by Victory Formation

[In Summary]

Hoping for that John Brown type of signing and player, but maybe he's not there. Definitely have to get someone with outside speed capable of forcing defenses out of man coverage.

[Success]

10 minutes ago, Victory Formation said:

I am very underwhelmed so far… I love the Allen and Rousseau extensions but I have a real bad feeling about Hoecht and Palmer.. What the eff are we even doing?

 

I think we're doing what we can.

 

This is one of the leanest FA periods I can remember in terms of available talent.  More top-tier players decided to re-sign w/ their own teams then test the waters too much (Godwin taking $20M less was an eye opener).  

 

We needed a receiver and we got one.  I would have probably preferred Kupp, but opinions vary on how much he has left.  

[NoSaint]

2 minutes ago, Beast said:

If he is such an elite separator that has great hands and can get down the field……why such mediocre numbers? The way people are describing him in this thread, he had to have been the most under-utilized player in the league.

honestly, kind of an enigma. 
 

not blazing and I don’t think an exceptional route runner but lots of separation. Lots of space and a good qb but minimal production 

 

it’s in the past made me think of Gabe Davis as a noteworthy deep threat somehow despite moving like a cruise ship, not being a high point guy and not being particularly qb friendly. 
 

just doesn’t really add up? 
 

 

[jahnyc]

JP was the #3 on the Chargers.  Why would we think he could be our #1?

[WEATHER DOT COM]

2 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

honestly, kind of an enigma. 
 

not blazing and I don’t think an exceptional route runner but lots of separation. Lots of space and a good qb but minimal production 

 

it’s in the past made me think of Gabe Davis as a noteworthy deep threat somehow despite moving like a cruise ship, not being a high point guy and not being particularly qb friendly. 
 

just doesn’t really add up? 
 

 

A good separator who is a bad route runner is likely out of position often. He’s separating away from the defender, but not where the QB expects him to be.

This leads to a lot of missed throws. 
 

Curious if his catch per target percentage was above or below league average? 

 

[Big Blitz]

31 minutes ago, Beast said:

If he is such an elite separator that has great hands and can get down the field……why such mediocre numbers? The way people are describing him in this thread, he had to have been the most under-utilized player in the league.

 

Keenan Allen and Mike Williams got the targets.  As did Eckeler.  
 

Palmer was Williams backup.  
 

Also, Brandon Staley.  
 

He was hurt last year, Johnston a first RD pick was given a shot in year 1, and he wasn’t bad in year 2.  

 

I think we could really be getting a steal here.

 

 

[NoSaint]

Just now, WEATHER DOT COM said:

A good separator who is a bad route runner is likely out of position often. He’s separating away from the defender, but not where the QB expects him to be.

This leads to a lot of missed throws. 
 

Curious if his catch per target percentage was above or below league average? 

 

would potentially explain his struggle to move up the depth chart without injury assistance.

 

only watched so much chargers football but from afar seemed he was always poised for a jump that never came 

[WEATHER DOT COM]

Just now, NoSaint said:

would potentially explain his struggle to move up the depth chart without injury assistance.

 

only watched so much chargers football but from afar seemed he was always poised for a jump that never came 

going to check this stat in the morning I will report back!

[Warriorspikes51]

The thing that I’m not too thrilled about….

 

Beane and Sean again spoke about speed

 

and as of yet….again have not added any

[FireChans]

7 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

would potentially explain his struggle to move up the depth chart without injury assistance.

 

only watched so much chargers football but from afar seemed he was always poised for a jump that never came 

More concerning is his largest competition in the last two seasons on the boundary was the Chargers stone hands WR who was approaching bust status in 2023.

[billsfan714]

56 minutes ago, Beast said:

If he is such an elite separator that has great hands and can get down the field……why such mediocre numbers? The way people are describing him in this thread, he had to have been the most under-utilized player in the league.

I guess he's shown "flashes".  

[buffaloboyinATL]

7 hours ago, Utah John said:

It doesn't sound like Palmer is the burner the Bills need, to take the top off the defense.  He actually sounds like a veteran version of Keon Coleman.  Not sure this is what the Bills really needed.  And $36M.  Good Lord, this makes the Samuel signing last year look frugal.

He is not a just veteran version of Coleman.  He is a very good route runner, and a man coverage beater.  He was 8th best in the league vs man coverage last year. Coleman was the best on our team at 54th.  
 

Our win rate against man was awful, which is why we saw so much of it.  He is just what Josh Allen needs, which is why we were willing to pay a premium.  
 

ps, He was number 10 in win rate vs any coverage, our best was Amari Cooper at 61st.  He has a skill set that we need.   

[BobbyC81]

3 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

Prev. team: Chargers Age: 25 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 210

 

Palmer had a huge opportunity in 2024 but hurt his knee in training camp and never really snatched the chance. After so-so production, his season ended with a foot injury suffered in Week 17.

 

Palmer is still a well-rounded player. He is a good route runner at all three levels. He has good hands, particularly in contested-catch situations. He is a willing blocker. He does not have any elite traits, but he also does not have any glaring weaknesses in his game and should garner some interest as a third receiver.

 

How he fits

Palmer will instantly step into a top-four role in the Bills' receiver room as one of their best boundary receivers and might very well be one of their starting three, along with X-receiver Keon Coleman and slot receiver Khalil Shakir. Buffalo needed a player who could separate well enough in the intermediate to deep areas of the field, and that’s where Palmer’s skill set can help them the most.

His first 2 years his yards per reception were mediocre but over 15 the last 2 seasons.

[NewEra]

44 minutes ago, Success said:

 

I think we're doing what we can.

 

This is one of the leanest FA periods I can remember in terms of available talent.  More top-tier players decided to re-sign w/ their own teams then test the waters too much (Godwin taking $20M less was an eye opener).  

 

We needed a receiver and we got one.  I would have probably preferred Kupp, but opinions vary on how much he has left.  

And how well Kupp can play on the outside.  I think Palmer is a better fit for this offense

[BobbyC81]

40 minutes ago, jahnyc said:

JP was the #3 on the Chargers.  Why would we think he could be our #1?

And that was after Keenan Allen and Mike Williams left.

 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Victory Formation said:

I am very underwhelmed so far… I love the Allen and Rousseau extensions but I have a real bad feeling about Hoecht and Palmer.. What the eff are we even doing?

 

Knowing how this staff likes to on board rookies I think they want a vested vet penciled in at starter for some time to make them earn it.

 

It's a good practice in premise and a great safety net. But it can also block us from cap savings by starting rookies with cheaper vet back ups. Which ends up raising the cost of the roster overall.

 

[billsfan89]

18 minutes ago, NewEra said:

And how well Kupp can play on the outside.  I think Palmer is a better fit for this offense

 

Kupp can play on the outside it's just not where he's most effective. The question with Kupp in my mind is age and injuries. Kupp has missed 19 games the past 3 seasons and seems consistently banged up when he does play. Then you have the question of WR's always seeming to age out around age 32/33. Usually WR's have their last very good to great seasons at age 32 or 33 so Kupp's right up against that. 

 

If Kupp was added to the WR core on a modest contract I wouldn't hate it but it just doesn't seem like the move this rather prudent front office would do anyway.