Who is left in free agency? Has Free Agency changed the Bills Draft Strategy?

[MrEpsYtown]

4 hours ago, LEBills said:

Zeek Biggers at 1T?

If he plays in the same game as Quantez Stiggers, I worry about Tasker. 

[harmonkillebrew]

6 hours ago, BuffaloBillsGospel2014 said:

None of the guys we picked up in free agency should change our plans. Palmer seems to be a decent player but I’d be hard pressed to believe he carves more of a role than say Samuel. Palmer was playing with a fairly good QB in Justin Herbert and had every chance to be the guy yet Herbert’s go to was a rookie slot WR.
 

Also the DE/ Edge rusher we picked up seems more of a situational pass rusher which appears to be what he was in L.A. rather than a full time player.

 

These are just my opinions but I’m sure I’ll get a lot of the eye roll emojis or x emojis from the people who know better.

Palmer is a much better route runner than Samuel. He's a pure outside guy with separation ability due to savvy route running.  Is he a difference maker? eh, probably not. But he can be a consistent starter. We should have a pretty steady WR room now, with Keon and Palmer on the outside, Shakir and Coleman in the slot.  I'd love to see them add more speed, but it just doesn't seem to be Beane's emphasis

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

11 minutes ago, harmonkillebrew said:

Palmer is a much better route runner than Samuel. He's a pure outside guy with separation ability due to savvy route running.  Is he a difference maker? eh, probably not. But he can be a consistent starter. We should have a pretty steady WR room now, with Keon and Palmer on the outside, Shakir and Coleman in the slot.  I'd love to see them add more speed, but it just doesn't seem to be Beane's emphasis

 

I've watched all his catches from this past season and I'm not seeing it but again all we can do is hope. Comparing him to a guy who has flamed out here in Samuel isn't the best barometer to judge him by anyways. He could be a pleasnt surprise I'm just not sold on this guy at all.

[TBBills Fan]

Bosa!

[GASabresIUFan]

Still need a starting CB to play with Benford.  Asante Samuel still un-signed.

[Negan]

Maybe bring back Rasul on a one year deal?

[BigAl2526]

Beane has followed the general philosophy of plugging as many holes as he can in free agency, freeing him to take the BPA in the draft.  Plugging holes doesn't necessarily mean elite players.  "Serviceable" comes to mind.  The Bills have re-signed Hamlin, so they may not sign any other safeties, but they will be looking for a CB.  I don't know that they would bother signing a TE to replace Morris.  To this point, they have added a DE, DT and WR.  After they add a CB, I think that will pretty much do it for free agents, except for back end of the roster scrubs.  Draft priorities at this point are IMO: CB (depending on who they sign), Safety, 1 tech DT, WR edge bending DE, TE and RB.  

[TFBillsfan]

Thus far I don’t think FA has changed much regarding our draft needs. The FA’s that we have signed thus far give us good depth but I’m not sure anyone is a guaranteed starter depending on how the draft unfolds. 
 

DE,DT, CB are our most critical needs and that hasn’t changed. We’ll still look at WR but unless a dynamic WR falls on the draft board, I think we all agree D will be the primary focus. 
 

Curious if there is a player that  Beane and McDermott covet in the late teens would they be willing to move up to get a potential difference maker? Or are they content letting the draft come to them. Regardless, I hope Beane is aggressive leveraging all the 4th-6th round picks to move up into the 3rd and 4th rounds. 

23 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

Beane has followed the general philosophy of plugging as many holes as he can in free agency, freeing him to take the BPA in the draft.  Plugging holes doesn't necessarily mean elite players.  "Serviceable" comes to mind.  The Bills have re-signed Hamlin, so they may not sign any other safeties, but they will be looking for a CB.  I don't know that they would bother signing a TE to replace Morris.  To this point, they have added a DE, DT and WR.  After they add a CB, I think that will pretty much do it for free agents, except for back end of the roster scrubs.  Draft priorities at this point are IMO: CB (depending on who they sign), Safety, 1 tech DT, WR edge bending DE, TE and RB.  

Why TE and RB? I’d say we are pretty set in those positions. 

[GASabresIUFan]

Diggs and Cooper still unsigned.

 

Asante Samuel is also still available as are vets like Darious Slay.  

 

The Elam trade probably makes CB the highest priority in this coming draft.

 

Draft priorities 

1) CB - Still need a starter and have no real "prospects" or adequate depth.  Need a CB early and late in the draft.

2) S - Rapp, Forrest and Hamlin all have one year left.

3) DT - Jones and Ogunjobi have one year left.  Carter the only prospect

4) DE - AJE and Bosa have one year left.  Solomon is the only prospect

 

Depth needs 

5) LB - Milano maybe on his last year, Spector stinks and Ulofoshio didn't move the needle last year.

6) TE - Morris was let go and Knox maybe on his final season with the Bills.  

7) QB - Isn't it time we developed someone behind Allen?

8.) WR - have an open roster spot for a 5th WR.  I'd love to add a deep threat.

Edited March 13 by GASabresIUFan

[billsfan89]

I don't think the Bill draft needs have changed that much. Maybe they are less "desperate" with the work they have done in free agency but they still need the following and that's not much different than what they entered into free agency needed. 

 

Top Needs requiring early picks

1. D-Line youth/depth/development - Bosa and Larry O are nice additions as is Hoecht but Bosa and Larry O (as well as D.Jones) are injury prone and older. Plus AJE is on the last year of his deal. The Bills don't have much in the way of players on their rookie deals. Carter and Solomon are the only rookie deal players on the defensive line and those guys aren't exactly high end prospects. Bills luckily are in a good draft class for defensive line. I would expect the Bills spend 2 out of their first 3 picks along the D-line. I think finding a big run stuffing DT plus a high end edge prospect in rounds 1-2 will solidify the future and depth of the defensive line. And when you have older injury prone players drafting two rookies high up is good insurance. 
2. Corner- Bills right now don't have a good corner opposite Benford. I do expect the Bills will sign a vet to not go into the draft desperate at corner. But even if the Bills do bring in a capable vet starter there exists a need for depth and development there. The Bills only really have Bishop as a developmental prospect in the secondary so they have to add more here. 
3. WR- Palmer swapping in for Cooper isn't making me confident that the Bills don't need more at WR. Hollins is gone so there's also a need for depth here. Too ideally I think the Bills do need to find a way to add more punch at WR. 

Mid to late round needs

 

1. Safety- Rapp/Hamlin/Bishop is a decent trio and Forest is solid depth but Hamlin and Forest are on one year deals. Bills will need to invest a mid-late round pick here to try and develop a player there. 
2. Corner- Bills likely need two corners to develop, with Elam gone even if the Bills sign a vet starter adding two picks to the corner room might make sense. 
3. Linebacker- Bills frontline trio of Milano/Bernard/Williams is good, and Spector isn't a bad backup, but the Bills LB corps always runs through injuries. Finding some more depth in the mid-rounds is kind of a yearly need. 
4. Offensive Line- For once the offensive line isn't a major need but with McGovern and Edwards on the last year of their deals a mid-late round pick to add depth wouldn't hurt. 
5. Tight End- Not sure if they will bring back Morris or not but adding a mid-late round developmental pick could be a good use of a pick. 

 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Cooper Kupp 

 

 

On 3/11/2025 at 12:07 PM, strive_for_five_guy said:

Hard to believe these guys are still playing. Campbell almost 40!

 

Campbell still a beast

 

 

[BigAl2526]

5 hours ago, TFBillsfan said:

Thus far I don’t think FA has changed much regarding our draft needs. The FA’s that we have signed thus far give us good depth but I’m not sure anyone is a guaranteed starter depending on how the draft unfolds. 
 

DE,DT, CB are our most critical needs and that hasn’t changed. We’ll still look at WR but unless a dynamic WR falls on the draft board, I think we all agree D will be the primary focus. 
 

Curious if there is a player that  Beane and McDermott covet in the late teens would they be willing to move up to get a potential difference maker? Or are they content letting the draft come to them. Regardless, I hope Beane is aggressive leveraging all the 4th-6th round picks to move up into the 3rd and 4th rounds. 

Why TE and RB? I’d say we are pretty set in those positions. 

Didn't I see where Buffalo is not extending Quinton Morris.  I was trying to remember if they signed anyone to take his place.  I could recall that they did.  Gilliam is pretty short to fill the role.  Zach Davidson is a receiving TE with intriguing traits, but he's not a good blocker.  I think the Bills want their third TE to be able to block.  It's not a high priority, but I think the Bills might try to find Morris' replacement in the draft.  

[gonzo1105]

11 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

Didn't I see where Buffalo is not extending Quinton Morris.  I was trying to remember if they signed anyone to take his place.  I could recall that they did.  Gilliam is pretty short to fill the role.  Zach Davidson is a receiving TE with intriguing traits, but he's not a good blocker.  I think the Bills want their third TE to be able to block.  It's not a high priority, but I think the Bills might try to find Morris' replacement in the draft.  

I agree I have been saying since last year that they should add a blocking TE as the # 3 guy 

[BillsFanForever19]

On 3/11/2025 at 11:43 AM, GASabresIUFan said:

https://www.nfl.com/news/top-101-nfl-free-agents-of-2025-who-are-the-best-players-available

 

I was looking at this list and a few names stuck out.

 

CB - Asante Samuel and maybe Kristian Fulton

 

S - Justin Reid - He just seems like a Bill.  Justin Simmons for depth?

 

Edge - Azeez Ojulari - I admit he's a Bulldawg, but he would be an excellent compliment to Groot.

 

Cornerback is the last big thing to do before the Draft. Need replacements for Rasul Douglas and now Kairi Elam's roster spot as well.

[BillsShredder83]

On 3/11/2025 at 1:10 PM, LEBills said:

Unfortunately, I think the Palmer signing pushes WR to day 3 of the draft. The first two days look like DT, CB, and DE in any order.

I don't care about the position at all. Obviously don't overdraft non premium positions, but we need to be all in on a TRUE BPA. there's not a position other than qb (and maybe tackle but only in first round) that's off limits if im Beane.

 

We need bonafide difference makers, and we need to get set ourselves up to get cheaper down the road.