Your thoughts on the Bills offseason so far

[HamptonBillsfan]

Signing our own productive players is a big positive (Josh, Shakir, Bernard, Rousseau Johnson). The FAs Bosa, Hecht, Ogunjobi, Forrest are inexpensive need signings with the PED suspensions hanging over ultimate benefits. I think the cap maneuvering was crucial in offloading Miller, Martin and Josh’s reworked contract. Palmer will automatically be our best vertical receiver and Elam is addition by subtraction. So now we need a starting CB, DT and another receiver in the draft. If we can hit on two quality draft picks and Bosa can play 11or 12 games it will be a successful offseason.

[Victory Formation]

I give Beane an A+ for extending Josh, Shakir, Bernard and Rousseau. And some folks think I’m being facetious when I say it but I like the Dane Jackson reunion too..

 

As far as new blood is concerned however, I’m underwhelmed outside of the Bosa signing.

 

Also, the Hoecht and Ogunjobi suspensions are still on my mind. Rookie error on Beane’s end.

[2003Contenders]

First and foremost, Beane has done a remarkable job of retaining key players, and even re-signing many of them to long-term extensions. That alone, gets the front office a passing grade IMHO.

 

Compare to last year where, due the salary cap restrictions, the team lost some key players. This year the only noteworthy players who have left are Hollins and Martin -- and neither of them were a great loss. As much as we will miss Hollins the character, I think Palmer is an improvement at WR.

 

Bosa and Forrest are low risk/high reward rolls of the dice. Dane Jackson is familiar with the system and will probably enter the season as the starter at CB opposite Benford. Getting anything at all for Elam, I think was also commendable. I would still like for Beane to bring in another corner -- and there are a couple of familiar faces still out there in Gilmore and Douglas.

 

If not for the PDE issues with Hoecht and (especially) Ogunjobi, I would say the off-season has been Excellent rather than merely Acceptable.

 

Let's not forget that the draft is coming up too!

[PauleeeWalnuts]

I’m echoing the fact that the two PED signings really hurts this FA period to this point. I am seriously underwhelmed by Hamlin and Jackson being brought back, but I’m shocked they got anything back for Elam at the same time.  Beane did a great job retaining, restructuring and extending key pieces so I voted acceptable for those reasons. 

[Malazan]

My thoughts on the Bills offseason so far:

 

The entire Bills fanbase needs to be taking a lot more mood stabilizers.

[bigK14094]

4 hours ago, Buffalo4Life01 said:

I think we won the offseason again!

ugh oh

[Virgil]

I think Beane has done the best he could based off what was available.  There isn't a player we've missed out on that I was disappointed in.

 

My only reason for this not being an A+ offseason to this point is:

-I don't like Groot's contract being over 15 mil per

-The two PED suspended FA players

-11 mil in dead cap for Milano next year seems a bit high

 

With that being said, I trust their evaluations of players, so maybe Groot proves to be worth it.  Milano is a ticking timebomb of injuries lately.  The regular season almost means nothing to us at this point, so if everyone is healthy and ready for the playoffs, then who cares.  

[wppete]

The two 6 game suspensions really hurt this offseason. Bad look for Beane I give it a B grade. Beane needs to hit with the first 3 draft picks this time. We can’t afford to miss again. The draft will determine how successful this. Offseason has been. 

[ngbills]

I prefer to look at have we got better for next year rather than have we locked guys up long term. 

 

Thus far most positions have not drastically changed. The biggest changes are below and appear in sum a downgrade. However is Bosa or Palmer hit then you have a huge impact. But if the additions play as could be expected taking recent performance as the best indicator we are worse off at multiple positions. 

 

WR

In: Palmer (likely starter), Shenault (backup)

Out: Cooper and Hollins (both starters of various games)

 

Cooper did not provide as big a boost as expected but the offense did perform better when he was here and we heard the typical he opens other things up talk. Hollins outplayed expectations and was big in the run game and special teams. Palmer alone does not make up for Cooper and Hollins loss in the base case. We still dont have a #1, which Cooper represented the potential of having. 

 

DL

In: Bosa (likely starter), Hoect and Ogunjobi (key rotational guys after week 7-8)

Out: Miller (Starter/Role), Jefferson (rotational), Phillips (rotational), Smoot (rotational), Johnson (rotational)

 

Need Bosa to have a rebound year or what looked like an upgrade could spell trouble. Having two of our big additions out a big chunk hurts. So as of now we let a lot of rotational guys go and swapped out the Miller lotto ticket for the Bosa lotto ticket. Bosa ticket hits and its a win. 

 

DB

In: Forrest (backup), Jackson (Starter or backup)

Out: Douglas (starter), Elam (backup)

 

Not looking good so far. Douglas was our best CB entering last year and you could debate his value at this point. But he has not been replaced. Too early to tell as I think there is more FA adds to come here. But as of now has to be worse since its essentially Douglas for Jackson. 

[Rich Stadium Original]

Overall, pretty pleased with the off-season with one glaring exception.  Good job by the front office restructuring contracts and retaining a lot of their players. The second suspension sure blindsided the management, but how could they have known.

What I find disconcerting is the lack of attention given to the secondary.  I think most would agree that it was one of the weakest links on the defense and probably the entire team, and if anything its so far gotten a little worse with a somewhat average corner in Douglas apparently headed out for free agency.

Don't know if there is a master plan yet that includes draft day and/ or trades

[BillsPride12]

I don't think we have done anything where we have moved the needle to being a more dominant team but we certainly haven't gotten worse either.  I would say acceptable because we did a good job of resigning our guys but also a little disappointed in not being able to pull off any blockbuster moves(I am still skeptical on Bosa until proven otherwise)

[Kirby Jackson]

I’m somewhere between “stayed the same” and “mildly improved.” I like that they retained some talent. I like the additions and think that they raise the floor and, in some cases, the ceiling. The draft will tell us how much better the roster is. 

[juno999]

Maybe they sign a veteran CB who’s better than Dane Jackson but really looking at the draft now.  Beane needs to get these first 3 picks right.  A CB and 2 DLine guys, in no particular order, is what I’m hoping.

[Billsfed1]

I think Beane has done a heck of a job.  Last year people weren’t too thrilled to see Brandon turf guys left and right, but he (and McDermott) had a plan.  And for the most part, it worked.  They were a play or two away from the Super Bowl in the end.

 

The moves he’s made over the past couple of weeks has the roster in a position where there really isn’t any gaping holes.  He’ll trade up in the draft and further bolster the team with a few nice players.  I really like the shape we’re in personally.  

 

This is the first year in the Allen run where a Super Bowl is expected IMO.  I’m sure everybody within the facilities at 1 Bills Drive knows the goal isn’t just to go to one.  If we get there…we have to win.

 

 

 

[Steptide]

I think it's wait and see right now. Let's see how these free agent signings pan out. 

[uticaclub]

12 minutes ago, Billsfed1 said:

I think Beane has done a heck of a job.  Last year people weren’t too thrilled to see Brandon turf guys left and right, but he (and McDermott) had a plan.  And for the most part, it worked.  They were a play or two away from the Super Bowl in the end.

 

The moves he’s made over the past couple of weeks has the roster in a position where there really isn’t any gaping holes.  He’ll trade up in the draft and further bolster the team with a few nice players.  I really like the shape we’re in personally.  

 

This is the first year in the Allen run where a Super Bowl is expected IMO.  I’m sure everybody within the facilities at 1 Bills Drive knows the goal isn’t just to go to one.  If we get there…we have to win.

 

 

 

What?!?!?!? A Super Bowl has been expected since we acquired Diggs. 

[Mister Defense]

3 hours ago, uticaclub said:

How can it be acceptable to remain the same? The team has not been good enough, and remaining the same should not be acceptable.

 

Who said they remain the same? You say it, and few others, who bash almost every move the Bills make, always.

 

Better at wide receiver with Palmer, a guy who averaged 15 yards a catch the last two years, runs great routes, and gets open in the intermediate+ area of the field.

 

Better at safety with Forrest who may become a starter, and the resigning of Hamlin, adding some depth and a safety net.

 

Better on the D-lIne with Bosa, Hoecht, and Ogunjobi, though the suspensions hurt.

 

Three areas in need of help, improved, by most objective standards that is...

 

Hard to imagine anyone saying that the Bills have not gotten better in the off season.

 

For a team that was in the AFC Championship game and leading late in the 4th quarter.

 

And now a draft with a solid amount of capital to get a high quality D-tackle, some good CBs, and a speedy wideout.

 

 

 

 

[FireChans]

22 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Who said they remain the same? You say it, and few others, who bash almost every move the Bills make, always.

 

Better at wide receiver with Palmer, a guy who averaged 15 yards a catch the last two years, runs great routes, and gets open in the intermediate+ area of the field.

 

Better at safety with Forrest who may become a starter, and the resigning of Hamlin, adding some depth and a safety net.

 

Better on the D-lIne with Bosa, Hoecht, and Ogunjobi, though the suspensions hurt.

 

Three areas in need of help, improved, by most objective standards that is...

 

Hard to imagine anyone saying that the Bills have not gotten better in the off season.

 

For a team that was in the AFC Championship game and leading late in the 4th quarter.

 

And now a draft with a solid amount of capital to get a high quality D-tackle, some good CBs, and a speedy wideout.

 

 

 

 

You think that objectively Josh Palmer >>> Amari and Mack?

[Mister Defense]

1 minute ago, FireChans said:

You think that objectively Josh Palmer >>> Amari and Mack?

 

Yes, as Palmer will likely be a full time starter this year IMO.

 

Cooper was not effective consistently, likely because of his late arrival and then a serious injury.  297 yards with the Bills.

 

Hollins was good, especially as he got going, but only had 378 yards

 

So, I definitely think Josh Palmer is a more vital part of this team this year than that combo last year.  I firmly believe he gets much more than the combined 675 yards Hollins and Cooper got for the Bills last year.

 

I think Palmer surpasses 1,000 yards this season and joins Shakir as the two  leading receivers on the Bills. 

 

Maybe wishful thinking, best case scenario, but watch some more of his tape from the last two years. He is a starting caliber wide receiver, and a good one.

 

Best move by Beane so far this off season, signing a missing link.

 

 

[billsfan89]

It's been a solid but unspectacular off-season. Although I do think I will feel significantly better if they can find a veteran starting caliber corner. The Bills got 3 of their 5 pending 2026 free agents coming off-rookie deals signed to extensions with plenty of time to extend Benford and Cook if they can get them to good deals. The Bills also resigned a good chunk of their critical role players (Ty, Gilliam, Fergueson, and Hamlin) which I think is a positive. I also like some of the smaller kick the tires moves they made bringing back Dane as some cheap depth, Shenault and Green are camp bodies with some upside, and I also think the value they got from Elam was good. 

 

The outside main free agents were pretty good. I really think the Bosa signing was a very strong one, low risk high reward. If he can just gives the Bills 9-10 games of high quality play it is a worthwhile signing, I think the bet on him in a more rotational role might keep him healthier is a smart one. Hoecht and Larry O were nice moves that beefed up the defensive line and in the case of Hoecht added some versatility. However, the PED suspensions for both aren't great. Forrest may turn out to be an underrated addition as he's solid depth but he adds a nice amount of athleticism and competition to the safety group. 

 

Offensively the team had less needs. I'm kind of in the middle on the Palmer acquisition. He's the type of player the Bills needed (a WR that can play on the outside) and a modestly productive one over his first 4 years. But he has not been a (at least semi) consistent game breaker the Bills kind of need. So the fit is good but the quality of player might be lacking. 

 

Overall the Bills have still leave me lacking at two starting positions CB and WR. They aren't likely to make a major move at WR until the draft where they will add some depth/development there. But if they can add a vet corner that's going to put them in a position where they don't "have" to take a corner early that's gonna make the off-season thus far look a lot better.