Bills had the best free agent class according to ESPN

[transplantbillsfan]

2 hours ago, BILLS55 said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/44363563/2025-nfl-free-agency-class-rankings-teams-improved-better-worse-signings-deals

 

I think they did a good job of addressing some holes but not sure I'd put them #1

 

B55

1. Buffalo Bills
Key acquisitions and returning players: WR Khalil Shakir, Edge Joey Bosa, LB Terrel Bernard, LB Greg Rousseau, Edge Michael Hoecht, WR Joshua Palmer

I loved: How the Bills retained their own talent before markets got set. The Shakir extension is only $15 million per year. Rousseau got $20 million per year. Bernard is at $12.5 million per year. Those are three young cornerstones of a perennial contender, and they're staying in Buffalo for remarkably less than their open market number. The Bills were right to retain the players who helped get them to the AFC Championship Game, even if they haven't yet slayed the dragon that is the Chiefs.

I didn't love: How expensive Palmer was. Palmer is going to fill the Mack Hollins role, but I'm not sure he's going to elevate it much -- certainly not for double the price tag. He is a good dirty work receiver and should be considered a glue guy on a healthy offense, but if he was a truly dangerous pass catcher, he would have already broken out in Los Angeles. Still, this is a small complaint in an otherwise great class.

 

 

The write up kinda nails it actually.

 

Buffalo retained 3 young ascending players on below market value deals. Finish with Benford and we’re even better.

 

Palmer in the Mack Hollins roll? That's where they're lost since he was obviously signed to fill the Cooper roll.

[Motorin']

8 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

Palmer in the Mack Hollins roll? That's where they're lost since he was obviously signed to fill the Cooper roll.

 

Yes, but... Amari Cooper got his snap count reduced to 30-40% of plays as the season went on. 

 

Imo, bc he was washed up and wasn't effective blocking.

 

Palmer should see far higher snap counts than Cooper because he's a much better blocker, and he's a better router runner than Cooper was at that point in his career. 

 

He may end up being a primary wr on 2 wr sets with blocking duty on a lot of run plays. Which is what Hollins did. 

 

So while he won't replace Hollins specific roll, he'll pick up the slack and the snaps. 

 

 

[EasternOHBillsFan]

2 hours ago, Low Positive said:

This message board has taken such a drastic turn towards negative groupthink that most posters are angry at ESPN for saying something positive about their team. 

 

Well, that's the mood these days, so with football in the offseason there really isn't much to look forward to.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

5 minutes ago, Logic said:

 

I'm confused by both of these replies.

Hollins WAS the X WR on the outside.

Hollins WAS, for all intents and purposes, a starting outside receiver.

Will Palmer be a one-for-one swap for Hollins? No, because their skillsets are different and they'll likely be employed somewhat differently.

Is Palmer taking over for Hollins as the veteran sacrificial X receiver and starter on the outside? Yep.

 

I think a misconception with Hollins is what he was signed to do, and what his role actually wound up being.

 

Hollins was never brought in to be a starter next to Coleman, or at least he shouldn't have been. In 2023, his offensive snap and special teams snaps were at 39% and 37%. I think the Bills wanted this for last year
 

Samuel went down immediately, then Cooper, then Coleman, so Mack played 66% on offense and 22% on the teams.

 

Did Hollins wind up filling in at X a TON? Totally. Was that the original plan for the role he would have on this team? I highly doubt it. I believe the original plan was he is the primary backup outside and a special teams demon. That why when people say "Palmer is replacing Hollins" I find myself disagreeing, because the role they intend to have Palmer fill is MUCH different than Hollins intended role. 
 

Viska Shenualt, right now, may be the true Mack replacement as he's played over 47% of the special teams snaps the last two seasons.

[corta765]

The fact Solak liked their FA is wild to me, he hateeesss Buffalo

[Charles Romes]

Bills signed three solid but non-max contract starters to second contracts. That is not seen that often these days, though I’m not sure how it compares overall to the strategy of letting solid players go and harvesting compensatory picks. 

[JJGauna]

You could say our free agent haul this year was juiced.

[Alphadawg7]

Here is what I will say about Bosa...we do not need a double digit sack season out of him for this signing to be a success.  

 

What we need is simple...if Bosa can literally be the difference in helping this defense just make literally ONE more play on 3rd down to flip what was previously a first down conversion in what was an eventual scoring drive into a forced punt...that is it.  That would have beaten the Chiefs each of the last 3 playoff losses to them.  That would have flipped every single one of those 1 score losses.  

 

And...Bosa doesn't even need to be the one making the play...if he can just affect the play to where it helps the defense get off the field still, it still flips each of those 3 losses.  Maybe he draws a double team freeing someone up to get to the QB for a sack or the runner to stop the first.  Or maybe he or someone else just even gets pressure on the QB forcing an incompletion or even a turnover. 

 

Again...all we have needed to get past the Chiefs in our last 3 losses was flipping one of our way too many 3rd down conversions into a stop and punt rather than an extended scoring drive.  So for me, that is what makes Bosa exciting...he is a low risk addition being a 1 year deal and he doesn't have to be reborn to help this team get over the hump, just help this defense get off the field 1 or 2 more times a game, which is literally just a single play or 2, and we go from losing a 1 score game, to winning by 1 or 2 scores.  

[MiracleAtRich1393]

3 hours ago, BILLS55 said:

I think Bosa will be average at best. But that might be all we need at this point. Need to see how the draft plays out.

 

M

I will take average as long as that means healthy in the playoffs!

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

Palmer is too slow to take the outside X

 

He's just another JAG slot

[harmonkillebrew]

1 hour ago, Motorin' said:

 

Yes, but... Amari Cooper got his snap count reduced to 30-40% of plays as the season went on. 

 

Imo, bc he was washed up and wasn't effective blocking.

 

Palmer should see far higher snap counts than Cooper because he's a much better blocker, and he's a better router runner than Cooper was at that point in his career. 

 

He may end up being a primary wr on 2 wr sets with blocking duty on a lot of run plays. Which is what Hollins did. 

 

So while he won't replace Hollins specific roll, he'll pick up the slack and the snaps. 

 

 

Is Palmer a good run blocker? Hard to see anyone filling that role as well as Mack.  Also not sure Palmer plays special teams like Mack does. I'm still a little sore they didn't keep Mack. 

 

They're giving us a lot of credit for stuff that technically wasn't FA. None of those guys were on the market. I appreciate the sentiment and agree, but better to call it best offseason than best FA class

20 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Here is what I will say about Bosa...we do not need a double digit sack season out of him for this signing to be a success.  

 

What we need is simple...if Bosa can literally be the difference in helping this defense just make literally ONE more play on 3rd down to flip what was previously a first down conversion in what was an eventual scoring drive into a forced punt...that is it.  That would have beaten the Chiefs each of the last 3 playoff losses to them.  That would have flipped every single one of those 1 score losses.  

 

And...Bosa doesn't even need to be the one making the play...if he can just affect the play to where it helps the defense get off the field still, it still flips each of those 3 losses.  Maybe he draws a double team freeing someone up to get to the QB for a sack or the runner to stop the first.  Or maybe he or someone else just even gets pressure on the QB forcing an incompletion or even a turnover. 

 

Again...all we have needed to get past the Chiefs in our last 3 losses was flipping one of our way too many 3rd down conversions into a stop and punt rather than an extended scoring drive.  So for me, that is what makes Bosa exciting...he is a low risk addition being a 1 year deal and he doesn't have to be reborn to help this team get over the hump, just help this defense get off the field 1 or 2 more times a game, which is literally just a single play or 2, and we go from losing a 1 score game, to winning by 1 or 2 scores.  

It's like when first year Von got pressure on Mahomes in the regular season game that led to Taron jumping the route for a game sealing pick. I saw that and was like "YES" we've got our closer.  Too bad he tore his ACL five games later.  They should really keep Bosa's snap counts down and save him for those moments. I still think they should re-sign Von and have him available for those moments as well. 

[Motorin']

2 minutes ago, harmonkillebrew said:

Is Palmer a good run blocker? Hard to see anyone filling that role as well as Mack.  Also not sure Palmer plays special teams like Mack does. I'm still a little sore they didn't keep Mack. 

 

They're giving us a lot of credit for stuff that technically wasn't FA. None of those guys were on the market. I appreciate the sentiment and agree, but better to call it best offseason than best FA class

 

Josh Palmer is graded as an above average run blocker for a wr. He's not nearly as good as Mack at it, no.

 

But far better than Cooper ever was. 

 

Probably won't be playing much special teams, no. But if Laviska makes the team he probably will. 

 

In all, I think Palmer will have better production in the pass game than Hollins and will contribute more to the run game than Cooper. 

 

Definitely wanted them to keep Mack though, I agree.

[Success]

Bosa is still young, despite his injury history.  Man, if he could return to form, or even get 90% there - it would change our defense significantly.  We just haven't had a guy like that. Rousseau could still become that, but obviously hasn't been yet.

 

I like what Beane did overall. I wasn't expecting much, and we added some really nice pieces. I kind of hope we're not done yet.  I'd really like to see us get Keenan Allen - I kind of can't believe he's still out there.

 

[Buffalo716]

5 hours ago, BILLS55 said:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/44363563/2025-nfl-free-agency-class-rankings-teams-improved-better-worse-signings-deals

 

I think they did a good job of addressing some holes but not sure I'd put them #1

 

B55

1. Buffalo Bills
Key acquisitions and returning players: WR Khalil Shakir, Edge Joey Bosa, LB Terrel Bernard, LB Greg Rousseau, Edge Michael Hoecht, WR Joshua Palmer

I loved: How the Bills retained their own talent before markets got set. The Shakir extension is only $15 million per year. Rousseau got $20 million per year. Bernard is at $12.5 million per year. Those are three young cornerstones of a perennial contender, and they're staying in Buffalo for remarkably less than their open market number. The Bills were right to retain the players who helped get them to the AFC Championship Game, even if they haven't yet slayed the dragon that is the Chiefs.

I didn't love: How expensive Palmer was. Palmer is going to fill the Mack Hollins role, but I'm not sure he's going to elevate it much -- certainly not for double the price tag. He is a good dirty work receiver and should be considered a glue guy on a healthy offense, but if he was a truly dangerous pass catcher, he would have already broken out in Los Angeles. Still, this is a small complaint in an otherwise great class.

 

Hollins was in the NFL for 7 years and has 2,000 yards 

 

Palmer's been in the league for 4 years and has more 

 

They're not even comparable he's going to be an upgrade over Mack hollins 

[ProcessTruster]

3 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

The write up kinda nails it actually.

 

Buffalo retained 3 young ascending players on below market value deals. Finish with Benford and we’re even better.

 

Palmer in the Mack Hollins roll? That's where they're lost since he was obviously signed to fill the Cooper roll.

i thought it was the jelly roll

[Mikie2times]

I think the summary speaks more to how bad this Free Agency was. Even a hater like me will admit we didn't exactly have a lot of options. Our high end options in my mind were likely via trade. So comparatively speaking when you look at who we did land in Free Agency it was really good, even if it doesn't give a home run difference maker vibe. 

[Shaw66]

The thing about all rankings like this is that they are biased in favor of certain teams over others.   In the case of this ranking, it's easy to see how they could have a bias toward good teams.  If you have a good team and you pick up Joey Bosa, the commentators think, "home run!"  Why?  Because the Bills are good and they can see how a talent like Bosa will make them so much better. 

 

No matter whom the Jets sign, the commentators will think they had a bad preseason, because it's hard to see the Jets getting better until there's an answer at QB.  

 

Rankings after the draft are like this, too.  Some team that had two first round picks will always be ranked higher than a team that had none.  Seems to me, a true ranking of excellence would measure how you did against how much draft capital you started with.  

 

Still, it's nice to know that somebody ranked your team as the best at something. 

[NickelCity]

4 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

I've had more informative football talks at the urinal with my **** in my hand at any bar in Buffalo, than what this jag writer has to say

 

If I've got my **** in my hand at a bar, you better believe I'm talking informative Buffalo Bills football. 

[Mikie2times]

2 minutes ago, NickelCity said:

 

If I've got my **** in my hand at a bar, you better believe I'm talking informative Buffalo Bills football. 

I won't even start to talk about informative Buffalo Bills football unless my **** is in my hand

Edited Wednesday at 08:21 PM by Mikie2times

[ProcessTruster]

if this board didn't have negative opinions on just about everything, it would have no opinions at all 

 

Board should go from TwoBillsDrive to TwoBillsWhine