Beane/McDermott presser 3/30

[BillsVet]

13 hours ago, KOKBILLS said:

I don't want this to sound like I'm writing the kid off or that he has no chance to redeem himself, etc... But McD was clear in this presser that Ogunjobi  was signed as a back up 3-tech to Ed Oliver...Ogunjobi signed a one-year, $8.3 million contract... That is NOT a vet minimum contract... One year or not.

 

Once again 2 pressers go by with extended conversations about the DT position with no mention of a 3rd round Draft pick from last years Draft.

 

So... I'm not sure there is any other way to look at it... Dwayne Carter is on notice. This is a DEEP Draft at DT, especially for guys who can rotate in at 3-tech...If the Bills Draft a DT with interior flexibility by the end of the 5th round I don't know if there is a spot left for Carter. Especially once Ogunjobi returns from his suspension. 

 

Lot of issues with this, primarily how it points to Bills of last few seasons getting careless with resources.  Carter was the RD3 pick acquired from KC to essentially move from 28 to 32 and their first DT pick since Oliver in 2019.  Moves made already or likely this off-season suggest Carter receiving less PT in his second season.     

 

Also means their first 3 picks from their 2024 draft are not showing what they wanted after 1 season.  It's one thing to have 1 player under-perform, but the top 3?  I know McD isn't keen on starting or giving significant PT to rookies, but getting into that position last year is a direct result of misusing resources, specifically cap dollars in previous seasons at positions of lower positional value.

 

That leads to needing rookies to play well...and in this case it was lesser regarded prospects who predictably struggled at times for a team expected to win in the playoffs.    

 

They gotta be better with positional priorities in general, but also in personnel decisions.  Too many RD2 and RD3 picks just aren't measuring up and that leads to needing more higher-priced vets being signed.     

Edited Monday at 04:56 PM by BillsVet

[Lofton80]

I think Carter flashed in the beginning of the season prior to the wrist injury. McDermott does not fawn over young players. I would not assume anything from the press conference.  

[buffalostu2]

17 hours ago, QLBillsFan said:

Bills picks-2 DT, 2 CB, 1 Edge, WR, LB, S, OL.

DT, CB, Edge/S are first picks imho 🤷🏻‍♂️

Six DTs on the roster in 2025?

[QLBillsFan]

Just now, buffalostu2 said:

Six DTs on the roster in 2025?

6 weeks for PED’s. The expectations of injuries. A high pick like Grant and a lower pick to fight it out for a roster spot. Seems like at DT the Bills typically have injuries. 

[BuffaloBill]

17 hours ago, mannc said:

So we absolutely aren’t extending Cook this off-season…good.  

 

It’s evident the Bills are not going to overpay for a 45% of the time player - he wants the same money 85% of the time players are getting. Cook has shown excellence on 1st and 2nd down. Not so much on 3rd down.

[buffalostu2]

16 hours ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

😆I wish. I think the best we could honestly hope for would be a second round swap with either the Raiders or Dallas and then one their 4th rounders, maaaaybe their 3rd.

Cook is a gamebreaker and impact player.  He  tied for the league lead in rushing TDs last year.  He is also motivated in a contract year. 

He could be key to winning a championship so IMO, we shouldn't move him just to get something for him.      

[balln]

Just optically looks bad that they won’t bump cooks pay at least for this next year while signing literally every other player. Hes outplayed his current contract. Hes the only explosive weapon outside of Josh Allen. Give him a one year deal / heavily incentive laden. And good vibes to do a bigger long term deal after next year 

 

im sure they’re nuances tot he contract process of rookie deals  im overlooking - but from a theoretical standpoint give him a bump .

 

i suppose his agent is a tool and is ruining this process for cook and the bills

[YoloinOhio]

Expect the opposite of everything they said 

[SoonerBillsFan]

I see this as one of two ways. 1) Trade Cook and get him outta here.  2) work his butt like a rented mule, I mean 400+ carries and then decide what to do with him in the offseason.

[Malazan]

5 hours ago, NoSaint said:

group of thousands of people often have conflicting views across the spectrum of opinions

 

It's the very same people expressing both views

[Einstein's Dog]

49 minutes ago, balln said:

Just optically looks bad that they won’t bump cooks pay at least for this next year while signing literally every other player. Hes outplayed his current contract. Hes the only explosive weapon outside of Josh Allen. Give him a one year deal / heavily incentive laden. And good vibes to do a bigger long term deal after next year 

 

im sure they’re nuances tot he contract process of rookie deals  im overlooking - but from a theoretical standpoint give him a bump .

 

i suppose his agent is a tool and is ruining this process for cook and the bills

There's a problem in just giving Cook a raise because he outplayed his contract, and that is because that is part the incentive in the extension process.  You don't let the player have it both ways - get a raise and go hit FA.

 

Also the FO doesn't have any worries now about the optics, Cook and his team took care of that with the post about $15M - really stupid thing of his team to do.

[FLFan]

8 hours ago, BillsVet said:

 

Lot of issues with this, primarily how it points to Bills of last few seasons getting careless with resources.  Carter was the RD3 pick acquired from KC to essentially move from 28 to 32 and their first DT pick since Oliver in 2019.  Moves made already or likely this off-season suggest Carter receiving less PT in his second season.     

 

Also means their first 3 picks from their 2024 draft are not showing what they wanted after 1 season.  It's one thing to have 1 player under-perform, but the top 3?  I know McD isn't keen on starting or giving significant PT to rookies, but getting into that position last year is a direct result of misusing resources, specifically cap dollars in previous seasons at positions of lower positional value.

 

That leads to needing rookies to play well...and in this case it was lesser regarded prospects who predictably struggled at times for a team expected to win in the playoffs.    

 

They gotta be better with positional priorities in general, but also in personnel decisions.  Too many RD2 and RD3 picks just aren't measuring up and that leads to needing more higher-priced vets being signed.     

It’s a good thing the Bills are more patient than you.  All three of those players showed flashes of what they can be.  All three had injuries that derailed their progress in one way or another.  If their second seasons are not big jumps in performance then by all means come back with your assessment.  The Bills should not have been in a position to rely on rookies performing? I guess that’s your other point. What did you not understand about retooling and getting younger? This is part of the game.

[FireChans]

9 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

It just seems to me that this year was the time to redo his contract.  Similar to Milano doing it.

Knox has $21.5M in new money and $34M in cap hit the next 2 years.

There is still time this year to do it but if doesn't happen I'm not sure he stays next year.

Just my opinion.  I can see a 5th going to a TE if one they like is there.

They redid his contract last year and he took a paycut.

 

not sure there is much more blood to get from that stone

[BillsShredder83]

10 hours ago, Dillenger4 said:

Cook is a weapon that we can't replace in the draft. he has had over 1000 yards rushing for two seasons in a row as well as having 250yds receiving last year and 430 in 2023. 16TD's last year. We NEED him back and Beane knows it. They are trying to come to terms as Cook is asking for his payday. People that think we use Davis or someone from the draft are high.

 

I can see us signing Amari again.

Dude had bad hands, enough where we seem to not trust him. I'll give up some ability for a young guy with dependability and upside (and $15m)

 

This isn't me talking down on Cook. He's been fantastic but not what he was advertised as. Kinda the opposite.  Thought we were getting an elite pass catcher, with above average rush skills.

 

Id say the opposite of that fits him more than his draft day predictions

Edited yesterday at 01:31 AM by BillsShredder83

[Billsfed1]

8 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I see this as one of two ways. 1) Trade Cook and get him outta here.  2) work his butt like a rented mule, I mean 400+ carries and then decide what to do with him in the offseason.

I agree.  But with a workload like that…he’ll have no choice but to come back.  

 

For whatever reason he was the only guy with a head bigger than Highmark Stadium when everybody else kept to themselves and got paid.

 

I actually think his name was right under Benfords on Beane’s list, but he couldn’t help himself.  

 

That being said, I absolutely loved his fire in the AFCC game.  A little more maturity and he could be very, very good.

[balln]

34 minutes ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Dude had bad hands, enough where we seem to not trust him. I'll give up some ability for a young guy with dependability and upside (and $15m)

 

This isn't me talking down on Cook. He's been fantastic but not what he was advertised as. Kinda the opposite.  Thought we were getting an elite pass catcher, with above average rush skills.

 

Id say the opposite of that fits him more than his draft day predictions

Nah. He has great hands. He’s had 2 killer drops for tds tho last season. Had to push back here. Dudes a great receiver 

[Saint Doug]

I don’t like the moving up and down the draft quote. For Beane, moving spots is like using a bar of soap. The more you handle it, the smaller it gets. Just pick the player you want. No need to move around; this strategy hasn’t really worked out well for Beane. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 3/30/2025 at 6:28 PM, mannc said:

So we absolutely aren’t extending Cook this off-season…good.  

O-Line was the real weapon last year. Beane realizes that. No RB other than Saquon or Henry is worth that kind of bread. Especially one that isn’t a dangerous receiving threat or solid blocker.

[uticaclub]

11 hours ago, BillsVet said:

 

Lot of issues with this, primarily how it points to Bills of last few seasons getting careless with resources.  Carter was the RD3 pick acquired from KC to essentially move from 28 to 32 and their first DT pick since Oliver in 2019.  Moves made already or likely this off-season suggest Carter receiving less PT in his second season.     

 

Also means their first 3 picks from their 2024 draft are not showing what they wanted after 1 season.  It's one thing to have 1 player under-perform, but the top 3?  I know McD isn't keen on starting or giving significant PT to rookies, but getting into that position last year is a direct result of misusing resources, specifically cap dollars in previous seasons at positions of lower positional value.

 

That leads to needing rookies to play well...and in this case it was lesser regarded prospects who predictably struggled at times for a team expected to win in the playoffs.    

 

They gotta be better with positional priorities in general, but also in personnel decisions.  Too many RD2 and RD3 picks just aren't measuring up and that leads to needing more higher-priced vets being signed.     

McDermott plays rookies when they are good.

[Thrivefourfive]

No Cook would be such a downgrade. It took three years for him to arrive. We’re not getting anywhere near 2024 Cook production from a rookie and increased playing time Davis. I really am surprised by the acceptance of No Cook around here. I know, the contract. But really who cares? I just don’t think Beane can ruin the franchise by signing up Cook, if that’s what it takes, and then riding him for two+ seasons as the Bills try to win a title. He’s ascending. We’re at a strange where the alternate to paying Cook is a massive downgrade and unacceptable, in my opinion.