Bills and McGovern discussing contract extension?

[eball]

Do we know if this guy can even get the exchange right with Josh?

 

Sincerely,

Far too many posters last offseason

 

Edited Wednesday at 10:02 AM by eball

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

9 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Alec Anderson was the best six lineman in the NFL last year 

 

By his contract status.. an exclusive rights free agent he couldn't negotiate with another team or receive a longer deal than what he got

 

He's in line for a good payday by the Buffalo Bills or another team  and the bills definitely value him by how much they played him

 

Probably you're right as don't watch every play of every other team to even know how many other teams used the 6th lineman much.  Believe the Bills led the league in using 6 lineman so probably very little competition for the title of league best in this category.

 

Being the best 6th man lineman doesn't necessarily translate into him being the best backup lineman in the league IF he had to come in and play in a regular lineman position.  If Dawkins got hurt and missed a game, would Anderson be the guy they turned too?  Last year when Brown go hurt and missed a game it wasn't Anderson who took his spot and started.

 

Anderson fills a unique role in Buffalo and he does it very well and the Bills rewarded him with a contract for that work, but that doesn't mean he's in line to take anyone's place as the next starter or that he's ahead of SVGP or any of the other actual TRUE backups.  Maybe he is, maybe he isn't.  Not starting him last year does say something though as to how the Bills view him.

[ColoradoBills]

3 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Anderson fills a unique role in Buffalo and he does it very well and the Bills rewarded him with a contract for that work, but that doesn't mean he's in line to take anyone's place as the next starter or that he's ahead of SVGP or any of the other actual TRUE backups.  Maybe he is, maybe he isn't.  Not starting him last year does say something though as to how the Bills view him.

 

Anderson has been with the team since 2022.  I think they know what they have in him more than SVGP so far.

It seems to me for IOL that Anderson is above SVGP in the depth chart.

Neither Anderson nor SVGP are first line tackle depth though Anderson has taken snaps there in practice/preseason.

[Matt_In_NH]

13 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Alec Anderson was the best six lineman in the NFL last year 

How was this determined?

[WotAGuy]

1 hour ago, Matt_In_NH said:

How was this determined?

1. Bend forward at the waist. 
2. Reach around the hips and then between the legs. 
3. Grasp the opinion and pull quickly. 
4. Hold it up for all to see.  
5. Voila 

[BillsVet]

10 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

I'd argue Beane has had some home runs over the years as well. 

 

Milano, Taron, Benford, Shakir in the 5th. Bernard if he can stay healthy.

 

Plus a guy many forget named Josh Allen. He's at least a triple, I'd say.

 

Milano was a 2017 pick when Beane wasn't in the building.   The others are complementary pieces he then signs to top-10-15 at their position contracts.  

 

What is lost in this latest discussion about re-signing someone it's getting pricy.  Truth is, they've got to start seeing starting caliber play out of guys on rookie or value UFA contracts.  They can't sign everyone to market-based deals because it's how you're cap-challenged each March. 

 

Case in point: Of their 22 2017-2022 draft picks who reached or neared the end of their rookie deals, they've re-signed 16.  And of those, 12 got 9M+ AAV extensions.  

 

Also speaks to how they're targeting lesser positional value players in the middle rounds, who while it's nice some have earned a second deal, it'd be better to find a solid pass rusher, WR, or even DT who means they don't have to pay one in UFA or take one high.  

 

I raise this point because as a perennial playoff team, they need to up their personnel acumen, pro and amateur.  Can't just sign everyone for Beane to call their low-hanging fruit some exotic delicacy. 

Edited Wednesday at 06:54 PM by BillsVet

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

3 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Anderson has been with the team since 2022.  I think they know what they have in him more than SVGP so far.

It seems to me for IOL that Anderson is above SVGP in the depth chart.

Neither Anderson nor SVGP are first line tackle depth though Anderson has taken snaps there in practice/preseason.

 

Agree  Anderson was certainly ahead last year.  This season who knows.  The fact that SVGP was drafted and Anderson was undrafted says in theory SVGP has a higher ceiling, but he certainly wouldn't be the first drafted rookie to flame out either.

[Buffalo716]

8 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Probably you're right as don't watch every play of every other team to even know how many other teams used the 6th lineman much.  Believe the Bills led the league in using 6 lineman so probably very little competition for the title of league best in this category.

 

Being the best 6th man lineman doesn't necessarily translate into him being the best backup lineman in the league IF he had to come in and play in a regular lineman position.  If Dawkins got hurt and missed a game, would Anderson be the guy they turned too?  Last year when Brown go hurt and missed a game it wasn't Anderson who took his spot and started.

 

Anderson fills a unique role in Buffalo and he does it very well and the Bills rewarded him with a contract for that work, but that doesn't mean he's in line to take anyone's place as the next starter or that he's ahead of SVGP or any of the other actual TRUE backups.  Maybe he is, maybe he isn't.  Not starting him last year does say something though as to how the Bills view him.

Alec Anderson has had training All over The line 

 

He's not a tackle though.. he's not coming in to replace Dion Dawkins or Spencer Brown full time at tackle

 

He is a great fit at the interior offensive line.. guard or center... Where he played a lot of snaps really well first off bench..  he was the first back up option at the interior

 

He 100% is going to be a starting guard or center for an NFL team if it's not the bills sooner than later.. he's very athletic with good technique and his grade matches the eye test 

 

He is a player on the rise at a position with not a lot of depth in the NFL . Line play is at an all-time low and he's good 

 

svgp has some promise at center to me Anderson's athletic ability and ability to play the entire interior will give him a leg up if they ever go head-to-head in a competition for the center spot.. who knows in 3 years it could be Anderson and guard and svgp at center but I really like Anderson's profile at the center position

 

1 hour ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Agree  Anderson was certainly ahead last year.  This season who knows.  The fact that SVGP was drafted and Anderson was undrafted says in theory SVGP has a higher ceiling, but he certainly wouldn't be the first drafted rookie to flame out either.

Their draft slot has nothing to do with anything 

 

There are plenty of first round busts and undrafted players in the Hall of Fame ...

 

It's how they view you on draft day.. the second you step into an NFL locker your draft status doesn't matter.. Christian Benford the sixth round pick beat out the first round pick 

 

They're draft slot was irrelevant and it does not always point to ceiling because Alec Anderson has an extremely high ceiling he was very raw coming out and needed to learn

Edited Wednesday at 08:39 PM by Buffalo716

[mjt328]

10 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

I'd argue Beane has had some home runs over the years as well. 

 

Milano, Taron, Benford, Shakir in the 5th. Bernard if he can stay healthy.

 

Plus a guy many forget named Josh Allen. He's at least a triple, I'd say.

 

Matt Milano was a Doug Whaley/Sean McDermott pick.  Not Beane.

 

As stated, my gripe with Beane is that (despite his reputation) he's become a very conservative GM over the last 3-4 years.  Where is the guy who wheeled-and-dealed his way into the Top 10 to get Josh Allen?  Where is the guy who traded a 1st Round Pick to get Stefon Diggs?  Where is the guy who came out of nowhere to land Von Miller in free agency?  

 

In my opinion, Beane hit his comfort-zone and is now pretty much on auto-pilot.  Every offseason is roughly the same...  Sign some extensions to help get under the cap.  Add some mid-level/low-impact vets on mostly one-year deals.  Go into draft with 1-2 glaring holes.  Sit back at pick 25-30.  Reach for biggest need in the first round.  Claim player was Best Available.  Address remaining spots on Day 2-3.  Rinse and repeat.  

 

Put it all together and you end up with Josh Allen single-handedly carrying an above-average roster to the AFC East Championship.  Then getting bounced from the playoffs by a superior team with more star-power, who doesn't rely on one guy to do everything.  

 

Did you realized that Beane has never drafted a 1st-Team All-Pro (including Allen).  Only Allen and Taron Johnson have been selected as 2nd Team All-Pros.  Every year fans complain about Bills players getting snubbed for Pro-Bowls around the NFL.  Despite more than half our games being on national television every season, just try finding someone outside of Buffalo who can name five of our defensive players.  The truth is, our guys outside of Allen just don't make enough of an impact to get noticed.  And they always disappear in the postseason.

 

[Buffalo716]

4 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

How was this determined?

 

Besides the eye test.. and the snap count.. even pffs grade has him as a starting caliber player and no non-starting lineman with more snaps had a higher grade

 

Certainly has to clean up some stuff.. but his grit tenacity and athleticism was on display and he has an intriguing mix

Edited Wednesday at 09:09 PM by Buffalo716

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Alec Anderson has had training All over The line 

 

He's not a tackle though.. he's not coming in to replace Dion Dawkins or Spencer Brown full time at tackle

 

He is a great fit at the interior offensive line.. guard or center... Where he played a lot of snaps really well first off bench..  he was the first back up option at the interior

 

He 100% is going to be a starting guard or center for an NFL team if it's not the bills sooner than later.. he's very athletic with good technique and his grade matches the eye test 

 

He is a player on the rise at a position with not a lot of depth in the NFL . Line play is at an all-time low and he's good 

 

svgp has some promise at center to me Anderson's athletic ability and ability to play the entire interior will give him a leg up if they ever go head-to-head in a competition for the center spot.. who knows in 3 years it could be Anderson and guard and svgp at center but I really like Anderson's profile at the center position

 

Their draft slot has nothing to do with anything 

 

There are plenty of first round busts and undrafted players in the Hall of Fame ...

 

It's how they view you on draft day.. the second you step into an NFL locker your draft status doesn't matter.. Christian Benford the sixth round pick beat out the first round pick 

 

They're draft slot was irrelevant and it does not always point to ceiling because Alec Anderson has an extremely high ceiling he was very raw coming out and needed to learn

 

What grade are you referring to and when/how did he get it as again I don't recall him playing much interior line last year other than coming in at the end of blow outs.  So is his grade based on mostly as a 6th lineman?  It was funny after your earlier response was reading an article today that made the exact point I'm trying to make. 

 

They have a potential in-house option in Alec Anderson, though it remains to be seen what he’d do in a starting role rather than as a jumbo package sixth offensive lineman

 

You seem to be making this leap that because he played well as a 6th lineman translates to him being this good interior lineman.  As a 6th lineman his role has probably been mostly chipping on DE's and blocking LB's and CB's

 

Draft slot does matter.  The higher the draft pick the player gets a longer rope to hang himself with. Yes Benford beat out Elam, but they also kept Elam around for 3 seasons because of his draft slot.  You hear/read it all the time, the drafted player will be kept over an undrafted player unless there is ample data to suggest otherwise.

 

One of us must not have been watching the Bills play last year as I stated don't recall seeing Anderson playing inside very much other than the end of blow outs out and yes week 18 he played all game. So are you making all your assumptions based on one game of playing or again that his role of 6th lineman translates to an interior starter?

 

He may turn out to be great, but at this point little data is available to determine that based on role as an actual interior lineman.  I'm also pretty certain they will keep him this year and he'll continue in the role of the 6th lineman, a role he's done well with.

[Buffalo716]

12 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

What grade are you referring to and when/how did he get it as again I don't recall him playing much interior line last year other than coming in at the end of blow outs.  So is his grade based on mostly as a 6th lineman?  It was funny after your earlier response was reading an article today that made the exact point I'm trying to make. 

 

They have a potential in-house option in Alec Anderson, though it remains to be seen what he’d do in a starting role rather than as a jumbo package sixth offensive lineman

 

You seem to be making this leap that because he played well as a 6th lineman translates to him being this good interior lineman.  As a 6th lineman his role has probably been mostly chipping on DE's and blocking LB's and CB's

 

Draft slot does matter.  The higher the draft pick the player gets a longer rope to hang himself with. Yes Benford beat out Elam, but they also kept Elam around for 3 seasons because of his draft slot.  You hear/read it all the time, the drafted player will be kept over an undrafted player unless there is ample data to suggest otherwise.

 

One of us must not have been watching the Bills play last year as I stated don't recall seeing Anderson playing inside very much other than the end of blow outs out and yes week 18 he played all game. So are you making all your assumptions based on one game of playing or again that his role of 6th lineman translates to an interior starter?

 

He may turn out to be great, but at this point little data is available to determine that based on role as an actual interior lineman.  I'm also pretty certain they will keep him this year and he'll continue in the role of the 6th lineman, a role he's done well with.

He played over 100 snaps at left guard too 

 

The eye test, with his snap count.. including pff's grade.. which again is the least metric I care about... What my eye tells me matters more 

 

And PFF graded him really really high.. 

 

He played well as the six linemen and as a guard 

 

My point is there's a extreme shortage of good NFL lineman and his trajectory is up

 

He certainly is a player to keep an eye on and I'm saying I like him more than svgp rn

 

i like a college tackle who can't play tackle great in the NFL converted to center or guard... like the Duke kid who wenn the first round this year..  or Zack Martin who was a left tackle at Notre Dame

 

It's a good conversion with patience and the athletic traits carry over... 

 

Obviously those first round picks don't need as much patience as Anderson did they have a quicker conversion...But Anderson had really good athletic traits and needed a couple years to learn new positions and get stronger 

 

The bills were patient with him on the practice squad and he worked hard and it paid off last year for him.. there is no reason he can't keep growing if he keeps working

Edited Wednesday at 09:26 PM by Buffalo716

[Pete]

On 4/8/2025 at 4:12 PM, Sierra Foothills said:

“In breaking news the Buffalo Bills have announced a contract extension for second year running back Ray Davis…”

 

and after that they backed the Brinks Truck up for Darrynton Evans

[MrEpsYtown]

56 minutes ago, Pete said:

and after that they backed the Brinks Truck up for Darrynton Evans

Lionel Gates and Shawn Bryson would like a word. 

[Sierra Foothills]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

and after that they backed the Brinks Truck up for Darrynton Evans

 

They then tear up the 2 year deal they signed with Ty Johnson on March 11th and sign him to a new 3 year deal with more guaranteed money.

 

[khlax3]

20 hours ago, Joe Marino said:

He’s great. He’s older. He needs to be cheaper. Let’s go!

He is only 27 doesn’t turn 28 until November. Center can usually play well into their mid 30s. A 3 year extension seems reasonable and takes him through  his prime years

[Matt_In_NH]

3 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

 

Besides the eye test.. and the snap count.. even pffs grade has him as a starting caliber player and no non-starting lineman with more snaps had a higher grade

 

Certainly has to clean up some stuff.. but his grit tenacity and athleticism was on display and he has an intriguing mix

Who are the other 3 or 4 players in contention  for beat 6th OL?

[Buffalo716]

17 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

Who are the other 3 or 4 players in contention  for beat 6th OL?

 it's not like the Buffalo Bills are the only team in the NFL who used an extra lineman 

 

We used it at the highest percentage over 25% of the time 

 

There were multiple teams that used it 15 to 20%.. it's not like he's the only non-starting lineman playing 

 

We were taking off Dalton Kincaid or Dawson Knox for him.. two good football players so that shows you they thought they were replacing him with another good football player

 

You're not taking Kincaid or Knox off the field unless you think you're getting good value and an edge... They were taking a first round pick off the field in Kincaid for him 

 

That shows you what they think of him

Edited Thursday at 12:38 AM by Buffalo716

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

4 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

He played over 100 snaps at left guard too 

 

The eye test, with his snap count.. including pff's grade.. which again is the least metric I care about... What my eye tells me matters more 

 

And PFF graded him really really high.. 

 

He played well as the six linemen and as a guard 

 

My point is there's a extreme shortage of good NFL lineman and his trajectory is up

 

He certainly is a player to keep an eye on and I'm saying I like him more than svgp rn

 

i like a college tackle who can't play tackle great in the NFL converted to center or guard... like the Duke kid who wenn the first round this year..  or Zack Martin who was a left tackle at Notre Dame

 

It's a good conversion with patience and the athletic traits carry over... 

 

Obviously those first round picks don't need as much patience as Anderson did they have a quicker conversion...But Anderson had really good athletic traits and needed a couple years to learn new positions and get stronger 

 

The bills were patient with him on the practice squad and he worked hard and it paid off last year for him.. there is no reason he can't keep growing if he keeps working

 

 

So 67 of those snaps were in the last game when the Bills played all their backups and was kind of like a pre-season game from a game planning perspective. He had 32 total against SF probably there mostly as the 6th lineman as they ran a fair amount due to conditions, but maybe a series or two at guard, likely same in Jax game and second Jets game in blow outs.

 

He may work out long term either with the Bills or someplace else.  Who knows, but not certain his success to date translates to starting guard either and not sure the Bills do either, maybe.

 

The article that I mentioned that was the point listed interior line as a "sneaky draft need" due to future unknowns.  If they do draft another guard that may tell you how the Bills view things.

[Pete]

10 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

They then tear up the 2 year deal they signed with Ty Johnson on March 11th and sign him to a new 3 year deal with more guaranteed money.

 

Me’s think that James Cook lobbying on social media for much more $ pissed off Beane, and totally backfired