WhitewalkerInPhilly

My only quibble (listed above) is decent journeyman play at a lot of our D openings can be found for reasonable money before the draft. I know that because that's how we got Shaq, Daquan, Floyd, Phillips, Hyde and Poyer. I absolutely support reloading our defensive depth and priming future superstars, but we don't have the luxury to bid for those on offense. We are lucky enough to be in great position on O-line, TE, QB and RB but WR is a debilitating weakness

I know i.m rambling like a crazy person but it's insane to me that our 3rd running back coming off an ACL would be the best paid guy in the room when that's the difference between keeping Floyd or Epenesa or Daquan. Not saying they can't do some but it seems like the dumbest waste of resources

The he BETTER be taking a massive salary cut or taking phantom years on that deal

Wow. Ok. Dang, they might be a force next year

Look I stump for Safety being an underappreciated position. If a godly pick drops in our laps at 28 I would be tempted. But in 2017 the Bills went out and picked up a pair of safeties for a combined cap hit of $15 M and they anchored those spots for 7 seasons. Superb splash Defensive players you need to get in a draft. You can absolutely pick up journeyman DT3, rotational depth DE, DB depth and safety without breaking the bank so you don't NEED to hem yourselves in for a need WR2? I have a thread on this but GABE DAVIS is looking to get $13.6 M a year. You can't tell me we can afford to get into a bidding war for an upgrade. Draft WR priority #1. I don't care if you live up or back but that's the priority

I think I need to ask him who his dealer is. Because whatever he's smoking is good stuff. One, the Bills have invested draft capital on the defense. Off the top of my head, Rousseau, Dorian Williams, Elam and Bernard are all playing on rookie contracts. Oliver, TJ and Milano are homegrown players that we have retained which is a strong sign of healthy drafting and a functional front office, and I think there is a reasonable chance we retain Epenesa and Lawson (also a 1st round pick) in free agency Spector, Dane Jackson and Benford were excellent late round finds that have well outplayed their draft position and are either starters or key rotation pieces. Two, he clearly hasn't looked at the FA market for WR. You want to restock the defense? Good. I agree with you. But WR takes priority, and THEN worry about backfilling safety and D-line depth.

WOW. Really? I don't think he'd be a good for for us but man he was doing a good job with the Dolphins near the end of the year. I am pleased that they are continued to step on rakes between this and the Tua extension.

Oooh I had missed some. I had left Brown off because I saw his last year and thought he would be too expensive. He might sneak by to get to day 2 day 3 Those do seem like the best options if we want to throw money at a placeholder.

Agreed, especially for 2024. I was for taking the big swing on Von in 2022. It hasn't worked, and it's now time to take our medicine. It doesn't have to mean we are out of contention, but it's time for a youth movement.

Yeah. I remember the rejuvenation that Larry Fitzgerald had in 2015-17 when they moved him inside. Superb route running works very well over the middle of the field, and we've put Diggs into the slot before. It can work. But we'd need a replacement (or two)

Mooney would be my "poor man's Gabe" to have a rookie have to fight to take the snaps from him.

I don't disagree. My only contention is that I believe Diggs can be a contributing feature for at least the next two years. His route running is still excellent and he can still be dangerous, even if I no longer think he's an elite player so I am not in a hurry to jettison him.

He's the wild card for me. His projected AAV is $4M higher than Gabe Davis...and if you told me that we'd get someone like Ridley for $4M more per year I'd usually call that more than fair compensation for the difference in talent. Mooney is the one where I think price and output lines up for an Emmanuel Sanders like year while we would bring a draft pick up to speed.

I would say that the top end of my hopes would be an equivalent to Emmanuel Sanders in 2021. He picked up 750 yards that year as part of his last stop before retirement at $6 M. So it can be done. I agree in principal, but I do not see *any* WR in the draft who takes #1 from Diggs as the Week 1 starter. After a year or so? Yes, that seems like a fair aim. Personally I am all in favor of burning some capital to move into the teens or early 20s if the right guy drops. CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson and Zay Flowers were all taken around there, so there is often value to be had.

I don't disagree. It is not a group that inspires confidence. But that is the current market.

yeah I did a list a little ways up. If any of the top guys isn't on a team Day 1 I should the Bill should take a sniff. But I doubt it. Pittman was on that list.

I share the opinion that I have seen in many places on this board: that WR #2 is a major weakness going into the offseason. I am also part of the group that believes that the Bills should spend draft resources to address the problem for one reason: WR #2 gets stupid money in free agency. Stupid money. But there is always a case to be made for best pick available. Having something in the pipeline in case we roll box cars in the draft, or we take a guy with high upside but we want to ease in. So, here is a quick list at notable receivers that Spotrac has considered notable for the free agent class. I have exluded known slot receivers (We have Shakir and he's doing just fine) For comparisons sake, let's start with a known quality. Gabe Davis. I believe that Gabe Davis was a very solid #3/4 option, but was badly inconsistent as a #2. According to Spotrac, he is expected to make an average of $13.6 M per year. That would be pricey for the Bills in 2024 and we would want an upgrade. So...here is the class Most likely out of our price range Mike Evans OBJ Tyler Boyd Tee Higgins Michael Pittman Jr. Calvin Ridley I put these out here not because I think they are fits, but because this is what the top end of the market will be getting. Now, if any one of those is not snapped up on Day 1 you absolutely make a call, but he is a more likely list of what will be waiting around on Day 2 Curtis Samuel Nelson Aghalor Josh Reynolds Randall Cobb Darnell Mooney So, any interest or are we all in on the draft?

Yes. Buuuut... WR 2 or 1B usually gets paid. Stupid money paid. Even John Brown in 2019 got $10 M his first year. I'll use that a Here is a partial list pending list of UFA's for 2024 from Spotrac and I will try to use their estimated per year average as a base. For reference, they are guessing that Gabe Davis is going to get ~$13.6 M (like I said, stupid money) as the absolute top end of what we could throw in 2024 Most likely out of our price range Mike Evans OBJ Tyler Boyd Tee Higgins Michael Pittman Jr. I put these out here not because I think they are fits, but because this is what the top end of the market will be getting. Give a call on Day 2 or 3 Curtis Samuel Nelson Aghalor Josh Reynolds Randall Cobb Calvin Ridley (Higher than Gabe, but I would take a flyer on spending a bit more if no one overpays) Darnell Mooney If you seem underwhelmed by those choices, that's where the market is.

So long as he is meant to supplement a WR draft I am fine with it. Harty was a massive disappointment and is a looming likely cap casualty. As a 5th-6th WR and ST player I am fine if the price is right

I've actually thought about that. His general concepts mesh with what McDermott does and whatever you want to say about him his defenses are well coached and disciplined. We could do a lot worse.

I know draft projection by fans is just projection (as if drafting itself) , but Draftek has been a fairly reliable indicator over the past few years. They have 14 WRs who at the very least match the physical characteristics bigger than Peerless Price (6'0 and 185 lbs or bigger) in their top 100. One of those guys are almost assured to be there at 28. Gabe and Shakir were at their best as #3-4 options, and that's not a bad thing. Draft a guy in the pipeline, see what you can get out of Shorter. This seems like the year to do it. Add in the fact that the Bills have 9 picks, they have ammunition to go up and get a guy if there's someone they like just out of reach. That's where I am. I am not going to advocate for getting rid of a HOF player for dead cap and a roster hole. Stand pat on his contract. If he gets suspended, that's cap savings. If he returns to form, boom, you now have leverage on his contract to cut or renegotiate. If he's washed, you can get cap in 2025 and be free and clear in 2026

I'm fine with those things...in rounds 2-5. I know BPA is a philosophy, but the Bills are paying Von Miller too much not to use him and Douglas/Benford are good enough to start next year. With the luck Beane has had getting late round CBs as starters?

FWIW Draftek (the site which our own Astro used to contribute on and in general is a decent indicator) currently has Franklin at #28 on their Big Board. I would be ecstatic if that's how it went down.

The one I think is definitely necessary is ST. In spite of spending a lot on cap space for ST guys we didn't get much juice for the squeeze. Someone on that coaching staff watched Martin practice and went "yep, that's better than Haack". Combined with almost nothing on returns, an erratic Bass and the big mistakes vs the Jets (punt TD to lose it), Denver (12 men) and KC (terrible punts, missed tying FG from the 25) means that if I have to pick one coach to throw into The Pit, that's the one. I suspect that the Bills will try to retain Brady and will only move on if he gets poached by another team for HC. I suspect that someone will be made official DC (outside hire or elevation) but McDermott keeps calling the plays

As I keep saying: the last offensive drive had things clicking. Earlier in the season teams were blitzing Josh and it worked. This time we saw blitz beaters to Kincaid (that I had been pounding the table for) and they worked like a charm. For the most part Josh was incredibly patient. It makes his sudden impatience to try to thread it to Shakir right after the two minute warning stand out even more to me, especially with Diggs open