billsfan89

I thought Cam on the field was a dam good player most years. He really for years the most dynamic player in the NFL. I get being put off by his antics and persona but on the field Cam was electrifying to watch for most of his career. He has a winning record (68-55-1) so it isn't a case of a player putting up a lot of empty stats with limited success. I just think that the Panthers ran him into the ground and his mental makeup wasn't always there. I kind of hope he sits out 2020 (due to personal choice not because of the pandemic) to get his body healthy and allow him to assess his mental state of mind. I think he can still be a good starting caliber QB if given some time to heal his body and adjust his mental approach to the game.

They completely rebuilt the O-line with one FA signing over 6.5 million aav and only a 2nd round pick in terms of draft resources. They got WR1 and WR3 production from two contracts well under 10 million aav. They drafted Singletary in round 3 and he was super productive in his rookie year, Knox a late 3rd round pick flashed a lot of ability. It wasn't all perfect in the 2019 off-season (Kroft was a bust) but they rebuilt the O-line from a horrid unit into a solid one without major resources and found 2 quality receivers without getting locked into long term deals. I know a lot of people really knocked McBeane rightfully in the 2017 and 2018 off-seasons (my biggest knock was their horrid handling of the QB situation in 2018) but what cap space and resources did they have to improve the offense? They accrued draft capital and spent it on a QB, they were cap strapped in 2018 and couldn't make any other major moves on the offensive side of the ball. They did swing and miss on KB and Zay Jones but also drafted Dawkins and got rid of Sammy for good capital. Overall I think they proved their offensive talent acquisition ability in 2019 and again with a quality trade for Diggs.

The offense was a lower mid-level unit (most had them ranked around 20) Diggs certainly raises them a few notches. I also think O-line continuity, Josh having more experience, and Singletary taking over at RB also could be positive factors. But I agree they need to find a WR in round 2 or 3 and a RB in round 4 or 5. They need a big early down RB and a young WR behind Diggs, Brown, and Beasley (Both for immediate depth and long term they need to get younger.) The offense doesn't need to be a top 10 unit to get this team to 11+ wins. I think they upgraded the special teams with 2 good role players there and kept the talent level of the defense as one of the best in the league. They need the offense to be better and more consistent, but if they can get the offense from a below average offense ranked around 18-22 to an offense ranked around 12-14 I think they can be a very successful football team.

To be fair it was a different regime here when Ebron was drafted. Still I get what you are saying McBeane deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to talent evaluation.

Panthers needed someone to help out Moore and CMC in the passing game. Anderson is that solid WR2 that will give them somewhere else to go besides Moore and CMC. The Okung trade was a blunder but they at least got some help at WR for a pretty fair price.

I think Gase is a big impediment to their progress as a team but I like Darnold and I think that if you have a good QB it could take a mid-level roster and make it competitive. Although I think Robby Anderson leaving hurts they have been making more prudent moves this off-season than last off-season. They added a lot of depth and versatility along the O-line and added some pieces to their defense. I think they are a year away as outside of an aging Lev Bell their offensive skill positions are trash and their defense is lower mid-level. But a good draft filling a few hold and some improvement from Darnold could get them to 8 wins.

The Bills WR core is locked at the top 3 and locked with Roberts as WR5/6 (Depending on how many WR's they carry) but there is a wide open landscape at WR4 and possibly WR5 (If they carry 6.) I like Mac as a WR5, good gadget player and quality depth. Good to see him there. I would like to see the team carry 6 WR's. The top 3, a WR4 drafted in round 2 or 3 (need depth and youth), then have Mac, Duke or Foster at WR5 and Roberts as WR6 as a returner.

Winning the Division and a playoff game is the bare minimum for this season. The Patriots still have a formidable defense and special teams but without a QB they are a beatable team. The Jets are a mid-level team that might be a year away. The Fins are greatly improved but still lack a vision at QB and aren't that improved from a 5 win team. The Bills have a top 5 NFL defense, added to a decent ST unit, and added a dynamic weapon to a decent offense. All this with a draft still to go and some cap space if needed.

I think at worst they delay the start of the season until October and push camp deep into August and pre-season in September. But who knows just how far reaching this crisis could be. The NFL still has months before they have to make these decisions. This could be winding down in May or getting worse. Who knows.

They have a 5th year option on White, they can work out an extension after 2020. But I think they should look to lock up either Dawkins or Milano now so that they don't have to worry about having 2 possibly critical free agents. I think also having one "priced into" your 2021 cap is helpful in terms of what to pay Tre and the other one. The only good thing about the 2018 draft is that 2 out of 3 possibly key free agents (Edumonds, Allen, and Henry) have 5th year options. So they are locked in for 3 more seasons. Really the issue in terms of extensions was and is Milano and Dawkins short term.

Naturally they will be horrid this year and then get Trevor Lawrence and build a dynasty with him. It really would be something if that were to happen. I hope their defense, coaching, and special teams gets them 5 wins.

I think they look at tackle prospect they feel can kick into guard in round 1. They need to get younger all around the O-line.

Gilmore is a big cap hit at 18.5 million and they did just franchise Tuney at 14.7 million but the roster doesn't have many bloated contracts like the Rams roster. Their top 10 contracts take up about 48% of their cap (compared to 41% for The Bills and 71% for the Rams) but they are killed by 23 million in dead cap (13.5 million thanks to Brady and 4.5 million thanks to AB) along with a bit of bloat in the middle of their roster (a lot of players in the 3-5 million range.)

It is dependent on what players are available as most draft picks are, but I think that O-line was a need before Fredricks retired (They were in need at LG and RT) I think they try and spend their best draft assets along that O-line if the value is there even at an OK level (basically don't reach too bad.) I wouldn't be shocked if they go RT round 1 and Center round 2. Unlike years past the Cowboys usually go for their needs with solid value or BPA.

That 2016 Cowboys offensive line was unreal. At Center, RG, and LT they had All-Pro caliber players, they had a good and underrated LG in Ronald Leary. The only “weak leak” they had was Doug Free who was a veteran tackle that had played well for the Cowboys for a long time and was honestly decent even though he gave up 8 sacks. And they could have had Collins who got hurt that year and Leary took over and played really well not giving up a sack all year. They really plowed the road to take full advantage of Zeke (who was great his rookie year) and make things super easy for a rookie in Dak. I remember watching a game in 2016 where a team blitzed 6 and the Cowboys O-line and Zeke (who is an underrated blocker) gave him 10 seconds to throw against 5 on 4 coverage. Then the team only rushed 4 and they dropped 7 into coverage hoping to confuse Dak a bit and Dak had 12 seconds to throw. The Cowboys didn’t have many weapons that year either, they had Dez who was shot at that point, Jason Witten and Cole Beasley were their best receivers in terms of consistency, both of whom were solid but neither true number one guys at that point. But they just controlled every game with Zeke and that O-line. Now with Fredricks retirement and Tyron’s decline that unit is down to just Collins and Martin. I suspect they go O-line in round 1.

I think they are going to want a decent amount of roll over for Dawkins and Milano extensions. 20ish (depending on any emergency signings) million would be decent roll over. I would have preferred 30 but hey go for it while you have a good team in place. I think 20 million allows you to front load White, Dawkins, and Milano's potential deals with ease.

I wouldn't hate bringing him in for some competition with Haush but I don't see that as a process move since I think Gostkowski would likely command a decent contract and the Bills are already paying Haush like a top 10 kicker. Overall I think that Gostkowski is going to sign in Tampa Bay and he will compete there. I think the Brady connection there and their need for stable kicking will make sense. However that injury was serious and as others had pointed out Gostkowski was struggling in 2018 before the injury.

He is supposedly a special teams ace, if that is the case (I have no idea I am not watching special teams film and even if I was I would have no idea if someone is that good or not) then I think he justifies his roster spot. But if that is not the case I agree, full back is such a niche position that having a good one is worthless.

I think the 49ers are much more willing to trade down from 13 to recoup their lost picks in round 2 and or 3. Although I wouldn't be shocked about a double trade down since they lost key players and need a lot of areas for depth.

I would seriously consider this trade if I am the Bengals. I would do it in a heartbeat if it included the Fins 2021 first round pick in addition to picks 5, 18, and 26, I would strongly consider it if Miami included Miami's 2nd in 2021 plus a third rounder in 2020. I think Joe B is a good prospect but not exactly a generational QB. The Bengals are outright bad and having 3 first round picks along with additional assets is the type of move the would allow them to full facilitate a rebuild in a way that is much more balanced.

I don't look at this team as really giving 15 touches to Singletary's backup. I think they want Singletary as the lead back and a RB drafted behind him would be a short yardage early down back, with Yeldon also sprinkling things in.

RB in my mind is not where they should go at pick 54, unless there is ungodly value there. I think you can find Singletary's backup in round 4 or 5. I think the WR core is much more pressing because Brown has an injury history and is older and Beasley is older. You are one injury away or a steep decline from Beasley away from being in a very lower mid-level offense. I do agree with you general sentiment that a weapon in the passing game at pick 54 is a good idea (or an Edge) but RB in my mind is the lowest priority in that assessment. I wouldn't hate it if a true first round talent fell but I would much rather get a WR to wait in the wings over the next season or two behind Brown and Beasley.

Draft a player, you need to get younger behind Beasley, Brown and Diggs. Brown will be 30 this season and Cole 31, Diggs will turn 27 but even if all three players were under 25 you still need depth. I think one of the first two picks has to be a WR. IF this team suffers on injury to their top 3 they are right back to where they were last year with only 2 functional receivers. There also exists the need to have a player ready to step up if either Brown or Beasley begin to decline in the next 2 seasons. WR most definitely needs to be a top priority in the draft.

I rank these not in terms of importance but in terms of value. Good Moves 1- Quinton Jefferson - 2 year deal under 7 million aav? Are you kidding me? This guy was a legit good cog in Seattle's defense who also brings versitility. Just a complete steal to have him in the front 7, makes up for Phillips loss on a cheaper deal. 2- Quinton Spain - 5 million aav for a solid guard on 3 years? That's a very team friendly deal for a fairly key position. Yes Spain isn't an All-Pro guard but he is a quality guard who is only 28 (who is only a 5 year player if I recall), he should play out the remainder of that contact at an above average level. This also keeps complete continuity along the O-line. 3- Stefon Diggs - I liked this move but the Bills did pay retail for him. Diggs is a true WR1 who brings the pop needed, however it does cost us pick 22 which is an asset that could have been used to upgrade various other needs. But this team needed a WR badly, Diggs will turn 27 and is on a good deal. This was a necessary move to cash in pick 22 for a sure asset of immense need. 4- Mario Addison - Solid move, they paid market value but they did desperately need someone off the edge. I would like to see the team still draft and Edge player in round 2 or 3 for depth and generally getting younger at the position. But as a stop gap for the next 1-2 season Addison brings enough pop off the Edge. 5- Long's Option - Depth and continuity along the O-line is not as much of a luxury as it would seem. I think that O-line depth was greatly retained by keeping Long. It is a bit of a luxury but I am always for investing resources into the O-line, I think his added versatility helps. 6- Extending Jordan Poyer - Another solid move, what I like is that this sends a good message to the locker room that the Bills will take care of their own (after letting Kevin Johnson, Shaq and Phillips walk this was needed.) They paid fair value for Poyer but I think he is productive the length of the contract. 7- Restructuring Star - The Bills didn't make many cuts to free up cap space (Murphy, Long, and Kroft all still on the roster) but they found some little ways to free up space and this was a nice move to get a little more cap to spend. OK moves 8- AJ Kelvin - Seems like an OK move, 3rd LB is more and more of a niche in the modern NFL. 6 million aav isn't bad but his deal does carry dead cap next season. Positives are that he knows McD's system. 9- Tyler Matakevich - Special Team's ace but limited value (if any) elsewhere. And the cost was high but Matakevich is one of the best special teams players in the league. The ST unit last year was average, hopefully Matakevich represents a true upgrade to the coverage and kick units. Had the aav been a bit lower I would have ranked it as one of the better moves. 10- Josh Norman - A reclamation project, 8 year vet at a position where players play 10 years or so. Corner was definitely a bit of a need. However the deal was not completely cheap and carries some dead cap if he is cut before the season. Still a player worth kicking the tires on. 11- Vernon Butler - Another reclamation project, coming off of his best season. Essentially a one year deal with a second year option. However 7 million plus incentives is a lot of money to spend on a 5th DT. Unless there is a plan to flip Butler or Star for picks during camp I kind of think that this move spent money that could have been better spent elsewhere. 12- Tawian Jones - Another ST signing, solid if unspectacular signing, still nice to have another good quality ST player. Bad moves 13- Restructuring Kroft. I get that they saved some cap and could still cut him and save some money. But they could have gotten rid of him and saved 5 million on the cap and only take a 1.5 million dead cap hit. But instead they attached themselves Not sure if I missed any moves but things were certainly done well this off-season. They kept the D-line a deep quality unit, added Diggs, Kept the O-line solid and deep, and got two high quality social teams players. Would still like them to explore so more moves in the secondary depth wise and add to the EDGE and WR groups in the draft early.

I wouldn't hate Flacco as a backup. Veteran Super Bowl QB who had similar traits to Allen (Big arm mobile QB with percieved accuracy issues) but I just don't see him passing a needed physical.