billsfan89

I still think Eli could have 2-3 good seasons left but the Bills are trying to build a sustainable winner and I think that getting an older QB with a huge cap number isn't in their plans esp having to give up significant draft capital to do so.

I think that the Bills should consider upping their offer for him, he has had 1 free agency visit to the Cardinals and nothing else activity wise. I think that considering the fact that even before the incident Zay was a questionable player to count on an upgrade at WR is a huge need.

Hurns has some talent even last season he was decent, 39 receptions for 484 yards in 10 games with Bortles throwing to you isn't too shabby. The guy missed just over a third of the season, prorate that over 16 games and you are looking at 55 receptions for just under 700 yards, in any context that is quality WR3 production, but adjust for the fact that the Jags were not only a run heavy offense but a bad overall offense (Who wasn't throwing a lot due to a fantastic defense keeping them in games if not giving them the lead in games) and I think I see why people think Hurns could be better in a better offense. I think the main question with Hurns isn't the talent, when he has been on the field he has been a better than average player and in 2015 he peaked with a near all-star level (All-Star in this context being a top 6 player at your position in your conference, which Hurns wasn't be he certainly was a notch below that in terms of raw output.) Some team is going to overpay Hurns on speculation and potential which is what you are usually paying for in free agency. If a player is worth it take your shot, name your price, and if it takes more than you are comfortable with then pass. I think the Bills front office is very disciplined in that sense. If they want a player they go get him at the cost but if they don't want them they just name a low ball price they are comfortable with and see if the market comes back to them.

The last pick of the 3rd round and a 1st in 2019 to not only trade up to 6 but to do so to get Baker Mayfield is insanely good. That leaves pick 22, 53, 56, and pick 65 to build up the rest of the roster plus a few picks sprinkled in to help address depth needs. I don't see this happening because I don't think the Broncos are passing at Mayfield at 5 and I think a trade up for Mayfield would cost a bit more (I think you have to include a 2nd at the very least.)

I think Matthews would be an interesting player to up their offer to. Hurns just got released and he is on a lot of visits at the moment. Hurns is going to get a good offer, the market has not come to the Bills on Hurns, it could simply be too much for the Bills blood for a player like Hurns (Hurns coming off of two banged-up seasons.) But the market doesn't seem to be hot on Matthews other than a visit with the Cardinals there hasn't been any activity on them. I say up your offer a little bit more than your standing offer and see if you come in above Arizona. Matthews was clearly the teams best receiver when healthy. There isn't much at receiver beyond Benjamin, Matthews could ensure a good slot receiver in case Jones can't overcome his yips and recent troubles.

Could be, I thought Miller in 2015 and 2016 was an above average guard, not a mauler but more than capable. Hopefully, this new system plays to Miller's strengths more because a decent RG is a huge upgrade from the play they got out of that position last season. If they feel Miller could return to form under the new system I am fine with him as the RG and Ducasse as his backup but they need to draft a RT high and dump Mills.

I think if you draft a RT around pick 53 or 56 I think you, of course, run the risk of a player not being ready to step in right away. But I think that Newhouse isn't the worst option to put up against a rookie RT.

If the Bills can squeeze him under their cap I would love this move. Hurns was outright dynamic in 2015 and he is a burner exactly the type of player they need on the field opposite Benjamin. He has missed some games which is a concern but considering the Zay Jones news I think you have to think that the Bills have to be more active on the few WR's remaining.

Considering that Zay was a pretty "Clean" guy in college and up until now in his pro career. Everything about this guy in the draft process was good character wise. Hopefully this is an isolated incident. But I think the team which already had a need for a WR will definitely have to address the position more now.

I think Miller is gone although I think that he could be effective on another team he just isn't fitting the blocking scheme the team wants to run. I think they probably were trying to trade him but might just roll with him as a camp body and make him a cut at some point. Ducasse I see as a bench player (Although the coaching staff loves him so who the !@#$ knows) since he is versatile being able to play either guard position or RT. I honestly wouldn't hate Ducasse as a backup Guard/RT but I would much rather they go with a 4th or 5th round pick occupying that spot. As far as RT I think there is a chance that Mills starts. Now I think Beane would prefer to draft a RT to start and keep Mills as a camp body to compete with Newhouse off the bench. I like the effort to get more depth on the o-line but that right side is still a mess with Ducasse/Miller and Mills starting at this moment. I think you have to address that RT spot in the draft high. RG I think you should address but in the cap era (And assuming you make a massive trade up gutting a good chunk of draft picks) you have to make compromises and given the choice between upgrading RG or RT in the draft I would go with RT.

Throw all draft value charts out the window. For one trading up for QB's is always something you have to pay a premium for. Two while I think that the draft value chart is a useful tool as a baseline trade ups are always relative to who is bidding for the pick. If the Bills want pick 2 I think at a minimum it is going to cost the team 12, 22, 53, a mid round pick, and next years 1st.

From what I have heard Newhouse is a good backup swing tackle, nice depth move. Bodine as a starter I wouldn't be enthused about but as a backup I really like the move. Two quality bench offensive lineman. A nice mid free agency period move. Although I think ideally the team should still draft a guard in rounds 4-5 to be the last bench o-lineman and push to get Miller/Ducasse out of the RG spot or be the heir apparent for Incog in 2019.

The hit didn't help but honestly, he wasn't fantastic before the hit. His best game was 279 yards 1 TD 1 INT in that great comeback against an Oakland team that would go 6-10. I think he was a borderline starting caliber QB before the hit but he was never going to have a chance at being anything great in the league. That being said his career never was the same after the hit.

Wither or not it is true (Let's be honest 2 highlights is anecdotal evidence I am could find tons of bombs by Tyrod but Tyrod or almost any QB that got a good amount of starts was considered too conservative) is irrelevant. My point was that fans think any bad QB is either too conservative, doesn't get the ball downfield enough or too reckless. Fans are more than likely going to have the same complaints about McCarron.

I would rather have picks 12, 21, 53, 96, and a 2nd rounder next season than take that Jets package. The Bills still would have had 56 and 65 to work on some other needs and not given up much in next years draft.

The Jets !@#$ed the Bills as even if the Bills trade up to 2, or 4 they will have to either pay a higher price (Giants price has to go up if they are willing to deal) and the Qb at pick 4 isn't going to be as strong as the Bills had hoped.

I could dig into the archives but I was a regular poster around here during the Fitz years and there were consistent complaints that Fitz didn't get the ball down the field consistently enough. A lot of posters would consistently complain about Fitz throwing a 7 yard slant to Stevie on a 3rd and 10. Fitz threw a lot of bad picks because he was too willing to throw in tight windows and force things when the team was down.

I am hoping for the best with McCarron I think he has a chance to be a good QB. But my ire is with a lot of people thinking that because Tyrod is gone all the issues that plagued the offense are magically fixed and we will see McCarron be a 300 yard a game QB because the only thing holding the offense back from greatness was a QB that liked to run too much. The skill positions are lacking and the right side of the offensive line is still a mess. Tyrod was an issue for the offense but he wasn't the only issue for the offense and Tyrod being gone doesn't equate to the offense not having similar issues that have plagued Bills QB play for over 20 years. Tyrod was traded less than 2 weeks ago and is the most recent QB move the team made, let's not act like talking about the former QB of the team in the previous season isn't relevant to talking about how the offense will function differently in 2018 compared to 2017. It's not completely an irrelevant topic.

The Jets gave up a good amount to trade up to pick 3 but in the context of trading up for a QB they didn't give up much. The pick they got from Seattle was found money from the Richardson trade, their 2nd round (a high second rounder) and next years 2nd rounder is a steep cost but one you are more than willing to pay if it means landing your franchise QB. Compare that to the RGIII and Goff trades and it is a bargain.

Pick 3 was always the "Pick in play" Since the Colts said they were not trading Luck they had a top pick and were willing to trade down. The Browns are taking a QB at picks 1 or 4, the Giants are also in need of a QB at pick 2. The Broncos are a thirsty QB team at pick 5. So the only trade up scenario is pick 4 with maybe an outside shot at pick 2.

If the top 3 teams grab a QB then the Browns could be open for business at pick 4, unless they are just completely enamored with Barkley that a package of picks doesn't entice them. There also exists a trade up opportunity at pick 4 if the Giants take Barkley at 2 after the Browns take a QB.

Pick 4 seems like the most likely trade up scenario but that is only if Barkley is taken in the top 3. The Browns take a QB, the Giants take Barkely, and the Jets take a QB. That opens up the Browns (who have just drafted their QB) to take even more picks for a trade up.

This is crushing because unless the Browns are willing to trade down from 1 or the Giants from 2 this team will likely not land a top QB and will have to settle for a QB that falls to 12 or 22. The Colts were always going to be the spot for a trade up and now that spot is going to pick a QB. My hope is that the Browns take Barkley at number 1 and the Giants sell their pick off to build the roster around Eli Manning for the next 2-3 years trying to get one last run out of him. 12, 22, 53, 65, 96, and a pick next year would be a kings ransom that would allow the Giants to more easily rebuild around Eli and set a foundation for years to come. But if the Giants want a QB they simply can't pass up the opportunity to draft one.

Russell Wilson doesn't work that great in the pocket (Although, he is a lot better out of the pocket now) he runs to throw and runs to churn out yards and first downs. He scrambles a lot which affords his WR's the chance to make plays down the field. Granted Wilson is an exception to the rule but I think that saying running is a running backs function ignores the idea of a QB who can pass out of the pocket and run. Give me Cam Newton, prime Eagles Michael Vick, and to a lesser extent Andrew Luck as my QB any day of the week. All three players can do the standard pocket passing but all 3 were able to work effectively with their legs and do great things keeping plays alive and adding yards and first downs with running plays. I would take that additional level of dynamic playmaking any day of the week provided that such a QB also plays out of the pocket well. Tyrod never played out of the pocket well which just crushed his ability to function well in any offense not completely designed around him (Much like Seattle redesigned their offense around Russell Wilson.) McD didn't see a future with Tyrod and they got good value for him in a trade. But my main point in the original post is that going off of McCarron's body of work conservative QB play is likely to continue.

My main point is that some fans are delusional in thinking that McCarron is going to be a gunslinger QB who throws for 300 yards a game. Now could that happen? Yes anything is possible but expecting that to happen isn't logical based off of the evidence of his college and pro career thus far. A lot of the complaints about Tyrod (Doesn't throw the ball downfield enough, too conservative, and checks down on 3rd and long) always existed with every single Bills QB since I have been following this message board and other message boards about football and the Bills. JP Losman throws deep but hardly hits and can't work the intermediate area of the field, Trent Edwards was captain check down, Fitz could only throw short, EJ way too conservative, and Tyrod as we all know. Bledsoe towards the end suffered from can't get the ball downfield and too conservative the last 2 years, I wasn't monitoring the internet during the Flutie and Rob Johnson eras but I bet a lot here were saying a lot of the same about those two QB's. This teams QB issues didn't start with Tyrod. Hell Tyrod was the best Bills QB for a 3 year stretch since Jim Kelley arguably (I think Flutie being the only reasonable QB you could argue.) Now that's not praising Tyrod all that much that's more knocking on the lack of quality QB's that the team has had the past 22 years since Kelly retired. To hammer home the point, I expect AJ to be a game manager and a lot of the checkdowns and turnover averse play to continue. McCarron has played that way since college and I don't expect that to change. Now you can win with that type of QB since low turnovers and a QB That can make a few plays here or there is a winning formula but come September if AJ is starting I would wager that you would hear echos of the same complaints that have plagued Bills QB's for the past 22 years.