[Bills top 30 visits]

On 3/13/2024 at 7:13 AM, H2o said:

Here is a list of guys we met with at the Combine apparently. 

 

All of these make sense except Bo Nix? The Bills are not going to draft a QB high up and Nix is likely to go at least in the first 2-3 rounds. Maybe just kicking the tires on a player?

[Bills sign C/G Will Clapp]

I hope this is more of a camp body pickup. He's not highly regarded by any fans of the teams he played on even as a backup they say he was pretty bad. While he is coming off of a injury Chargers fans did say he played decently for the most part last season so that's a positive. I really hope the Bills invest at least two draft picks into the offensive line. I don't like the depth and Edwards while not a bad starter is not someone I am confident in. Outside of Van Denmark as a capable swing tackle I don't really like what the team has depth wise along the offensive line. 

[How do the team's moves so far impact the Bill's draft needs?]

2 hours ago, nedboy7 said:

I believe all these moves are making it easier to draft the BPA in each round rather than need.  I don't see how a late first round WR is the solution to winning a SB although I have no problem with it if Bean gets his guy.  Second round is also fine depending on who falls to 28. 

I tend to agree with you. The Bills fan base myself included may not like Rapp and Edwards starting but the front office probably feels ok with that situation if the value in the draft is elsewhere.

 

Beane has stated his goal is to not go into the draft with any glaring holes and I think in the regimes mind they have accomplished that.

 

They will likely target WR, CB, S, RB, Oline and Dline in the draft with RB and CB being primarily depth needs. 

 

2 hours ago, NastyNateSoldiers said:

At the very least gonna take a 4,5 & 6 to get BK in the 3rd

I don’t think the Bills goal is to trade from the late 4th up to the 3rd. Given the need for depth and development is higher this season due to the youth movement the Bills likely are going to roster 7-9 draft picks so while they have 11 picks I think the consolidation is going to be more so moving up to the middle or early part of round 4 or sliding a few spots up in round 2 or 1 if needed.

[How do the team's moves so far impact the Bill's draft needs?]

Looking at the Bills current roster and the trend of how many and what type of players the team carries on the roster I think you are looking at the Bills likely being able to roster 9 maybe 10 draft picks. 
 

Positions where they can likely roster a draft pick or two. This is in no order.

 

1- WR: Bills usually carry 5-6 WR’s they have 3 players who are locks in Diggs, Samuel and Shakir and they have another player who is strongly likely to make it in Hollins. Justin Shorter is also there and will likely be given a good chance to make the roster. The Bills could add a 6th WR both for added depth and to develop an heir apparent for Diggs. Also I don’t think Shorter is enough of a quality WR that they shouldn’t pass on taking additional depth there.

 

2- RB - Cook and Ty Johnson are a solid 1-2 combo but the Bills usually roster 3 RB’s and probably could use depth and special teams help by filling this RB3 role in the draft.

 

3 and 4 Offensive Line - The Bills usually carry about 9-10 offensive line players. Dawkins, Edwards, McGovern, Torrence and Brown are the starters while Van Denmark and Alex Anderson are the current depth. Right now they could easily roster two picks here and likely should try to find a starting center or guard to take Edwards out of the starting lineup and move him to the bench.

 

5 and 6 DT - I am assuming they will sign at least one rotational DT but given that the Bills carry 5 DT’s they probably will have room for at least one draft selection if not two if they don’t sign more than one DT. 
 

7- DE - The Bills DE rotation is AJE, Von, Groot, Kingsley Jonathan and Toohill. They usually carry six DE’s and can likely add a pick to pad out the rotation and help add a long term piece.

 

8- Safety - Bills carry about 5 safeties. Right now they have 4 with the starting combo being Edwards and Rapp. Hamlin and Cam Lewis are on the bench. They likely will want to add a young player to add more depth and long term take over one of the spots.

 

9- Corner - Bills carry about 6 corners. Right now they have Douglas, Benford, Taron, Elam and Ingram. Easily can at least roster one more CB if not two depending on how they feel about Ingram.

 

I could see them spending late round picks at LB or TE to add competition for Spector and Morris but I don’t think they want to risk what happened last season where they lose draft picks to waivers. I think they could also draft a kicker or punter late but for whatever reason I don’t think they will do that.

 

1 hour ago, In Summary said:

Agree. I don't like having to rely on the assumption that McGovern is a center and Edwards is as effective as McGovern at guard. 

That’s my feeling. The Bills finally last season properly invested in the offensive line adding the best guard in the draft and adding McGovern to anchor the other guard spot while adding Edwards for depth. 
 

They even brought in Snell and Quessenberry to compete with Brown. But I don’t like how they gutting the line depth by cutting Morse and trading Bates and now have inserted Edwards as a starter. 
 

Ideally I would love to see the Bills address offensive line twice in the draft. But I fear they are very comfortable with what they have and will only be drafting for depth.

[Marvin Harrison Jr wants to be a Bill]

28 minutes ago, Juice_32 said:

I'd rather have Nabers. I have a weird feeling we are gong to make a move for him.

I don’t foresee a Bills trade up into the top 10 or even the teens. I think if the Bills trade up in round 1 it’s going to be 2-3 spots similar to last draft. I think a trade up in round 2 of 4 will happen.

 

The Bills currently have 11 draft picks. Looking at the current roster assuming they sign 1-2 more rotational defensive linemen the Bills based on past roster trends and the standing of the current roster will only likely be able to roster 9 draft picks maybe even less if they are more active in the later stages of free agency.

 

So the Bills are going to have to consolidate the picks a bit or trade a pick away for future considerations. I do think that unlike the past draft the Bills do have more depth needs than they have had the past few seasons entering the draft.

 

So I do think they are going to want to make at least 8-9 selections to further solidify the depth long and short term on the roster and a trade up massively in round 1 would heavily deplete the Bills picks or massively borrow from future selections which I don’t think they want to do.

[Marvin Harrison Jr wants to be a Bill]

Even if Harrison dropped to pick 5 (which is probably as far as he can fall) trading up with the Chargers would probably cost pick 28, 60, 128 and a 1st in 2025 and a 2nd in 2026 and maybe some additional draft considerations.

I love Harrison as a prospect but unless it is for a QB I don’t think any non-QB prospect is worth such a massive trade up. Not that a stud dynamic receiver isn’t a great thing to have but in the NFL it’s almost always a bad idea to give up so much draft capital for a non-QB simply because injuries to one player can derail all that capital.

 

Building rosters in the NFL is more about Quantity of solid talent than it is about hitting on one elite player that isn’t a QB. You need to try to hit on as many picks as possible to build a roster around a salary cap and build a deep roster.

 

Give me more chances to hit on good players vs putting all my eggs in one basket.

 

[Safety Julian Blackmon visiting Bills]

6 minutes ago, TheBeaneBandit said:

It's not like a tree where a Hyde and Poyer can be plucked every draft. You only get late round guys that pan out like that every so often.

The Bills recent draft history from rounds 4-7 since 2017 under the McD and then eventually McBeane has been pretty good.

 

Milano, Taron Johnson, Gabe Davis, Dane Jackson and Benford all ended up being productive to great starters drafted in rounds 4-7. They also found Wyatt Teller and Ray Ray McCloud both of whole went on to have good careers elsewhere. In addition to those players the Bills also found solid role players in Siran Neal, Tyler Bass and Hamlin.

 

That being said there were about 15 misses in those rounds in that same time period. So it’s a total crap shoot.

[We are set at WR. Maybe we’ll grab one in Round 6.]

The need for WR is more long term to get an “heir apparent” for Diggs. But a fun troll job 

[Stadium Construction Discussion (No PSL/Seat selection posts)]

PSL’s are a scam and given the anti trust exemption that many leagues get they shouldn’t exist.

[Does Josh Allen still work as hard in the offseason?]

Josh’s time will come…

[Bills sign a safety!!!! Mike Edwards a Bill]

1 minute ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

Thinking back, I felt the same way when Hyde and Poyer showed up.  Neither had really given an indication of how good they would become.  McD needs to work his magic. I do hope the Bills draft someone that can play sooner rather than later.  Having to play Lewis and Hamlin would be a nightmare scenario. 

I loved the Hyde signing. He was so highly regarded by Green Bay fans. He played all over the secondary and had 33 starts under his belt. He was a fairly big signing at 5 years 30 million with 14 million guaranteed. It was one of the highest safety contracts that off season. I think if you check the board many fans were very high on that signing. It wasn’t a stretch that Hyde would be a top 5-10 safety.

 

Po on the other hand was a complete unknown. The Bills seemingly gave a safety with 8 starts over 4 years and a player coming off an injury a 4 year deal with a modest guarantee. I didn’t understand that signing at all. It seemed like the Bills overpaid for a player that could have been had on a one year cheap deal.

 

No one or almost no one though Po would be an All Pro caliber safety 

[Bills sign a safety!!!! Mike Edwards a Bill]

6 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I think we'll be okay. It's just the safety position. I know we were spoiled for years by Hyde and Poyer but most defenses these days get by with mediocre safeties. Edwards was basically a starter for a championship defense last season.

 

I would rather have Edwards and Rapp at safety than say Simmons and Poyer for example. The latter pair is obviously much more talented but redistributing resources spent on the roster to more important positions is a still a more valuable outcome IMO.

 

Last year I was certain that we didn't have even a replacement level MLB on the roster and it turned out fine. This will turn out fine too, I think. As long as Beane doesn't use it as an excuse to reach for a safety in round 1 or 2.

 

The Bills fielded a very good defense (for the most part when they were reasonably healthy) last season despite Hyde and Po being past their primes. 
 

Don’t get me wrong Hyde and Po were still effective starting caliber safeties but they weren’t as dominant as they were from 2017-2021 when they were a top tandem in the league. 
 

So it isn’t like the team is going from elite safety play to what may be an average to below average tandem. I still hope they can bring in a mid round safety to take a spot from Rapp who is better as a “Big Nickel” and a backup than as a day one starter.

[Bills sign a safety!!!! Mike Edwards a Bill]

1 minute ago, Success said:

 

First thing I do when we sign someone is check his previous team's boards (as I'm sure many fans do).

 

They really liked this guy.  Nothing over the top, but it sounds like he's a gamer who will fit in well here.

 

Sounds like he makes the plays he is “supposed” to make. The knock on him is that he’s just an average athlete so he doesn’t have dynamic range and he misses tackles a lot.

 

The positives are that he is very smart and almost always puts himself in a good position to make a play. He’s also not a bad athlete so he’s not bad range wise either.

 

I don’t think Po and Hyde were considered all that great athletes so I think the fit here makes sense. I am much higher on this signing than I was earlier in the day. 
 

I am still concerned with Rapp as a starter. Probably going to draft a safety to compete with Rapp but the Edwards signing is a nice one year “stop gap” solution 

[DE Austin Johnson visiting the Bills today - UPDATE: DaQuan Jones says we got him]

6 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Bills defense will be significantly less talented this year. McDermott has his hands full. But that’s his job.

 

I am not sure it’s that much less talented. Poyer and Hyde while still effective safeties were past their primes. Edwards and Rapp aren’t going to be special but are they going to be that much worse? Leonard Floyd is a major loss but I think Von will bounce back and fill in that talent gap.

 

The rest of the losses on defense were either depth (Dane Jackson and Dodson) or marginal rotation defensive linemen who didn’t have a major impact (Shaq, Settle, Ford and Phillips). Tre White has been effectively replaced by Douglas so there’s no net loss there.

 

What’s going to be a challenge for McD in my opinion is hitting on the draft to add more to the defense both in terms of filling out depth (probably want to find a corner to replace Dane and a safety to develop) and finding good defensive linemen to add to the rotation. 

[DE Austin Johnson visiting the Bills today - UPDATE: DaQuan Jones says we got him]

As a rotational DT who will likely be the main one tech backup I honestly don’t mind the move. He’s had 55 starts in his career so he’s experienced. I think he will take the Poona Ford spot of being the main backup “run stuffer” in case Daquon goes out.
 

Hopefully it plays out better than Ford did as Ford got off to a very slow start to the season to the point where he quickly fell out of the rotation. Then when given the chance to play when Daquon went out he was so bad that they had to go out and sign Lincal Joseph.

 

Of course Ford did have some flashes towards the end of the season but overall the signing was mostly uneventful. 

[Bills have private workout scheduled with WR Troy Franklin]

I don't know if the Bills would be thinking about Franklin at pick 28. Most pundits and scouts don't have him as a first round player more of a mid-second round talent. But if the Bills are looking to trade down from 28 and they pick in the late 30's early 40's or if Franklin slips down a bit in round 2 they could be looking at a trade up from pick 60. 

 

I like Franklin as a prospect, he can add some nice boundary WR play and long term develop into a quality WR. If the Bills can pick up a 3rd round pick (plus a mid-rounder in 2025) and trade down to the 36-42 range and get him that would really be good. 

[Casey Toohill signed]

14 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Let’s see what this guy is getting paid in terms of guaranteed … I expect them to bring in another guy at DE as well either draft or someone still on the shelf later 

 

It doesn’t close the door on Shaq .. just makes it more difficult… I think he likes it in Buffalo at this stage of his career and might even settle for a PS position 

 

I wouldn't mind Shaq as the 5th/6th DE on the roster he's still a good run defender and not the worst pass rusher. You could do worse. However, I think the Bills are on a bit of a youth movement especially along the defensive line where they have thus far let Poona Ford, Leonard Floyd and Tim Settle sign with other teams while Jordan Phillips, Linval Joseph (whose probably going to retire or take a mid-season contract) and Shaq remain unsigned. The only vet they brought back was Daquon whose really the only one tech they had. 

 

Still a lot of options out there to round out the rotation and time/room for Shaq to get a camp spot. 

[Safety Julian Blackmon visiting Bills]

6 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Achilles surgery has made some big advances over the last few years, it’s not the career killer that it was.

 

He still has a break out season after that injury also. 

 

He's been healthy back to back seasons removed from the achilles injury. He's proven his ability to come back and play at a pretty good level for an extended period of time. Blackmon would be a nice starting caliber young safety to plug in and then the Bills can draft in the mid-round depth and competition for Rapp and possibly in the late rounds double dip for depth and someone that can play special teams. 

 

Even if they miss out on Blackmon there are still other vet options on the market. 

[Jeremiah has us taking a DT at 28 in his latest mock]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

They don’t draft DT’s.

 

They only have 2 viable DT's on the roster in D.Jones and Ed Oliver, in past years they have had a lot of solid vet DT's plus Ed in the mix. This year Poona Ford and Tim Settle have signed elsewhere and Jordan Phillips is still a free agent. The Bills probably will enter the draft actually need to fill out the DT rotation by drafting at least one DT if not two. 

[Jeremiah has us taking a DT at 28 in his latest mock]

I wouldn't hate a first round DL player. There could be other WR's like Troy Franklin that can be a nice add for both short term depth and long term development at WR. I just don't want to see a first round safety. The Bills can go WR, OL or DL at pick 28 and I am fine. Either make sure Josh always has a ton of good WR's and an heir apparent for Diggs or strengthen either side of the line which is always a good idea. 

[Casey Toohill signed]

1 hour ago, Aussie Joe said:

Does this mean goodbye Shaq Lawson? 

 

I am not sure this is preventing Shaq from coming into camp to compete for that back end of the rotation DE spot. Seems like this guy is more of a marginal DL addition. 

[Marquise Brown going to the Chiefs]

Smart signing low risk high reward. But I am not too worried about it he’s a bit injury prone and never had a true breakthrough 

[CURTIS SAMUEL A BILL]

3 minutes ago, bobobonators said:

I think a lot of ppl seem to overlook this fact. I fully expect Kincaid to get a lions share of the targets next season. 
 

Kincaid

Diggs

Samuel

 

sprinkle in Shakir and Knox. 
 

id take a flyer on a rookie WR with insane physical skills but some red flags in the 3rd or 4th rd. 

 

I still wouldn't mind taking a WR at pick 28 or 60. I kind of look at Samuel as replacing Gabe (I think Samuel is a better fit but for a conservative estimate I will assume similar production) and while I think a top 6 passing target options for Josh being Diggs, Kincaid, Shakir, Samuel, Knox, and Cook is solid but I still think they may need more juice at WR both short and long term. It's not as pressing a short term need and they are no longer in a position where they have to take a WR fairly high up. 

 

I mainly see the need as adding some more pop and depth short term but also having a quality player there to hopefully take over for Diggs as he inevetiably declines. But certainly having more flexiblity in the draft is a positive. 

[CURTIS SAMUEL A BILL]

I like the move, not a huge move but a positive consistent outside WR who is fairly young (will be 28 this upcoming season) and signed to a nice deal. Stats wise he's not that dissimilar from Gabe Davis factoring in that while Gabe had more yards and TD's the past two seasons Samuel was not having Josh Allen throwing to him. Samuel also has a much higher catch percentage with 68% and 69% catch percentages compared to Gabe's rather bad 51% and 55% catch percentages. 

 

It doesn't mean that I still don't think that the Bills shouldn't draft a WR up high as they have to think about adding both depth and someone to down the line take over for Diggs whose suddenly entering his age 31 season and WR's usually hit the wall around age 32/33. BUT this does at the very least give the Bills some flexibility in terms of where they can go with picks 28 and 60. They can trade down to pick up extra picks in this and the 2025 draft if a trade-down presents its self. They can overload the WR position and just take one at pick 28 or they can address another need (maybe take the best center in the draft and just build a wall on the O-line or take a defensive player). 

 

It can kind of look like a lateral move replacing Gabe with a player who puts up similar numbers (but given that Samuel is significantly cheaper a lateral move is still a positive move) but I like the fit better with Samuel being a more sure handed reciever. Drops can kill an offense and having a player with a much better catch percentage on similar volume makes a positive impact and opens up the draft board. 

[Arik Armstead released, signs with Jax]

19 minutes ago, ndirish1978 said:

 

I expect WR to be filled in the draft. I'd just rather have Justin Simmons than Armstead. That's just my opinion, you can feel free to disagree with me though. 

I too would rather go after a younger safety (maybe not Simmons who is 30) to fill that hole on the back end rather than go after Armstead. I think that McD has not proven he can find unheralded safety talent and plug them in for good production.

 

McD has had the combo of Po and Hyde since 2017. Since McD got here he’s only had one year when he had to plug in for either long term and that was 2022 when Hyde was out for the year. That year they ended up going with Hamlin who was not that great (certainly not bad but played like a decent backup safety). Really the only unheralded guy McD has found at safety has been Po who was signed in 2017, Hyde was a fairly big FA acquisition.
 

At corner McD has proven he can find players all over the draft and free agency. Dane Jackson and Benford were 6th rounders who played well, Levi Wallace looked competent as a UDFA and T Johnson one of the better slot corners in the league was a 4th round pick. 
 

So while I think McD is great in the secondary overall I still don’t like the idea of having to spend a higher draft choice to play next to Rapp or going with Rapp and a mid round pick there. I much rather would find a younger safety in the 26-27 age range that is more proven to anchor one spot for the next few years and then draft a safety in the mid rounds to compete with Rapp.