mjt328

Yep. There are two keys to this dynamic: 1. Getting the proper GM/Front Office in place 2. Getting the proper QB in place I think you can definitely see a (positive) change in direction over the last 2-3 seasons, particularly with the Browns and Bills. They now have both pieces in place. The Colts had the QB already, but the change in GM has made all the difference in the world in surrounding him with talent. The Jets may have got their QB, but I'm skeptical about their new GM. The Chiefs, Ravens and Texans just had changes at the top, and I'm curious if that hurts or helps long-term in surrounding their young QBs.

We already know Beane has no problems moving around the board. Based on everything he's said over the last few months, I really think he's been eying a trade-down this year. Of course, that all depends on who is available at #9 and what kind of offers other teams make. Free agency has played out perfectly for us, so that we can maximize value in the draft. And we still have around $40 million in cap space. They are clearly targeting the pass rush, and I expect them to make a move to grab another DE within the next few days. Sounds like they are going to make a nice offer to Ziggy Ansah, if he checks out medically. Our biggest need was O-Line. With the guys we've picked up, it's possible we already have our starting five on the roster. But we could also draft an OT or OG early, slide some people around and go into the season with upgraded depth. Our second biggest need was WR. By adding two solid veterans, we are no longer desperate to go here early. We don't have a clear #1 target, so I still think we draft someone on Day 1-2 here, but it's no longer a desperate situation. At this point, (in addition to another pass rusher as already mentioned) I think we still need to add another TE and a 3-Tech DT to replace Kyle Williams. Outside of that, we can literally go with anything when the draft comes around.

Yes. He's a good pass catcher. Which means (unlike Chris Ivory), he could take over the lead back role in the event of McCoy getting hurt. Not sure how much you put into PFF rankings, but Gore was their #11 runner last season.

Well... Here are the two narratives. Believe what you will... Those in Paradis' camp are saying the Jets prioritized getting Le'Veon Bell and wouldn't finalize the deal, so he bolted. The Jets are saying Paradis was never really interested in signing with them, just using their offer to drive up his market. Either way, I think Beane was smart in moving on to Morse. Both were very similar in value. It's just about whether you are more concerned with age (26 vs 29) or injuries (broken leg vs concussions).

Interesting sequence of events here (assuming the media reports have any truth to them): - Bills and Jets are supposedly in bidding war during the opening hours of free agency for Matt Paradis - Bills back out of contract talks with Paradis and almost immediately sign Mitch Morse - Instead of signing Paradis, the Jets seemingly move onto other targets like C.J. Mosley and Anthony Barr - Paradis resumes talks to return to the Broncos - Paradis suddenly signs with the Panthers for less than Morse got So the question is... Did the Bills always have Morse as their #1 target at center? Did the Jets pull/lower their offer once the Bills signed Morse and they had leverage?

Notice the teams at the bottom of the list are those who haven't had WINNING franchises in a long time. The article also says that Cleveland was by far the worst destination, and has been creeping up since hiring John Dorsey as GM.

My guess is that Daryl Williams is pricing himself out of the market for us. Ju'Wuan James was considered by most to be the #2 Right Tackle available (with Williams #1). He signed for $13 million per year, which is Top 10 Left Tackle money. Williams is going to want at least the same amount, if not more. Beane is playing the free agent game right. He's being aggressive and active, but not drastically overpaying. He's improving the roster, creating competition and opening up his options in the draft - but not overburdening the cap for future years. At the end of the day, I think this makes us more balanced across the board, with much better depth in case of injury.

The plan last year was to let LeSean McCoy carry the offense, then spell him with Chris Ivory in short-yardage situations. But after having a terrible season, the Bills are no longer certain McCoy can be a top runner. They also realized that Ivory is not a 3-down back, who can take his place if McCoy doesn't rebound this season. Something obviously needed to be done at the position. But it's never a good idea to spend big money on a free agent/veteran running back (like Le'Veon Bell), and with lots of holes on the roster, we will probably be using our early draft picks in other areas. To me, this signing tells me the front office is punting the RB decision until next season. Frank Gore is probably just a 1-year stopgap, who can split time with McCoy this year. If McCoy has truly lost a step, Gore should be able to take over the #1 role. Next year, I expect us to draft an RB within the first two rounds.

Was she never indicted because she didn't do anything wrong? Or because certain politicians are above the law? The federal government's top officials in the FBI and DOJ have been digging into Trump (and anyone loosely associated with him) for over two years, desperate to find anything that will bring him down. These are the most powerful and connected investigators in the entire world. All they have found is a half-dozen individuals who have committed tax fraud.

When it comes to building a team, free agency is something that needs to be used sparingly. The majority of work needs to be done through the draft. Sure. It's OK to hand-out a few big contracts (especially when you are in the midst of a major rebuild) to fill holes. In many cases, it's absolutely necessary. But if you aren't consistently drafting well, those moves won't equate to long-term success. There are only so many big-money players a team can afford. The Jets do have some extra space due to Sam Darnold being on a rookie contract (compared to a team paying $20-25 million for their QB). But each huge contract takes away from their ability to fill holes somewhere else, and hurts their depth across the board. Going out and signing CJ Mosley, Anthony Barr and Le'Veon Bell is great. But how long before those contracts force them to dump Trumaine Johnson (their big signing last year)? They just go from a big hole at linebacker to a big hole in the secondary. So far, I love Brandon Beane's approach to free agency. He can be aggressive in pursuit, but does have a limit on a player's value and knows when to call it quits.

Honestly, this hardcore opposition of a wall is just silly. If folks could just take away their feelings about the president, I don't understand how it's just a common sense move. 1. Lots of people are clearly coming into our country illegally. And many of them are coming through the southern border. 2. Even if you don't want to call it a "crisis" (which admittedly is overblown) - it's still obviously a problem that has a harmful impact on many U.S. citizens and the economy. 3. The first step towards keeping people out of a somewhere they shouldn't be... is erecting a wall, fence or structure to impede them. Will it 100% fix the problem? Of course not. But it certainly will help. Some people will find a way over/under the wall anyway. But the idea that every illegal is going to just scale a 20-25 foot structure with a grappling hook is ridiculous.

This is probably the worst group of free agent receivers I've ever seen. None of the guys on the market are going to make a significant impact. Yet all of them are signing absolutely insane contracts. Devin Funchess? Jamison Crowder? Adam Humphries? I realize that free agency always has guys getting vastly overpaid. But we are talking about #3 guys and slot receivers making Top 20 money. Every single GM is going to regret making these moves in about 6-7 months. Unless we go the trade route or someone gets cut (like you suggested), I'm already looking towards the draft at the WR position.

Pathetic. What a productive way for our elected officials to spend the next two years in office. Using our tax dollars to investigate everything and everyone every associated with the president, desperately hoping they can find some misdemeanor in his finances so they can impeach him.

Very similar to the Kevin Johnson signing. He's a young guy who has shown flashes, but has been derailed by injuries. I like these moves as value signings. But $6 million+ per year seems a little high.

I want to sign a few big free agents too. But every smart GM has a max. We are literally in the first 3-4 hours of the negotiation period. Hopefully Beane is making strong offers for the guys we really want. But there are lots of really good options still sitting out there. The Jets, Raiders, etc. can't bid on everyone, and that may leave us with some bargains with the second-tier guys.

Was this a guy anyone was targeting?

Getting either Matt Paradis or Mitch Morse are my #1 goals in Free Agency. They are the only two centers that would be considered upgrades. If we don't get either, center becomes a HUGE need in the draft. We don't want to go into the draft with more huge needs. I already think the wide receivers available in free agency are crap. So that makes WR a HUGE need in the draft.

When a premium WR is the only thing standing between you and being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. We currently need a WR, TE, OT, OG and C. We could also use a DT to replace Kyle Williams, and possibly some help with the pass rush. By next year, we will probably be needing a new RB and SLB. There is no way we can trade 2 first rounders (this was the trade presented by the OP) and nearly $20 million per year in cap space... and still have the ability to fill all these holes in the roster. I just don't see it. It's not just the money alone. It's the cap space AND the draft picks. Smart teams build through the draft. This move would drastically hinder our ability to do that. Julio Jones is a great player. But he doesn't turn this team into a Super Bowl contender by himself. Making a move for him would hurt us in other places. If not the O-Line, then with our pass rush, or with the ability to acquire other weapons. To build this team for long-term/sustained success, we need to keep drafting well. Each and every year. This helps limit the holes in your starting lineup. This helps build depth in case of injuries. This protects us when Free Agents eventually leave. Blowing multiple key picks on ONE GUY (unless we are talking QB) is just not smart. Unless you are one player away, and only care about short-term success.

This is my perspective. As a GM, you only have so many resources each year to upgrade your team. Barring a trade, you only have three premium draft picks (Rounds 1-3). After that, pretty much everyone you pick is a long-shot for success. You only have so much cap space, and most good starters are going to run at least $8-10 million. After that, you are hoping to get production out of someone else's castoffs. Julio Jones would likely cost two premium draft picks and would then need a contract of roughly $18-20 million per season. In terms of resources - that's the equivalent of roughly four good starters. There is a time and place where this kind of move makes sense. The Bills are not there yet. The Bills are in Year 2-3 of their rebuild project, depending on whether you count the hiring of McDermott or the hiring of Beane as the starting point. They go into this offseason with anywhere from 5 to 8 significant holes on the roster. If we play our cards right, I think we can address most if not all of these holes in the next two months. But NOT if we are giving away all of our resources for one guy. Making a move for Jones now, would give us a premium WR on the outside. But it would hinder us from upgrading the O-Line. Which means Josh Allen is still running around with no time, our running game is still getting 1 yard on first down, and we are still struggling to move the ball.

Things can change quickly. And I think last year marked the start of some big changes in the NFL power structure. I'm optimistic that some of the teams who have been awful for several years (particularly the Browns, Jets and Bills) finally were able to get their franchise QBs. If I'm right, don't be surprised if all three of these places are prime targets for free agents by next year. The teams who have been dominating during that same time (particularly the Patriots and Steelers) are inching closer towards their Hall-of-Fame leaders finally retiring. And as we already know, finding a new franchise QB is much easier said that done.

Let's see who gets the last laugh here. I would love to see Brown go to a team like the Broncos or Dolphins, who have a much better "reputation" around the league. But then Josh Allen blows up next year, and we are suddenly 10x better than those franchises.

I'm pretty thick skinned. And it usually doesn't bother me when people knock Buffalo as a destination. But Rotoworld's comments were extremely unprofessional and insulting. A "significant downgrade" in fantasy numbers and stats? Sure. Makes sense. A "significant downgrade" in contending for playoffs? Debatable, but OK fine. A "significant downgrade" in LIFE? That's just garbage. Who the #$%* is writing this trash?

Nobody knows for sure. But we do know that Buffalo was willing to offer more than anyone else.

Like I said earlier. I'm happy Beane did his due-diligence and explored what it would take to add Brown. I'm not happy that Beane was willing to offer more than 30 other GMs.

Please. You don't know that NONE of the top players want to play here. I've been watching this team for 30 years and we've rarely had trouble convincing Free Agents to come here, when we were willing to shell out the money they were looking for. There have been several times we managed to grab players who were Top 5-10 targets around the league (Mario Williams, Bryce Paup, Chris Spielman, Ted Washington, Sam Adams, Takeo Spikes). I agree that SOME of the top players don't want to play here. And a big-headed, egotistical idiot like Antonio Brown who believes the entire world revolves around him, is part of that group. Oh well. My thing is, anyone with that kind of attitude is probably not a good thing for a young and growing team. Everybody is different. If I was an NFL player, I would do everything in my power to avoid ending up in certain cities. I would hate living in New York City or anywhere in California. Those places are not my style. I'm also not sure I could convince myself to play for a coach like Bill Belichick.