Kirby Jackson

This thread isn’t intended to trash the rest of the trash teams in the AFC East. We heard A LOT this offseason about Miami and the Jets overtaking the Bills. 2 months later, that sounds hilarious and a lot of “football people” lost credibility here. 😂😂 The question is, “what’s next?” The Bills have owned the last 5 years of the division. Entering the season, 2 teams had lower odds to win the division. That was clearly ridiculous. Those 2 teams pushed their chips in and flamed out in epic fashion. Each team loaded up with vets putting out on 18. They both appear heading for massive rebuilds (the Jets more than the Fins). The Bills arrow and trajectory is pointing up. This was a bit of a “reset” but without any step back. What does the division look like in 2025 and beyond? How long does the Bills run go? What changes do our “rivals” make? Who is the biggest threat? I personally think by late 2025 the Pats may be the next best team in the division. 😂😂 It’s interesting to me because generally after 4 straight division titles, the gap closes. It appears that the gap may never be bigger than it is right now.

That’s an interesting one to me. Tate might have been more explosive but feel like Shakir has better contact balance. Tate had a 4 year span where he was really good (averaged over 95 catches and like 1100 yards I think). I also think he was kind of an idiot if memory serves me correctly. Shakir feels like a future captain. If Shakir can be the player of prime Tate with his current attitude/leadership he will be a key piece of the team for many years.

We have no idea what the situation is. It feels like Poona Ford all over again. He was a good player. The Bills signed him. He was largely inactive. They let him go and he is immediately a starter again. None of us know the situation other than the Bills didn’t like either player after they got to Buffalo.

We are NEVER going to agree on the this. Being very good after the catch for 91 catches is totally different than being really good after the catch for 1000 catches. Khalil Shakir needs 5-6 more years at this current rate for me to even consider putting him in the conversation with a borderline HOFer with the same skill set. At any rate, I think this speaks to how good Shakir has been and is also terrifying about the sustainability of this level of play:

I’d bet that you could dump him without attaching an asset. Maybe it’s a pick swap or a late round pick. He’s still only making like $8M a year. For context, Gabe is making $13M a year.

Sorry, to be clear that’s what I would have done not what I thought the Bills would do. Rapp was going to start when they brought him back. I would have used him as the 3rd safety again this year.

Bass Josh Taron Mack Ray Davis

I don’t like this at all. I thought Edwards and Bishop should have been the safeties with Rapp as the 3rd guy. Rapp has been fine though. Safety is a weakness and they have a guy that has been a good NFL player that they never gave a chance to. This is Poona Ford 2.0. Edwards should have gotten a chance.

I too agree that he’s special with the ball in his hands. He’s been great after the catch. There are just miles to go to get to what Hines Ward did, consistently for 14 seasons.

John Brown was pretty much exclusively a deep threat. Boldin ran a 4.71!! Of course he wasn’t a deep threat. That’s apples and oranges. Shakir and Ward play a similar style. They are physical WRs, with good hands, converted from different positions, that run after the catch. I think that’s what your heart tells you and not your eyes. Go back and watch Hines Ward highlights. To say that Shakir is “much better” with the ball in his hands, than this guy that had 1000 catches & 12000+ yards is blasphemous.

I generally agree. Ben Johnson proved last year though that he can “wait it out.” Josh McDaniels did that once or twice. Most people have to jump at it. He’s an exception. He will likely be a HC next year but he will pick the team.

This isn’t a surprise. If Brady gets a HC job, New Orleans was always the obvious place. I think Kevin Stefanski would be a fine replacement.

I’d like to see some combination of Chase Young, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Darius Slayton, Jadeveon Clowney and Budda Baker. Ideally, I’d like 2 but that’s tight to the cap unless we have a player(s) going out.

Yeah, receiver value is crazy. If the Cowboys believe that Panthers situation is a train wreck (which it may or may not be) they’re banking on the talent and frame. If he becomes what Gallup was, it’s a good deal. You need 3 or 4 quality receivers in today’s NFL.

I think that’s about the right number. $30M still will have you in the bottom 10 I would think. There’s enough to make a few moves. Other teams will have cuts and restructures obviously as well. I think the following year the Bills will have a lot of space.

I think that this accounts for the rising cap. I agree that they will have more but in cutting guys like Knox and Von youre creating holes that you need to fill. The point was, there is NO REASON to hold firm with the hopes of spending in the offseason. You’re 3rd in this week’s power ranking. That means the experts have you as the 3rd best team in football. Why would you not flip picks for players when you have holes?

For those of you asking to hold out because of the dead cap space, 2025 isn’t the year it all shakes free: This is important context in terms of making moves.

The Bills have like the 4th least cap space in the NFL next year. This absolutely is a time to push the chips in. The league is there for the taking and the Bills have lots of day 3 picks. Za’Darius Smith & a 7th was just traded for a 5th & 6th. You should certainly be making moves like that if you can fit guys in. You’re 7-2!! Why punt on a year of Josh’s prime, where you are almost assured of hosting (at least) a playoff game?

He’s been great with the ball in his hands. Your eyes are telling you what your heart wants to believe. I’m fine saying that he’s been even better than Robert Woods with the ball in his hands. That’s high praise. Saying that he’s been better than a fringe HOFer, who was very good after the catch, feels like blind homerism. He has a LONG way to go until we should be saying that he’s better after the catch than Hines Ward. He’s off to a great start but isn’t yet 10% of the way there. Ward is a 3 time all-pro, 2 time Super Bowl champ, and Super Bowl MVP. He was as physical as pretty much any WR that has ever played. Hines Ward is who we all hope Shakir becomes.

I know. What was Ward’s yac? I couldn’t find it. Shakir has been great. I’m just not comfortable saying that he is “way better” at something than a fringe HOFer that excelled at that skill. Just feels like unnecessary hyperbole that sets unrealistic expectations for a blossoming player.

I like this comparison a lot. Woods was a little more of a vertical threat but Shakir is better after the catch. They both have great contact balance and are reliable outlets for the QB. Hines Ward had 1,000 receptions, over 12,000 yards and 85 TDs. He’s a fringe hall of famer. Let’s slow down with our comparisons, especially when we are putting Shakir above that.

Marcel tweeted that (although I no longer see it). I knew that it wasn’t a lot but that’s insane. Thankfully, it was enough today.

Mack was fine today. He’s tough and caught all 5 balls thrown his way. This was, by far, his best game. He’s just so limited physically that he should never play that many snaps (although I get it with injuries). He helped in that victory today. The Bills really need Amari back. That was clear today. They did a nice job scheming without him but have to be able to drive the ball 15 yards down the field. I really love that they are getting so much yac now. With that being said, the pendulum has to swing that far without Amari on the field. When he’s in there it is a nice balance. They survived vs. Miami but 32 of 39 throws of 5 air yards or less isn’t sustainable (even with as good as Josh is).

Yeah, I don’t see it. Gibbs makes their offense different. I could see 2 1sts and Montgomery I suppose.

Let me preface this with, “Mike Tannebaum is a clown and there is a reason that he is no longer a GM.” With that being said, he WAS AN NFL GM. Obviously the below is crazy but those of you that think a 2nd and Elam is realistic, you might be crazier. Here is what he put out there for Garrett: For those of you that don’t want to watch: 3 firsts, a 2nd and Gibbs.