BillsFan4

I don't think he will be there at #21, but I would love it if he was. I'd run up to the podium with that pick if I were the Bills and he was still there at our pick. Its TD so hard to predict the draft though. Every year guys fall that I'd never expect to, and others go way higher than I thought they would. So, who knows...

That would be my guess as well, especially since Carpenter himself said that he and the Bills "mutually agreed that now is the time" to retire/part ways.

Interesting. I remember reading that Marrone and Whaley wanted to replace him, and thought his training methods were too old school for the players today. Edit - here's the first article I could find on it - http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000328741/article/{ballotUrl}

Great article. Thank you Shady!

I am wondering if Minnesota is going to be in the running for Cousins. They could be an appealing destination. They have a very good young team, great defense (they were in fact the #1 defense in the NFL - in both PPG and YPG). They also have tons of cap space - $50+ M. If they decide they'd rather have Cousins over Keenum and/or Bridgewater (I sure would), the Vikings could be a strong suitor for Cousins. I am still rooting for the Bills to land him. My dream is one of Cousins, Luck or 1 of the top 3 QBs in this draft (Rosen, Darnold, Mayfield). Cousins would be great because he'd leave us a bunch of draft picks to fill a bunch of holes, and it would hopefully allow the Bills to build on last season and make a playoff push instead of a potential step back with an unproven rookie QB. I also believe that Cousins is nowhere near his ceiling yet. With how hard he works and studies, I only see him getting better. He's only been starting 3 years.

Im not exactly sure what I learned from the Cousins trade, except that he seems to be valued higher by NFL teams than he is by fans and media. 1) I definitely think Alex Smith is a top 10-15 QB. I'd put him top 15 comfortably. Top 10 last year for sure. But yes, that contract was pretty damn high for him. As of now, I believe he is the #5 highest paid QB, and that's just insane. 2) I'm not sure if any players rights have been traded in the NFL recently, have they? Alex Smith was actually still under contract for 1 more year. I think The Redskins just wanted to make sure they had him for more than 1 year (without having to use the franchise tag 2x in a row again like the whole Cousins situation) at a price they felt comfortable with, in order to give up what they did in the trade. 3) I am also not sure that the Browns are not sold on the rookie QB class just because they tried to trade for Smith. Mary Kay Cabot, who is usually pretty plugged in with the Browns, said that the Browns were willing to give up a 2nd but were not willing to make the finaicial cmmitment to Smith that Washington did. http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2018/01/browns_tried_to_trade_for_alex.html I think they were (and still are) just looking for a good veteran bridge QB for the short term. My guess is that Dorsey wants to build up the team first, to have a stronger supporting cast for a young QB before throwing him into the fire. 4) Beane has done some good work clearing cap space in a short amount of time. They will take their lumps this year (dead cap of what, $29M?) but then 2019 looks excellent with $70+ M. They may not have the amount of cap space some teams like Cleveland and the NY Jets do, but we have enough that we could fit Cousins in, and they could always structure it so that the cap hit is lower this year and higher in 2019 when they have much more space. And like you said, we have more cap space than the Broncos do who I think will be big competition for Cousins. I think Minnesota is a dark horse candidate for Cousins. IIRC they have like 50+M in cap space and just went to the NFC Championship. They have a great young defense and team. If they decide they'd rather have Cousins than Keenum or Bridgewater, I think they stand a very good chance at landing him. 5) we will know a lot more after the first week of the new league year when free agency and trade windows open back up, but yes as of now I see 3 to 4 teams in front of us that need a QB. I still count the NY Giants because I could easily see them taking one at #2 or trading back with a team in the top 6 to still have a shot at their RB if they choose not to take a QB. I do think #3 is a good trade target, just not sure if the Bills have the assets to do it, especially if competing against teams much higher in the draft order than they are. I am definitely curious to see how this draft shakes out though. I can see as many as 5 QBs going off the board in the 1st. BTW Good post, Virgil. I enjoyed reading through it.

I don't think McDaniels would do that to Belichick & the Patriots. If they were going to trade him I don't think it would be anywhere in the AFC. It's a great dream though...

Hey! I resent that! I'm not on the couch. I'm sitting in my recliner.

As much as I want an upgrade on Tyrod for next season, I would actually be totally fine with Tyrod coming back next year if the Bills somehow managed to draft a QB high (Mayfield, Darnold, Rosen). If by "draft a QB high" you mean whichever QB falls to us at 21/22, or moving up to the teens for someone like Allen or Rudolph, I can't say I'd be quite as enthusiastic about that, but I'm sure I'd still be excited. Id also like to say that as badly as I want a better QB for next season, I'm not one of those people screaming "I want Tyrod gone no matter what! ANYONE would be better!". No, I only want Tyrod gone if it's for a legitimate improvement, and I know that as much as he struggled we still could do worse (and we have). And I also know that the Bills may not be able to solve their long term QB problem this season.

Here Shaw - https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/11/29/kirk-cousins-washington-redskins-quarterback I agree. I have thought that same thing ever since reading that article. Seems like McD and Cousins would be a great match. They both seem to share a similar traits and belief in what it takes to win. I am really hoping that he chooses Buffalo and will continue to hope until he is signed somewhere. I'd be thrilled if he ended up here. I think he is very driven to continue getting better and although the price may be high I think it would be a good gamble to take. I just think Denver has more talent currently, on both sides of the ball, and probably looks like the more attractive option. Look at the weapons he would have on offense. Look at the talent they have on defense. Then compare it to Buffalo's roster. We have some pieces but we are not as talented as Denver IMO. Shaw - what I was saying in my previous post is that Cousins could step onto the Broncos and (again, assuming their defense rebounds) they'd basically be ready to try to make a playoff run as soon as next year, and continue to do so for the immediate future (next 3-5 years). They still have a lot of the pieces from that super bowl team and a window to win that could open right back up with a good QB. I would love to be wrong about Denver appealing to him, and I hope that I am. I guess, as a Bills fan, am just trying to prepare myself for disappointment... I have thought all along that him and Smith were our best shot at an upgrade for the immediate future, and was kinda bummed when Smith went to Washington. But I'd rather have Cousins anyway, so hopefully it happens! If it comes down to coaching and ownership, then I think we win hands down. Lets just hope that McDermott and Beane get a chance to sell Cousins on their long term vision, and that he buys in.

As much as I may not want to admit it, Denver makes much more sense than Buffalo for Cousins. Yes, they were worse than us this season, but they are barely 2 years removed from winning the Super Bowl. They have a veteran team, a lot of good, skilled playmakers on offense and a good QB could really put them over the top again (assuming their defense rebounds). The head coach may be a question mark at the moment, but other than that they have a whole lot going for them. I feel that Buffalo is a team on the rise and should be looked at more favorably by free agents. But we just this year broke a 17yr playoff drought. I'm guessing that the Bills have a lot more proving to do to the rest of the league before we are really taken seriously by free agents looking to win (especially if they're not just looking to win, but win a championship).

Damn. Our QB upgrade options are quickly disappearing. Smith, Cousins, McCarren... I am starting to be more and more on board with a trade up for Rosen, Mayfield, Darnold. I am not seeing many options left for an upgrade at QB. But I really don't know that Beane will be willing to give up how draft to move way up for a QB, especially sitting at #21. It is starting to look like a lot of people (including myself) may be disappointed at what the Bills roll out at QB next season. Unfortunately, this may not be a problem that the Bills can solve this year. But there is still a lot of time, so I'm not giving up hope yet by any means. We are just going to have to draft our long term solution. Buffalo is not a destination and probably never will be (unless we somehow turn into a true perennial super bowl contender)

What a great read. Very sad, though. Always like A Will. Wish him all the best in whatever he does in the future.

I think Butler would be viewed as an upgrade in most NFL circles. He's had an awful lot of success as a DB coach (#2 rated passing defense 3 of the last 4 years). And he is looked at as a defensive coordinator, and maybe even head coach (eventually) in waiting. I cant remember seeing anyone say that about Gill Byrd. I don't remember him ever even being brought up in DC or HC conversations. I just don't see how you can say it's cronyism when we are talking about a guy with such a successful track record as a DB coach.

It is very frustrating to watch. They struggle so so badly to break out of their end, as well as transitioning through the neutral zone and entering the offensive zone. Far too often, when they finally do get it out of their zone, they just chip it into the neutral zone (or lose possession in the neutral zone) and turn possession right back over to the other team so they can go right back on the attack. They really struggle entering the offensive zone with any speed, too. It's like for some reason whenever they approach the opponents blue line the puck carrier slows down. Or they just stop moving their feet when the puck is passed to them. I really don't get why they struggle with some of these things. You can see they can do this stuff in spurts. They just can't do it consistently for whatever reason. Sometimes I wonder if it's just effort level...

I wonder if we will eventually find out whether or not Cousins was actually willing to sign there. I have no clue if he was or not, but I just got the impression, from listening to Cousins as well as some of the stuff I've read/heard, that he really didn't have much interest in staying there. If that was indeed the case then I can't really blame Washington for making the trade. You can do a lot worse than Alex Smith for the next few years.

I am still a bit disappointed that the Bills couldn't acquire Smith (again, because I felt he might have been a realistic shot at an upgrade for next season). But now that I see the Skins are giving up Kendall Fuller too, I am much less upset. The Bills would have had to give up one of our better young players to have any chance of getting this deal done (and maybe an extra pick, or a 2nd to beat out the skins 3rd) and I doubt I'd have been ok with that. Then add in that monster 4 year extension (5yrs total) with a huge guarantee, and I'm definitely feeling better about this... lol.

To be totally honest, I am kind of bummed out. I really felt like trading for Alex Smith was out best chance at a QB upgrade for next season. I'd have been perfectly fine giving up a 3rd for him, and a player (depending on who that player is, anyway). I'd have even been fine giving him $23.5M a year, although 5 years wouldn't have really interested me. I just hope that Beane is somehow able to upgrade the QB position for next season. I don't really care how, or if it's a rookie or a vet. I just want a true upgrade. Ideally, that upgrade could also be a long term solution. But please, at least give me a good bridge QB!

Oh man I sure hope Beane is able to make this happen! You're getting my hopes up..lol P.s. - i'd love to know who the potential upgrade is!

Wow. Well damn, now I feel stupid for even taking you serious.

Who did they hire that is considered a "yes man" or spineless jellyfish? John Butler is a highly respected coach, and I have never once heard of him being called a yes man or spineless. Quite the opposite, actually. Where are you getting this information from? Seems to me that You are 100% purely speculating about something you have absolutely no clue about. Also, McDermott is known for his excellent work with secondaries. He's had consistently good secondary play in almost every year as a DC, and has developed some very good young players throughout his career (like Josh Norma, who was a 5th round pick). What makes you so positive that Byrd was responsible for the secondary's play? McDermott was the one who assembled the entire secondary anyway, and the one who put the successful scheme together that they ran. IMO he deserves a whole lot of credit for their play. And how can you say nobody can defend "this clown" when you have absolutely no clue why Byrd was even fired?

I am guessing that they must feel he is an upgrade on Byrd then. Maybe this is who McDermott wanted last year but Houston wouldn't let him go?

Still painful to watch. We should have won that SB. Definitely out coached, by far. Also goes to show just how long Belichick has been torturing the Bills.

Seems strange. Definitely not a move I expected. But I also don't know how much of the success of the secondary he's really responsible for. I mean, obviously he deserves some credit. But that is probably McDermott's strongest area of expertise (esp. since he played the position himself), and he has had very good secondaries for most of his career as a DC. I am guessing there had to be a reason for this and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. But I am going to reserve my final judgement until more info comes out... and ultimately it will come down to waiting and seeing how the secondary does in the coming season(s). My guess is they will be just fine.