Logic

I think they're banking on the idea that Aaron Kromer and improved guard play will whip our line into shape. Between that and the emergence of Singletary as a dependable RB1 once they stopped with the "committee" stuff, I don't expect them to spend a high pick on a running back. If we're able to use this thread to stan for a certain player to be drafted to add firepower to the offense, though, may I put in a vote for Jameson Wililams or Chris Olave or Jahan Dotson? Now that Beasley is gone, WR3 is a FAR bigger need than RB, and a speedy/explosive player there would do wonders for our passing game overall.

Exactly right. If you’re hoping for 1st round production or paying him to be a sack artist, you’ll be disappointed. However, a good edge setting DE who can pitch in five sacks and who brings juice to the locker room is a great rotational depth piece to have. Says a lot that he and Phillips were willing to come back for probably peanuts. Guess we don’t need to fire McDermott after all 😆

As just pointed out on Twitter: The two leading Bills in 2019 in sacks, TFL, and QB hits? Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson. These two guys were also beloved locker room presences that brought a ton of energy and humor and fun to the team. Considering they’re probably signing for vet minimum or close, these are just excellent additions for what they will bring both on and off the field. Edit: add in Tim Settle, who seems to be a silly, high energy guy, and the locker room is gonna be a riot this season.

I think it’s a very real and underrated part of this signing. Adding a two time Super Bowl champion, first ballot Hall of Famer who is famously generous about teaching younger pass rushers the tools of the trade to this locker room…it’s gonna do wonders for our young trio of edge guys. I also think he’ll help Oliver tremendously, as he apparently did with Aaron Donald. And that’s all just from a teaching standpoint. There’s also the effect that Miller being on the field will have in freeing up the Olivers and Rousseaus of the world. I think Miller’s impact on the defense overall will be similar to the impact Diggs had on the offense. Big steps forward.

I assume am Oliver/Miller tandem horse ride to training camp is upcoming?

The Bills have a lot of work to do to fit the new deals under the cap — particularly if they want to keep adding. One or two cuts won’t do it. We’re going to see MULTIPLE re-structurings, conversions to signing bonuses, and extensions in the coming days. There is no money left in the banana stand. Beane will have to get creative, and fast, to fit Miller and co and remain cap compliant.

I loved this bit about Miller from Rams reporter Jordan Rodrigue in The Athletic today: https://theathletic.com/3191131/2022/03/17/von-miller-joins-the-bills-what-will-he-bring-to-buffalo-and-what-do-the-rams-do-now/?source=twitterhq It’s an interesting thing to compare the acquisition of Miller by either of these teams, at the time they did. When the Rams traded for Miller in November, they did so knowing they were contenders who needed to get a little extra “oomph” in their outside pass rush, especially with the way coaches were scheming double- and triple-teams against Aaron Donald and chipping against Leonard Floyd. That worked out for the Rams, and then some. Miller’s presence allowed them to rush only four when needed. Their numbers in this regard increased through the second half of the season, which allowed them to get more creative with their coverage and rotations in the middle and defensive backfield. And then when the playoffs arrived, they were able to do a lot of creative things specifically up front with Donald and Miller working off each other and also opening blitz space. What I think needs to be talked about as it pertains to the Bills, though, is what Miller lent to the locker room as a (then one-time) Super Bowl champion. He literally brought a replica Lombardi Trophy to the Rams facilities, set it on the training room table that everybody walked by each morning and wrote daily notes next to it about what it would take to hold the real thing. He reached Donald in a way not many people can and actually helped Donald find another gear to his game — which, let’s face it, we didn’t realize was even possible. There are only a few teams who truly contend each year, and the Rams are one of them. Now, the Bills certainly are as well. But the difference between constant playoff appearances and an actual championship comes down to the little details on the field, and off it.

I was curious about the level of production of elite pass rushers at age 33 and beyond, so I went and looked at the stats of Bruce Smith and Reggie White. At ages 33-37, Bruce had 13.5, 14, 10, 7, and 10 sacks. At age 33-37, Reggie White had 8, 12, 8.5, 11, and 16 sacks. You may say “but Logic, those are two Hall of Famers, of course they still produced!”. To which I would say that Von Miller will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, too, and that was why I looked at those two guys. I wanted to see how some elite, HOF edge rushers produced as they aged. I’m not saying Miller is going to be as productive as those guys, but it is not out of the realm of possibility, either.

Nailed it. Pretty cool to think there’s a guy that played with Bruce and also with the newest Bill, Von Miller. All three guys Hall of Famers, too.

Bruce Arians famously underuses tight ends in the passing game (with the exception of Gronk the past couple seasons, which I view as more Brady’s influence than Arians’). Assuming he’s healthy, I like his chances to have a big year and earn a big payday in 2023 (likely elsewhere, as we’ll need to pay Knox).

Can anyone name the player that was a teammate of Bruce Smith’s, and later went on to be a teammate of Von Miller’s?

Agreed. The fact that he had an astounding 82 pressures last year points to him still having plenty of juice. Rams reporters pointed out that his presence on the team really helped free up Aaron Donald to make more plays. The offense can’t double everybody! I’m hoping Miller’s presence here has the same effect on Ed Oliver. An underrated bonus of signing Miller is that he’s known to be a very generous teacher of younger players. He hosts his own pass rush summit every offseason. If the Bills get 1-3 good years out of Miller AND his tutelage helps our trio of youngsters take major steps forward, the big contract will be WELL worth it!

Knox and Howard has to be one of the most athletic TE pairings in the league. The Bills can now operate out of 12 personnel and not be predictable — as opposed to last year when Tommy Doyle’s presence tipped the run. Knox and Howard up the seams with Diggs and Davis on the outside is gonna be tough for defenses. Both TEs are “too fast for an LB, too big for a safety” guys. Call me a hopeless optimist, but I think Howard is gonna ball out and earn himself a big payday in 2023.

For what it's worth, I just listened to the Cover 1 Youtube show, and Aaron Quinn mentioned that he hears from the Buffalo News that the team is working on the contract with Phillips as we speak. I know, I know...a lot of "sources of sources" and "I'm hearing...." right now, but it's all we've got. As you yourself pointed out to me, the Bills rostered 5 DTs last season. Perhaps they plan to do so again this season. Also, perhaps they feel that Settle and Phillips are diverse enough at their size -- each around 325 lbs -- to play some 1T in spots. I'd bet we'll know soon enough whether the Phillips stuff is true. And as to the defensive end position...as crowded as it looks now, I have a feeling the Bills are going to try to bring back either Hughes or Addison. Again, time should tell pretty quickly whether that's the case.

We're not likely to find out who Ryan Talbot's source is, but Ryan himself is a good/reliable enough source for me:

Von Miller's 2021 (19 games, including playoffs): 82 pressures 13 sacks 10 hits 59 hurries (2nd in the NFL) 20.4 pass rush win percentage (8th in the NFL) Sorry to repeat myself, but Von Miller is ABSOLUTELY still a force. That's what "taking a closer look" reveals.

Just heard on the Cover 1 show that Von Miller, in 19 games in 2021 (so that includes playoffs and Super Bowl, obviously)...had: 82 pressures (!) 13 sacks 10 hits 59 hurries (2nd in the NFL) 20.4 pass rush win percentage (8th in the NFL) And let's not forget that four of those sacks came in the playoffs (two in the Super Bowl). Any notion that Miller is not still a very dangerous pass rusher is incorrect. He's still a hell of a player. Also, the fact that we will have DaQuan Jones eating double teams, leaving Ed Oliver and Von Miller potentially in one-on-ones, is super exciting. Also also, as an added bonus, Miller is known to be one of the most generous teachers of younger players in the league. He runs his own pass rush summit every year, because he's eager to teach the tools of the trade to up and coming pass rushers. He's gonna do wonders for our trio of youngsters.

Thank you, I shall treasure it always! (You’re happy about this signing though, right? Or still mad at Beane for…reasons?)

I know it’s a nickel and dime league now, that the 4-3 vs 3-4 discussion is almost irrelevant, and that rushing the passer is rushing the passer, but still… Its worth noting that this will be Miller’s first time being a full time 4-3 edge.

For those whining about his age: He’s the same age as Chandler Jones and Khalil Mack, who all of you seemed to want.

Guess now we know who at least one of the big free agents that reached out to Buffalo was.

I liked it better when the thread title said “Bills sign ok Howard”, because that’s a hilariously true type-o.