Logic

You're just on a one-man crusade this year for Breece Hall. Anything the Bills do that negatively impacts their chances of drafting him -- and let's be honest, with holes at CB, WR, and OL, all of which are more important positions than RB, it's not likely that they draft him ANYWAY -- causes you to jump into the thread and make dramatic pronouncements like "if they don't want to win a Super Bowl, it's their prerogative". One of the more dedicated, relentless, humorous draft campaigns I've seen on this forum over the years.

I know Duke Johnson doesn't have the same "panache" as JD McKissic, but... As I pointed out in the charts above, he has higher career yards per reception and yards per target and more career production than McKissic, and they are the same age. I'm not here to tell you that Johnson is some great signing or that he is a roster lock. He's probably a vet minimum signing. I'm just trying to say that the difference in excitement levels on this board between McKissic and Johnson is a little bit funny, and points to recency bias. They're the same guy 🤷‍♂️

check the charts, my man:

Agreed about Callahan. I only mentioned him because the pickins are getting slim at CB at the moment, particularly with Beane admitting that he’s employing a “hey, please come play for below market value and get a ring!” technique at this point. A bigger outside guy would certainly be better. Had Steven Nelson signed anywhere? Personally I’ve been hoping for two years now that they’d acquire Josh Jackson from Green Bay, who was badly miscast in their man-heavy system but who I think would be great in our defense.

If...and I stress IF this list is true, because I have no idea if it is, and they don't list their sources for this information.... Then it shows that the Bills are thinking WR, CB, and OG with their first round pick. It seems reasonable based on this visit list, as well as what we all know the top roster needs are, that whichever player they view as "BPA" among this list, that still happens to be on the board, will be their pick.

I really need to see how the rest of free agency plays out. If they sign a viable veteran CB like Bryce Callahan or Joe Haden, I think they’ll take a WR in the first (Olave, Williams, or Dotson. Gun to my head, I’ll say Dotson). If they sign a viable WR like Jamison Crowder, I think they’ll take a CB in the first (McDuffie, Booth, Elam. Gun to my head? Booth…if he’s there). If they sign both a CB and WR or neither, then I think they’ll pick whichever CB or WR is highest on their board. One way or another, I think CB and WR will be the first two picks, followed by an interior lineman.

I’m not really sure what Saffold has to do with this discussion, but I do expect a lot more 12 personnel this season. Beane specifically mentioned it (albeit as a hypothetical) when asked what wrinkles Dorsey might add to the offense. Then, choosing to spend a few million on OJ Howard (after also reportedly having interest in Gronk and Engram) in a generally cap-strapped year all but confirms it. As for 22? Other than short yardage situations, I doubt we see that very often. Choosing to put Reggie Gilliam on the field instead of David or Diggs does not seem logical.

I stand corrected. Early 2nd. Pick 42.

He’d be good here, I think. I don’t believe a 7th round pick gets it done. Woods was cheap because he’s a salary dump, soon-to-be 30 year old coming off a torn ACL. Shenault is two seasons removed from being a 1st round pick, is young and healthy cheap labor. If they’d take a mid round pick, say a 4th, I’d be in. Talented guy.

Not sure if this has been said yet in this thread, but… Whaley was excellent at collecting talent, but had no idea what it meant to build a TEAM. Simple.

Would love to know what backups in the league you think are better than Keenum — that were potentially available, no less.

Great point. I agree. Lots of “locker room superstars” coming back. And from the outside looking in, I agree that something seemed a bit off. Whether that was the case or not, it’s never a bad thing to bring back guys with great energy who have a positive effect on team chemistry.

I’m betting Bills give him a new multi-year deal, with a lower cap hit this season. Echoing what others said, I like the pickup. One of the better backups in the league. Knows he’s a backup, so might stick around a few seasons. Knowledge to share with Josh. Rapport with Diggs. If you need him for five games, he can win you 3 of them and keep your season alive. Good get. EDIT: Barkley coming back too, as the new Davis Webb practice squad guy? Sign me up. Players said he did A LOT for the locker room, team culture, organizing workouts and get-together. Etc

All this stuff about the legal system…. The legal system only decides whether and to what degree a person will face legal repercussions. If what the legal system decides is sufficient to shape some people’s feelings about an accused person, and/or how they react to or support or do not support said person, then fine, that’s their choice. That said, it is also perfectly valid to form an opinion about an accused person based on the cumulative total of allegations and/or evidence at hand. For me, the legal system is not the be-all/end-all arbiter if my reaction to or feeling about an accused person. It is far too deeply flawed to ascribe to it any final say in how I feel about a person alleged to have committed crimes or misconduct. As such, regardless of the grand jury decision about Watson, I still feel — based on the collective weight of the 22 complaints, the similar nature and specificity of those complaints, and the egregiously heinous conduct described therein — that Watson is likely guilty to some degree. At best, he is a person of low moral character, either unaware or uncaring of the ways in which his abuse of power and wealth affected the lives of others. At worst, he is a serial sexual predator and quite possibly a rapist. I find it incredibly unlikely that he is completely innocent. I have very low tolerance and sympathy for serial sex offenders. All of the above leads me to this: I find Watson reprehensible, legal status of his cases be damned, because I believe his accusers. If the Bills traded for him, I’d be finding a new team to root for. It’s that simple for me. I could not cheer for a man like this. I am incredibly disgusted by all angles of it, from the Browns’ willingness to trade for and pay Watson, to the NFL and the media’s handling of it, to obviously Watson’s (alleged) conduct itself. Welcome, any and all Browns fans who feel the same.

From a football perspective, it just makes the AFC North as much of a dogfight as the AFC West, and improves the Bills’ yearly chances at the #1 seed that much more. I don’t understand why Watson would rather join that AFC street fight every year than dominate the NFC in a dome. I’m guessing the answer is $$$. More importantly, aside from football: this is gross from every angle. The Browns went about it in a gross way. The fact that they said they wanted “an adult at QB” and then chose WATSON of all people is gross. Paying as much in draft capital and money for someone with 22 sexual harassment/assault cases pending against him is gross. Watson pleading the fifth and then talking about how glad he was that “the truth came out” is gross. He himself is gross. The NFL and it’s media arms’ coverage of all this is gross. If I were a Browns fan before, I wouldn’t be now. Gross.

For what it’s worth, the Cover 1 guys mentioned in last night’s podcast that they’ve heard whispers of a Star Lotulelei retirement coming. When asked in his presser about Star today, Coach McDermott gave a non-committal, vague response of “we’ll see how things go” or something to that effect. Star retiring would certainly explain the mass influx of DT talent, and would allow them to draft a developmental 1T in the middle rounds.

This...this I agree with. They drafted a 5T and tried to turn him into a speed rusher. Doesn't make any sense. His path to a successful career, in my mind, was to build on his strength -- which, as Sierra pointed out, is his literal strength -- and become a Justin Smith type player. Instead, unless things change drastically or he bulks back up, he appears to be on the path to Bustville, which is a shame, because he's got talent.

Anybody who hasn't already watched the Von Miller presser should really do so. Highly, highly impressive. I'm blown away by how highly he speaks of Buffalo, saying it had to be something "really, really special" to pull him away from LA, how highly he speaks of Josh Allen, all of it. Great introduction. It just speaks absolute volumes about how real the culture is and how special what Beane and McDermott have built is.

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.