Logic

Yeah. I DO wonder why teams were scared to give Spain a big contract. He sure seems like he's worth it. The only thing I can guess -- and it is a TOTAL guess -- is that Spain simply was asking for more than teams were willing to offer, and Spain didn't want to sign a multi-year deal for less than what he thought he was worth. We have yet to see his contract numbers with the Bills, right? I'm curious what we're paying him.

It's more than that, though. Allen seems like a really humble kid. The whole thing about Rodgers freezing teammates out of his life, putting them in "the doghouse", not reciprocating their off-field friendships and kindnesses...none of that seems like Josh Allen. Allen is universally described as highly coachable, humble, "gets it", etc. And in just his first full offseason with the team, he already has various practices with his WRs scheduled and was recently shown at dinner with his teammates. I'm not saying Allen could never become Rodgers. How could I possibly know that? I AM saying, though, that it appears highly unlikely. Allen appears to be a born leader and quality person.

Everything about Spain's offseason suggests that he was asking for more than the league's teams felt he was worth. Finally, when he saw he wasn't going to get what he wanted, he decided that a one-year prove-it deal was his best option. Essentially, he's betting on himself and that his performance this season will earn him a big contract next offseason. If he plays very well for the Bills, they'll have options. They can either re-sign him to a longer deal (which I would hope for, since continuity is important along the o-line), or perhaps they'll look at their young, developing guards (Teller, Boettger, potential draftee) and decide that they can let Spain walk. In any case, his addition means a stabilized left side of Dawkins, Spain, and Morse. I expect Dawkins' play to return to a high level this year, with Spain next to him, with Morse making the calls, and with Dawkins having received a major wake-up call, to which he's already admitted.

This is probably my 2nd favorite signing of free agency. Morse was 1st, obviously. John Brown and Cole Beasley were both great additions, too. At the end of the day, though, it's all about keeping Allen upright. Spain will be a day 1 starting LG for the Bills, will help Dawkins to perform better at LT, and is excellent in pass protection. By adding Morse and Spain, the Bills added two guaranteed starters and upgrades to their line. We'll see about the others (Nsekhe, Feliciano, et al).

He profiles as a 7th rounder or UDFA, right? I have no problem with the Bills taking a swing on a guy like Atkins if that's the case. None of us has one tenth the football knowledge that the Bills scouts and front office has. How many Bills fans were advocating for Matt Milano two seasons ago?

What an incredibly reported story. OUTSTANDING job by Ty Dunne. I think there's a little bit of truth to all of it. I'm sure the coach-QB relationship DID sour. I'm sure Rodgers IS kind of a dick. I'm sure Ted Thompson was a pretty bad GM (which I've always thought). But it's important to remember that a lot of the most negative quotes about Rodgers come from just two guys: Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley. Without knowing the specifics of the way the relationships between those two men and Rodgers played out, its impossible to know how much of what they say is accurate and how much is just them having an axe to grind for some reason or another. In any case, I'll just say this: I am SO glad that Josh Allen appears to be the polar opposite of how Rodgers is described in this piece. And I'm happy that Sean McDermott seems to be the polar opposite of the way McCarthy is described, too. For anyone who still doubts that TEAM CULTURE is the most important thing in football, just read this story. They have the greatest quarterback of all time, and what good did it do them once things got shaky? Culture matters.

Thanks dude. I assume since you "liked" my reply, that I got the Chargers. Next to their name on the master list, in parentheses , it just says "Chargers". ? Enjoy the O's - Yankees game!

You took the words right out of my mouth. And by saying he'd take Maybin over Zay Jones, he inadvertently became the PERFECT example for the "overboard Zay hate" contingent. Well done.

Good post. And I won't agree that "incomplete" is the logical final grade. But with an "A" in all the major categories you explained, I'd say the grade is trending toward...well....an "A"!

I voted Oliver because he is the PERFECT guy to fill the giant shoes left by Kyle Williams and be the playmaking 3T for the next decade. It's funny to watch Oliver be the runaway favorite so far. Bills fans (myself included) were so adamant that the 1st round pick needed to be spent on an offensive player. Then Beane went out and signed 37 players on offense. Now we're all on board with Oliver. Good stuff.

Chargers please, if the Colts are taken

I have said this it feels like a thousand times, but I'll say it again: When you look at the production of JuJu or Kupp, you need to factor in the offense in which they are playing and the quarterback throwing them the ball. If you inserted Zay Jones into Cooper Kupp's slot spot, between Woods and Watkins/Cooks, I am not certain that he wouldn't produce at the same clip. Smith-Schuster's case is different, but not by much: He was in an extremely high volume passing offense, and was the beneficiary of both catching passes from a Hall of Fame quarterback and of having Antonio Brown on the other side of him. The Rams and Steelers both had top 5 offenses and top 10 QB situations. Again, take Zay Jones away from the Rick Dennison offense and the Taylors, Andersons, and Petermans of the world and put HIM in a high volume passing offense with a high quality QB and lets see how he does. Until I see Zay Jones get to operate in a legitimate NFL offense with a legitimate NFL QB, I'm not closing the book on him. Even just in the post-Allen-injury portion of last year, Jones posted games of 4/67/2, 5/67/1, and 6/93/2. Let me see him this year with an improved o-line and improved Allen before I'm willing to admit he's Josh Reed. Is there a point you're driving at or do you actually want me to answer this question? If you've got a point, well...Pitter patter, let's get at 'er.

Hyperbole, much?

I'm with you. Me, personally? I think the number 1 priority for the Bills is making sure they do absolutely everything they can to help Josh Allen succeed. If Josh Allen turns into a franchise QB, the Bills are perennial contenders for the next 10-15 years. They've already visibly committed to upgrading the offensive line and WR corps. The next logical step would be to give him the best tight end you possibly can. I like TJ Hockenson quite a bit and would be thrilled if the Bills selected him....I just don't think they will. And as far as the notion of taking a defensive lineman with the first pick instead of an offensive player: I can certainly understand the logic of wanting to make sure your defense is elite, since that will ALSO help Josh Allen, just in a different way. Doesn't mean I don't want an elite tight end or wide receiver. The draft is weird this year. There are five different positions that I could reasonably see them spending a 1st round pick on, and I wouldn't fault them for any of them.

Agreed. I don't see any room for a rookie guard at this point. Among the guys you mentioned, they break down into three pairs for me: Young, developing guys: Boettger, Teller Versatile interior swing backups: Feliciano, Sirles Experienced starters, probable early advantage in starting competition: Spain, Long If they add a draftee to the o-line, as you said, it seems likely that it will be a tackle. And frankly, I'm not sold on Nsekhe and Waddle as fixes at that position. I'd like them to spend a 2nd or 3rd on a tackle.

Indeed. Beane and McDermott don't seem like "tight end in the 1st" types to me. Ditto for WR, actually. I have expected all along and continue to suspect that it will be a defensive tackle or edge rusher. Nothing has changed. I also know they can't be happy with just Kroft, Croom, and Fisher. Hard to read the tea leaves on who they like in the draft, though, for the reason you mentioned.

I believe that was the 1.0 big board. He's on 4.0 now, in which Murray is 11th.

I think you're correct on both counts. It's clear to me the Bills will draft a tight end, but it's a lot harder to predict which one. Irv Smith or Dawson Knox are my current best guesses.

This. Give me Hock all day over Fant. Not even close.

Your post is kind of a perfect example of the undue Zay hate. You just mentioned Zay Jones in the same breath as Aaron Maybin and EJ Manuel, both of whom were draft busts. Zay Jones is not a bust. He has not yet become an upper echelon NFL WR, that much is clear. But to mention him in the same breath as Aaron Maybin? Zay Jones has 968 yards and 9 TDs across his first two NFL seasons, catching passes from guys like Tyrod Taylor, Nathan Peterman, Derek Anderson, Matt Barkley, and rookie Josh Allen. He had more touchdown receptions last year than AJ Green, Alshon Jeffrey, TY Hilton, Odell Beckham Jr, Keenan Allen, Robert Woods, etc. Just for the sake of comparison, Bills all time great Eric Moulds had 573 yards and 2 TDs in his first two seasons, and he was catching passes from Jim Kelly in year 1. Zay's no All Pro at this point. But he's far from a bust, and I think he'll be a #2 WR in the NFL for a long time.

They're truly awful. And the all-black alternates? The worst. I much prefer the current helmets to the ones pictured here. In any case, the following remains true: The Bills have the best jerseys in the AFC East and probably in the entire NFL. Red, white, and blue can't be beat!

I disagree, if only because McDermott and Beane specifically mentioned him at the end of last season as a guy they feel was starting to "come on" as the year progressed. They lumped him in with Levi Wallace and Robert Foster as guys who they were glad to have gotten meaningful reps and who they wanted a longer look at. I'll say one thing, though: if Teller is to win the job, he'll darn sure have to earn it. The offensive guard battle might be the fiercest in camp. Cue McDermott: "Iron sharpens iron".

I know this will be a big shocker coming from a relentless optimist, but...I love this signing! Of all the o-line signings this offseason, Spain is only the second guy (Morse being the first) that I view as a surefire starter. In my opinion, the Bills had only one surefire starter (Dawkins) along the o-line when the offseason started. Now they have 3/5. I have confidence that the one of the many guard candidates will capably fill the other OG spot. The biggest remaining concern is RT, where Nsekhe can and maybe WILL start for a year, but isn't the long term answer. Still, seeing two high quality starters (whose strength happens to be pass blocking, by the way) added, as well as a bunch of depth and competition, has been awesome. Outstanding job by Beane making major OL upgrades without breaking the bank or hamstringing the freshly resuscitated salary cap situation.

This. There are lots and lots of new Browns fans in America, all of the sudden.

Two things: 1) Jerry Hughes is on the wrong side of 30 and his contract is up after this year. 2) Regardless of Jerry Hughes' production and regardless of whether or not he re-signs, the Bills were one of the 6 worst teams in the league last year in terms of sacking the quarterback. I fully agree that the defense needs a quality starting 3T to operate at optimum strength. Still, I maintain that if you cornered Beane and McDermott and forced them to pick the position of greater importance, they'd still tell you "edge rusher". Just a guess. Either way, the Bills need one (and possibly two) of them. 3T, Edge, doesn't matter. Pick a quality defensive lineman and I'll be happy.