[Superstar WR? The Big Three]

23 hours ago, Nihilarian said:

I keep reading about Julio Jones and the big trade-up to get him for the QB Matt Ryan led Falcons in 2011. The Falcons didn't even get to an SB until 2016, 5 years after that trade, and even then... they lost to the NE Patriots in that game. The Falcons that SB season also had Devonta Freeman at RB in a balanced offense. 

 

After that trade for Julio Jones, Atlanta lost the WildCard game that season and lost in the conference championship to the 49ers after a 13-3 season.  The Falcons didn't even make the playoffs with WR Julio Jones in 2013-2014-2015 going 4-12, 6-10 and 8-8. 

 

Lots of folks saying that the reason for the declining years was because of the resources spent on that stud WR. And that HC Mike Smith was canned along the way in 2015, the GM a bit later in 2020.

 

Let's look at the team that beat the Falcons in that Super Bowl, the NE Patriots.  Yes, they had Tom Brady at QB all those SB years. But who else did they have? SB in 2001 with WR Troy Brown. The funny thing with that 2001 season was the only 1000-yard season Troy Brown had in his 15 seasons with NE. They also had WR Randy Moss in 2007-2008-2009 and he had 3 1000-yard seasons in NE and yet they made one SB in 2007 only to lose it and didn't make it in the next two seasons with Moss.

 

So, I'm thinking that these stud superstar WRs don't always make a team an SB contender.  Calvin Johnson, 2007 2015. Megatron, he ever make a SB? Larry Fitzgerald for Arizona 2004-2020. He made it to one SB and lost it. Steve Largent, Seattle 1976-1989 with 8, 1000-yard seasons. 

 

I look at the NE Patriots who run the very same offensive scheme as the current Buffalo Bills (Erhardt-Perkins). So what did they do so well that got them to so many SBs and wins? They usually played great defense with Ole Bill as the HC. They moved the chains with Troy Brown, Wess Welker, and Julian Edelman, and when they went to the red zone they had a big TE in Rob Gronkowski. Buffalo has their "chain movers" in Shakir, Knox, and Dalton Kincade. 

 

I somewhat agree here but comparing Matt Ryan to Tom Brady (The best QB in NFL history) is a bad comparison but i also agree that Josh Allen makes everyone around him better (John Brown/Cole Beasley/Stefon Diggs all had career best stats with Allen at QB) so the notion that we have to trade up or even draft a QB at 28 is a bit of a stretch although it would definitely make Allens life easier if that hit on a QB at pick 28 imo. 

[interesting WR scenario posed by a friend]

On 4/8/2024 at 9:43 PM, dave mcbride said:

Why do you argue that? Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr were more productive, put up better numbers at the combine, and come from a program (that Joe Brady made his bones at) that is now basically Wide Receiver U — LSU.

 

When you say Brian Thomas Jr. put up better numbers it was by a small margin... Thomas Jr. ran a 4.33 40, Legette ran a 4.39 40 , Thomas ran a 1.5 10 yard split, Legette ran a 1.54 10 yard split. Thomas had a 38.5" vertical jump plus 10.6 broad jump and Legette had a 40" vertical jump plus a 10.6 broad jump so that to me is apples and oranges. I'm not saying Brian Thomas Jr wont be a solid WR in the NFL but I also feel if you put Legette in the LSU offense and Thomas Jr. in the South Carolina offense we may be talking about Legette where Nabors is but of course there is no way to tell that so my eyeballs see a guy who is in the same dominant mold as D.K. Metcalf. If you don't agree I'm fine with that it's just my opinion and I'm sure there are a bunch on here that have the WR they like and have to have. I wouldn't hate it if we landed Brian Thomas I would just hate it if we traded up and spent more draft picks than we need to.

[Has the final four replaced the SB as your most enjoyable sporting event!?]

I have yet to see a single final 4.

[interesting WR scenario posed by a friend]

Or stay at #28 and draft Xavier Legette who will be the best WR in this class.

[In hindsight, should we have traded for Diontae Johnson?]

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

DJ is $10M on the books for the Panthers.

 

He was traded to Carolina (CAR) from Pittsburgh (PIT) with 2024 7th round pick (#240) for Donte Jackson and 2024 6th round pick (#178). Now, Donte may have had some value for the Stillers but he was likely going to be cut in Carolina, and he signed a restructured $6M deal with them after the trade, so he didn't have a TON of value.

 

So maybe without Jackson to dangle, could we have gotten him for a 4th or a 5th and 6th?

 

In hindsight, is that a move you wished we pulled the trigger on, knowing what we know about Diggs now?

 

I've always followed the Steelers for quite some time and consider them my 2nd team when the Bills were always out of it half way through the season and I root for them when we don't play together. Diontae Johnson had the luxury of playing with Big Ben for his first 3 seasons and by year 3 was Ben's go to WR after the AB situation. I think he would have been a big upgrade to Samuel and would have at the very least lessened the blow of losing Diggs imo. He was a model citizen with ben at QB but started getting Diggs-esque when Pickett/Trubisky/Rudolph took over as QB which is kind of understandable. Most WR's I feel have a bit of diva in them so I don't see it as a terrible thing when they blow up every now and again just not an AB type of blow up.

[Why does Beane get a pass?]

3 hours ago, Sharky7337 said:

Von miller contract

Dawson Knox contract

Stephen diggs contract

Defense line draft picks that never pan out

Defense tackle signings that are not good enough

No reliable pass rusher 

Wyatt Teller give away

Edmunds 

 

Just curious why he is so highly regarded when these issues have come to roost fully

 

Josh Allen

 

[Random talking head says something about the Bills]

The reality is nobody but Allen and Diggs know's the reason why this trade went down and we probably never will which is fine with me but the fact that we know Allen knew in some way that Diggs would possibly be dealt and didn't nix the trade whatsoever speaks volumes imo.

[How would you construct the 2024 Bills WR Room?]

9 hours ago, NickelCity said:

 

Fair enough. Ignoring prospects, I still think trading our 2024 and 2025 2nd rounders to move up in the 2nd is tough to fathom unless it's at the very top of the round. Hard to see the Bills doing that and making both picks receivers. 

 

I'm wondering why you would say it's tough to fathom? we would still own a 2025 2nd rounder from the Diggs trade and you're just swapping out the 60th pick for whatever pick you decide to move up for. Why do you think that's a bad move?

[How would you construct the 2024 Bills WR Room?]

Just now, NickelCity said:

 

I think the only thing I like about this scenario is ending up with one of Legette or McConkey. I don't like Mitchell as a prospect and losing a very good 2nd round pick just to move up in the second round seems like awful value. Just take Legette or McConkey at 28.

 

Not everyone is going to like the WR or player the Bills select at 28 (If they dont trade up/down or for a player). I think Mitchell is going to be an excellent player in a year or so but I expect growing pains along the way along with just about every young prospect. Insert McKonkey at 28 and Legette in the trade up in the 2nd, whoever they feel can help elivate us. 

[How would you construct the 2024 Bills WR Room?]

I would stay at 28 and draft AD Mitchell who should be there for us, in the 2nd round I'd trade pick 60 plus our 2nd (Bills) round pick in 2025 (it may take a bit more since I'm not around a draft value chart atm) and move up to take either Xavier Legette/Ladd McKonkey.  We still have our 1st next year and Minnesota's 2nd next year which should be a high pick. and our WR core looks like this:

 

AD Mitchell

Curtis Samuel

Khalil Shakir

Ladd McKonkey or Xavier Legette

Mack Hollins

Justin Shorter

 

I'd like some home grown WR prospects other than going out and not only spending draft picks but having to sign guys to WR 1 money right out of the gate. Allen made the playoffs with John Brown, Cole Beasley, Zay Jones and Duke Williams at WR so he sure as hell could do wonders with the above. It will take some time and getting used to the new guys for sure but I think it will work out great in the end.

[So You Need to Move Diggs..Why the Texans??]

5 hours ago, Rich Stadium Original said:

Forgive me in advance if this subject came up somewhere in the 116 pages of the Diggs is traded thread, but...

Let's assume the Diggs trade had to happen now...why the Texans?...Yes his production is way down, but even at 31 he's still got a lot left in the tank...and you may have handed the team that, at least on paper, seems to now be the most talent laden in the AFC. 

People certainly would be up in arms if we dealt him to the Chiefs or Bengals, but the Texans may be a tougher "out" this season.

My biggest complaint in this whole matter is that Beane couldn't find a trade partner in the NFC, or a team in the AFC searching for a QB and not a threat.

Maybe other GMs around the league are wary now that Diggs has whined his way off of two teams, and weren't willing to give up a second round pick.

The simple answer is the Texans gave them the most compensation. 

[Marvin Harrison Jr wants to be a Bill]

10 minutes ago, KDIGGZ said:

The point is these things could happen. And I could win the lottery. It's highly unlikely and now we don't have a WR1 so we actually need the impossible. Not a good position to be in

 

From what I'm hearing and reading we didn't have a #1 in Diggs either, Just saying.

[Diggs traded to Texans for picks]

Curtis Samuel is our #1 WR right now. Beane definitely has something up his sleeve wether it’s drafting back to back WR this year, trading for Higgins/Aiyuk or trading up for Harrison/Odunze/Nabors, something will get done since Beane at least up until now hasn’t done things on the fly for no reasoning.

[Post your sleepers here]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Jackson, not Johnson. He will get drafted for return ability for sure. I'm not sure he is going to be much more than that in the NFL but his play in the return game should keep him in the league for a few years. 

 

You'd have to worry about how poor he was at the Shrine game against competition he should have been dominating. That was definitely a concern for me. 

 

Strange, I googled Mohamed Kamara east west shrine game and the first article that popped up was "Kamara's abilities as a pass rusher were on display in the Shrine Bowl, particularly in the first half. He showed nice speed around the edge forcing opposing quarterbacks to make several uncomfortable throws throughout the game." All the articles below also state the same 1 of them being Sports Illustrated. I didn't watch the game so I can't tell you but if he had that terrible of a performance I think it would be there no?

[Post your sleepers here]

31 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

I really like Kamara too. Bigger and faster than Jerry Hughes. Lots of production. 

 

I really liked Maxx Crsoby the year came out and I might like Kamara even more, relentless just like Crosby but I think Kamara has more power. I really wish he was a bit taller and heavier but I think he could be a steal in the 4th round (as he's projected by some to be a 3rd-4th round prospect).

[Post your sleepers here]

Edge rusher Mohamed Kamara ran a 4.57-40,  30.5 sacks at Colorado State

 

 

 

OT Patrick Paul ran a 5.10- 40, he's 6'7" 331 lbs., 2 time team captain (McDermott really loves these types), he's #76 and the 1 always mauling everyone 

 

[RIP Vontae Davis]

Gone too soon, watch over our Bills young sir and rest in paradise!

[NFL Draft change/proposal]

12 minutes ago, Figster said:

Since the two busiest posters in this thread can't even spell parity correct I commend you with this logical post.

 

I fell in love with the Buffalo Bills at a very early age because of a charismatic and fun to watch RB named O J Simpson.

 

Drafted 1st overall in the NFL Draft...

 

That was a bit before my time but that must have been awesome, what was the draft like then?

[NFL Draft change/proposal]

10 hours ago, Figster said:

The reward you may get for being one of the best college athletes playing in your position is to end up playing for one of the worst coached and managed teams in the NFL. In many instances the best college QB's end up in places destined for failure. So why reward poorly coached and managed teams in this manner? Why do we reward the best college athletes entering the NFL draft in this manner? I get trying to even the playing field. My idea is to make teams work for the rights to the best college athletes. Show that you can coach and manage well enough to give star athletes a chance for success in the NFL. My idea is to give the best team/record to not make the playoffs the 1st pick in the draft and go from best to worst record. Teams on the brink of becoming playoff caliber getting the best college athletes available. Win, win for both the player and team. Playoff teams pick last and still go from best to worst. Stop rewarding perennial bad teams for failure. 

 

Any thoughts on this idea my fellow Bills fans?

 

  

 

The idea of the draft is to even the playing field otherwise why are fans even bothering coming to your stadium if you now can't even get the best players in the draft when you lose? For 17 years the best part of our days as Bills fans was the hope for a savior prospect in the draft to get us out of the funk that was the continued loop we were in what seemed like forever. The draft is the 1 thing to me that's not broken and shouldn't be touched in any way imo.

[The criticism of Josh Allen]

22 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

by the media and non-Bills fans seems to be the trend this offseason. He’s getting the label of a guy that can’t and never will get it done. A “poor man’s Roethlisberger” or Phillip Rivers (who I think he’s already surpassed in 6 years.) Guys like Lamar Jackson get flack, but the flat out hating of Allen has been absolutely ridiculous lately and it’s everywhere, I’m not really bothered by it, I’m just wondering where it’s all coming from? Ignorance and sheep mentality? Whether he sniffs a SB in his life time or not, he’s going to be a HOFer on pure numbers alone. 
 

I’ve watched every one of his games as most of us have and he’s clearly not the problem. The turnover stat is so overblown and is on par w/ most of the top QBs in the league. 78 picks to Mahomes 63 over 6 years. That’s 2.5 more interceptions per season than Mahomes if you average it out. Not really that much in a 17 game span and most of them don’t usually affect the outcome of the game as the Bills have one of the best regular season records in the NFL since Allen was drafted. 

 

Who's criticizing Josh Allen? Give me names.

 

[The Bills should slowly revolutionize the kicking game.]

On 3/30/2024 at 11:42 PM, FireChans said:

There are lots of obscure things about NFL field goal protocol.

 

For example, just about every kicking unit in the NFL is 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. This is the way it’s always been done. But this adds on an extra 7 yards every attempt.

 

What I’m suggesting is the Bills move it a little bit close. Let’s say 5 yards. Suddenly that 50 yard FG is a 48 yarder. Suddenly that 40 yard FG is a 38 yarder. And even extra points are just a little bit easier.

 

It the long run, this will play huge dividends. The difference between a 39 yard FG and a 41 yard FG is about 7% in conversion rate. Over the course of a few seasons, that’s a huge amount of conversions.
 

The real secret is don’t tell anybody you’re doing this. Don’t tell the refs, don’t tell the media, don’t tell anybody. Just move up a bit and reap the rewards. 

 

[The 2024 UFL Thread]

I found some of the games last year enjoyable that I watched, I'll keep checking it out if it's entertaining. I'll be honest this past year I never believed in the whole "sports is rigged" people who said this every year but the way the Chiefs just went from being average to barely making the playoffs and then some miraculous reason nobody could cover Kelce all over again just has me believing otherwise so this may be what I need to offset my thinking for awhile.

[Damar Hamlin vs Antonio Brown on X]

I'm not trying to be a dick when I say this nor am I trying to say I'm some highly educated individual but I have no clue if this is even english between 2 people. It's like I'm looking at Hieroglyphics and trying to decipher the meanings half the time so I end up giving up trying to figure it out.

[Haason Reddick Traded to Jets]

1 hour ago, bills742 said:

 

 

[To draft a WR or not with 1st round pick]

If you listen to Brandon Beanes last interview about what he looks for in the WR position, he states versatility and I believe he said that at least 3 times while talking about this WR class. I take everything with a grain of salt around this time of year but to me that screams Xavier Legette, who played inside, outside and as a returner for South Carolina. We may even be able to trade down a few slots and pick up an extra draft pick if we had a few WR rated equally. He ran a 4.39 40 time and if you look at separation, this guy just gets it imo, Steve Smith Sr. called him a better D.K. Metcalf coming out of college which I don't usually listen to many opinions on players as I use my own eyeballs but I definitely listen to him since he speaks his mind and not just the typical media fluff pieces. I usually don't lock on to 1 player on draft day for disappointment reasons but I'm really liking this prospect more and more.