Success

Burrow's contract is likely to be quite a bit more than Allen's. I suspect our cap will ebb & flow over the years. If we go all in on Hopkins now, we might need 1-2 "recovery" kinds of years, but I'd bet we'd still be able to contend.

I think people have some notion that championship teams are perfect, with true-blue starters & pro bowlers at every position. Even if the season started today - we'd have capable players at those positions. But, of course, we still have the draft ahead of us to fill any perceived holes.

The biggest downside - and it's not really that big, but annoying - is that we'll get back to the front of the hype train if this happens. I was enjoying a couple of months of thinking we'd be more "below the radar" in '23.

I just checked one of the Patriots boards, talking about the prospect of Hopkins going to the Bills. Honestly - it would almost be worth mortgaging much of the future just to see them melt down about it. Not quite, though. If the Bills pull it off, I hope it's in a reasonable way.

This morning? He was an aging player who still had a lot in the tank, and would have been great for the Bills. Now? Old man. So glad he's going to another team. We need to get younger.

I feel like both guys bring a lot of things to the table that we were really lacking. We need good hands guys, who can get yards after the catch. Very low-key additions, but with Allen as their QB, they could both be really good for us.

I don't like this thread.

That's a fair point. I certainly wouldn't be upset if we got Hopkins. I just don't now how we do it w/ our current cap. Stranger things have happened, though.

I don't see why the team-building philosophy should be different. Allen is an elite QB, who can make average receivers look really good - just like Brady. I maintain that the Patriots set the blueprint when you have an elite QB. Protecting him & giving him time in the pocket is the top priority. The more you invest in high-paid skill positions, the less you're able to do that.

The Patriots literally won a ton of Super Bowls without top receivers. We already have 1 who is better than anyone they had for any of those wins.

People are too enamored of skill players. Build the line, the rest will follow.

Did you just compare this Bengals team to Mike Tyson? Sorry - they were not "well on their way" to blowing us out before the injury in the regular season game. We were 9 minutes in, and both teams had a drive where they went down the field pretty easily. I'd understand if someone thought that if they had just started watching the NFL that week. Otherwise, no.

The Jets are going to be tough. Kinda bugs me that the Pats got 15+ years of a weak division, but when we get good, it's likely to be the best division in the league.

Really? I don't expect us to get any of those guys, and I'm kind of glad we won't. We don't have a lot of draft capital this year, and I don't think I'd be happy about any trade where we gave up a pick or a contributing player, just to get another WR. We have a very good WR corps as things stand, and may add via the draft. But Beane said it himself - we need to focus on the trenches. The history of the NFL has more teams who focused on skill positions and failed than the opposite. Give Josh Allen time, and he will make every WR we have look amazing.

It's only for depth....it's only for depth....it's only for depth....

That's the one thing I noticed from the comments of Pats fans online. In general, they didn't do the usual "he was no good anyway" thing that fans do when they lose a player. They generally thought this was a great pick up for the Bills. But they said he was a clear indicator of a running play when he was in, since he is not much of a pass catcher.

Because of him, we have to hear Patriots fans remind us that they have 6 Super Bowl titles for the rest or time, instead of 4. One of my favorite ironies about that fanbase, btw - after ridiculing Yankee fans for years for always bringing up the # of past titles.

Honestly, we don't need that. We have a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball now, and some real versatility in the WR corps. Much more important to build the line in front of Allen so he can get the ball to the playmakers we have. I have said it before - but that's the Patriots blueprint. I hate them, but they did it right.

I actually think we have plenty for Allen to work with now - IF we can give him time in the pocket. McGovern is a good start, but shore up the line in the draft (as you mention) and we should be in great shape. Harris will give us a real running game. Perfect complement to Cook. And I think Allen will get the best out of our FA additions at WR - who both give us skills that were lacking for the most part (speed, good hands, YAC). The key is the line. Even a line that could be top 15 or even top 10 would make it almost impossible to stop this offense.

Sounds like the Patriots are strongly interested. It would be a very un-Belichick kind of move - but desperate times & all that. I think he's discovering that GM life without Brady is a bit different.

That's kind of how it is w/ teams that have to pay an elite QB. We haven't had that issue in many years, so I think this FA is surprising for fans - but we simply can't afford much.

I like how Beane approaches FA in general. It's been said quite a bit - but he does like to fill any perceived "holes" ahead of time. Then, if we can get a better player at that position in the draft, even better. The only real hole we have at the moment is MLB. With everything else, the hope of course is that we improve w/ the draft (looking at you, O-line), but we could roll w/ what we have.

I love that part. I'd encourage checking the Pats boards - they're kind of melting down about it.

This has the added benefit of really riling up Pats fans. It's cool how much they hate us now.

This is actually amazing. When he was healthy, this guy was SO good. Honestly, considering what we have to work with - this has been an excellent FA period. We have a running game.