SCBills

Even though we don't have much cap space (currently none at all).. I'm still pretty excited about this upcoming week. For me, it's going to tell quite a bit about the direction of this organization. The Bates trade was an interesting move I hadn't really thought much about until it happened. Do we see more of that? Or do we get the Allen restructure plus a couple extensions and call it a day.. For some, that's all they want. It would signify that they're "running it back" to the extent they can. For others, like myself, I want to see a vision beyond that.. because that has not been enough.

If we were to get a legit full time back, what are we doing with Cook? Cook is way better of an actual RB than I ever thought he would be coming out of Georgia. He's an absolute weapon every time he touches the ball in that fashion. What I don't trust him at doing anymore, is being a reliable receiving back.. which makes zero sense because that's all he did at UGA. Dude was out there running WR routes on the outside and making big catches every other game, yet drops passes all over the place here. Gotta get that fixed this year.

Counterpoint, do we think there were any Free Agents last year that could have been had, who may put us over the top? My first suggestion would be, could last year have resulted in a Lombardi if Hopkins was on this team? Can't predict the Defense getting decimated before KC. Can't predict losing Gabe Davis for KC. Our Defense always lets us down in the Playoffs.. Josh Allen doesn't. And he had us right there, with Diggs predictably doing nothing against them, Shakir being our primary weapon and then nobody else at WR. We knew WR2 was an issue going into last year. This isn't revisionist history.

The most recent I can think of that comes close is Von Miller to the Rams via mid-season trade. Not exactly Free Agency, but he put that Defense over the top.

MSNBC panel could not be more out of touch with voters.

MAGA/Kari Lake are going to **** over this country so hard if she can’t mend faces with the “almost” equally annoying McCain Republicans in Arizona.

Steve Garvey is not beating Adam Schiff in California. Maybe he pulls a Lee Zeldin and scares the Dems for a few weeks until the election, but he’s going to have to campaign harder that anyone has ever campaigned and spend as much, if not more, than Adam Schiff. Im not bullish on either .. especially when the RNC is a dumpster fire right now.

If they bring back David Edwards, their primary active Gameday backups could likely be Edwards, Anderson and Van Demark. That's a vet they like and then two guys they've now spent some time developing .. who by all accounts, the organization are very high on. I'm not overly worried. I like our Top 7 under contract as it currently stands.

It would be a bit difficult for me to stomach that if they don't trim the fat on Defense, i.e. cut/trade Rasul Douglas. IMO, he's a similar player to Morse on the Defensive side of the ball. Good, not elite. Aging. One year left on his deal. We could certainly stand to get younger there. And with him, we have a former RD1 pick behind him. And it might make perfect sense to cut Morse.. I don't really agree or disagree either way. Just the idea that we need to make cap moves and (if they cut Morse and then extend Dawkins, restructure Allen and that's really it) we somehow managed to only clear cap by moving off Josh Allen's starting Center and backup utility G/C lol... again, it might make sense, but it's just another point-to-the-scoreboard moment of those of us who think they invest in Defense to the constant detriment of Josh Allen's help.

I came into this thread furious as the prospect, but then you actually kind of won me over a bit … but no, he’s still very good. The Chiefs angle is frustrating. I’m just so sick of guys not named Josh Allen, not stepping up. I had forgotten all about him getting dog walked on that play. It would be hilarious to me if we need to clear cap space and instead of doing anything ever to sacrifice the tiniest bit on defense, we just start trading away Josh Allen’s protection.

This is amazing.

Beane out here trading future cap space so he can throw around some void years.

Josh Allen self snap

Shakir was 148 Benford was in the 180’s We desperately need more of those guys.

Bears fans finding out he played 35 snaps for us last year and are not happy.. “Poles clearly is obsessed with this dude. Bears tried to give him 4/17 last year. Now they get to pay a 5th rounder to pay him that....”

If Joe Buscaglia’s post is correct, it seems like we just wanted the pick… because that’s not exactly a cap space maneuver for a guy we all thought they viewed highly as a versatile depth piece.

Maybe they like Alec Anderson in that spot? Saves some cap and gets us a pick back.

I don’t think that’s the only hard decision though. I think a real case could be made to flip over the secondary. Any or all of Douglas, Tre and Poyer should be looked at. That could free up 20M+ and then we pull a Chiefs of a few years ago and draft a bunch of DB’s. Are their risks to that.. YUP. But I think with all that’s coming back on offense, it’s time to give Josh Allen everything he could possibly need to get us over the edge. Could flip that money into a legit boundary WR and then draft a WR early. Spend the rest on DL, make a run at Jeremy Chinn and then go heavy defense in the draft. I’ll take my chances with Benford, Elam, Johnson, Chinn and a RD2 or RD3 Safety like Kinchens, Bullard, Nubin etc. Draft some corners and a safety early Day 3 & bring back Dane Jackson/Cam Lewis/Taylor Rapp as depth. Now, we’re building a roster than can keep up with the Chiefs who have already fixed their cap and I don’t know that we’re any worse for the wear… especially come playoff time - where this group has yet to step up.

I know you’re asking rhetorically, but the honest answer is a lot of us have given up on “running it back” and want to see some real change this off-season. Of course a lot of the suggestions are financially difficult given Beane (probably) purposefully locking this group into this current window. Let’s hope we stay healthy and see what they can truly do next year.

Who don't they need? It seems anytime we have a discussion about anyone on the defense, people chime in saying they are necessary for the unit to function. For the past few years Hyde & Poyer were necessary. Now it's Milano and Johnson. People are afraid to cut or trade Douglas. Not going at you specifically, it just seems like fans/podcast guys and maybe even the FO depends far too much on aging vets on larger salaries. To stay competitive, we're going to need more Edmunds to Bernard stories and less restructures/extensions.

Thomas or Mitchell. Both are WR2 out the gate that have WR1 traits down the line. If we go Worthy or Franklin at any point, I think we need to double up at WR early.

Something has to give. We can't keep investing in DL, but also be told that we need stud linebackers, but oh we also need stud corners, and we need Taron Johnson... oh, and Safeties are really important in McDermott's Defense. Meanwhile we have huge contracts for Von and Oliver, have to weigh giving another one to Rousseau, are paying MIlano and Johnson, have 10M tied up in Douglas.. 6M in Poyer. Dead weight big money until proven otherwise in Tre White. This all before any moves we make in FA.

Offense will be better on paper. We return 10/11 starters plus depth along the OL and will likely make, at least, one big addition to replace him via FA or more likely the Draft. Defense will likely be a mixed bag. Dependent upon guys returning from injury (Von, Tre, Milano). We really need Von to be at least 80% next year. I'd like to see them tear it down a bit on this side of the ball, but would be surprised to see them do anything with Tre, Douglas and/or Poyer.

Re-sign Daquan Jones as long as it’s somewhat team friendly. Outside of that, don’t really want anyone that isn’t coming back on a minimum deal…. Rapp, Edwards, Ty Johnson, Shaq … id welcome them all back at vet minimums. Would at least provide a baseline on Defense going into the Draft that isn’t making any position a five alarm fire. Id also cut/trade Douglas. Time for the youth movement. Can’t have money tied up in all these older vets. They drafted Elam for a reason, and it’s time for him to get a real shot at the position.

Draft a QB and spend most of it on OL and weapons so you can make sure no stone has been unturned in trying to develop whoever they take.