BuffaloBillyG

Gilliam hardly ever shows up in the box score. And typically it can be weeks before an announcer says his name during a game. He's never helped my fantasy football team and is not on the field much when I play Madden. Because of this a chunk of fans every year say he's easily expendable. He is not. For his low salary he fills several roles on the team on both offense and special teams. It may sound like coach speak but every team needs a few guys like this that are just grinding away and doing the dirty work. And he's very good at what he does by most accounts.

LOCKS: Coleman Shakir Samuel CLOSE TO LOCKED: Hollins- IMO Hollins would have to really flop hard to not make the team. Adds a great deal of versatility and plays special teams. Has been a captain on several squads on ST. For a team that moved on from several locker room leaders having a guy that seems to add leadership would be an important quality. I think of him more as a Sherfield/Kumerow role than adding much to the offense...but guys like him are definitely needed as well. INSIDE TRACK: Shorter- This may be the one guy that could make Hollins expendable on the field. I can see him making a real push for the roster. Plays special teams and has had a lot of success as a gunner...though he did make several mistakes and was out of position a few times on special teams coverage in the preseason last year. Buffalo just burned a low pick on him last year and I think him returning this year may have been why Beane didn't take another WR late this draft. TALENT IS THERE BUT WILL THE WARTS SHOW?: KJ Hamler- Speed. Skills have flashed at the pro level in limited play time. Hasn't really had the luxury of playing with a great QB before. But, the guy is made of glass. Is he Marquise Goodwin 2.0? If he can finally stay on the field he can make a few plays on offense and special teams. With the new kickoff rules that's important. Chase Claypool- I like the idea of Claypool more than I value Claypool himself. Big target. Speed. Has shown he has all the skills to play in this league. This guy has shown Pro Bowl level talent. He is the prototype for what I think a WR should be. Except somewhere along the way it seems he got lazy and it almost seems like he's disinterested in football and happy to float along and get a check on his way out. But man oh man, if this dude found some passion and turned it on he would be one heck of a dangerous weapon with Allen throwing him the ball. MVS: Another vet WR that has speed. However last year really had the "yips" when it came to catching the ball. I don't think he's locked into a spot because of that and that he adds nothing on Special Teams...which you really have to do as the WR 4-5-6 here. But if he can show good chemistry with Allen and hold onto the ball when he's thrown it it would be hard to see them cut him. IMO any or all of these guys can make the roster. But they all come with "ifs". If MVS can catch. If Hamler stays healthy. If Claypool stops doing his Kelvin Benjamin career trajectory. Likely Bound for PS: Isabella: Last year's fan darling could well be this year's camp fodder. Shavers: Really will admit I don't know a ton about him and have no real opinion either way. But at least on paper he would seem to be battling Hollins and Shorter for a role. Not Betting on Him: Quintez Cephus- Seems like a guy that will see extensive work in the final preseason game before he's released. So that puts me at: Coleman Samuel Shakir Hollins Claypool/Hamler/MVS (One makes it) Shorter PS: Shavers Isabella Cephus- (if one of those two get picked up elsewhere)

Im guessing it will be Jacksonville in the opener.

Yeah, I'm good with this signing. He's got some issues and that's likely why he's still on the market to be had today. But he does have speed, playoff and Super Bowl experience and could be a decent role player. Not only that, but it would (if he makes the team) be one less guy the Chiefs can turn to who already knows the offense in KC once they invariably need WR help during the season.

I think the fans worry too much about his paycheck and that leads to a lot of pondering on what his future is from the fans. But here's the thing, he has completely different skill set than Kincaid and it happens to be one that the team values. And he had the same skills when Kincaid was drafted. He's going to be here at least 2 more years IMO and probably longer.

In fairness, he was really good as Ken in the Barbie movie.

I hope he does well. Seemed like a good kid while here. He's had some serious health issues for a while play into his availability.

100% agree here. People like to forget that we all were told from day 1 he would take some time to learn the Bills schemes. And people seem to ignore that he spent a good chunk of time on IR last year. One of the "big topics" at the end of the preseason last year was that Elam had been running with the first team D, and Benford passed him by to start the last PS game and get the starting gig. This was after (by most TC reports) Elam was said to have had a VERY strong off-season and looked really good. Now we may have an idea why he was passed by. But when he's been on the field he's made plays. It wouldn't shock me all that much if he earns the starting job right off the bat this off season.

80 and 1000 isn't what it once was. That's roughly 4.7 catches and 59 yards per game over a 17 games season. Those are role player/WR3 numbers. Which is where he likely falls.

I believe it was said at the Combine that the Bills view him as a "#3 WR". I think that's fair. Yes with enough volume and targets he could pass 1000 yards (if plays all 17 games that's just a hair over 59 yards a game). I don't want to see them make the mistake the made with Gabe Davis. Gabe was a WR3 that they pushed up the depth chart. I'd like to see them keep Shakir there and if he gets some added opportunity, so be it. But I believe Coleman/Samuel will be a solid 1-2. I see them moving Shakir around a bit. Some inside, some outside. He and Samuel will almost certainly in my opinion be in motion a bit. Find the mismatches and exploit.

Love the attitude. Love the drive. Hate that he mentioned that he wasn't born when Michael Jordan played. Makes me feel really old. He owes me a cookie for that.

I like this idea, yet have another that will over time increase the board quality and overall enjoyment for all. We have a poll a day that we all get to vote on to eliminate one poster a day from the board. TBD: Survivor Mode, so to speak. Those added to the poll are the top 5 people that received thumbs down or the like votes or started topics that were of the "Let's Trade Josh Allen to the Bears" level.

Doesn't he know all he has to do is tell the cops "I'm Buster Skrine and I'm worth MILLIONS" and it's pretty much a "get outta jail free" card.

In a weird way, I think I'm more comfortable with the idea of this 5th round rookie starting at C instead of McGovern. And that's not a knock against McGovern because I do like him a lot. But he hasn't been working at C much since what...high school? Meanwhile, VPG has been the starter at a major college in a major conference and on National Championship teams. He's battle tested and used to setting protections and playing the position. I think McGovern at LG, VPG at C and Edwards back at that "6th OL" position gives this group the strongest potential.

I would be. This isn't directed at you but more the theme of fans in general. But...Seems like a broken record at this point whenever someone gets in trouble. Leage should "make an example". High speed incidents. Domestic violence. Drug violations. All slaps on the wrist. So why would they do anything shockingly harsh now? As long as it doesn't turn out Rice placed a bet at a sports book place, I don't see any long term major punishment. Seems to be the only broken rule the league takes seriously. NFL discipline is a complete joke.

Looking forward to the soon to be obligatory Coleman jumping high to snag a pass photo.

Hm. Could be an interesting PS stash when all is said and done. Let Martin start the year while Browning hones his skill. And shoot, if he can kick as well that's double coverage for both specialists in one PS spot. Not terrible value in that IMO.

I'm kinda hoping the longshot Punter makes it. Jack Browning. Would love a young cheap punter that can hold (if he can, I have no idea). I don't care for Haack and Martin looked like he had a dead leg at times last year.

If I'm reading the numbers correctly, it's not near as bad as people make out. Let's say he's cut in TC. It would leave behind $4.32M in dead cap this year. But we theoretically will have a little extra cash from the Tre White contract to absorb that. After that starting next season it would leave behind dead cap hits of slightly over $1M a season in 2025, 2026 and 2027. However, it would also open the following in cap money: 2025- $3.650M 2026- $3.950M 2027- $4.3M In other words after an initial hit this year moving forward that would be enough to pay his replacement and depending on the kicker have a little left over. I would prefer he gets his game worked out and stays, however it doesn't look like it's some impossible financially crippling task if he looks bad in TC or early in the season and they have to move on. https://overthecap.com/player/tyler-bass/8928

I found the pick of Davis pretty interesting. At the time Beane picked there were still quite a few of the "big name" RBs left on the board. Some really interesting prospects. And this was who they took over all of them. I think they got the guy they wanted at the place they got him. Hopefully, it works out well. I like what I've seen from his clips. Like the way he runs.

Absolutely not. For a few reasons. First off, Burks doesn't bring anything to the room that we don't now have with Keon Coleman. And from what I've seen so far from Burks at the NFL level, Coleman has the higher ceiling. Second, I'm not really sure about Elam yet. It's been 2 seasons since he was drafted. We knew going into his career (or at least common sense should have weighed in) that he may take time to adjust to the Bills system. We drafted Benford the same year who was plug and play ready as he was experienced playing these coverages. His first season gets a pass IMO for the adjustment. Into his first full off-season, from camp reports Elam was said to be looking really good. He was running with the first team a large part of training camp. Then PS game 3 Benford moved past him and many were surprised. Turns out the guy injured his ankle and was playing through it. Sucks, but it happens. After coming off IR he looked decent. He looked like what he is IMO, a kid with tons of talent that needs more game reps. Third, and this is of course just my opinion...but long term CB is a lot more of a need that WR. Over the next 2 years we have Coleman, Shakir and Samuel locked in. Absolute BEST case scenario...Burks is WR4/5. And he doesn't offer anything on STs. Would be hard for him to even see a jersey on game day IMO barring injury. Even if none of the other dart throws (Claypool, Shorter, Shavers ect) work out there are good WRs available every off-season. More and more the top of the draft has pro ready WRs. CB is usually a bit thinner in FA and the draft. And while our 2 outside CBs seem set for this year, Douglas is getting older. Benford gets banged up a bit. Who do we really have behind them...not only this year but also going into next? Sure seems like it would be great if Elam progressed. I'm betting on him locking down CB3 and getting enough snaps due to injury to show what he can (or cannot) do. I want to see how he looks now with Babich running the defense.

I liked Murphy. He had a tough lead to follow after we were spoiled with Van Miller for so long. While not perfect, he made the position his own and carved a place for himself in Buffalo Bills history. Congratulations to him on a great career. That said, agree they need an overhaul on the position moving forward. Chris Brown is a good team cheerleader....uh...reporter...but his announcing is just not great. Only thing I'm afraid of is if they moved on from him Sal C gets the job.

Small nugget in there I found interesting. When the Bills were on the board late they wanted a returner and selected Hardy. That's what they referred to him as. That tells me they view him as a KR/PR and what they may get from him at CB is a bonus IMO. He's making the roster and playing on Sundays unless he totally craps the bed in TC.

I thought it was Worthy was supposed to be Tyreek 2.0?