ColoradoBills

So, let's just take the ball out of Josh's hands and give to Henry 350 times a season. Fix the OL and let Josh throw the ball.

This is the Ravens offer as of today and I agree with what you said in your excellent post (especially about Allen and Mahomes). The difference really is what Lamar was offered in 2021 when Allen signed. It was reported it was a bit above what Josh got AAV and bonus prorated, but on a 5-year deal whereas Allen got 6. The thing is since that time (when I contest Lamar should have signed) he has not completed his last 2 seasons. Back in the summer of 2021 he had a previous 2 season record of 24-6 and had an MVP. His stock was at the highest. Missing 5 games the last 2 seasons has reduced his guarantee's. His stock is down from 2021 and if he gets injured again this season............................................................

First, Wagner signed a 5 year $50M contract at $10M per year. Rams went crazy with only a $2.5M cap hit in 2022. IF he could be the fit for a couple of years in McDermott's D and he signs a 3/$30M with an out after 2, I could be interested. He could be an anchor in the transition to a new D. Signing him for a $7M cap hit in 2023 is doable. This is of course if he is the fit they are looking for and not want him to do something he hasn't done in the past. Signing one 33-year-old (along with Von) is not too crazy as long as Beane lets a bunch of these older guys walk. Players over 30 that I'm including are T. Jones (34), Keenum (34), Safford (34), Beasley (33), Brown (32), Quessenberry (32), Von Rotten (32), Klien (31) and Poyer (31), Kumerow (30), Matakevich (30). Not to mention it's Hyde's (32) last year. The locker room was getting old but letting these guys go rebalances the age even with a Wagner signing. Wagner could bring a vet presence to a D that is going to get real young real fast.

Yep, it looks like he will go to camp and compete with a guy like Siran Neal. If he plays well enough on ST and can be of worth as S depth replacing Siran for the next 2 years saves around $4M and Zayne will still be an RFA in 2025. If he is better at S than I expect he will be a steal. I kind of like these type of players with these types of contracts. No risk with a chance of a decent reward.

Contract is in. 2 years for a total of $1.995M with that whopping $10k signing bonus. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/zayne-anderson-72719/

Yes. he should have signed right after Josh Allen did. He was offered more than Josh and 2 years would already have been serviced. Josh has already been paid over $85M with another $28M coming immediately when he gets restructured in a couple of weeks. Next month Josh also gets another $13.5M of his 2024 salary guaranteed AND $16.5M of his 2025 Roster Bonus! Let's not forget all the money Josh has already received (way more than Lamar's $32M) has been invested and is getting a return. Josh has zero fear if he has a devastating injury. Lamar stands to lose a boatload is he is injured playing under a tag.

JuJu is an UFA and Spotrac has his market value at $14.6M and Hardman is an UFA too with a $10.3M value. It's going to be interesting to see what KC does with them.

Unless there is a WR or outstanding OL they really want, trading back into the 2nd and picking up another late 3rd is fine with me. Coming away with a WR, 2 OL and MLB on Day 2 would be pretty, pretty good.

Miami has 29, NYJ have 24 and the Patriots have 18. Spotrac has 712 FAs on the 32 teams. Comes to 22.25 per team. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/

Not so great. They are over the cap by $16M and they got a lot of UFAs they need to make decisions on. Not to mention that at draft time they got only picks in 2, 3, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7. If Stafford isn't back to his former self, it could get tough for them.

Diggs, Davis, Shakir and McKenzie. Add an outside WR in the draft and Beane will bring in 2 cheap WRs in through FA to compete with all the other camp bodies for the WR6 spot. McKenzie could be a cut if the other guys play well enough. I don't see a big $ WR in FA.

Cap jail or hell or whatever term fans want to use only happens when a team goes way in to win it all. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Teams like KC and Buffalo have to let some high dollar players walk. KC couldn't keep Hill unless they let someone else goes. Bills have decisions similar to that with Poyer, Edmunds and even a guy like Oliver. Beane will work through it.

Of course, but that's what QB cost. I mean just look at Kyler Murray getting $46.1M per. The good thing is the Bills are set with Josh until 2026 at the earliest.

It will no doubt be an interesting year no matter which way Beane turns the team or not.

I agree not $45 but I see Jones basement cost equal with Kirk Cousins ($35M per).

I guess we'll find out about an Oliver trade soon enough. I just don't see that happening. You give a lot of options, but money will be tight.

Bills are -$20M without signing Poyer or Edmunds and once you move Saffold and Phillips void year money and replace them on the Top 51. How much cap in restructuring do you think Beane is going to free up?

If you click on the red X to the right of his 2023 line you can see a "Pre-6/1" trade will cost GB $40M in Dead Money. The new team will pick up the rest of the guarantees.

It's not about McKenzie with me it was about Jake Kumerow. Kumerow beat out Hodgins for a spot because of ST. As to who is the better WR all I can do (other than using my eyes) is show the results. In 3 years with the Bills Kumerow has amassed 114 yards on 7 catches on 14 targets and 1 TD. A 50% catch rate. 225 offensive snaps. Hodgins (in less than a season) with NYG has 351 yards on 33 catches on 42 targets and 4 TDs. A 79% catch rate. 417 offensive snaps. IMO Hodgins can be a competent WR5 while I put Kumerow as a PS player.

I'm all for having a competent or above competent ST group. I do however question how many "ST only" players a team commits to. A guy "like" Matakevich, who is a ST leader, and on the field constantly is acceptable to me. I do think his salary is too high. But my point is a guy who fills that role is fine with me. A ST ace gunner who has other roles on ST is ok too. Having a combined KR/PR is highly desirable. After that, keeping a number of depth players over more talented depth guys solely because of ST skills is what I question. To give an example, the average depth LB, S, CB player all can run and tackle in open space. I would rather see a more qualified player at his prime position make the team over a lesser talented player at his prime position who got the roster slot because his ST skills are slightly higher. Using last year's roster, guys like Kumerow, Neal and Johnson all seem to me to be replaceable with better prime position players, but most likely made the team because of ST skills. All 3 of those players last year were needed at their prime position because of injuries to starters. Maybe you tip and keep one of those guys but all 3 seems unnecessary.

Specific FA players aside. It definitely is a scenario worth consideration.

I started with Option 1 of Bates being the heir apparent. I too am not sure that is the way to go. I would like to get away from the situation where if Morse goes down Bates has to move and the OL deals with too many in game changes. If Bates is slated to play LG, I would like to see him stay at that position and only come in at C in a disaster situation. That being said, a true backup plan at C needs to be addressed. That brings the whole thing into Morse and how long he can hang in there. I feel if he was going to retire, he would have done it already. So, I got him playing this year but don't know if you want him there longer. There was so much to consider it's the reason I started the thread, so as to get these options.

Wylie is much better at G than the RT role he was forced into. I use him as an example. I'm open to other FA guards. FA is coming before the draft so that is my immediate question. Thanks for the input.

Thanks Epsy, you are confirming everything I think about the guy. RG only and best if he can be had in the 2nd but might not last till then. I guess my thinking is the right side of the OL has been iffy the entire time Josh has been here and I'm looking to put some "rebar in the concrete". He's a guy I think might be able to do that and be the rock on the right they need. I'll look to see about a perceived weakness in counter moves. As to Beane and the whole OL concept of tackles and guys that play multiple positions, I'm hoping that could be swayed some this year by Kromer and others. Good stuff, thanks again.