MasterStrategist

Agree with 1st part, but you lost me on the extension/needing 1 yr deals to expire. If we extend him, it would likely open more cap space this season...allowing us to potentially target a vet corner and/or draft class money. Unless I'm misreading your post, it makes sense to extend now if we plan to anyways.

Agree, except I'm a big fan of Dotson and think he might be there at 25. The potential issue is that alot of teams in that 15-24 range will be considering WRs, also will be interesting how the inflated/recent WR contracts may impact draft strategy (ie: extra year of control for Rd1). Corner in Round 2 is ideal, IMO, someone who can compete with Dane and potentially hold down a spot until Tre is ready. Then focus on OL, rounds 3-4, rest of draft can be finding value/role players. Wouldn't be a surprise to see us move around in the 3rd-5th range, I think that will be a sweet spot for value this year at certain positions.

We "need" 1 starter, until Tre is ready. This defense can play well with a Dane Jackson, while we still have 2 all-pro safeties lining up behind him. I think we draft a corner, likely early, but would be shocked if we drafted 2 then also signed a FA (assuming you mean, a veteran). We have barely any cap space, let alone roster spots: Tre, Dane, early draft pick, Taron, Neal and Cam Lewis is likely our corner back group.

IMO, the biggest offseason needs: 1. Get more physical in the trenches: DTs-check, Shaq helps run D, Von is great, and Saffold improves 1 G spot. I think we will take another G, in the 2nd-4th range to compete with Bates. 2. Dynamic pass rusher: obviously Von checks this box. I could see us drafting a speed rusher type mid to late, or possibly bringing back Mario or Jerry if price is right. 3. Speed at skill positions: brought back McKenzie, and added Crowder. Like many, think our 1st two picks will be focused on "boundary" players, specifically athletic WR and CB. 4. Backup Qbs: now set 5. Get cheaper/less costly depth: with Josh contract about to get expensive, and key decisions with other young talent, we needed to shed our high priced depth...check. I think we could look for LB, T and S in the middle rounds for depth and S/T. I'd be going into draft targeting speed/skill guys early, then focus on trenches and depth.

Wasn't his "free" international player designation over? Not sure there is much to uncover....he is a talented athlete but FO didn't see enough to let him be part of the 90 heading to camp. Pretty simple.

Bates contract is in between starter and high end backup $s. Boettger likely will not be ready until mid to late season. Mancz isn't guaranteed anything, he's been "meh". Cody Ford doesn't fit the mold of what our new line coach typically looks for, so he might be on his way out Not to mention, we have Tommy Doyle slotted as our only T backup as of now. Anytime you bring in a new oline coach, and a new O coordinator, anything is on the table and they will likely look to fill with players that fit their desired skillets. I agree with @GreggTX, we need OL, and could see us drafting 2 guys.

Plenty of vet/1yr rental types available in FA. Perhaps we are in conversations with a couple, and waiting to see what unfolds in the draft. We likely need 2 corners, assuming Tre begins on the PUP list. Dane, 1st or 2nd rounder, mid round pick or FA, and Neal is likely our path ahead on the outside. Along with Cam, Nick McLeod (who they seemed to like) and likely other UDFAs will likely fight for 1 spot.

Great FA, biggest positional need in order: 1. CB: likely need 2. Somehow find a FA, still options to swing a 1 yr deal, and an early-mid draft pick. Alot hinges on when they think that Tre will be healthy to play. 2. G/IOL: need another starter, or at least someone to compete with or potentially replace Bates if he is signed elsewhere. Round 1-3 ideally. 3. WR: would love another playmaker, but not sure we "need" someone round 1. Another outside guy is preferable. With a deep draft, this could be anywhere round 1-4 but I'd think round 2-3 is going to be best value. 4. RB: still think we could look to upgrade, or very least look for a complimentary type, ie: speed/scatback. 5. Depth: Tackle, IOL, LB/ST, CB and Dline. I'd expect our round 4-7 to fill in some depth and look for someone who might have slid. Overall, I think we are set up very nicely going into draft to focus on BPA, but #1 and 2 on list above should certainly be an early focus.

Watched Dane play a lot, living in Pittsburgh. He won't disappoint. I think Hamlin was a steal too, he will be ready to step up down the road too.

I remember that interview as well, and to be honest, Harry has never played with a mean streak. This was said about him coming out of Stanford, strong/tough but not a bully type. Harry seemed to be 100% about football all the time and a great teammate/person, so coaches dream to have players like this. Bills DNA, as Beane/McDermott say. But, it was time for a change up front and glad they are "re tooling" that group.

Tim Settle is definitely a done deal, I'm wondering if the hold up is needing to clear additional cap space? I haven't checked where we're at officially, following the Von signing. Exact dline transformation that we needed. Setting up to be a draft focused on getting "speed"

Not a rumor, just my hope... 1. Sign James Washington: should be a cheaper, 1 yr deal. Hungry, young player who has deep ball ability we lack. 2. Sign Donte Jackson: Young, athletic corner who could be a good backstop until Tre is healthy. 3. Cut Beasley and Star 4. Sign Jordan Phillips, finish our DT transformation 5. Resign Jerry Hughes, I think he's a 1 year stopgap until we see what development our young DEs can make. 6. Go after OL, CB, and WR early in the draft.

I will let her know. Who should I say called, a secret admirer or perhaps a rejected prom date? In all seriousness, I remember your takes on him and well thought out/can understand what you're saying. But, can you say that we've had good players in front of him? Will say he and Milano have a much better 2022, with the direction this dline is going. Either way, I'm all for getting more physical/stout up front and adding speed to the secondary/skill positions.

Some foolish takes, but also honest opinions about his limitations (ie: struggles to match up against bigger Wrs, not super athletic/speed type, etc.). But he's experienced, great dude/seemed well liked and super hardworking. But at $4m per, you get a similar player with Dane Jackson stepping in. Very similar athletically, Dane is more physical/willing tackler and matches up against bigger Wrs a bit better. Less fluid in hips/turning to run with WRs though. Ideally, Dane is our #3 outside corner and agree we should be looking at CB ralry in draft. There's also a reason Levi was constantly fighting for his #2 spot and never outright "locked it down". Also let's not forget, he was burnt on a double move for 6 against Mac in the playoffs, if not for Micah making an unbelievable play. Followed by, getting torched by KC. I'm sure the staff will be looking for more athletic corners in FA and draft.

Seemed well liked by coaches/players, and involved in alot of great community events. But on field play, average player. He had some better moments in the 2nd half of season, perhaps Minny taking a flier on him continuing to develop/stay healthy. Be curious what the contract details are, as 3 yrs 19.5m could be much different in reality. I think our staff prioritized physicality, on both lines, as our first few FA signings have much more of that trait than the players being replaced. Good luck to Harry, but glad we are going in a different direction.

It works like a withholding on a paycheck. 2 sources, actual payroll from team and off field income: 1. Nfl salary/bonuses: Nfl agents "max" portion is capped at 3%, but better the player (ie: more commercials, off field appearances) may pay next to nothing. Ie: $100k check at 3%, gets the agent $3k. 2. Off field: can range, and where top agents make their coin...anywhere 5-10% is norm, could go a bit higher. Things like commercials, paid speaking events, endorsements, etc. So it doesn't work on "max contract" value, it's tied directly to what is distributed to said player. Ton of overhead expenses involved, and countless hours, not my top choice for career.

Give it a rest man, we all know your opinion on Tremaine. The decision has been made on his 5th year option, no going back. It's possible Beane is working on an extension, to lower the cap hit. But there are many ways we could create cap space, and cutting Tremaine and his fully guaranteed contract is not one. This thread is meant to be about Chandler Jones, not who we need to justify cutting to find ways to sign him. Back to topic, Jones and a solid 1 DT in the draft would transform this dline. Which in turn, is going to elevate the play of the back 7

Every GM has misses, bottom line he turned Buffalo into a top 3-5 team for the foreseeable future. That's after inheriting a ton of bad salary cap mismanagement, no QB, and a team that hadn't made the playoffs in ages. I like Mack too, but not at the expense of a 2nd rounder and the cap hit he carries...at his age and foot issue, it's a risk. Chandler Jones, much more desirable, other options exist in the draft as well.

Regardless if OP is believable or not, Harry has been a "fringe" starter for us. He's also been a healthy scratch many times. Yes, he finished out the final 6 games playing as our starter, with improved performance. But our goal should be to get better in the trenches. Harry is not that, IMO, and not a physical type player either. Not even sure he's a 1 DT, but not athletic enough for a 3 tech DT position on our line. He did, but one player is a young, talented starter. While the other, has been a healthy scratch and benched numerous times over the past 2 years. Agree, not a must re-sign, and money better spent elsewhere.

All the best to Beas. He played great, gave it his all while toughing it out thru injuries. He also was a key part of Josh's development. At this point though, our offense is ready to take it to another level. To do that, we need more speed/playmakers, who can create more YAC and get additional deep routes incorporated.

Well I'm not the one just calling him average, now am I. Be glad to discuss the merits of the MLB position, I find it funny your first comment is to question my knowledge. Some original message board stuff right there. Nick Bolton and Denzell Perryman, seriously? Bolton progressed well and finished strong, but was not asked to do what Edmunds does in our defense. He is instinctive for a rookie, but has athletic limitations and isn't going to run lateral/carry the coverage zones like Tremaine does. Perryman is not a gifted coverage linebacker, he would be considered a weak link as a coverage LB by many. Perryman is actually unlikely to resign with Raiders, due to his limitations in that regard. There's 2 you can cross off the list. What redeeming quality do these 2 players possess, that would prompt you to say they would be better in our defensive scheme than Edmunds? I'm sorry you feel more educated around these parts, but Edmunds is not just an average player. He's also not Darius or Fred, but I'd put him in the tier right after. We play some of the most cover 2/cover 4 looks across the league, preventing big plays. It puts a HUGE amount of coverage responsibility on him and Milano. Chiefs much different style, aka why the Nick Bolton comparison is horrible. He's not near the athlete McDermott looks for (maybe Willie Gay, but not Nick). You should try to understand our defensive philosophy, if you disagree with that..so be it. But that is unlikely to change anytime soon. And to your last point, did Milano not regress this season as well? IMO, the defensive line was weak. Corners were slow, once Tre was injured, and forced even more cover 2/cover 4 looks against most opponents...put even more burden on Edmunds and Milano in that respect. Can't look at this in a silo, many factors influenced both of our LB play. And plain/simple, we played some very low quality QBs this season, the high defensive rank was not sustained against high quality competition.

If Edmunds is average (per your words), please list 15 other MLBs that are better than he is..... I would not say he is average, Bills would have no way picked up his 5th yr option if they thought he was just average. He's not in the class of Darius or Fred, but IMO in that next tier...again with a DL that has failed to stop the run for countless seasons and can't get to the QB (sacks, not counting this phantom pressure stat). Playmaking abilities of Milano were also not at the same clip as prior years, to me pointing to either scheme or lack of defensive pressure.

Agree, I think it's hard to say if the problem is player evaluation or development, for the DL. Likely both contributing to the problem. I will be very concerned, if 2 years from now we are still having this conversation. After investing 2 1sts and 2 2nds, in recent years. Rousseau and Basham deserve more time, and I'm encouraged by Ed (just needs to maintain his 2nd half of season level), but this will be a big season for AJ. Thankfully, we have most of the FA DL money issue behind us, except for Star. Frustrating results, you bet, but now we have a mostly clean slate to work with. They have a chance to "retool", as they say, so this upcoming FA/draft will be very critical.

Again, Jerry running 5 yards past the qb is not pressure. PFF/espn or whevever you grabbed that stat, is plain misleading and irrelevant. Point is our front 4 is not physical or talented enough. So we have: Hughes, Addison, Butler, Harry, and Efe all potentially ready to test the open market. That was half our core from last year, not an abundantly talented group. My previous point, Re: Edmunds, is that he and Milano would be much better with a stronger group in front of them.

What I'm saying is we just wasted a ton of money, and got little return on investment on the dline. We invested top 10 money in the dline for consecutive seasons, with no where near that production. I'm saying we need to stop collecting 3-4 B to C grade players to rotate and find some top end talent in the front. Beane and group have done wonders, except for what they paid for on the dline.