MasterStrategist

This is made up from you watching on TV? If Elam was some sort of elite CB, he'd be playing here still. McD and staff aren't coaching traits out of players. If Elam regressed, it's because he was unable to adapt to the NFL game. Somehow Benford developed into a very good corner, while Elam regressed. Yep, coaches picking favorites. Elam was a panic pick by Beane and staff. Happens, every GM hits a bust. But there was not a clear consensus on drafting Elam amongst the staff.

We gave up 11 point the entire 2nd half....I don't think coaching was the issue. And Elam was playing off coverage, bc he gets too grabby and slow recovery with his footwork. Elam became a headcase because he couldn't get away with tugging WRs anymore at the NFL level. And his instincts were never truly his calling card. Bills thought they could coach away the grabiness. Just a case of scouting not hitting on this pick.

Was not expecting this!!! Huge benefit just to dump that salary. Hope Elam does well there, but not expecting it. Now, we can grab a vet and a draft pick within our 53 man roster.

Let's revisit after draft. Fully expect 1, possibly 2, premium picks used on DL. Daquon could be let go. Aje isn't a lock, but I'd say highly likely to stay as of now. Beane has options, which he usually prefers heading into draft.

Agree. I'm not a fan of remaining CB options. Samuel isn't high on my list all and don't feel like wasting $4-5m on a 3rd corner type, when we have Elam for that role. I'm hoping we can grab Epps or Blackmon to compete for a starting role at S. I lost a bit of trust in McD last year with secondary decisions. I know Bishop was injured/missed camp time, Edwards missed a huge chunk of camp, but our secondary play was bad. Hopefully they turn it around this year with decisions.

I still think Epps or Blackmon are options. Just like LY, we brought in Edwards to compete-that ultimately failed due to injury/other reasons. Epps is a concern coming off ACL, but he's a very good player when healthy. We had interest in Blackmon LY, that could go one of two ways depending on how that final conversation unfolded.

My number one concern is secondary. Beane/McD have said they want to get bigger/faster across the board on defense. Seeing that play out at DL signings. I want to be able to shut down the run and a solid #2 CB. I'm leaning now toward drafting a CB in Rd1 and a 1 tech in Rd2, where plenty of DT options will be there still. I see no reason to sign a vet, unless they don't plan on drafting someone high. The CB numbers game, would Beane cut Elam/waste the $4m+ cap?

Yeah no argument with any of that. I'm confident in Bishop improving, but time will tell how much. We've had some players thrive after year 1 and some squander/never reach potential. Point being, I really was hoping for a proven/impactful safety. Rapp is our best safety now, that's not good enough IMO. If Bishop take a huge leap, the perspective changes. This is similar to MLB with Bernard a cpl years ago. Need Bishop to rise up and be a playmaker. We have given out next to nothing for our safety room, draft capital and cap. Maybe McD truly thinks he can get by with that, but it's a dramatic difference vs our Poyer/Hyde combo. I thought they'd at least try and find another FA to bring in.

Love Hamlin, but sincerely hope he isn't our starter this season. Hamlin is quality backup, Rapp is a borderline starter. Still think we need to grab another FA to compete, and hope Bishop steps up.

Couple names to watch today....Julian Blackmon and Marcus Epps

We're seeing things alike up front 😁. Daquon is the big ? now...we can get some savings from letting him go, then grab a very good player early in draft to replace his snaps. FA playing out like I thought yesterday am, grab a couple DL on 1 year deals....I'd be surprised if we make any more moves up front (other than releasing Daquon). DT: Oliver Larry Carter 1st or 2nd rounder De: Groot Aje Bosa Hoecht(de/dt hyrbid) Draft pick Solomon CB, 1 tech, S are my biggest NEEDS right now.

I don't expect us to be a hybrid defense at all, but we're grabbing versatile players/can play multiple spots along the front. Not unlike most years, ie: Smoot LY, just better guys now IMO. Watched Larry alot with Steelers, he can generate pressure up the middle alot more consistently than what we got from Carter/Phillips/Johnson/Jefferson/etc last year. I saw very little "push" from Carter LY, in pass rush. He played solid against the run prior to injury though. He's a rotational piece, bounce between a 1 and 3 tech. We need to grab a DT early in draft, and be curious if we cut Daquon who looked like toast LY.

Pretty certain that was the plan, regardless of Bosa signing. Too much talent at DT this draft to not take our shot.

Good chance we carry 10-11 DL like last year. Smoot was the Swiss army, Hoecht is an upgrade at that role. Solomon is back roster depth, we need a 4th impact pass rusher. I don't think Aje is getting moved, but could easily see Daquon being cut. Still plenty of 1 tech rotational players out there, unless they are comfortable with keeping Jones. Going to be several very good DT prospects around our 1st pick, or we can wait and get a rotational piece in Rd 2. I'm torn on DL vs CB in round 1, will have to see how rest of FA shakes out.

Beane swings for doubles in free agency. Goes for the homerun in draft, but mostly doubles and a triple here and there. I think he needs to be more of a risk taker in feee agency/trades. His "grind" and built thru the draft is ideal approach, but problem is when you miss on too many 1st or 2nd rounders. He needs to "stack" talent quicker/more consecutively. 1 great draft, then 1 so so draft, isn't going to get it done....UNLESS, he swings bigger in FA/trades.

I think there are options that could upgrade us at rotational pass rusher and interior. 1 year deal types. Still think cutting Daquon is likely. I think there is a good chance we look for a S in free agency to compete. Rapp is a borderline starter, Bishop needs to take a HUGE step this offseason but I'm hopeful he'll do it. If anything we find a 3rd safety as depth Doesn't make alot of sense to draft and sign...but maybe. Main reason I say that is Elam. Doubt we find a trade partner. Is Beane willing to eat his entire cap hit (no savings)? Or is he still valuable as a CB3? I'm not against sign and draft, but depends who we sign.

I am strongly against Asante, but I'm not scouting guys full time like Beane and staff. Just think Asante is too undersized, injury prone. He'd be a nice upgrade in coverage though. Just think we could find a more reliable option in the draft, if we target someone early.

Plenty of rotational guys at DT/DE. I expect a couple 1 yr deals. Really wanted a couple corners, but they're gone. At this point, I'd rather just hit the draft for defense with our 1st 3 picks. We can find starter material at 1 tech DT in the 1st or 2nd, same at corner. I expect a rotational end in the 2nd too- pair with Groot, Aje, Hoecht, and a likely signing.

This aged well....life nowadays, things must happen on my schedule or else

Great news. Our best RB room in quite some time, "run" it back.

Sure that's a possibility, but unrealistic. Basically asking Cook to play on consecutive 1 yr deals.... No way Cooks camp will want that, and that's a big D move by Beane. Haven't seen us franchise tag anyone that I can recall under his leadership

Did details on Josh contract, specifically his 2025 cap hit get released yet? IIRC his prior deal tabbed him around $44m ish this season. Whoever did the cap tracker thread last year, I kindly ask you take on that duty again 😁

Cook and Benford taking the longest, simply because they are the best talents we have on either side of ball (aside from Allen). They will be premier FAs next year, if it gets that far, and will far outplay their 2025 salary. If Beane is true to draft/develop/retain premier talent, these guys will be signed to extensions. Yes two sides have to agree- but we saw what happened when Benford went down vs KC. Cook is a legit homerun threat at RB, and both these guys are young and still ascending. Yes. It'd be a great deal to lock him up at $20m per

Ummm, are we going back in time? Cook rookie contract expires after 2025.

Did I miss Benford posting emojis on social media?