vtnatefootball11

I have been vocal about not liking this deal, but this is a fair (and non-homer) analysis, ie. acknowledging we are not getting great deal value wise, but considering he is a fan favorite/one we drafted, that we can't control the TE market, and that he shows potential for further development, we can hope the development continues and he earns this contract over time. I can live with that and respect that opinion. Bottom line, he is not elite right now, but if he continues to improve and even become a just great player (near elite) its probably worth it. I just don't think he will ever be better than good. What I saw last year was an improved player that did benefit quite a bit from circumstance. No way he gets some of those odd/long touchdowns this year. I'm still not fully confident in his blocking and hands either, even despite some clear improvement there. Sincerely hope I am wrong and he blows up the next few years but time will tell. Go Bills!

Those were terrible decisions by their respective franchises! I would rather have Knox of that group but barely and more importantly I would rather not make the same mistake the Pats/Browns did. If Knox puts up close to the same numbers as last year but with less touchdowns moving foward (which is incredibly likely btw) is it worth paying him elite TE money which is a now a premium paid position? Hopefully Beane see's something I don't, not gonna doubt him, I just haven't seen it on the field myself. I view Knox as more of a complimentary than impact player.

Gessicki, Schultz, Hockenden, and Fant MAY get a jump, IF they produce this year. It's a fair consideration though I will give you that. I would have liked to take the same risk with Knox. Think we could have signed him cheaper at year end, hope he blows up and I'm wrong, but just saying. I don't think any team goes into playing Buffalo saying "we gotta stop Dawson Knox". His production could be replaced by an early round draft pick. I just can't get on board with paying a guy top 5 money at a premium inflated market position for that.

Oh you got me good man 😂. If you looked, at the time I was typing that post, literally every single comment before was glowingly positive of the extension. I was obviously referring to the board at that time, not the general population. Knox is not, by any standard, a top 5 TE. That is a delusional take colored by red and blue lens. Don't get me wrong, we all wear em, but take them off for second. He is due for a touchdown regression and by any other measure (especially when you account for blocking) he is not an elite player. Hope he takes some big steps forward and becomes an elite all around TE, but that's a reach to say currently.

I don't disagree that he has the potential to improve further I just don't see Knox as ever being an elite player (he certainly isn't close now). He is not the blocker that Kelce, Andrews and Kittle and will never be able to offer that all round TE package at an elite level. Even with the improvement in dropped balls, he will never be a Pitts or Waller as a receiver. If Allen wasn't his qb, he's probably an average starter on another team. I just don't see his ceiling as elite, and for top 5 TE money with the now inflated TE market, it better be. Hope I'm wrong, but particularly if this comes at the expense of losing Oliver, count me as skeptical.

Am I the only one not super excited about paying Knox top 5 TE money? The market has already been inflated this offseason with Njoku signing and others. Knox is good and getting better, but still has significant weaknesses and is not near the difference maker of Kelce/Andrews/Pitts etc. I just don't see the value there for the Bills. If he gave us a good deal, sure lock him up, but not for top 5 TE money. I guess I'll wait to see all the contract details but Would have rather locked up Oliver long term and Poyer short term. I feel like we could have replaced Knox with an early round draft pick if needed.

Assuming he meant the Tampa Bucs

Oh boy now AB is weighing in on this and calling Brady out. Somebody pass the popcorn! https://www.yahoo.com/sports/antonio-brown-calls-tom-brady-135156860.html

Wondering if there may actually be something going on here. Maybe Tom is second guessing coming out of retirement now with the injuries at center, and/or something behind the scenes with this whole Dolphins/Ross fiasco, and is now actually re-considering his options? Not his style to pull a Lebron and basically acknowledge he can do whatever he wants and take time off while the rest of his team works. Maybe he's finally pulling rank but I'm probably a little worried if I'm a Bucs fan.

Well it was a 6 year extension to his rookie deal that included in the 5th year team option, ie. 6 years starting after this season. We have him locked in through the 2028 season.

C'mon now I'm far from a Watson defender, but calling him a "sexual predator" is too far. There was not one single instance where physical force was alleged to be involved. Have you ever bought a girl dinner/drinks in hopes she might have sex with you?? You're a sexual predator. Obviously that's some hyperbole, but I think you see where I'm going, stop with the virtue signaling. What he did was deplorable, he has a real problem. And he did it in a careless and excessive manner (I mean 60+ massages or whatever good lord!). Not defending his conduct, he deserves a lengthy suspension and all the heat/trouble he has got. But to say he should never be allowed to participate his profession again... c'mon man. What about Big Ben who was credibly accused of forcibly raping someone? Why weren't you up in arms about that?

Bill Belichick and Marv Levy had losing records their first go around as head coach, did their records lie?

You mean like Quessenberry? Who the Bills just signed and has starting experience at both RT and guard.... Not to mention Ford still has potential and maybe now realizes some of that under Kromer, and Doyle is still raw and can push Brown. Not saying it wouldn't be nice to have another quality depth/spot starter option and maybe if Kromer is not high on Doyle/Ford after getting to work with them a bit we look to add someone else near end of preseason, but right now it looks like Bills FO has is pretty satisfied with the OL as is.

No need, the unused cap space would roll over to next year. I'd be surprised though if there was ultimately any significant cap space remaining when it's all said and done. Need reserves for the draft picks plus at least $1mil for potential in-season signing due to injury or what not. Also, the Bills will likely sign a veteran CB ahead of the draft just so it's not a glaring need (or at least as a smokescreen to make it appear not) and then maybe keep a few mil loose for potential post June 1 cuts and if nothing is there can always roll that space over to next year.

These are fair points and I think there is subjective room to argue just how highly the Bills FO values Taron and the nickel position generally in their system. I don't see cutting Taron after this coming season as a serious consideration but I acknowledge it's a remote possibility as you laid out, particularly if he somehow regresses terribly or has career threatening injury or something like that in 2022.

I understand where you are coming in that concessions will have to be made but $5mil dead cap is pretty prohibitive. Taron would have to have a remarkable regression in ability for Beane to even consider that. Cutting others, in addition to restructures/extensions/covering salary to bonuses etc. can free up cap space, there are plenty of ways to maneuver as we saw this offseason. Taron being cut won't be one of them. Plus, who knows how much the cap will increase next year.

In our base defense we start 3 corners. Taron is the the nickel corner we still need two starters on the outside. Is this really not common knowledge? Edit: I apologize, read this too quickly, missed that you said draft "two" corners high. Yes, that may be unnecessary, although you could always see who pans out better and trade the other. Plus, statically speaking it is far more likely that only one, rather than both, would turn out as a good pro so if you the highest player on the board is a CB at both in both 1st and 2nd round you still take them both. Assuming we don't sign any vet FA, we absolutely must hit on a corner that can play right away early in this draft. Huh?? Taron just signed an extension last year through 2024 where he is getting avg of $8 mil per year. We could get out after 2022 but would cary a $5mil dead cap, which won't happen. Bills coaches and FO have made it very clear they view him as a long term nickel starter, key piece of the defense etc.. We prioritized extending him, arguable over other key defensive pieces too. Bills paid Levi Wallace less than $2mill last year but Taron got $8mil per, that should show you how highly they view him. He isn't going anywhere.

Chad Muma LB Mario Goodrich CB

Right but remember we were tinkering with the OL combos all season (and last season too). Bates looked really solid at LG in between Dawkins and Morse the last few games, but with Saffold coming in he would have likely moved to RG anyway, which presents some unknowns. In previous years Bates has looked like a solid backup material at best. You can get away with one below average starter on the OL, and who knows we may be able to find a cheaper vet replacement at RG or a rookie to compete with ford (or both). That's why I'm not too concerned. Not saying OL isn't important, I just don't think Bates was that valuable to begin with. I'd rather spend the money on a vet #2 corner.

They can't trade him he's not currently under contract, the Bills have to match or they get nothing. Don't even waste your time hoping. Pats have PLENTY of cap room and holes all over the o line, including both starting guard spots. They will offer him prob close to $5mill per year knowing the Bills can't quite squeeze that.

Damn, Bates is gone. Pats have plenty of cap space and just lost/traded away both their starting guards. Minnesota didn't have a lot of room wasn't as worried there, but NE will make an offer Bills can't match. Oh well, not too concerned. We have Saffold at LG, and then it will be between Ford/rookie for the RG spot.

I don't have anything against Klein, he is a great run stopper and serviceable starter on a team that plays a base of 3 linebackers, but this signing means Klein is likely going to be cut. With our nickle base, we can't afford to pay Klein over $5mill this year to a backup, and now with Dodson being signed it secures our depth with a younger, cheaper player that also can play special teams. Can't see how we keep Klein now unless he takes a huge pay cut.

I agree with you on Gase for sure but actually I thought O'Brien was pretty good as a head coach. What he was able to do in Houston even before they had Watson was impressive. Where he went wrong was in his GM capacity, made some awful, awful decisions roster wise. Wouldn't surprise me if he had success as a head coach again if given an opportunity and working with an empowered, competent GM.

Good thoughts here, I tend to agree. Wouldn't be surprised at all if Bills promoted Dorsey to OC and then pursued Sean Ryan for a lateral move for Quarterbacks coach. Yes it's a lateral move, but let's face it, unless either (i) Watson is traded to Carolina, or (ii) Sean Ryan is promoted to OC in Carolina, don't think Ryan would pass up the chance to work with Allen and reset his career. Much better gig. Of course, Carolina could try to block that as a lateral hire.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/01/18/adrian-phillips-doesnt-see-huge-gap-between-bills-and-patriots/ Like many Pats fans I know, complete delusion.