GASabresIUFan

Until we know all the cap savings in the extensions, we won't have a clear idea of how much we have or don't have. Obviously Beane knows the exact figure. They have to be cap compliant by 1 pm today, but after that I think teams can do what they want as long as they don't need to be cap compliant again for months.

I amended the title to reflect that the signings the Bills have made and their lack of signing (so far) in other areas may also illustrate how they might approach the draft. For example: They signed Palmer which indicates to me that WR is no longer a priority early in the draft. There are some burners mid draft that remain interesting like Tai Felton, Arian Smith or Kyle Williams. Hoecht is a hybrid player who can LB, DE or DT. I like the signing but don't think it changes our continued need for DT help and a pass rusher both in free agency and/or in the draft.

Both agreed to contracts yesterday. I started a thread to discuss who is still available. People have some interesting other options.

https://www.nfl.com/news/top-101-nfl-free-agents-of-2025-who-are-the-best-players-available I was looking at this list and a few names stuck out. CB - Asante Samuel and maybe Kristian Fulton S - Justin Reid - He just seems like a Bill. Justin Simmons for depth? Edge - Azeez Ojulari - I admit he's a Bulldawg, but he would be an excellent compliment to Groot.

Have we heard any updates on Asante Samuel?

We still need pass rush help, a starting CB, and maybe a starting Safety. I'm honestly surprised Beane hasn’t yet signed or acquired a good pass rusher. I hope he isn't relying on Solomon, Hoecht and AJE to pick up the slack.

Good luck

PFF has him at 310. The Rams website says 267. Another site said the Rams website is very inaccurate. I guess we’ll see when he gets to camp. He did drop back into coverage often according to a Rams fan site. Hard to see a 310 lbs lineman being used as a coverage linebacker.

If anyone has the cap savings on the extensions for Josh, Shakir and Bernard please post them here. Thanks Apparently he has beefed up since joining the NFL. He is really a Smoot replacement. According to the Roch Dem & C, he is up to 310 LBs and plays both DE and DT. He also plays either left or right. Sounds like a nice depth utility D lineman. PS. Your welcome! I posted this because I'm very visual and I agree it's much easier to see what's going on with the team this way. https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2025/03/10/buffalo-bills-michael-hoecht-agree-contract-defensive-lineman-free-agency/82238265007/

I do as well. Tai Felton, Arian Smith and Kyle Williams fit that description.

So many people hated the signing last offseason. I had watched him in the Atl and thought he mostly would be a special teams help. He outperformed everyone’s expectations. I’m sorry he is not returning, but it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of ST specialists and hopefully the addition of Palmer, removes the need for Hollins in the offense. I also think they really like Shavers.

Beane does like his developmental guys like Ingram and Lewis. If Shavers can take on Hollins’ role, that’s about a 3 mill cap savings.

I guess Shavers better learn to play special teams.

Traitor.

Don’t let facts get in the way of a good argument. Don’t forget Torrence.

Classic!

If it makes you feel better, I can see someone like Tai Felton and Arian Smith getting drafted by the Bills. I disagree that Palmer lacks upside. I think he can be a 900 yards player in our offense.

Shavers

I guess we can scratch WRs from our early draft board.

I thought the Bills might have an interest.

Position needs WR - 1 RB - 0 FB - 0 TE - 1? DE - 1? DT - 1 CB - 1 or 2 S 1 or 2 Guys on projected roster who could be replaced QBs - Both Trubisky and white TE - Davidson OL - Edwards DE - AJE LB - Spector CB - Elam, Ingram and Lewis

Extended - 1. Allen (6 years 330 Million - 250 guaranteed) - 2025 cap hit 36,335,281 2. Rousseau (4 years 80 million - 54 guaranteed) - cap savings 8 million, cap hit 2025 5,877,000 3. Benard (4 years 50 million - 25.2 guaranteed) - 2025 cap hit 2,528,248 4. Shakir (4 years 60.2 million - 32 guaranteed) - 2025 cap hit 2,586,787 5. Benford (4 years 69 million - 37.6 guaranteed) - 2025 cap hit 2,648,569 Contract restructuring 1) Oliver - Cap Savings $10 million. 2025 cap hit 11,240,000 2) Milano - Cap Savings $3 mill - now becomes a FA in 2026. 2025 cap hit 12,188,500 Trades 1) Elam CB (& a 6th) traded to Dallas for a 5th (& a future 7th) - $2.5 mill cap savings Re-signed 1) Van Denmark OT - 1 yr 1.03 million 2) Anderson OL - 1 yr 1.03 million 3) Ferguson LS - 4 years 6.5 million (2.365 guaranteed - 2025 cap hit 1,557,500) 4) Ty Johnson RB - 2 yrs 5 mill (2025 cap hit 1,475,000) 5) Gilliam FB - 1 yr - 1,337,5000 6) Hamlin S - 1 yr - 1,337,500 Free Agents signed (relevant signings) 1) Palmer WR - 3 years - 18 mill guaranteed w 36 million (max) (2025 cap hit 4.31) 2) Camarda P - 1 yr 1.1 million 3) White QB - 1 yr 1.195 million 4) Hoecht DE - 3 yrs - 13.43 guaranteed w 21million (max) (2025 cap hit 3.488) 5) Bosa DE - 1 yr 12.6 million (2025 cap hit 5.32) 6) Ogunjobi DT - 1 yr 8 mill with incentives to 10 mill. (2025 cap hit 3.106) 7) Forrest S - 1yr - 1,197,500 8.) D. Jackson CB - 1 yr - 1,197,500 9) Green OG - 1 yr - 1,070,000 10) Shenault WY - 1 yr - 1,070,000 11) White CB - 1 yr 6,800,000 max; 2025 cap hit 2,880,000 12) Moore WR - 1 yr 5 mill max Released - Non Tendered 1. Miller - cap savings 8.4 million - dead cap 15.4 million 2. Martin - cap savings 2 million - dead cap 400K 3. Morris - Non-tendered Bills FAs (signed elsewhere) Hamlin (re-signed), Gilliam (re-signed), Ty Johnson (re-signed), Hollins, Morris, Martin, Douglas, Cooper, Von Miller, Smoot, Austin Johnson, Q Jefferson and J Phillips. Draft Picks 1 - CB - Maxwell Hairston - 30th overall 2 - DT - TJ Sanders - 41st overall 3 - DE - Landon Jackson - 72nd overall 4 - DT - Deone Walker - 109th overall 5 - CB/S - Jordan Hancock - 170th 6 - TE - Jackson Hawes - 173rd 7 - CB - Dorian Strong - 177th 8 - OT - Chase Lundt - 206th 9 - WR - Kaden Prather - 240th Projected Roster Offense (23) - Draftee, Underline = FA Signee QBs (2) - Allen, Trubisky, Cut - White RB/FB (4) - Cook, Davis, Ty Johnson, Gilliam (FB) TE (3) - Kincaid, Knox, Hawes Cut - Davidson WR (5) - Coleman, Shakir, Samuel, Palmer, Moore - Cut Shenault, Shavers, Prather OL (9) - Starters - Brown, Edwards, McGovern, Torrence, Dawkins Depth - SVPG, Anderson, Grable, Van Denmark, Cut - Lundt, Green Defense (27) - Draftee, Underline = FA Signee DE (5) - Rousseau, AJE, Solomon, Bosa, Jackson DT (5) - Oliver, Jones, Carter, Sanders, Walker Cut - Logue LB (5) - Milano, Bernard, Williams, Andreessen, Ulofoshio - Cut Spector CB (7) - Benford, T Johnson, White, Hairston, Strong, Ingram, Codrington (KR) - Cut Jackson, Hardy S (5) - Rapp, Bishop, Hamlin, Forrest, Hancock - Cut - Lewis Specialists (3) Bass PK, Camarda P, Ferguson LS Suspended: 6 games for PEDs Ogunjobi DT Hoecht DE

Solid depth receiver with some size and ok speed. He does find away to get open, but only catches about 55% of his targets.

I don't hold missing Crosby or Garrett against Beane. I just wanted a dominate DE playing opposite of Groot and still believe that getting someone as good as Groot or better to play opposite of Groot is the Bills biggest offseason priority even above CB. We need to make QBs uncomfortable in the pocket on a more regular basis. My the way Mack just signed a 1 year 18 mill deal with LAC. One question we need to answer about the boundary WR position is what do we really need from that player to make the offense better. I believe we’ll get some improvement just from a healthy Kincaid and some maturity from Coleman. So do we need a 1200 yard guy or a guy who’ll give us 7-800 yards but stretch the defense making more room for Shakir and Kincaid to work? If we want the latter, then someone like Slayton fits the bill, but so does draftees like Bond and Golden. One under the radar FA is Elijah Moore.

I wrote earlier in this thread how much I like Metcalf and would love him on the Bills. Sadly I agree that it was unlikely even before the recent trade. I also am a big believer in retaining Cook for the next few years. I believe in retaining our drafted and developed players over FAs and trades. I also agree with you on Cook’s importance to this team. I suspect the Cook deal will get done. I further agree that Beane is probably looking at someone like Slayton if he goes the FA route. I suspect, if he goes for FAs on defense, then WR goes up in importance in the draft. Despite a smaller high end class vs last draft, I like Egbuka and Golden. I also am interested in Felton, Arian Smith, Kyle Williams and Bond. There are a ton of dominos still to fall this offseason. We need a starter at CB to replace Douglas. We need a starter at S to replace Hamlin and we likely need a starter at DE to replace Miller and upgrade AJE. Lastly we also need someone to replace Cooper at WR. I’ll admit I really wanted Crosby or Garrett, but that isn’t how Beane operates. He is a keep my guys GM and fill holes with value like McGovern and Douglas. Going for Miller was an out of character move. Sweat from Philly is the biggest DE prize in free agency, but I suspect someone like Koonce is who Beane will go after.