GASabresIUFan

We have vets, their names are Diggs, Shakir, and Kincaid. Yes, the last 2 are young, but they have already proven themselves. We had a vet in the 2nd boundary last year in Davis and what good did that do us? Did you know that Davis was the 4th most productive (yards-wise) of the FA wide receivers? https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/all/wide-receiver/ Which of the available FA that we can afford could give us Davis-level production? I look through this list and I see Mooney, Reynolds, Peoples-Jones, and others and I'm like meh! I just don't see how any of those guys are truly an upgrade over Davis. No more band-aids. Because of the cap situation, Beane is going to have to take some risk in letting a few kids play. I'd rather a rookie start as our 4th receiving option vs starting a kid on the DL or safety.

As we learned with Harry and Sherfield that signing a vet, even one who produced elsewhere, is no guarantee of success. Any vet we can afford likely has an injury history, a flaw in his game (like drops), or his skills are already in decline. Like a rookie, the new vet also has to learn our system. Even a declining Diggs is still better than 80-90% of the other receivers in the NFL. What numbers would you assign to a “declining” Diggs? 75-80 catches 950-1000 yards 6TDs? We get someone who can stretch the field a little, there is going to be a lot less pressure on Diggs. Don’t forget Kincaid and Shakir should continue to get better. Diggs is already not alone. Add those numbers above to improved numbers for Kincaid and Shakir and my guess is the offense will already be better and more balanced. I think Kincaid can get to 900-1000 yards next season. Because we already have Shakir, Diggs and Kincaid the early draftee doesn’t have to be Chase, Jefferson or Nacua to make a significant impact. He just needs to make Josh’s life a little easier by giving him a solid 4th option to throw the ball to. I’m thinking GB’s Reed or Doubs type impact. We get any of the top 10 receivers in this draft they should be able to give us that type of impact. Don’t forget that we still have Shorter who management likes. He is a tall receiver with decent speed. After a lost rookie season due to injury, I’m looking forward to seeing his progress. Now add Beane’s spotty track record with FA receivers and limited cap space, I’d rather take the chance on a bunch of kids. I keep referencing GB, as their top 4 WRs and top 2 TEs were all 1st and 2nd year players and that didn’t hold them back at all.

Diggs’ contract means he is here for the next two years minimum, probably 3. Also, WR is one of few positions that a rookie has a chance to really shine. We don’t need some 4th string vet because he’s been around. We need better WR talent and that talent at a price we can afford now and in the future.

Why bring in any of these guys? What do they bring but a waste of limited cap $. Could they out outperform the nothing we got from Harty, Sherfield, and Isabella? Sure they could, but so could a 4th or 5th rd draft pick. Shorter is already here and is aleady a cost-controlled option. I'd much rather have Diggs, a top draft pick, and Shakir as the top 3. and then let Shorter, Hamler and another draft pick fight it out for the 4th and 5th slots. Long-term we'd be much better off if Shorter and/or another similar draft pick emerge as a threat just like 5th rd pick Shakir did last year. I just don't see how adding another 1-year castoff makes us better. We need to fix the D Line and safety depth before wasting FA $ on a 4th or 5th WR.

If the Bills can't afford to keep Davis, how do they afford to sign a FA who is an upgrade over Davis. The truth is Beane has been trying to build a WR group from castoffs and lower draft picks since he got here. The only except was the trade for Diggs; although it could be argued that he should have kept the pick and drafted Jefferson. Regardless, it's time for Beane to step up and truly invest in the position. The only way to upgrade the position given our budget is to draft a WR in the 1st rd (or with our 1st pick if we trade down) and draft a 2nd WR with our 4th rd pick or one of our two 5th rd picks. We should cut Harty as well. We should go into next season with Diggs, 1st Draft pick and Shakir as our top 3 and then let Shorter, the 4/5th rd pick, and Hamler battle it out in camp for the last 2 slots.

Meh! What did Kincaid do as a rookie that Torrence didn’t do as a rookie or Benford and Benard did in the 2nd years? All three guys played extremely well at their positions erasing 3 holes in our starting roster in the process, just like Kincaid did. Benard played much of the year at the pro bowl level. Also why Douglas and T Johnson a yellow? Both are solid starters under contract and both are likely to be extended this off-season.

Trade Recap Buffalo Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 31 2024: Round 2, Pick 63 2024: Round 3, Pick 94 2024: Round 3, Pick 98 San Francisco Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 28 2024: Round 2, Pick 60 2024: Round 3, Pick 99 My Selections 31 Troy Franklin WR | Oregon TRADE 63 Tyler Nubin S | Minnesota TRADE 94 Dominick Puni IOL | Kansas TRADE 98 Maason Smith DL | LSU TRADE 129 Blake Fisher OT | Notre Dame 159 Justin Eboigbe DL | Alabama 162 Ray Davis RB | Kentucky 198 Luke McCaffrey WR | Rice 202 Malik Mustapha S | Wake Forest 206 Andru Phillips CB | Kentucky 246 Grayson Murphy EDGE | UCLA

https://theathletic.com/5280918/2024/02/19/free-agency-rankings-nfl-best-available/ The link is to the Athletic's top 150 NFL FAs. 22 Floyd 25 D. Jones 45 Davis 85 AJ Epenesa 137 Rapp No. 114 on their list is NE Edge rusher Josh Uche - He is 25 and sacks dipped last year to only 3.5. The Bills should have plenty of film on him. No way he gets the 8.5 per season Spotrac projects. From the Athletic - "Now he's likely headed toward a one-year prove-it deal." Sounds like a perfect Bills' signee. Given his age, if he works well in Buffalo he could be a long-term find as well. Some safeties that stood out as possible buy-low candidates are Indy's Julian Blackmon, GB's Darnell Savage, Tashaun Gipson Sr (although he is older), and Jermy Chinn. There are a ton of S FAs. Someone good is going to fall to the cracks and not get the contract they want. DT - I'm curious to see what the market is for former Bill, 2023 Jet, Quinton Jefferson. Also interested in Javon Kinlaw. He finally came into his own last season and could be a McGovern level signing as a guy young enough to be here for a few years and good enough to solidly fill a current need.

It's called a void year. Yes, we signed him to a one-year deal, but on paper, it was a 2-year deal so that Floyd could get the money he wanted and the Bills could limit the cap hit in 2023.

WR is the one area that I don't think a veteran presence is at all important. GB made the playoffs with a WR group and TE group consisting of all 1st and 2nd year players and their top 4 WRs and top 2 TEs produced as many yards and more TDs than our mixed group of 4 vets, 1 2nd yr player (Shakir), and one rookie (Kincaid). The 2 vets we signed last year gave us 26 catches for 236 yards and 2 TDs. IMHO dump Harty, don't sign any vets, and just draft 2 quality receivers. They'll be cheaper, probably healthier, and likely more productive. The only caveat here is whether or not management believes in Shorter. If they do, draft the BPA receiver with our 1st pick, and then don't worry about it. Don't forget Hamler (a small speed receiver) has been signed to a futures contract/

It wasn't a serious comment, but a wonderful notion of having a great "Josh Allen" on both sides of the ball.

I do wonder how the rankings will change after the Combine and the pro days. Look what the Senior Bowl did for McConkey. Who will be faster than expected? Who slower? Who shorter? Who with a better vertical leap? I don’t think the top 3 will change very much, but if Mitchell runs faster than expected, he could easily move up.

You can accomplish the cap savings and keep both Morse and Bates by extending Morse with a void year or two and by restructuring Bates's deal. Those two moves could save about 5-6 in cap and Beane retains his starter and his depth. As I said previously, I'd extend Morse, trade Bates, and draft Van Pran.

Really? The only 2 on the roster are the aging (and slowing) Poyer and the resurrected Hamlin. We need two safeties at a minimum. A FA starter for a year or two and at least one from this draft to either supplant Poyer or the FA by 2025. There 4 very talented safeties in this draft who will go in the top 75 in Bullock, Bullard, Kinchens, and Nubin. The Bills need to grab one of them if they can.

I think the needs at DT and Safety are going to be lessened by free agency. I don't think Beane wants to head into the season with a rookie at D Jones' slot or in Hyde's slot, but you never know. The only rookie starter I see for the Bills next season is at WR2 unless a draft pick shines in camp at S or DT and supplants the signed FA. From my standpoint, getting an Edge, DT, C, OT, and or S all could (should?) be early picks, but come after the WR2 in level of necessity. Getting the vets as starters for a year or two in FA allows Beane the luxury of picking the BPA from those 5 positions instead of simply drafting for need.

Maybe, but do you think that Beane, with so much to do to fix the Dline, Safety and WR, is going to make a huge change to the one area of his team that he doesn't need to alter?

I'm hoping he slips to the 80's. I'm hoping the Bills trade down in the first to pick up an extra 3rd. With that extra 3rd, and if we get lucky, Van Pran will be sitting there for us to take with the acquired pick. https://www.drafttek.com/nfl-trade-value-chart.asp It will take two trades to get into the 80s. 1 - Buffalo trades 28 & 206 to Ari for 35 & 90 2 - Buffalo trades 90 & 162 to Cleveland for 85 & 228

If Bates was a better option at center than Morse he would have beat him out for the starting job last season. Instead, Bates only played 3% of the offensive snaps last season. Bates is a very good depth O lineman. He can backup at center and both guard positions. Who knows what Anderson can or can't do as he hasn't even played a down for the Bills. Where I agree with you is the depth at center in the draft. I would love for the Bills to draft Van Pran from UGA. This would allow the Bills to trade Bates, saving another $5 mill in cap. Van Pran could then be mentored by Morse for a year or two and then take over when Morse retires. I watched Van Pran for years at UGA and he will be a very good to excellent pro center.

If the Bills are able to do everything on their list they could conceivably cut $90 mill from the cap. Some of the things they suggested, like giving Morse and Poyer pay cuts, aren’t happening. Both might sign some kind extension to get their cap hit down but neither is agreeing to a pay cut. They also suggested only giving pay cuts to Harty and Hines. Sorry, but I doubt both will be back next season. Harty is easily replaced and Hines is a huge injury risk. I’d move on from both and save all 8.7. Their other big money grab, besides Josh, was a Diggs restructure. They argue he is going to be here another 3 years regardless because of his contract and we need to win now. I was against it at first, but they convinced me. Clearing 13 mill for Diggs could be the difference in re-signing Jones or a good replacement or having to go with a rookie or cheap UFA. PS Why do so many people think we should cut Morse? I understand the cap savings, but last season the O line was a huge strength. Why weaken it by dumping the anchor of the line who stayed healthy and played great? I think Beane likely agrees with me and if Morse wants to return he will.

There is only FA the Bills should sign this off-season and that is Josh Allen. The only way this team wins the SB is by having Josh Allen on both sides of the ball.

Di you notice the lack of a good No. 2 WR to take some of the pressure off Diggs? If we get Diggs a good complimentary boundary receiver, Diggs should have a great bounce-back year.

Diggs will be in Buffalo through the 2026 season.

I looked at his list and the Athletic’s list and there are 13 guys they agree have potential cap savings, but not necessarily on what to do. Both ended up with 70 million in cap savings. They both looked at restructuring Allen, McGovern, Knox, Milano and Bates. They also agreed on extensions for Dawkins, Douglas and T. Johnson. Where they disagreed on how to get the cap savings was Harty, Hines, White, Poyer and Morse. Tompsett suggests pay cuts for all 5 players. Hines and Harty may take a cut, but Poyer and Morse won’t. White may take a cut, but I doubt that as well. The Athletic suggests extensions for White and Morse using void years and non-guarantees (White) to get the cap down and a restructuring for Poyer. Personally, I’d move on from both Harty and Hines and save 8.7 million. Both are easily replaced. Tompsett also suggested looking at restructuring Diggs since he isn’t going anywhere for the next 3 years, releasing Martin, a pay cut for Neal and restructure for Oliver. These moves could potentially save another 20+. Re-signing D Jones was the panels highest priority. Others mentioned Edwards, Floyd, Ty Johnson, Epenesa (although he’s probably too expensive to re-sign) and Dane Jackson or Rapp. They also mentioned Elliott at RB and Mooney at WR.

I’m no capologist, but the way I understand the idea is that the Bills would change his salary and roster bonus to a signing bonus prorated over 4 years thus decreasing the cap hit by the 7 mill. My guess is it would increase his dead cap hit in 2025 by about 2.5, but according to spotrac.com this would still be favorable as his current dead cap in 2025 is 4.1 vs an active cap of 16+. What I don’t know is void years and things of that nature that would affect our cap for White even if cut this year. The other thing I don’t know is whether an injury settlement is required vs an out-right release. If required, who knows what this might look like in the end. If it is required maybe Joe’s idea is a smarter way to proceed.

In general, I agree with your contention why hold onto a twice-injured CB who is unlikely to return at his former all-pro level? However, I get the impression that White is part of the leadership on this team and that Beane likes him. I also look at our depth beyond the 3 starters (Benford, Douglas, and Johnson) and think that White may still have a future in Buffalo. Do you trust Elam or Neal if one of the 3 starters gets hurt? That's where the Athletic's idea comes in. It allows the Bills to get more cap savings than an outright release while still keeping him and allowing him to recover properly from his injury.