GASabresIUFan

@Logic 1. Beane is going to sign a FA CB, maybe 2. He isn't going into the season with Benford, a rookie draft pick, and Ingram as his top 3 non-slot CBs. That's just not happening. He is also probably limited right now by cap space. Knowing Beane he is also waiting until the FA's begin to get a little more desperate for a job. Aside from Samuel, who allegedly has a stinger issue, most of the available FA CBs are guys like Douglas, Slay, Gilmore, and Hilton. Beane can afford to wait. I don't want Douglas back. He is frankly too slow. I am curious what happened to former 3rd overall pick Jeff Okudah. 2. CB maybe our "top" priority, but DT and Edge are just as likely with our first pick. A rookie CB is unlikely to start. In fact, what rookie on defense has McD ever installed in the lineup as a starter? I can't think of any.

Candlesticks always make a nice gift.

No speed. The Douglas Benford pairing wasn’t up to the task last season. This news explains why Samuel didn’t get the rumored Jets contract.

Evan’s isn’t making the team unless someone gets hurt in camp. Good to have depth in the organization on the PS with Evans and Gore. This is a deep RB class. I’d like to see one drafted late but not sure that’s likely now.

This is a fair statement. AJE doesn’t really help. I think Beane’s hope is that Bosa, Hoecht, Ogunjobi, Solomon and whomever we draft as a group are able to bring more pressure overall, along with Groot and Bosa. Kind of an everyone eats philosophy for the D line. We know Oliver is able to get to the QB periodically. Ogunjobi has had success as an inside pass rusher although he slipped some last year. Hoecht has had success as an outside rusher with a 12.1% pressure rate last season compared to AJE’s 7.1%. Bosa’s pressure rate was 11.5% and Groot’s 14.4% last season. I agree that Bosa is the key, but there is hope for an improved pash rush even without Bosa dominating.

Ok Beane, enough already, where is the starting CB everyone knows we need?

I was looking at his and DaQuan's pro-football-reference.com profiles and they seem statistically similar players. On paper it looks to me like Ogunjobi has the edge. He has more tackles and looks like a better interior pass rusher. It will be an interesting camp battle, but if I had to guess Ogunjobi will win the job.

He's one of the Special Teams captains. Last season he played 83% of the ST snaps plus 15% of the offensive snaps. All told he played 469 snaps in 2024, 464 in 2023, 472 in 2022 and 470 in 2021. I think it's safe to pencil him in for 460-470 plays in 2025.

No. The first 6 years of Bosa's career he was a terror. He was a capable run defender, but primarily a great edge rusher. He had 68 sacks in his first 79 games. Over the last 3 season he's only played 28 of a possible 50 games, although last year he did manage to suit up for 14 games. in those 28 games he's had only 14 sacks and 52 tackles. Not sure how, but he was named to the PB last year. I think what the Bills are getting is a guy who can still rush the passer and play 3 downs when necessary. I expect he'll be on a pitch count, especially early in the year, to keep him healthy and to give guys like Solomon and whomever we draft a chance to get decent reps and enhance their development.

Kind of like Hyde and Poyer when first acquired. It’s going to be an interesting camp between the 4 safeties under contract. Hamlin has started 27 games as a Bill. Rapp has started 66 games and 18 as a Bill. Bishop started a few games as a rookie last year including in the playoffs. Forrest had 17 starts in 4 years in Washington. All 4 guys I can see arguments why they will or won’t be a starter in the fall. Should be one of the most interesting and contested camp battles.

By the way, the Bills now have 64 players under contract. Of those 64, I see 10 who I think don't really have any shot at making the opening 53 man roster. Now add 10 draftees of which the top 4/5 picks are likely assured roster spots.

Diggs and Cooper still unsigned. Asante Samuel is also still available as are vets like Darious Slay. The Elam trade probably makes CB the highest priority in this coming draft. Draft priorities 1) CB - Still need a starter and have no real "prospects" or adequate depth. Need a CB early and late in the draft. 2) S - Rapp, Forrest and Hamlin all have one year left. 3) DT - Jones and Ogunjobi have one year left. Carter the only prospect 4) DE - AJE and Bosa have one year left. Solomon is the only prospect Depth needs 5) LB - Milano maybe on his last year, Spector stinks and Ulofoshio didn't move the needle last year. 6) TE - Morris was let go and Knox maybe on his final season with the Bills. 7) QB - Isn't it time we developed someone behind Allen? 8.) WR - have an open roster spot for a 5th WR. I'd love to add a deep threat.

Now Beane needs to acquire a starting CB to play with Benford.

Updated OP to reflect the Elam trade and the Oliver contract restructure.

So basically Beane used Elam as a way to move up in the draft from a 6th rd pick to a 5th pick and also save $4 mill in cap space. Smart!

Good luck Kaiir. Hopefully Dallas is a better fit.

It is going to be interesting. I wrote earlier that the fight for the bottom of the roster is going to be difficult. I wrote on a different thread that it might be wise for Beane to use 2-3 picks to trade up to both limit the size of the class while enhancing the “quality” of the class.

Updated for Forest.

I am fully expecting a DT and Edge rusher with 2 of our 3 premium picks. I also expect the 3rd pick to be used on a CB. However, draftees see limited PT as rookies under McD. There are some exceptions, but they are few and far between.

You are going to make the Beane haters very angry.

I’ll begin by saying I like what Beane has done so far to improve the D line with the draft still to go. On paper this line should be more effective at stopping the run, but it seems about the same in rushing the QB with upside if Bosa remains healthy. Here is how things stand DE - Groot, AJE, Solomon, Bosa, Hoecht (DT/LB) DT - Oliver, Jones, Carter, Ogunjobi, Lodge Ogunjobi is an upgrade on Austin Johnson, Bosa is an upgrade on AJE and Miller when healthy and Hoecht fills the utility role held by Smoot last season. My biggest concern with Bosa, besides his health, is whether McD will again push Groot to the right side to accommodate Bosa like they did with Miller. This is not the highest and best use of Rousseau’s talent IMHO. The best part of the Bosa signing is that he is a 3 down player and he hopefully send AJE to the bench or off the team. I am not a fan. The Bills can save a decent amount in cap if they release him and the truth is he is mediocre against the run and his pressure rate was terrible last season. I’d much rather Bosa rotate with Solomon, Hoecht and whomever they draft. My hope is a good edge rusher falls to the Bills at 30. That player then has a good camp earning PT above AJE and the tackling challenged Solomon. I am looking forward to watching DTs Oliver, Jones, Carter and Ogunjobi play the interior this season. I believe Ogunjobi can challenge Jones for the starting job. With Ogunjobi and Carter on one year deals at this point, finding a DT early in this draft is also still an imperative. The ultimate question is has Beane done enough to improve our defense against the run and our pass rush?

He slices, he dices, he even makes crinkle cuts.

Still need a starting CB to play with Benford. Asante Samuel still un-signed.

Updated for Hamlin. 49 roster spots spoken for. Still need a starting CB.