jahnyc

Crummy, but there is enough time to get things fixed before the start of the season if things can be resolved and the situation does not involve some type of unforeseen circumstance. Hopefully, it will not be one of those situations where Diggs does not report back to minicamp and goes silent, so no one knows what is going on and we are all subject to the wild speculation that will explode with this type of situation.

I was surprised about this as well, but the Bills likely could not afford the franchise tag amount next season for Oliver because of their salary cap situation. Given that, the choice was to sign him now or likely be faced with the reality of Oliver receiving offers in the open market for more than the Bills could pay and losing him. There are other pieces that we have no insight into, including the Bills' thoughts on the quality/depth of DT prospects in next year's draft, potentially available DT free agents, and their assessment of the market for Oliver (both as a free agent and to trade him now).

Some (if not many) of the WRs listed were #1 or #2 wide receivers in their respective offenses and may have faced better quality CBs as compared to Shakir who likely was being covered by the #3 or #4 CB on the defense that the Bills were playing against.

A majority of our d-line will be free agents after this season, so our d-line will look different next season, particularly at DT. I think it will be difficult to re-sign Gabe to a reasonable contract, so we could have a new #2 WR next season. Safety will be interesting. One has to think that Rapp signed with us because he believes he will be a starting safety in the near term, either with us or for another team. I think Hyde might get a new contract (short in term) if he can show that he is all the way back and healthy after last season's surgery.

Maybe defenses didn't feel the need to blitz since they were generating enough pressure against our o-line without blitzing?

Agreed. Interview should make us all feel that we are good hands with our GM. Glad that he is our GM.

I think Beane did a good job in free agency with very significant salary cap constraints. Losing Edmunds will hurt with no obvious long-term replacement. While I do understand that our interior o-line play last season was a weakness, I do find it odd that we devoted significant (and, again, limited) resources to the guard position in free agency and then in the draft. Unless one of Bates, Edwards or McGovern is traded, there is potential for two of these three to be back-ups at guard this season, which is a luxury I am not sure was the best use of our limited resources. Overall, I think we are about in the same spot as last year in terms of our roster with some upgrades and some losses. The real questions will be whether the Jets make a jump because of Rogers and whether the Dolphins free agent acquisitions and hiring of Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator will propel them to the division title over the Bills this season.

This may be their best opportunity to recoup the 4th round pick they traded away to move up to draft Kincaid. I would think trading out of this pick is a strong possibility.

Well, this detiorated quickly.

Definitely feeling like this is trending to not be happening. Too many mentions of the Ravens from too many sources.

At least DHop seems to want to play for the Bills. No idea if this happens, but the Bills have come a long way and are now a desired team to play for.

If the Bills are looking to fill immediate needs and imminent needs (i.e., 2024 needs), I think the top three picks will be some combination of ILB, DT and OT. We have a current hole at ILB, no DTs signed for 2024 (and I doubt we re-sign Oliver), and we need a swing OT (plus we need better overall play at OT and both Dawkins and Brown are free agents after 2024). We do need to upgrade at WR, so that of course may be a top three pick, but I believe the current needs are greater at these other positions.

I don't think the Cardinals are getting a second round pick for DHop, even if they are willing to eat some of this contract.

Also: Cream--Tales of Brave Ulysses ELO--Kuiama (sorry, this one is probably way too obscure, but an interesting song) Henry Gross--Shannon (not sure if I saw this one) Tom Petty--Mary Jane's Last Dance

I don't think I saw posted: Layla--Derek and the Dominos Clint Eastwood--Gorillaz

Who got the dog? Weimeraners are awesome dogs. We had three at different times when I was growing up.

MLB group seems weak in this draft. Campbell may be one of the only potential MLB picks (or the only one) who would be able to step in as a rookie and start (and even that would not be a given as a rookie MLB on a veteran unit with significant pass coverage requirements for the MLB).

We seem to have a very large hole at MLB. After Sanders and Campbell, are there any strong prospects that will be available in the second or third round (understanding, although it appears to be unlikely, that Sanders and/or Campbell could drop to our pick in the second round)? I just don't see a scenario where we don't try to find an instant starter at MLB in the draft given the players we have at the position currently on the roster and not filling the position with a free agent replacement (at least at this point). WR in the first round would make a lot of sense with Gabe heading towards free agency after this offseason and our need for more playmakers at the position. Unfortunately, most of the top WRs in this draft are on the small side and may be better fits for the slot, which I think is less of a need than a WR2 on the outside. If we don't draft a MLB in the first round, I think DT or a pick that can play DE and DT is a strong possibility. I believe that this is not a strong draft for DT, but with Oliver likely to be a free agent after this season, it is and will be a position of need. Wouldn't be shocked if Keion White was our pick (Georgia Tech-DE/DT). He is projected as a player at both DE and DT and we know that the Bills like players that can play multiple roles/positions.

I am not sue he has much of a choice but to suggest that this group will improve this season given the financial constraints he is operating under and the need to plug holes in the draft (such as MLB). The unfortunate reality is that bargain basement free agents at RT, WR and DT are not likely to be upgrades over this current group. With regard to Oliver, Beane has no choice but to keep and play Oliver since the team exercised his 5th year option and likely no team would want Oliver in a trade at that price point. What will be interesting to see is whether early draft picks are used at some of these positions. I would not be surprised if the Bills selected a DT in the first round, which would probably mean that keeping Oliver after this season is unlikely. Same with WR and Gabe.

I could see Keion White as a potential pick who the Bills would be interested in, but I don't think he will be available with our second round pick.

I would think the players will want the cash now and be fine to restructure, but who knows how the Bills view White and Dawkins, and whether they could be cap casualties in the upcoming years. I assume restructures now will negatively impact the cap hits of players released in the future.

Fair point. Who knows, but something has seemed off between them.

I have a feeling the compensation to Arizona will be the easier part of all this, particularly if they are not going to eat part of Hopkins' salary and if he shows a preference to play for the Bills. As others have noted, Hopkins will be 31 at the start of this season and has had injuries that have affected his availability over the last couple of years. Given the cap considerations for any team at this point (after the initial wave of free agency), I doubt there is a robust market for Hopkins at his compensation level and contract structure. The Bills likely have some difficult considerations to work through. To make this work for the cap, the Bills will need to restructure current players that they may not want to restructure (i.e., Dawkins and White) and/or make trades of players to create cap space (Oliver), which will create new holes. I would not trade Gabe since he will be an effective third option and given the possibility that Hopkins or Diggs will at miss at least some time with injuries during next season. Team culture also must be a consideration for the Bills. If the Bills reach an agreement with Arizona on a trade and fit Hopkins within their cap, what will this mean for their ability to retain their free agents in the next couple of years? Seems to me it will be very difficult to re-sign Gabe, Hyde and Oliver (assuming the Bills want to). Some players are going to believe that the team will not be able to re-sign them when their contracts are up, which must have an affect on attitude and team culture. Also, not sure whether Allen and Diggs have repaired their relationship yet, but adding Hopkins to the mix can only complicate things for Josh. Glad I am not making these decisions.

I would think the draft needs are MLB, OT, DT and DE (in that order) if we acquire Hopkins.

At least with regard to our free agent focus to this point, it seems that the Bills are okay with an adequate o-line rather than making a concerted effort to significantly improve it. McGovern hopefully will be an upgrade from Saffold, but Bates and Dawkins are average and Brown had a poor season last year. I guess Brown can improve given his lack of reps going into last season because of his back surgery, but do we really think it is likely that Dawkins, Morse or Bates will improve from last season? Kramer has a great reputation, but, if anything, the o-line play was worse last year than the year before. I know that we are financially constrained and will be for the foreseeable future with significant other holes to fill in the draft, but McBeane will need to figure out a way to improve the o-line.