BigAl2526

I think no news with regards to Bates is probably good news. It may be he was hoping too be blown away by an offer, but hasn't been. If he can only get a contract close to the tender offer, he might choose to stick with the Bills for a year and take the chance he could get a Super Bowl ring.

There is enough of a chance Olave could slip to do a thorough evaluation. The odds are he'll be gone though. If he's there at 22 or 23 and that's the guy Beane wants, he could possibly make a trade at that point.

Cornerback is probably the most likely. If the Bates gets an offer the Bills decline to match, it would create a need at guard as acute as the need for cornerback. While cornerback is the most acute need the Bills have at the moment, they could probably pick up a cornerback in round 2 with starting potential, but they do need to give it serious attention in any case.

They're going all out, shooting for a wild card spot.

Sorry. I guess I did.

I think Spencer Brown is the answer at right tackle, and I think the Bills agree. Tommy Doyle is not yet considered a sure thing as a backup swing tackle, but he improved during the season and he's got a chance to develop further. With the money the Bills have spent in other areas of the roster, I just think offensive tackle is an area where they think they can stand pat.

I would be shocked if Beane tried to sign him. If anything, he'll look for a cornerback who can compete to start.

Olave would be a good pick. Dotsonn is thought by some to be more of a slot receiver, and Buffalo just signed Jameson Crowder. Williams it somewhat faster and taller than Olave, though he's something of a one year wonder.

A value signing. This is how Beane operates. Fill holes as best as he's able in free agency. That frees up the team to take playmakers in the draft when he has the opportunity. The Bills are up against the cap, so I don't expect any big salary signings from here on out. They still have holes, primarily a complement to Tre White at CB. If Beane can sign someone who can at least compete for a starting job, he will, but it's got to be at a value price.

I he can indeed be signed to a low cost deal, it might be worth it.

He started 6 games for Miami. He is just a backup though. He'll stick with the Bills if the Bills lose Bates. He might also stick if Buffalo decides Bates is going to start at guard. Maybe with a top notch offensive line coach, his play can be elevated somewhat, but I would hat to have to depend on that for any length of time.

Bradberry has good size and decent long speed. Coming out of college, the scouting report by Lance Zeurlein cited as a weakness his footwork. He apparently struggled with receivers who had great quickness.

Gotta have a backup. Keenum can play and has leadership skills. Obviously, he doesn't have the same skill set Josh Allen has, but not many QBs do, especially backup caliber QBs. If Allen goes down, Buffalo will have to run a more controlled offense with less of a downfield passing component, and more short timing throws. Obviously Buffalo is much better off if Allen can stay healthy.

I imagine Beane will have a long memory with respect to what Washington did. If he has the opportunity to screw the Commanders and Ron Rivera, I don't think he would shy away from it. As far as the running back position is concerned, I assume Beane will look for someone who has McKissic's skill set. At a minimum, he'll need to be an effective receiver and able to block and pick up blitzers, as well as having some level of effectiveness as a runner. McKissic is the guy they targeted, so presumably the other free agents available are less of a match to what Beane wants than McKissic. If somebody is close enough and can be signed for the right price, Beane will do it. Otherwise, he'll draft somebody.

I think it is reasonable to expect Tre White back at the start of the season. I don't know where the week six thinking is coming from.

Pretty much this. If Jameson Williams is still on the board, he might the kind of high impact draft pick you have to pick based on his elite athleticism and production last season. There is a small risk he's not ready at the start of the season, and the ACL tear might mean he's somewhat less productive as a rookie than he might have been, but he is a big time player. If he's gone, there will probably be a good value at either position, and possibly both. The only hitch in this thinking would be if the Bills fail to sign Bates. The Patriots want him and have more cap dollars to spend. They could make it hard for Buffalo to match. Buffalo might need to consider Zion Johnson C/G from Boston College.

We don't know at this point how many cap dollars Beane is willing to throw at the CB position considering he's probably already got some major contract tinkering he's got to do with the signings he's already made. He may feel limited to a fairly low level signing at CB. For a player with more ability, they might be limited to a draft pick.

For the Patriots, it's kind of a win win. Either they end up with Bates, or they perhaps force Buffalo to spend more cap dollars than they hope to.

I think the most acute need at the moment is a replacement for, and hopefully an upgrade from Levi Wallace. at the #2 CB spot. Second would be an upgraded option to Moss at RB pairing with Singletary. Upgraded depth at MLB is probably the third priority. After that, maybe getting a young safety to develop behind Hyde and Poyer might be a lesser priority. Finally, get the best players they can in the draft with an eye toward finding future starters where possible. If Sauce Gardiner or Derek Stingley is available at 25, go ahead and take him. Neither one will be though. Otherwise, if Beane thinks there is a real difference making impact player available at #25 and he isn't a CB. He should go ahead and take him. I don't think there will be a difference making LB or RB the Bills would want to take at 25. There could be a WR, or a D lineman who fits that bill. Not much else. If that WR or D lineman isn't there at 25, then Beane should either trade down or take a safe pick, like best available CB.

If Lotulelei is not in Buffalo's plans, Beane will look at all his options. Obviously, the most desirable would be to trade him for a low draft pick. There is probably little to no market for him, so that likely won't work. He'll the approach him after June 1 and tell him he's not in the Bills plans. He can either retire or get cut. It would be up to Star which happens.

Buffalo will continue to use a rotation at the one tech spot, Jones is likely to have more of the reps in obvious run down situations where Settle gets more reps in obvious passing downs. Rousseau may be the starter at LDE, but Basham is going to get reps there too. Miller obviously starts at RDE. He's also get most of the obvious passing down reps.

I don't know that there is room for Hughes with Miller on the roster. To keep Hughes, they might have to cut one of the younger defensive ends they've drafted over the last 3 years. If they think they youngsters still have untapped upside, that is unlikely. One thing is pretty certain. Jerry Hughes has probably run out of untapped upside.

Runs a 4.5 40 at 6'6". I read something that suggested there were some questions about his willingness to work hard, but if he can work hard and focus, the Bills are going to be unstoppable on offense.

Like many, I wonder about the back end of the 6 year deal. I think Beane is too smart to get the Bills locked into a deal where they have lots of guaranteed money and cap dollars tied up in a player who has lost his effectiveness, but not knowing the details makes me nervous for the future. Still, in 2022 the Bills are certainly going to be formidable.

If the team needs another Jones, I offer my services. I can warm the bench as well as anybody. If I have to take the field though, the team is in trouble.