Nephilim17

I'm more upset that Beane didn't trade up to get BTJ. Given that we spent a 2025 third on Cooper (who likely won't be back and if he does come back, he won't be an impact player) we probably didn't have to add too much more to get to around 20 in the draft (he was taken 23rd overall). Maybe last year's third or fourth? Given that we took a backup in DeWayne Carter in the third last year, that isn't much to lose. BTJ had traits — speed and size — and college production (1177 yards in his last year) so he would've been a number one WR for the rest of Josh's prime. That burns me. Lots of people here, including myself, thought he was a good plan. Maybe Beane tried and failed but looking at who we picked he should've tried harder.

Hmmm. I like the best of his tenure but not completely thrilled either. Maybe he needs a better D line to play his best. I hope we find out this season.

He wants to be the second player in NFL history to win SBs with 3 different teams (Matt Millen is the only one). The problem, as far as I'm seeing, with him accepting a pay cut equivalent to his dead cap is he still $3.7 million in prorated signing bonus next year that is dead money if we cut him. If we cut him (take the all the dead cap hit this year) then re-sign him, I'd be better with that. I don't want Miller dead cap in 2026.

Saves a chunk of dough and we signed a younger punter who, I think, was drafted in the 4th so high upside.

Good dude. Shame he never won a championship. Wish him health and happiness in retirement. Hope the concussions don't have any lingering impact.

A sobering thought (and I'm running out of booze as I type) but very true. A simple yet truthful way to look at where we are with Josh and what the future means.

I'll take Metcalf but if Beane does this for the same draft capital it would have taken to get BTJ in the middle of the first round last year, not to mention probably $20 million more a year, I'll regret that non-move in last year's draft even more.

I have more confidence that we can identify and draft an outside speed WR than we can find an elite pass rusher so I'll go with Garrett. And to be clear, the outside guy doesn't have to be elite, just serviceable at running deep routes. Much easier to find.

Just heard on the latest Marino podcast that the Bills face the highest amount of man coverage in the league. If that's not a sign that the WR room is NOT fine the way it is, I don't know what is.

Think a mod needs to change that title...

Wow. Fastest 40 time EVER for a guy over 6'3" and he's 6'5". Would love to add that size and speed to our offense. The tape (yes, it's highlights) shows he can do hitches, comebacks, digs, posts, go routes. I hope the Bills brass likes him or some other guy with real wheels. Give Josh a bona fide vertical threat while he's in his prime.

Dude ran a 4.3 officially at the combine. At that size that's freakish. I'd take a mid-round chance on him. Unless he's got a truly uncoachable attitude, you coach him up and even if all he can do are fly routes year one, that's ok. I love his size and speed.

I get that people don't want to make our nemesis stronger. But all the arguments against trading with KC forget one vital point: While you are giving them a good player, you're weakening their draft capital and their room to spend money on FAs and resign their own players. That makes them worse. So the question is, is KC better off with James Cook at say $12 million a year and no second round pick or without James Cook but with that 2nd round pick and an extra $12 million (or whatever Cook will sign for) to spend? I'm not sure Cook is worth more to a team (us or them) than $12,000,000 plus a second rounder. I could be wrong. But it's not as simple to say we can't do this as we're just making them better. That deals also hurts them with picks and money.

Interesting. I'm not disputing this but never saw it. When did he say this? Thanks.

Here's a better Beane quote about Cook's social posts: "I would rather not have to read about it or hear about it. I think we can do these things behind closed doors. But I'm not mad at James. I love James." That says a lot. He talks about James' "maturity" and pumps him up as a person, in addition to praising him as a player, but that quote is the truth about what Beane thinks about James' maturity here. 3:09 in this interview (not the Buffalo media one, btw) if you wanna hear it.

Well done. This means he has to hit certain targets to get $15 million a year. Can't complain as he's Josh's most reliable target and this is not foolish money.

Open to both options depending on the price, but given our first-round pick record a trade for an established pass rusher will give me more confidence. The salary (and extra picks) are the price to be paid for knowing what you're getting vs. gambling in the draft. Won't deny I would be thrilled to land Garrett, and to a slightly lesser extent, Crosby. Josh is in the middle of his prime so I don't mind using draft capital and big contracts to guarantee a disrupter joins the team.

Agree in general with your thoughts but Slayton just turned 28 and averaged 14.7 yards per catch in 2024 vs Cooks who turns 32 in September and averaged just 10.0 YPC in 2024. He'd be my FA pick over Cooks.

Sorry, but I and a lot of people don't think a two-down back like Cook is worth top of the market. Given a lot of folks think 10 million is his worth, my Josh example isn't that crazy far off as an analogue. If we had the cap space, most of us wouldn't care that much. But we don't. And we may need to sign difference makers in more important positions (DE, DT, boundary WR, CB2) etc. if we don't draft them. I guess I'm wasting my time when I type that, historically, it's far easier to get good running back production with a lower draft pick or FA than it is to find difference-makers in the positions I listed.

It wasn't simply "an endorsement of the player." It was explicitly an endorsement to sign him at $15 million per. Here's your quote. "He’s worth it. He should be a priority. He’s worth every penny. If Allen is having a bad game Cook can carry the team." No one doesn't want to endorse Cook as a player. But every player (even Josh) has a value and with a salary cap hard decisions have to be made on when to let a player go if he's asking for more than the value the front office ascribes to him. If Josh demanded $100 million per year (not that he ever would), people would say No. If Benford demanded $35 million per year, people would say no. That's what people are reacting to, not an overall barometer of "is Cook good?".

If he's around a couple more years and doesn't see the receiver room he needs to win with a quality outside guy and some speed, no, I would not blame him. I'd be gutted but I'd understand he has a limited number of years to win and it hasn't happened here — yet — through no (or very, very little) fault of his own.

I'd prefer to see young children crying (if they're Chiefs fans).

Just so I'm clear (and perhaps others who are confused)... Are you suggesting that because you have the HerdMentality user name on a fan forum, Joe stole your "intellectual property" because he uses that same name for his substack community/forum? You want Joe to give you money because he's "monetized" your user name?

I'd prefer Metcalf to open up the vertical game more.

Indefensible.