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Samuel isn't being written off as a failed deal or won't be used. He's going to get plenty of usage. But if you look at not only where he's found success in this league and what his role has been and the things Beane has said about him since signing him, he's not someone who's going to be used even 50%, let alone more than that on the Outside. Again, on multiple occasions when asked about Samuel and his role, Beane has called him simply "a weapon". Going on to say that when he was "in Carolina, Samuel was in the RB room just as much as the WR Room". Don't get me wrong, he'll get some usage on the Outside. But he isn't someone we're going to Start there or use predominantly there. He's going to be all over the field. Inside, in motion, out of the backfield, and occasionally Outside - depending on packages. He was used on the Inside on 75% of snaps last season. That's where he's found success. You don't just flip that number and play a guy away from where he's become successful. I firmly disagree with Shakir getting plenty of work at both spots. He is a pure Slot. That's his game. He is not an Outside WR. Just because he produced well last season from the Slot doesn't mean we can just put him on the Outside against taller, longer armed, more physical (and generally more talented) CB's and tell him to beat their press and go more vertically. That's not his game. It would be malpractice to take a young player who is developing and succeeding in one position and then say "cool, now do something else". You keep him where he's successful and you continue his development. Like I said, we were able to steal him in the 5th because he was viewed as someone who could only work Inside and when we put him out there for a handful of plays in the Playoffs in a pinch, he wasn't making plays. He's Cole Beasley. Cole had incredible seasons for us out of the Slot. That didn't make us go, "you're a Perimeter WR now".

My god. This guy is looking to ruin his career QUICK.

Coleman won't start the year, as McDermott is notoriously slow bringing Rookies along and Beane has already said he'll "have a hard time starting at the beginning of the year". Samuel is not an Outside WR. He has flexibility to play there occasionally in certain packages and matchups. But he's 75% from the Inside or coming out of the Backfield. When asked about Samuel, he's referred to him as simply as a "weapon" and not strictly in one spot. He'll be used all over the field. Shakir is a pure slot. Regardless of how good of a Slot you are, that doesn't mean you move to the Outside. It's a completely different game and style of play. One that Shakir is not made for physically or stylistically, which is why he fell to the 5th Round for us, and also didn't produce there when given minimal reps in the Playoffs when we were hurting on the Outside. Right now, we're looking at Mack Hollins and Justin Shorter (or Chase Claypool) taking the majority of starting reps on the Outside. With the occasional Coleman snaps while he gets his sea legs under him and the occasional (but not regular) Outside snaps from Samuel - with Shakir exclusively on the Inside, Kincaid working mainly on the inside and occasionally off the line as a TE, and Samuel working all over the field, but the majority inside. But when it comes to guys you can exclusively or predominantly work the perimeter, we don't have much to start the year. By the end of the year (hopefully sooner, rather than later) Coleman will lock down one of the spots. But even then you're still looking at Mack Hollins as predominantly a starter on the other. And in 4 WR sets, especially to start the year? Hooo boy! The inside 2 spots will look great, but the Outside? Yick.

To me, it's Eric Moulds and Mario Williams and it's not even close. Kyle Williams would be great. But Oliver is very solid and we don't have the hole or question mark at 3T that we do at WR and DE.

Is this really the feeling around here? That we make a trade or do nothing at all? If he can't get a deal done or doesn't want to pay the price it would cost - you'd prefer Hollins and Shorter or Hollins and Claypool on the Outside to start the year over guys like Thomas, MVS, or Robinson that are at least marginally better players and have more starting experience? Yikes. I was simply referring to the time I spent putting my thoughts down when it comes to a number of things with the room. A lot of it doesn't appear to be common knowledge around here as many still say things like "we'll be starting Samuel and Shakir on the Outside", "we should sign Tyler Boyd or Hunter Renfrow", the common refrain of "why didn't we double down?", or people thinking the signings of Claypool and Cephus definitively spell the end of additions to the room.

The Titans just Drafted Will Levis last year with Pick 33 and he showed some promise in his Rookie year. They also Drafted Malik Willis with a 3rd the year before. I would have been surprised if they had Drafted a QB. The Giants reportedly did try to get up to 3 for Drake Maye and couldn't pull it off. They obviously weren't enamored with J.J. McCarthy. And Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix were over drafted in my opinion. I think they made the smart move taking a WR with Elite skills in Nabers this year, not forcing a QB that they didn't like, and waiting until next year. The Seahawks weren't in a position to take any sort of difference maker there, picking at 16 and the top 6 QB's going in the Top 10. After the Top 10, there wasn't another QB taken until Round 5. Between Geno Smith and signing Sam Howell - they're fine for this season.

No, he's an Outside WR. Like Diggs, he has the flexibility to slide inside from time to time. But he took 78% of his snaps from the Outside last season.

The results of this poll thus far is really interesting. 62 for signing one of the best available Free Agents 62 for not bringing in anyone else Meanwhile only 19 people think we will sign someone else vs. 105 who thinks we won't.

Their game is working against similar sized players in the Nickel, working the middle of the field lining up against them and Linebackers. Playing against taller, longer armed, jam at the line lockdown corners going more vertically is an ENTIRELY different game. Samuel has better speed and is a more physical player. So he's better suited than Shakir to do it and it's why he has a higher number from the Outside than Shakir. But even he has been determined to be a better player and more naturally fit being played inside, in motion, and coming out of the Backfield rather than playing more than 30% Outside. You don't take guys who are naturally fitted and have great success elsewhere and then play them exclusively or close to exclusively at spots that they don't find the same success or are complete unknowns there. Shakir fell to the 5th Round because he was viewed exclusively as a Slot at the next level. As I said, in the Playoffs when we were hurting on the Outside, we tried Shakir there a little bit and he didn't produce. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. They're going to keep him where he was showing success rather than play him out of position.

I could see a scenario where one of the two Starting Outside spots is a committee between occasional Samuel reps, occasional Coleman reps, and another player. But I don't see any way they're going to take both Shakir and Samuel and exclusively play them on the Outside now. They're either exclusively inside to inside/flex guys for a reason. We aren't going to role with 3 Slots, 2 of which playing out of position, at all times. I'm not *completely* ruling it out. And I know about Beane smokescreens. But he went uncharacteristically in depth about the "big trades" and them being out and I do feel they are unlikely, for the reasons he stated. I'd definitely be happy if we did. But I do tend to feel he's not lying when he says that he's not interested in handing out the kind of long term money being thrown around this offseason AND giving up premium picks on top of it for a Higgins or an Aiyuk. And Chicago isn't going to trade away either Moore (who they acquired last season) or Allen (who they literally just traded for this offseason). Metcalf... I see everyone talking about it, but I'd believe he'll be moved when I see it. He also carries a 24.5m cap hit and a 13m annual salary for this season. Trades being the way they are, we have to be able to take that on first for a trade to be approved before we can restructure it. Hopefully someone does become available that is more manageable. And again, I'd be all here for it if he was bold face lying and made one of these happen. I just think it's more likely than not he's not interested in doing what it would take in terms of Draft Pick and long term massive financial compensation to do it.

Unless they do another change or Floyd or Davis miss an extended period of time next year - we'll get those picks. We didn't get the 3rd for two reasons. 1.) They on a whim decided to change the formula and incorporate things like void year money instead of just the strict cap number it was before - choosing to do it retroactively instead of going forward and 2.) Edmunds missed some time. Beane said they were talking to the league all year and they told him he was getting a 3rd, until they randomly decided to change the qualifications at the buzzer. I don't think they're going to do that again this year. It is wrong. Our picks are as follows: 1 2 (from Minnesota via Houston for Diggs) 2 3 4 (from Chicago for a 2024 5th) 4 4 (Compensation for Davis) 5 (Compensation for Floyd) 6 (from NYG for Basham and our 2025 7th) 6 Our 5th was traded to Houston as part of the Diggs trade.

No one's giving us anything for Hamlin. If he ends up in Pittsburgh - it would be because we released him and they took a flyer on him.

This is where I'm at. If it's something like MVS or sticking with Hollins or some of the other options on the Outside to start the year - i'd take MVS. It's like saying "well if I can't get Filet Mignon and I can only get Fast Food, I'd rather just keep eating this shoe"

Sorry, I wasn't aware that you're forced to answer both questions. Figured the last option covered it. But I added that option to the top. Surely, we'd all take a Higgins or an Aiyuk. But like I said, I don't believe it's an option and do tend to take him at his word when he says "it's not happening". So "none of the above" is essentially acquiring no one else in this exercise. It's more of a pick one from the FA pool or stand pat kind of poll - as I find that to be the most realistic scenario. Though, again, I'd love to be wrong about that.

I feel kind of silly posting this following the poll spoofing the amount of posts about WR on this board lately. But I put some work into this yesterday and I don't want it to go to waste, so flame away for adding another lol EDIT: The following is a tangent I went on regarding a various number of topics relating to the WR Room. My opinions on what their view of the room was heading into the Draft, why I think they did what they did, my view on the room currently, what I see their roles being, the post Draft signings they made, who's available and the likely/unlikely moves they'd make. It is admittedly very long. So feel free to disregard. The base questions and answers are in the Poll. I feel going into this Draft, Beane felt he had everything covered but replacements for Diggs and Davis as Starters. Khalil Shakir returns to continue his progression, Curtis Samuel replaces Deonte Harty, and Mack Hollins replaces Trent Sherfield. They felt they needed to grab a Rookie to replace one of those roles and they did with Keon Coleman. But a.) They didn't feel comfortable starting 2 Rookie WR's (and they apparently don't feel comfortable starting even one to start the season, but more on that in a minute....) and b.) Weren't in a position to Draft 2 starting quality WR's in Year 1. If you look at the list of Outside WR's that were available at 60 and beyond, I tend to agree. There was no one really left that i'd see a conservative staff like McBeane feeling comfortable starting in Year 1. Malachi Corley, Roman Wilson, and Jalen McMillan are all potentially good/great Slot's or Slot/Z hybrid's - but we don't need that with Shakir, Samuel, and Kincaid in house. The best of what was left/the next off the board for what we needed to fill was Jermaine Burton, Troy Franklin, Devontez Walker, and Javon Baker. Who through character concerns, work ethic concerns, on-field concerns, or how Raw they were fell between Late Round 3 and the end of Round 4. Where they were taken shows that the rest of the league also felt these weren't Day 1 or Year 1 Starters. Anyone they took from 60 on only would have served to replace what they have or planned on bringing in on the bottom of the WR depth chart, as a developmental player, while still leaving a hole atop of it. So they didn't bother taking another. Whether you think that they should have taken one of those guys to knock guys like Shorter, Claypool and Cephus (post Draft), Hamler, or Isabella off the bottom spot or potentially two spots (if we keep 7 this year - as we have in multiple years under McDermott) of the WR depth chart is a fair discussion. But I see no way they would have used one of those guys to replace Diggs or Davis. So where does that leave us? Still with a hole, in my opinion. We go into this season having lost Diggs, Davis, Harty, and Sherfield. Like I said, Samuel replaces Harty, Hollins replaces Sherfield, and now Coleman replaces one of Diggs or Davis. And this is where it gets tricky. Beane has said "Coleman will have a hard time Starting Week 1". Combine that statement with how McDermott brings along Rookies and I tend to feel that's an accurate statement. So not only do we need to replace the other spot left by the departure of Diggs and Davis - but the guy we took to replace one of those spots likely won't be given most of the reps there to start the year. That leaves us to start the year with what on the Outside? Hollins and Shorter? Hollins and Claypool? Hollins and Cephus? With Coleman cycling in until they feel his sea legs are under him? No way. I just can't see that being a real possibility. And before it's said, no, I don't think Samuel is going Outside full time or close to it. I see him being utilized there 50% of the time at the absolute most, more likely well under that. His usage in the league combined with Beane's own words seem to confirm that, in my opinion. His success in the league has come from a 74.6% number in the Slot over the past 2 seasons. And when asked about Samuel, Beane has simply called him "a weapon" on multiple occasions. Going on to say that he "was in the RB room just as much as the WR room when I was in Carolina". I think he's going to get a lot of usage all over the field. But he's not a guy I see them lining up predominantly on the Outside. And no, Khalil Shakir is not an Outside WR either. We put him there a little bit in the Playoffs when we were banged up and he didn't produce there. With both of them (and to the same extent, Boyd and Renfrow, who i'll also get to later) there's this incorrect idea that if you're a really good slot that means you can play on the Outside. But i'm getting sidetracked, so i'll try and get this back on the rails. I don't believe either Chase Claypool or Quintez Cephus (or K.J. Hamler on a Futures deal) are guys they envision starting. These are guys that were signed for peanuts that they're taking a flyer on. Guys that have some talent, production, and/or Draft pedigree that didn't work out and have some stink on them. They're guys who have a ceiling of maybe pushing Justin Shorter off the bottom of the Roster or sticking in the event we keep 7. But more likely most of them will be on the Practice Squad or outright cut. Guys that they'd like to take a look at and see if they can be successful reclamation projects. I think the plan was/is to bring in a veteran with starting experience and talent on the Outside, after 6/1 when Tre's money comes in. I believe that they surmised with the Rookie pool being what it was, the remaining pool of vets would remain largely untouched until then and that teams would Draft players to replace some vets. Unfortunately, it hasn't quite worked out that way. Teams apparently viewed this class much like we did. About 7 true outside guys worthy of the top 52 picks and then a bunch of longer term developmental guys you don't rely on immediately. As such, just Zay Jones has hit the market (after Jacksonville drafted Brian Thomas Jr.) and the top 3 remaining Outside guys in Michael Gallup, DJ Chark, and Odell Beckham Jr. ended up being swooped up by other teams before our money came in. I don't think this is what they expected. When it comes to a Trade, I tend to believe Beane when he says a big one isn't coming. I don't think he wants to give up Premium Draft Picks and then hand a Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk a brand new 125+m contract on top of it, this offseason. I'm not sure they could afford it even if they wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to it and I'd love to be wrong. But I just don't see it happening. That leaves us in a precarious situation. A big trade is supposedly out. And the top 3 starting quality Outside WR FA's are off the board. Smaller more manageable trades may exist, but we wouldn't know who it was until it happened. Courtland Sutton could have worked, but after trading away Jeudy and Drafting Bo Nix, it seems as though they aren't interested in moving him and leaving the cupboard bare for Nix - having turned down overtures for him from other teams during the Draft. So what's left? Although not a particularly inspiring pool of guys, there are still some WR's out there there that would be an upgrade to starting Hollins and/or Shorter. That list includes: Michael Thomas, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mecole Hardman, Zay Jones, and Allen Robinson. Surely someone's going to reply with "I want Tyler Boyd". But Tyler Boyd is a PURE Slot. He's had a whooping 81% from the Slot in his career and even a higher number than that over the past number of years, after not impressing from the Outside early in his career. The same goes for Hunter Renfrow. The only thing either of them would do, much like Corley, Wilson, and McMillan in the Draft, is remove Samuel, Shakir, or Kincaid from the field more and make that area of the roster even more crowded - while leaving the hole on the Outside not covered. So.... now that I'm done being long winded (as usual), what say you? Would you sign one of these players, if so, which one? Or would you rather not sign one of these guys and go into the season with what we have? And do you think Beane will add anyone?

If he put up those kind of numbers, he would need to be paid and paid very well given his age and wear and tear (so long as he stays relatively healthy). You shouldn't delegate a large number of the Cap to a Running Back on a second contract. Keep that position young and inexpensive. It's modern roster building 101.

I think Bass' contract makes him extremely unlikely to be cut under any scenario - unfortunately. As such, I think Bates' agent is going to have him sign with a team that either a.) Is going to just name him the starter b.) Is going to give him a fair and even shot in an open competition with a team that hasn't named a starter and/or c.) Is going to go to a team with a Kicker that doesn't have much of a financial committment locked into them. We don't fall under any of those categories.

After signing Mike Edwards, re-signing Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis, and spending a 2nd Round Pick on Cole Bishop - I see no way we're going to go out and sign Justin Simmons too. Someone's going to pay him. I think he's still floating around because his number's way too high. And because his number was way too high, we opted to go with Edwards and Draft Bishop high instead. When push comes to shove, it will come down a bit and one of the teams he's surely been talking to will jump on him. But I don't see that team being us and unquestionably moving one of Bishop, Edwards, or Rapp to 4th Safety and Lewis to 5th Safety. If we do anything at Safety, it would be bringing back Hyde. Mainly because of his contributions to the team, a loyalty to him, and to have him in the room to groom Bishop. I could foresee a scenario where he just wants to take it easy, signs halfway through Training Camp for a couple mil, and acts more as rotation and depth. Or just hangs around and comes off the couch to help us out if someone gets hurt midseason. I think in Bishop, Edwards, and Rapp - they've moved on from Hyde as an every down contributor. They're open to Hyde coming back as more of a situational, on field coach, depth, and role player. But I think Hyde is debating not just "do I still want to play?" but "do I want to take a more reserve role?". I think he knows he's done as an every down player, but is debating if he can still go in that role - and if he wants to. I think he was ready to retire and then we approached him with "would you consider a reduced role that would see you help the next generation along?" and it made him pause and re-think putting out the retirement tweet right away.

If Cook plays like he did last season or gets better, we probably have just this year and next year left with him. Davis we have for the next four. So if he shows some promise and development by the end of next year, he could be our Starter in Year 3 & 4. If Beane's smart, he won't pay big money to a RB and will continue to Draft them in the mid to late Rounds, use them in their prime and then replace them. Then compliment them with cheaper, older RB's that still have some kick in them (like Gore and Murray) and cheaper, under the radar Backs with upside (like Ty).

I'd doubt this. I don't see him coming in on a week to week basis for practice, being paid the peanuts that you get paid on the Practice Squad unless you're activated. He's either coming back or he's not. Maybe he's not on the team to start the year, but returns if there's an injury to Safety. But I don't see him going the Practice Squad route. He'll be on the 53 being paid accordingly if he's here.

We don't know that he didn't talk to Odell or his people. We don't often hear about anything from One Bills Drive unless the player signs. I could easily see a scenario where OBJ would choose setting up base on South Beach rather than Buffalo. And with Florida's tax situation vs. NY's tax situation, offering the same amount they did wouldn't be an equal deal. We would have had to have matched their top offer plus add more to make up for the difference in Florida's taxes vs. New York's and maybe even more to convince him to give up the South Beach lifestyle - which I could see meaning more to a guy like OBJ than your average athlete. So it wouldn't have been the same deal and I don't think we'd have been able to swing it until June.

All the Draft Picks have leaked out from the players themselves or Jersey Numbers socials. The others are: Ray Davis #22 Sedrick Van Pran-Granger #62 Tylan Grable #68 Travis Clayton #67 Javon Solomon #56 DeWayne Carter #90 Edefuan Ulofoshio #48 Daequan Hardy #25

I'm starting to get a little worried. But it's not about the Claypool signing. It's about Michael Gallup, DJ Chark, and OBJ signing with other teams over the past two days. Signings like Claypool and Cephus (and to a larger extent Hamler, as a mere Futures signing) to me are just Beane taking low risk, high reward chances in Training Camp with guys who have some traits, showed some talent at some point, and/or were high level Draft prospects that didn't work out elsewhere. If we signed Claypool now, on top of guys like Cephus, Smoot, and Jones - when we're sitting on like 3m (of which we also have to pay Draft picks with) - it's quite clearly for league minimum peanuts with no guarantees. Claypool, Cephus, and Hamler to me represent guys who are more likely to end up on the Practice Squad or outright cut after Training Camp than making the 53. 1 of them has an outside shot of sticking on the bottom of the WR depth chart by beating out Justin Shorter if we keep 6 or simply sticking if we keep 7 guys (as we have done multiple times under this regime). None of them represent someone we're going to start, in my opinion. That hole still exists - especially if Beane's words of Coleman "is going to have a hard time starting right away for us" rings true. If Coleman isn't starting right out of the gate, we really have nothing to put out there to start the year. We'd be looking at like Hollins and Shorter, Hollins and Claypool, or Hollins and Cephus on the Outside, mixing in Samuel on half or less of the plays (as he's not a true Outside guy). I see no way of that happening. Even with the Claypool signing, i'd still expect we make a move for the top of the depth chart on the Outside after 6/1. The issue is, I tend to believe Beane when he says he's not interested in trading premium Draft picks for the "privelage" of signing a Tee Higgins or Brandon Aiyuk to a MASSIVE long term 120+m long term contract, this offseason. Though i'd DEFINITELY be here for it happening. And Courtland Sutton is reportedly off the table when it comes to a short term, more manageable trade - as with the Drafting of Nix, they don't want to leave the cupboard bare for him and they've turned down overtures. This is where the signings of Gallup, Chark, and OBJ become worrying to me. When it comes to what we need (starting Outside WR), the well is getting dry and could get dryer by 6/1. And if BIG trades and Sutton are out... oof. Right now, we're looking at guys like MVS, Michael Thomas, Zay Jones, Mecole Hardman, and Allen Robinson representing the best of what's left in the FA market on the Outside. Guys like Tyler Boyd and Hunter Renfrow are great, but they're pure slot guys. They'd only serve to take Shakir, Samuel, or Kincaid off the field and still leave the hole on the Outside. I suspect that's why they're still available. Slots are easier to come by, are mainly filled on teams, and/or teams aren't interested in what they'd cost for that role. From that list, i'd lean towards an MVS or a Hardman. But maybe with the signings of multiple bigger names and higher talent level guys, relative to the bottom of the roster/PS, the idea is to bring a bunch of them in to try to find 1 guy who exceeds expectations from the pool of Claypool, Hamler, and Cephus - as insurance for an older, oft-injured player at the top of the roster like Michael Thomas. Either way and long story short - I expect Claypool and Cephus aren't the last WR's we add. 6/1 and Tre's money was always the spot and time where I saw us adding a difference maker and we haven't got there yet. I wouldn't panic until we're heading into Training Camp or Week 1 with the same WR depth chart. Though the well drying up before that money comes in is becoming a real and worrying proposition.

KJ Hamler is much like Andy Isabella last year. He's a guy who busted out of the team that Drafted him in Round 2, landed on a new team that ended up sticking him on the Practice Squad, and then decided not to retain him on a Futures Deal at the end of the year. We're his 3rd team in under 2 years. Players like him (and Isabella, last season) have a stink on them that makes them practically a guarantee to not be poached to another teams 53 with another cut - regardless of how they look in the Pre-Season. He's a LONG shot to make the 53, unless we truly are set at Wide Receiver - which I HIGHLY suspect we aren't. They know they can cut him just like Isabella and easily get him back on the PS. He'd have to be undeniable to make the 53.

I don't think signing guys like Morrow and Jones and spending a late 5th on a LB speaks to their concern of Milano's availability. If there were concern there, they'd have done something more than these moves. Morrow and Jones are considered fringe players and Ulofoshio is a development player. You have to keep in mind that we lost Tyrel Dodson, Tyler Matakevitch, and AJ Klein this offseason. I don't see any way both Morrow and Jones make it to the 53. Jones at this stage in his career is a Camp Battle body. He was traded to Cleveland along with a 7th Round Pick in exchange for a 6th in 2022. He signed with Carolina in 2023, didn't make the 53, and was re-signed to the Practice Squad.