BillsFanForever19

Probably have to knock off around a mil for Bobby Hart. Another around 3 for Draft Picks. And Beane won't want to go into the season at 0. But it's still a little more wiggle room than most had projected for us. I believe the plan is still to Draft a long term cost controlled CB with a premium draft pick and then to sign the best vet CB that's desperate before Training Camp at a bargain one year deal. Maybe a Joe Haden or a Bryce Callahan type.

How do we clear 10 million in cap at anytime? 🤨 And if we can literally do whatever we want at CB and can supposedly come up with an unlimited supply of money whenever we want and playing a Rookie is a concern - then why do you suggest we haven't done anything and have let the well pretty much dry up?

Doing a trade up or two for a DT when we have Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, and Tim Settle under multi year deals (as well as Jordan Phillips for this season) with the amount of holes we already need to fill elsewhere this year doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

It won't change the plan. After the signing of Bobby Hart and then money we need to sign our Draft Picks, we only have 4-4.5 million in Cap Space. And with the Diggs deal done, we're about out of ways to clear up any more space - until after the Draft or Training Camp where we may make some releases that could free up some space, depending on how things play out. And even if something big became available and we had the money that we don't have - Beane isn't the type to pay what we're paying Tre on one side and give a big ole' bag to another CB on the other side. Which is why I fully expect a top pick so that we can have another solid CB opposite Tre, long term and cost controlled. I'd expect some help in the form of a veteran with Tre possibly out for the first few games. But it will definitely be a bargain and of the one year variety because after this season, the amount of players we'll need to re-sign or replace is a massive list.

The plan is obvious. A 1st or 2nd Round CB and the best veteran willing to come at a bargain left standing when the musical chairs stop before Training Camp.

Gilmore is not happening. After what we need for Draft Picks and the Bobby Hart signing, we have around 4.5 million. Gilmore's asking price is reportedly somewhere between 10-14 million.

You're right. In the case of Eric Stokes and Patrick Surtain II, it took a whole full week or two. But every single one was starting within the first few weeks of the season and ended the season as a starter and is listed as a starting Cornerback on their teams depth chart this season. And it's funny you should mention, Kyle Fuller. From just last season: That's right, Fuller was playing so bad last season, they added his reps to a 1st Round Rookie CB *gasp* These guys you're mentioning are still on the market for a reason. You absolutely would not start Fuller over Booth. Even if you did, it wouldn't be more than a week or two before Booth took over. And as for the "lot of cash" from the Diggs signing, it freed up 6.1 million. Add in where we were prior, plus another 1 million or so in savings from the Ryan Bates signing (in relation to the tender he was on) - it put us at approximately 8.3 under the cap. Then we signed Bobby Hart. Factor in the 3 or so we need for Draft Picks - we'll be about 4.5 million or so under the cap. We'll be able to get a bargain, but it's not the "lot of cash" you were suggesting and certainly not enough for a Gilmore level signing. Especially when you consider Beane (like most GMs) don't like to go into the season at 0.

I'm so confused by this post. You say you expect a major run on WR's between 17-24, but then say you think the majority of the best WR's won't be drafted in the First Round? And are you saying you think the only WR's worth taking in Round 1 are Treylon Burks and Christian Watson? 🤨

Uh huh. This doesn't reek of someone putting out Intel to Lance hoping that it will make him fall or anything like that 🙄

Exactly this. I don't think they're completely closed off from the idea of moving on from him. Especially knowing what it will probably cost them. But it won't come this offseason. Regardless of how anyone feels about his production (personally, I'm a bit more in his corner than most around here) - they realize that he is the signal caller of the #1 Defense statistically in the NFL. They're not going to make such a massive change and hope that a Rookie will do it just as well, right now. I also think they're a bit sympathetic to the amount that's on his plate. People need to keep in mind that this Defense generally utilizes only 2 LB's instead of the normal 3 in a 4-3 or even 4 in a 3-4. This significantly widens the gaps and creates a much larger margin for error. Beane's already said he's going to let this season play out before any extension talk. I think they also feel that a lot of his less than stellar play is compounded by a lack of pass rush and consistent average to below average play opposite Ed Oliver at DT in front of him. I don't think it's a coincidence they brought in Edmunds' DT from Virginia Tech in Tim Settle. I believe they think he will improve with the additions they made on the Line. I don't think it makes much sense to let him go before they see if the investments pay dividends for him. Long story short - the pitchfork crowd needs to face reality and come to grips with at least one more season. They're not going to risk entrusting a Rookie to take over such an important role and mess with the continuity at the core of their top Defense, the year we're Super Bowl favorites.

The former could be true. There's been a lot of evidence of Beane taking guys they never met with.

Tbh I think I like Walker more than Hall. To me they're 1 and 1a. I don't get the absolute obsession people have with Hall but not Walker. Walker won all the awards and even ran 1/100th of a second faster than Hall.

I don't think Breece Hall is the prospect that Najee Harris or Travis Etienne were. They went 24 and 25 respectively. I do not expect him to go in the top 32 picks.

You mean like Matt Breida who was kept on the bench by slow Devin Singletary? Or maybe C.J. Spiller who was kept on the bench by slow Fred Jackson? Again, speed is nice. But if you're not technically sound and can't break tackles, it doesn't matter.

I said he HAS broken off some long runs. Funny thing is, I spent the entire post saying speed isn't the be all end all to RB. You can have all the speed in the world, but if you can't do the other things Spiller can - it doesn't matter. Then you go off on the speed of all the other backs 😄 I see Spiller as a better runner and more technically sound than a lot of those guys you mentioned. Again, I'm not saying Round 1 or 2. But Round 5 at the earliest? That's way too harsh. There's a lot of RB's who are good backs that don't have speed. There's a lot of RB's who have speed that aren't good backs bc they aren't technically sound.

If the top 4 WRs and Top 4 CBs are off the board, I think I'd prefer a Trade Down to pick up another 2nd or 3rd. Or a move up from 25 to guarantee one of them if Beane really likes one of them within reach.

Speed is nice for a RB. But if you don't have vision, good footwork, the ability to run between and outside the tackle box, reception ability, size, and strength - speed is only going to get you so far. We had speed in the backfield last season in Matt Breida. But the rest of his game was lacking. C.J. Spiller was a burner, but Fred Jackson kept him off the field by providing more in every other aspect. Even with speed lacking, you can see he is good in all of these other aspects. And he was able to crank off long runs without the speed. I'm not saying you take Spiller in Round 1 or 2. But if they choose to look elsewhere than RB in Round 1 or 2 (which is likely) - Isaiah Spiller in Round 3 or 4 isn't anywhere's near deserving of the vitriol this board is putting out.

Keyshawn is a Josh hater. He's always slighting him. I think at this point it's an attention seeking gimmick. Not quite the level of Nick Wright, but in the same vein.

Yeah. So you improve your depth at OL in middle rounds. I'm not saying you don't draft a Lineman in this Draft. I am saying the starting line is set. You didn't sign Saffold and Bates to the money he paid to sit them. You don't bring guys in and tell them they're going to start and then say "whoops, sorry bud, I lied". You don't take a guy on Day 2, make him a Starter at RT (where he performed better than you're giving him credit for btw) and then just replace them. You think I'm wrong. I think you're wrong. We should probably just agree to disagree. Nothing you've said makes me think you draft an OT in Round 1 and I'm sure nothing I've said makes you think you don't. If he's truly the surefire All-Pro Tackle you think he is, he won't be there at 25 anyways.

So let me get this straight - you think it was "always the plan" to start whoever was left over at the end of FA and willing to sign for whatever pocket change we have left over? To address all these other positions, but when it comes to starting Outside CB - we'll just take whoever is best when the carousel stops spinning months later? We're about two weeks from the Draft, haven't made a move, and let Levi walk when we could have easily gotten that done. And the fact that he was scooped up immediately while all these others (sans Gilmore who is looking to get PAID) are still floating out there speak volumes about what the league thinks of them. This obviously speaks to looking for an upgrade in talent, cost controlled. The only way you do that is to Draft one high. As for your absolute shock and horror that a Rookie could start at CB.... every single 1st Round Rookie started at CB last season. When we drafted Tre White in 2017 at pick 27, we started him right away. If you're taken in the 1st Round, you're way more often than not expected to start right away. Don't get me wrong, I think we will sign a vet. But it will be a guy who can start along the 1st Round Rookie when Tre is out and cycle on off the bench when Tre returns. You've gotta step off the fence when it comes to "we can't start a Rookie CB!". When you take one in the First Round, they start. Unless something really unexpected happens. Guys in the 1st Round are taken there because they're ready. Bring in a guy for insurance, of course. But you would absolutely start Booth over even Nelson. Unless something unexpected or catastrophic happened. Keep in mind, Nelson was a healthy scratch for the Eagles down the stretch. Not the sure fire stud you think he is. Haden and Sherman are ancient and need to have controlled reps to keep them sharp. Gilmore isn't happening. He's only on the market still because he's asking for TOP money. We can only afford a few million max. Callahan, King, Fuller aren't going to put a 1st Rounder on the bench.

It wasn't after we added Ryan Bates to the equation. We had one of the best rushing teams in terms of production down the stretch. And that was without a Pro Bowl Guard on the other side, which we have now in Saffold. We also matched a long term multi-million dollar contract offer to Bates to be a Starter. He's not being moved to the bench. It wouldn't be in line with the way Beane team builds to take that away from him and pay him millions to be on the bench. Starting Offensive Lineman play 100% or very close to it every game. Spencer Brown would be riding the pine. Especially when you consider it's not a guarantee that just because you're a good Tackle that you'll be good on the Inside. The Line has been upgraded already. Of all of those positions I mentioned above where help is needed right now or by next year, there will be a comparable prospect to Penning. And you could add Defensive Tackle to the equation as well as a position that would be more utilized now and could be needed with Jordan Phillips on a 1 year deal. Even Defensive End with the amount they're rotated and Shaq Lawson being on a one year deal and us being a body short there from last season. I wouldn't do either of those either, but those are two other positions to add to the large list that would be more needed and make more sense than an OT. There's a reason why you never see OT mocked to the Bills. You see CB, WR, OG, RB, sometimes DT, or LB. It's because OT is set and set for years to come.

There's only two starting Tackle positions on the team. We already have a Starting Left Tackle we're paying Long Term who was a Pro Bowl player last season. We have a Right Tackle who had a very good rookie season and has room for growth that we have for 3 more seasons. There's only 2 Starting positions. So we move a very good player we spent a Day 2 pick on last season to the pine for Penning? Meanwhile we have Dane Jackson at CB2, who we'll ask to play CB1 with Tre out and have Cam Lewis on the other side. We need another RB with Singletary (as Duke and Moss are fighting for #3) and Singletary's on the last year of his deal. We're down a WR from last season, Crowder's on a one year deal, and we're one injury away on the outside from having to start Jake Kumerow. And on top of Singletary and Crowder, TE Dawson Knox, LB Tremaine Edmunds, S Jordan Poyer, and OG Rodger Saffold are all FA's next season and we're going to have to replace some of them. Upgrading a position that doesn't need upgrading with all of that going on is absolutely ridiculous. I get BPA. But it's BPA at a position of need, at absolute most within the coming year or two. There's a MYRIAD of positions that fit that role. Offensive Tackle is not one of them.

You smell that? That's "the process".

I think that's the wrong decision this season at 1 or 2. Ryan Bates and Rodger Saffold aren't sitting this season. Ike Boettger is a solid reserve. I don't think you should spend a 1st or 2nd Round pick on someone who's not going to see much playing time this season when there's positions that need starters or reserves that will see much more playing time.

I don't see it happening. As I stated in an earlier post, we're at a little over 8 million under the cap. It's going to take around 3 to sign our Draft Picks. You don't want to go into the regular season at 0. Most teams keep 2-3 in case of injuries or surprise releases. So whomever we sign will not be of the Stephon Gilmore or James Bradberry variety (especially when the latter will cost a Draft Pick and we won't be signing him to a costly long term deal). I think the plan at Veteran CB is to get a bargain on a one year deal as Training Camp comes near and guys get desperate. But that's to add to the depth chart that will include a high Draft Pick. Without Tre, we're not going to start the season with just a Steven Nelson like vet we sign late, alongside Dane Jackson and Cam Lewis. If the plan were to address CB2 with a vet, we'd have been in on someone of substance right off the bat. The fact that we haven't clearly points to them looking for a long term cost controlled option in the Draft. Circumvented by another solid bargain guy late in the Offseason.