BillsFanForever19

For Practice Squad, sure. Maybe an outside chance that Lundt unseats Van Demark as the 4th OT. But RVD is very well liked by the brass and the guys in the locker room, so I'd be surprised. And there's no shot he beats out Grable with his performance this off-season. We didn't lose anyone on the OL from last season to this year. So it's unlikely that anyone from last season is cut to make room. Especially at IOL, in Bayer's case. He'd have to take one of SVPG or Alec Anderson's spots and I really don't see either being released.

I'll give you the Practice Squad. But it's not every year that a UDFA makes the 53 like Buffalo Joe. It tends to only happen when we're not particularly deep at a position (like we were at LB last season). This year, we're much deeper pretty much across the board than we were last season. So I don't see any UDFA or camp invite making the 53. I think the closest you'll see to this is there's a good chance that after 2 seasons of being cut and then put on the Practice Squad, Tyrell Shavers has a really good shot at making the 53 this year.

What veteran? The Free Agent RB market has been completely picked through. There's nothing of value left: Jamaal Williams (30) Zack Moss (28) Gus Edwards (30) Jeff Wilson (30) Ameer Abdullah (32) Chase Edmonds (29) JaMychal Hasty (29) D'Onta Foreman (29) Mike Boone (30) Josh Kelly (29) Chris Evans (28) Owen Wright (26) Let Cook do what he wants. He isn't going to hold out games or not be at camp and take the fines that would cost six figures per. He "likes his money" too much for that. Let him throw a hissy fit for a bit. If he wants a team to pay him, he's going to have to produce. He knows it. The team knows it. Davis and Johnson are nice roleplayers. Davis for tough yardage and change of pace. Johnson for blocking and receiving. But to rely on them on 1st and 2nd down to move the chains, or any from that murderers row list above, would be a massive downgrade to our offense this season. And if they don't want to pay 15m per for Cook, I question whether they want to pay around 30m per for 29 year old McLaurin. I know WR is a different animal than RB. But it's still a much larger ticket.

You speak as if we're already winning the "salary cap award of the year". As it is, we're having to budget shop. You want a DK Metcalf or Terry McLaurin? Best we can do is Joshua Palmer and Elijah Moore. You want us to swing for the fences on a DE that's on the market? Best we can do is Joey Bosa. Want to go get a stud CB? Best we can do is Tre White, Dane Jackson, and Draft Picks. Think DaQuan Jones is toast? All good, we'll get a 1T in Round 4. And through all of that and the economy moves to mid-tier moves, we're dead last in the league in Salary Cap - sitting at -750k. Next year, we sit at -2.93 million with at least 17 players who will make this roster needing to be re-signed or replaced. Including 4 of our to be rostered Offensive Lineman, 2 of which starters. We aren't remotely close to winning in the salary cap game right now. Haven't been in a good many years. We're in rough, rough shape. I don't believe the kind of contract that Micah Parsons will demand is feasible. And if it is, the amount of players in the coming years we'd have no choice to let walk would be staggering. Everyone likes to point to the Rams. It's no guarantee that going "all in" like the Rams did will guarantee the same result. And if you do that and not get to the promised land, we're putting Josh in even more hell for years to come and wasting more of his years.

So 2 1st's, a 3rd, Cook, Epenesa, and the new highest contract for an Edge Rusher - which would severely hamstring our cap even more going forward?

Yeah, I get what you're saying. I went last year and Josh did the same amount of work. I think it's like you said, if it wasn't a big event at the stadium with lots of fans, maybe he doesn't do anything beyond some throwing drills against air. But you gotta give the fans something.

Thanks for the jinx equilibrium. I'm honestly not all that superstitious. But I wince every time I see a post like OP's.

That logic tracks. But maybe they didn't want to give up picks this year given all they had to do and roster spots they had to fill. Especially a high pick this year. I tend to agree with you. But maybe adding a player like McLaurin while still being able to get Sanders and Jackson and pay for him with picks next year (and/or player(s)) might be more intriguing.

He didn't skip any mandatory OTA's, didn't skip any of Training Camp - no holdout period. He's talked about wanting to stay here. It baffles me that people still talk about something like this or hold ill will towards him bc of a couple tweets that simply said "I want to be paid".

Could be another reason they're doing it. They could be trying to coach those instincts out of him.

One thing I've noticed between going to camp and reading the reports - it seems to me that they're trying to force Keon Coleman to be more physical and deal with physicality better. When I was there and reading what people have been saying for all of the practices I haven't, the DB's seem to be WAY more physical with Keon than anyone else. To the point where it would draw a flag (on Monday for example, Josh made the flag motion on a route drill throw to him). Then the next set of WR's would come up and it would be standard coverage. Then Keon would come up again and again, hands all over him. I don't think this is coincidental. I think the coaches put an edict to make things difficult on him to toughen him up.

Incorrect. Dorian Strong is #43. Dane Jackson is #23.

You kind of said it yourself, "if he can play 1T". With how much we rotate, I don't think trading up in Round 2 means he has to start in Year 1 or Year 2. Especially given the plan being to move him around the interior line. Beane called him a 3T that can be slid over in certain situations (most likely obvious passing downs). That doesn't exactly scream to me the eventual full time replacement for Jones at 1T. And again, he doesn't have to be that to make an impact. If he's the first guy up shifting in for Oliver at 3T and he's occasionally coming in to blitz from the 1T on passing downs, replacing Jones or eventually Walker (who I see as the true heir apparent to Jones for 1st and 2nd downs) - he's going to potentially get as many snaps as one of the starters. And if he's as good as advertised, that's well worth the 41st pick in the Draft, even if he isn't technically a Starter. If he is to be a Starter one day, I think it's more likely he makes Oliver expendable in a couple years at 3T than it is he becomes the 1T Starter.

I remember telling posters when he was doing well in Indianapolis in Taylor's stead it was only because the Indianapolis O-Line was stacked for Run Blocking and the Offense was schemed towards the Running game. This solidifies that.

May not mean anything, but Hairston posted "Beyond blessed 🙏 Thank you God" a minute ago on his Instagram.

That's wishful thinking. There have been many instances where a guy is looked at on the field and walks off or is helped off without a cart that ended up being a Torn ACL. As I said before in the other post, Reggie Ragland tore his ACL as a Rookie. No cart even going to the Locker Room. They looked at Von Miller on the field and allowed him to walk to the sidelines. Torn ACL. And that's just off the top of my head relating to just this team. Do I think it's definitively a Torn ACL? No, I like everyone else am hoping for the best. But do I think the fact that they didn't immediately bring out a cart means it isn't? Absolutely not. I'm not taking much stock in that, given so many instances of that not happening and it still being a Torn ACL.

I definitely agree with you on that. Like I said, i've been very vocal that I think he's toast. But I think less of what I would do and more of what I think they would do in situations like these. And if Hairston is lost for the year and they decide they want more than what they have underneath Benford and Tre as the next guy up on the Outside, I see them turning to Douglas. Whether you, me, or anyone else would want someone else.

But if something happens to White (which given his history here over his last couple years isn't a crazy thought), White isn't cutting it, or Benford goes down - are you (or more importantly, them) comfortable with Dorian Strong, Dane Jackson, or Ja'Marcus Ingram starting? One of those guys being on the bottom of the roster with Benford, Hairston, and White in front of them was fine. But if we're only one step from starting that person instead of two - I think we need to get someone else in here. I'd definitely prefer someone besides Douglas. But realistically knowing how this regime values familiarity in scheme over all else, if someone's coming in to take Hairston's place on the roster - it's going to be Douglas.

On this team alone, Reggie Ragland walked to the locker room in Training Camp after tearing his ACL. Von Miller got up and walked to the sidelines after tearing his ACL.

If long term, I'd be surprised if Rasul Douglas isn't brought back. He wouldn't be my choice as I've been pretty vocal that I think he's toast. But this regime will always go for familiarity in McDermott's scheme over quality of player. I hope White has a resurgence with us and can stay healthy. But relying on that is a dangerous proposition imo. So I think someone else stronger than a 6th Round Rookie, Dane Jackson, and Ja'Marcus Ingram would need to be brought in.

We're deep as far as the quality for the back end of a roster goes. But I was really hoping Hairston would step up. As in 2025, starting Tre White (regardless of how he's looked in camp reps), Dane Jackson, Dorian Strong, or Ja'Marcus Ingram doesn't exactly instill confidence in the position for me.

Was just about to say the same thing. The "walked off the field" means little to nothing. Many, many instances lately where players walk off the field just to be later diagnosed with a Torn ACL. That's not to say definitively that's what's going on here. Just to say the "good news is he walked off the field" narrative isn't worth much at all.

Nothing is long term on any of the WR's. Which is why they signed Deon Cain and tried out Justyn Ross. They just need some bodies to get through a little bit of time in Training Camp, so they aren't overworking the WR's they have. Gabe Davis isn't someone you bring in for that and he wouldn't sign on for that role.

Mostly playing in a system that didn't fit his strengths in LA. Also coming off of the Torn Achilles. Douglas, had no excuses. This isn't to say White is going to be great this year. And clearly Hairston is the not so distant future of the position (maybe even as soon as Week 1). But if it's Tre coming back to a system he flourished in a full year removed from all injuries or Douglas who seemingly hit the wall, i'll take my chances with White.