BillsFanForever19

He doesn't seem concerned. Between that and the Schefter reported that he'll play for us, I'm not either. Beane talked about him yesterday:

There's really no need to. We carry 3 RB's on the 53. Those are set in stone with James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson. None of them are going anywhere this season. And for the Pre-Season and as possible Practice squad candidates - Frank Gore Jr. and Darrynton Evans are also on the Roster and will be in Camp. They obviously don't feel like they need a 6th Tailback in camp, who definitely wouldn't make the 53 and probably wouldn't even make the PS above Gore. I think if anything it speaks to them wanting to keep Gore in the system and get him more work in the Offseason, by not bringing in anyone else beyond Evans that would take reps away or compete to push him off the Practice Squad.

I think the exact opposite. I think some posters are overly inflating the likelihood that will happen. He wants to be paid top dollar. Holding out isn't going to get that done. Whether that's here or somewhere else. He knows it. If he wants to get that money, he's going to have to earn that money. No one is paying close to what he's asking based on what he's done and then holding out any length of time in his contract year. Adam Schefter reported that he'd be playing for us this year. Which means to this point, he's been led to believe there will be no hold out. Beane himself talked about how people are getting carried away and that he has absolutely no concerns that Cook will hold out, just yesterday:

I think it's a little early to be thinking about trading AJE. We haven't kept just 4 DE's in a good many years. We'll be keeping 5 (at times, we've kept 6) and Hoecht will be roster exempt for the length of his suspension. Bosa isn't going to be taking more than 50% of snaps. He'll likely be under that. And to ask a 3rd Round Pick to take 50% (likely more) of the snaps right out of the gate would be a little surprising. I think while Hoecht is on suspension, having Groot, Bosa, AJE, and Jackson as the rotation is a definitive upgrade from what we were doing. I think you keep all of them (plus Solomon as the 5th man on the 53) until Hoecht returns. Lots of things can happen in 6 weeks in the NFL. You don't want to trade AJE away and then someone goes down in the first 6 weeks and you're outright relying on Jackson and Solomon. Especially when Bosa is historically a walking injury waiting to happen. I believe right now, the 53 DE's are pretty obvious. Groot, Bosa, Epenesa, Jackson, and Solomon (with Hoecht on the Suspended list). Come week 7 if everyone stays healthy and Jackson is rocking and rolling ahead of schedule, then you can look to trade Epenesa. Teams who have had injuries or need a better rotation will be more eager for a veteran like Epenesa at that point. But currently, part of the upgrade to me is making sure you have a solid 4. And i'd like to make sure we have a solid 4 before and after Hoecht returns. If Hoecht wasn't suspended, i'd be more open to moving him now. We need to see how Jackson looks in Real Game action and make sure we haven't lost anyone by Week 7 before we move AJE IMO.

DJ Chark and Elijah Moore are both under 30, sub 4.35 guys (Moore 4.32, Chark 4.34)....

It's too soon to freak out. There's time between now and Training Camp and a few roster slots still open (I think we stand at 87 with the UDFA's that leaked). If we go into Training Camp with just what we have now - I won't like that. But I'd bet we'll add another veteran between now and then.

If you're looking for a WR under 30 that has speed (4.34) and has produced, DJ Chark is one of the best options out there right now in Free Agency. And honestly looking over the list, there's only two actual options under 30 with speed: Chark and Elijah Moore. And yes, if you take the 4 years that he was a starter and was healthy (2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023) - he averaged 685 yards. He was a Pro Bowler in 2019, where he went for 1008 yards and 8 TD's. The outliers being his Rookie season (2018) where he didn't start a game, 2021 where he only appeared in 4 games because of a broken ankle he sustained, and last season where he started the year on IR and only appeared in 7 games down the stretch. Moore is a 4.32 guy, 24 years old, and is coming off 538 yards last season and 640 the year before. At the moment, I don't know of any WR's who would be vast upgrades over them that are reportedly available. I'm sure you'll point to some crazy names that you'd like to trade for. But I don't see a big trade as very likely (though I'd love to be wrong). Much like last season, there isn't some sort of Superstar game changer out there Post Draft. You take the best fit that's available and if you're looking for speed and is someone that's done something in the league - that's Chark or Moore. I'd rather one of them be in Camp competing for the 5th spot than just Shavers, Prather, Shenault, and the rest of the UDFA and Practice Squad options.

Genuinely curious - what makes you say he isn't a "traditional nose"?

Did you read my second to last paragraph? I'm not saying we shouldn't have put a lot of resources into the Defense. It needing to be upgraded was never a question. It was a necessity. What I'm saying is you could have done that AND upgraded the Offense more than just replacing one of Cooper and Hollins with Palmer - which may or may not be an upgrade if he's the same kind of guy he was in LA statistically. I'm all for upgrading the Defense and I'm glad we put resources into doing so. But I don't agree that solely upgrading the Defense and simply rolling it back (with Hollins and Cooper out and Palmer in) on Offense was the right move. There's still time though for an added piece there and I hope one comes.

Exactly. So many people just go to the 2nd highest scoring offense (or whatever it was) - while neglecting that a lot of that was piling it on bad Defenses during the Regular season. In the Playoffs, against good Defenses, we pretty much had to rely on Cook and Josh running around hoping someone would get open. That lack of verticality and guys who could get separation made things very difficult on us when it mattered. This isn't to say we didn't need to upgrade the Defense or that the Defense didn't let us down more. But when it comes to winning a Championship, especially if we were to run into that Eagles team that steamrolled on both sides of the Ball through the playoffs, I worry that just fixing the Defense isn't enough. We need better play from the Pass Catching core. And we seem to be, not just hoping, but relying on Coleman, Kincaid, and Samuel to all be more than what they were last season. And Palmer to be more than he's been throughout his career.

That's pretty presumptuous to assume any of them are going to win Rookie of the Year - but I like your enthusiasm. The only answer is Maxwell Hairston though. He's the only one who could end up with a starting role. Jackson, Sanders, and Walker won't be getting the kind of reps to win a Rookie of the Year.

Yep. He's a DB exactly like Cam Lewis is a DB. He's a hybrid Nickel CB/Safety. It's pretty clear to me that he was brought in to replace Lewis and clear up some cap space in the process. I don't see a scenario where Hancock and Lewis are on the roster at the same time. It's either Hancock is ready to take over and Lewis is gone or he's not, Lewis sticks, and Hancock is red shirted with an "injury".

Honestly, Shenault is an extreme long shot to make this roster. He's this year's Andy Isabella, K.J. Hamler, or Chase Claypool. A WR who had the talent to be Drafted early but flamed out and is getting a shot at Camp bc the talent was there coming out of College. Shenault ended the year on Seattle's Practice Squad and like those other guys I listed, that's more likely than not his ceiling.

Pretty spot on but there's some minor disagreements I have: - Shenault isn't making it as WR5. He's only making it as a Kick Returner. If he does, he'll be a 6th "WR" like Codrington was a 6th "CB". They'll likely add another veteran to the roster (I feel like DJ Chark or Elijah Moore is likely) in FA/Trade for that spot or to compete with Shavers and Prather. But Shenault's spot boils down to beating Codrington. Which is a big if. - I don't see them keeping Van Demark, Grable, and Lundt. We've never carried more than 4 OT's on the 53. Lundt will either beat out Van Demark or Grable or he'll be cut. - Hancock and Lewis are the same player playing the same role. They're both Nickel CB/Safety hybrids. It's my belief Hancock was brought in to replace Cam Lewis and free up his cap space. If he doesn't look ready to do that in Year 1, he may be cut or Redshirt "injured". But I don't see both Hancock and Lewis being on the roster. - With Hancock taking Lewis' role or being cut or redshirted, one of Ingram or Jackson will stay. Most likely Ingram. Unless Codrington stays (which is likely), in which case they may still both be gone - unless they like one of them more than Strong (which is also likely) and he's cut. - I think 8 Draft Picks making this roster is unlikely. It's 6 to 7, tops.

HUGE difference between an allegation and a formal arrest. Especially when you consider how many allegations lead to nothing with how difficult trying a case like that is. They don't charge without serious evidence - of which they have.

No, it's not. Araiza's accuser waited until after the Draft and he signed his contract and immediately filed a Civil Suit for money, which her lawyer released to to the public. Bond offered her hush money pre-Draft, which she declined. She didn't file a Civil Suit and instead went to the Police right away. Who unlike with Araiza, filed criminal charges with a mountain of evidence. If it was meant to be a money grab, she'd have a.) taken the money when offered or b.) waited until after he actually had money to go after it. If you've googled it and read what's there in the official affadavit released by the Police, you'd see this is nothing like that. She has said nothing to the public. She has not gone after money.

That's Cam Lewis' role to a T. His days are numbered unless Hancock proves he isn't ready for Primetime as a Rookie.

At Pick 206 you were throwing a full blown hissy fit on the Draft thread bc they took an OT instead of a WR. But now at 240 you're throwing a hissy fit bc they did? Like, what?

If anyone was going to take Bond, it would have happened before the end of the Draft. It isn't a matter of value. If no one would take him with his talent in Round 7 - no one's signing him. He's justifiably untouchable. I wouldn't even be surprised if Goodell flat out told people behind the scenes that the NFL won't allow a criminally charged with Rape player on their field until after he was cleared. And with the case against him, I don't see that happening.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/more-details-emerge-regarding-allegation-against-isaiah-bond Even if you knew nothing, which I know is not the case bc i've seen you in the threads, he's a Top 2nd Round talent available in the 7th. What does that tell you? I respond to anything I find asinine. Like i'd expect responses to anything I post that was asinine (and have had). You're far from the only poster i've been ashamed by as a fellow Bills fan, putting talent over criminally charged Sexual Assault. I've never "attacked" you personally. I disagree with a lot of posts you make and your track record shows why. I have here bc I find the idea of Bills fans Drafting him for his talent and looking the other way on his crime quite frankly disgusting. Especially when they feign ignorance as an excuse, when they aren't.

Hairston, Sanders, Jackson, Walker, Hawes, and then at least one of Hancock and Strong will definitely be here. It wouldn't shock me in the least if everyone else was cut. Shame on you. No talent is worth putting a team's brand behind what's in that affadavit. No one's taking him and rightfully so. No one's signing him as a UDFA either.

I expect this last pick to not be anyone they remotely expect to make the Roster. Again, unless it's a Punter. 9 Picks aren't making this roster.

Syracuse RB LeQuint Allen would be a fun pick here as a jump on the UDFA Frenzy. Anyone taken here would be an extreme longshot to make the Roster. Unless we went Punter. Alabama P James Burnip or FSU P Alex Mastromanno (we met with on Zoom) would make sense as well.

I don't think Van Demark and Grable are such incredible powerhouses that it's insane to even think that someone could usurp them on the Roster with a better than expected Training Camp or Pre-Season. But as you said, Pick 200 onwards is Practice Squad territory. At this point, you take the guy you think is the Best Available regardless of position and hope that they have to push you into a tough decision.

Who's out there in the Draft right now that can do that? The top WR's available - Tez Johnson, Xavier Restrepo, aren't speed guys either. There's no one available where we are that will fill that need with any sort of talent deserving of a Roster spot. Anyone we'd grab is probably someone who will be available at 240 or as a UDFA that will most likely not even make the roster.