BillsFanForever19

I posted this on another thread, but it's fitting in this one. I have a fear that they don't want the kind of WR we're calling for and/or the type of WR we're calling for won't want to come here with the kind of role a #1 WR in a Joe Brady Offense seems to be. Once Joe Brady took over, Stefon Diggs became a decoy. And came off the field more than he ever had. And we became a much more Run focused Offense. It's my belief that this was the breaking point for Diggs. Then we make the move for Amari Cooper. Who comes in and is used mainly as a decoy. And ultimately not seeing the field much. The only reason I see for this is that he wasn't the down field blocker that Mack Hollins and Keon Coleman are. Many fans, myself included, want a bonafide veteran #1 WR to come in this offseason. But I fear that with how Diggs was used, how we approached the position this past offseason, and now seeing how Cooper was used that Brady isn't interested in a guy unless he's willing to get his hands dirty on the regular and not be a focal point of the Offense. And most stud WR's aren't interested in that.

Shane Buechele and Zach Davidson also brought back. Buechele is kind of surprising to me as we re-signed Mike White and I thought he'd look elsewhere rather than be a 4th arm in Training Camp.

This whole situation concerns me. Once Joe Brady took over, Stefon Diggs became a decoy. And came off the field more than he ever had. And we became a much more Run focused Offense. It's my belief that this was the breaking point for Diggs. Then we make the move for Amari Cooper. Who comes in and is used mainly as a decoy. And ultimately not seeing the field much. The only reason I see for this is that he wasn't the down field blocker that Mack Hollins and Keon Coleman are. Many fans, myself included, want a bonafide veteran #1 WR to come in this offseason. But I fear that with how Diggs was used, how we approached the position this past offseason, and now seeing how Cooper was used that Brady isn't interested in a guy unless he's willing to get his hands dirty on the regular and not be a focal point of the Offense. And most stud WR's aren't interested in that.

If it's only 3 of the 5 - it's Benford, Shakir, Cook for me. I was on the fence for paying Bernard and this year sealed it for me. Rousseau is good at setting the Edge, but he's never had more than 8 sacks in a year in his 4 seasons here. 25 total over 4 years is just not enough to justify the kind of contract he's going to command. We need to go out and get something better than Epenesa this offseason opposite Rousseau. Hopefully someone who gets more sacks than Rousseau. Depending on how big that fish is, I'd probably move on from Rousseau after 2025.

Without watching the video, I assume it's for 'Sinners'. The newest Ryan Coogler directed, Michael B. Jordan starring film following the Creed and Black Panther franchises. She's going to be in it and I'm looking forward to it. After Black Panther and Creed, if you tell me it's a Ryan Coogler/Michael B. Jordan film, that's all I need to hear. Bills Queen Hailee as a Vampire too? I'm sold.

I know re-signing a Running Back after their Rookie deal goes against everything certain posters on this board stand for. And it goes against my general thinking as well. However, James Cook has become an exception for me. This regime spent Draft Picks and Cap Space over the years trying to find a Running game like we got this year by Drafting guys like Singletary and Moss and bringing in veteran's like Gore, Breida, and Hines. Without a RB like Cook, we wouldn't have gotten to where we were. You aren't likely to replace a guy like him by just Drafting another. I think we can carefully arrange a contract that would be worth keeping here and beyond my thoughts on it, I have a sinking feeling they want to and will do it. I could see a scenario where Rousseau could be a surprise move on from candidate. If we were to do something big at Defensive End this offseason, it wouldn't shock me if they then went with a more inexpensive option opposite them. Bernard is honestly the last person I would extend on the list. While he definitely exceeded expectations last year, I felt this year he was extremely underwhelming. He felt like he was constantly out of position. The middle of the field was a barren wasteland of yardage all year long. And outside of the strip and recovery against Mark Andrews in the Playoffs and the game sealing pick on Mahomes in the regular season, I really fail to remember him hopping off the screen otherwise. As opposed to last year where he was regularly doing so. He'd have to have a BIG bounce back next year for me to consider paying him.

Yes, he will be cut. His contract was always really a 3 year deal. Our out is this offseason and he's not performing at a level worthy of not exercising it.

So because you walked into a local Sports shop and heard 3 Bills themed songs in a row - that means they're winning the Super Bowl next year? I'm missing how these two things connect...

I think the Defense simply lacked talent in a lot of spots. A simultaneous casualty of guys aging out of their roles and the salary cap not allowing us to fill with difference makers. We were starting AJ Epenesa, Damar Hamlin, and Dorian Williams. Rasul Douglas and Daquan Jones hit the wall. Taylor Rapp overachieved my expectations but wasn't a game breaker. Terrel Bernard and Ed Oliver took a step back from their performance last year. Matt Milano took a while to get his sea legs under him and got closer to what we had seen before the injury last season, but never got back to full form. This isn't to say Babich always had the best game plan. But with the Defense we were fielding, I'm certainly not willing to say he was all to blame.

Exactly. Most of that list can be replaced by budget FA's, Day 3 Picks, or UDFA's. And the guys we'll want to bring back, of which I agree on, won't cost much.

We're in a much better situation this year than we were last year on players needing to be re-signed or replaced. And in a much better situation cap wise than starting 54m over the cap. But saying there's 6-7 open roster spots on the entire roster is simply not true. Our Free Agents are as follows: WR Amari Cooper CB Rasul Douglas WR Mack Hollins DE Von Miller (almost a lock to be released) FS Damar Hamlin RB Ty Johnson FB Reggie Gilliam TE Quintin Morris DE Dawuane Smoot TE Quintin Morris DT Austin Johnson LS Reid Ferguson OT Ryan Van Demark OG Alec Anderson DT Quintin Jefferson DT Jordan Phillips QB Shane Buechele OT Tommy Doyle Each player on that list, save for the bottom 2 represent a player on the 53 man roster we fielded last night that will need to be brought back or replaced. That's 16 roster spots. And that's not accounting for other possible releases made to upgrade positions.

There's a massive difference between how we're entering this upcoming season and how we entered this season. Of course there were a number of Playoff teams with far superior talent. We entered this season 54m over the cap. We had to do everything we could just to get to zero. And then re-sign or replace TWENTY NINE players with little to no money. This season's team was patched together with less than desirable starters on both sides of the ball. Some overachieved (Mack Hollins (who still wasn't a game breaker), Connor McGovern (at Center), David Edwards, Taylor Rapp) and some underachieved or played like we thought they would (Curtis Samuel, AJ Epenesa, Daquan Jones, Damar Hamlin). And injuries to Benford and Rapp had us taking a STARK dropoff in talent with Elam and Bishop because of a lack of depth. We weren't supposed to do what we did this year. Next year, entering basically at zero - meaning all of the extensions, re-structures, pay cuts, and releases will go straight to acquiring players rather than just to get to zero from -54. We've got less to re-sign or replace than this year and have 10 Draft Picks (including 3 in the first 2 Rounds). This upcoming year was always set to be the year where we could truly build a Super Bowl contending team. This was the year where we were just getting by on journeyman players we could afford to field a team. And they still, against all odds, came this close to a Super Bowl.

Kurt Warner's viewpoint demands more respect that the fan Fitz is replying to. But the sentiment remains the same:

I'm disappointed that we came so close and lost. But i'm not broken like a lot of you. Because while most of you looked at our record and how far we got and thought "this is it! we're absolutely going to do it!" - my thought was "holy crap, this was our soft rebuild year with a roster lacking at many positions and having no depth. If we can make it this far with what we've got, imagine what we're going to be next year when we can actually build a Super Bowl competing roster!". We came within a Dalton Kincaid dropped pass of possibly going to the Super Bowl with Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel, Keon Coleman, and Khalil Shakir as our weapons (still kind of in disbelief we didn't use Cooper more, but it is what it is). Starting AJ Epenesa, Kaiir Elam, Damar Hamlin, and Cole Bishop on Defense. A Center who never played the position at the Pro Level and a Guard who was a Backup for us last year. And we got to the furthest point this team has gotten. Next year all of the moves we'll make in extensions, re-structures, and releases will go straight into spending money instead of getting to zero from -54m. We have 10 picks, including 3 in the first 2 Rounds. And we have less to replace or re-sign - allowing us to focus on improving problem areas instead of just putting bodies there. This was supposed to be a lost season where we get by with what we can and get guys experience in Year 1 with the team. Instead, we were that close to the dance with a roster that is as bad as it's looked in years. Rather than bury your head in the dirt, be proud of what they accomplished - and salivate on the opportunities to actually field a contending team next year.

We are. -2.5m is a FAR greater situation than -54m. When you extend Josh, release Von, release, restructure, or pay cut others - that number is going to change from -2.5 to a large double digit number in the positives. Then there's who we may be replacing this year vs. who we were replacing next year. Last year we lost 4/5 of our WR Core, both our starting Safeties, a starting Center, a starting Defensive End, former starters in Dane Jackson, Tyrel Dodson, and Tre White, plus 13 other important depth or role players - a whopping 23 players in total. And that's AFTER re-signing AJ Epenesa, Daquan Jones, Taylor Rapp, David Edwards, Ty Johnson, and Cam Lewis. So the number we started with having to replace or re-sign was 29. All with FAR less money than we'll have this year. This year, that number is 16. Which will be 17 after you move on from Von. And the list of people needing to re-sign or replace is easier in terms of importance to the team as well. Most of the list you can fill with Day 3 Draft Picks (of which we have 7), UDFA's, Budget FA's, or re-signing them to minimum deals. That list is: WR Amari Cooper CB Rasul Douglas WR Mack Hollins DE Von Miller (almost a lock to be released) FS Damar Hamlin RB Ty Johnson FB Reggie Gilliam TE Quintin Morris DE Dawuane Smoot TE Quintin Morris DT Austin Johnson LS Reid Ferguson OT Ryan Van Demark OG Alec Anderson DT Quintin Jefferson DT Jordan Phillips QB Shane Buechele OT Tommy Doyle SO..... long story short, yes, we are in a MUCH better situation this year to build the roster. I think some of you took that as we'd be going into this season with a bunch of money to spend right out of the gate before we made moves. That was never the case, as just to field a team this year, most of our deals had to include bigger hits in contracts this season. But as opposed to last year, freeing up the cap space in extensions, releases, re-structures, and pay cuts won't be to get to zero from -54m. It'll be to actually have money to spend.

Not saying that and that's not the point. The point is he's talking logistics and a lot of fans are talking about it like it's a possibility. It isn't. The idea won't even enter Pegula's head.

I don't think Higgins will be an option. He's been (surprisingly) pretty open about wanting to stay in Cincinnati and is reportedly willing to take less to do it. And Cincinnati is 50m under the cap before any restructures. I also worry that as good as he looks, that without a Ja'Marr Chase on the other side - he might be a different player. But if he does hit the market and we can get it done, by all means. Outside of Higgins, another game changing addition would be Chris Godwin. He's coming off an Ankle Dislocation that came in October which is a concern. But he's 28 years old and an absolute monster. Beyond Higgins and Godwin - there isn't much beyond aging stars like DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, and, um, well... Stefon Diggs. DK Metcalf is definitely something we should be all over. If he's available. He's been talked about for years and it's seems like they never want to move him. And prevailing thought from analysts is that the Seahawks won't be looking to rebuild this year. So like every year, we'll have to see. A couple WR's that I think will be on the Trade Marker are Deebo Samuel and Garrett Wilson. Deebo was basically told it was his last year after the long term deal was given to Brandon Aiyuk after Christian McCaffrey and Ricky Pearsall was Drafted in Round 1. I could easily see him being someone they'd be interested in. Wilson is going to be looking for a new contract soon and the Jets are in clear rebuild mode. Idk that he would want to stick around for it and the assets they could get for him could be intriguing to the Jets in their rebuild. Though I don't know that they'd trade him in the division. If we made a big move, especially a trade which would require using a top pick (and probably more), I don't think they'd be spending a top pick on a WR and definitely wouldn't be doubling down. Whether we should or not. Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Curtis Samuel aren't going anywhere. You could def make an argument that we should move on from Samuel. But the out in his contract isn't until after next season. We'd be eating 11+m in Dead Cap to cut him. But maybe we could move him as part of a trade. Then there's Mack Hollins who has developed a rapport with Josh and they surely will look to re-sign him. Add a stud from the list above plus the 4 I expect will be here and that's your 5. Maybe we carry 6 and take a guy. But it's been 5 for the past couple seasons.

"Why moving on from McDermott is tough due to it not being something that will be talked about by anyone but angry fans" Fixed it for you.

It's over because we didn't win it all in the year we were in a soft rebuild? Next year we'll be starting at 0 instead of 54m over the Cap. And when we extend Josh, move on from Von, and do other restructures and extensions - we will be able to build the roster better. We'll also have 10 Draft Picks, including 3 over the first 2 Rounds. This was the year we were supposed to have to eat a little crap. Having to fill the roster with whatever we could. Starting guys we shouldn't have been starting and having no depth. And with our best CB and Safety out against Playoff Pat - we still came within a dropped Kincaid pass of getting to the dance. It isn't over. This wasn't even our best shot at it, in my opinion. This was never a Super Bowl roster. Next year, we're in a position to build a much better team.

It's funny, when I've credited McDermott or Whaley for the 2017 Draft in the past I've gotten torn apart. That it was Beane's suggestions in an unofficial capacity and possibly his board with how quickly he came on. But then when I say that, it's not right either. So I guess no one gets credit for the 2017 Draft.

We signed Samuel to a 3 year deal. The "out" in his contract isn't until after next season. We'd be eating 11m in Dead Cap to cut him.

Coleman isn't a 1st Round Pick and he's a Rookie WR. Elam shouldn't have been on the field. You know who else he Drafted? Josh Allen. James Cook. Khalil Shakir. Christian Benford (who would have made a difference if he wasn't concussed). Spencer Brown. Dion Dawkins. Matt Milano (wasn't "officially" in the room - but he surely played a hand). O'Cyrus Torrence. Greg Rousseau. He brought in Mack Hollins when everyone thought he was worthless (without him, we wouldn't have stayed close). He built a team on peanuts this year that made it to the AFC Championship Game. I know we're all hurt and looking for people to blame. But there's misses from the best GM's league wide. The Draft is a crap shoot and his success rate isn't bad.

You want to throw daggers at the Defense being out of position? Or Kincaid dropping the pass? Go nuts. Josh Allen though? He along with James Cook and Mack Hollins are the only reasons this game stayed close. Gtfo with that nonsense.

Why? @Billl isn't disrespectful.