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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.

The extremely recent addition of Deion Jones throws a wrinkle into the LB depth of the 53. Given his status as a player over the past couple seasons, he'll have to earn it as well. I tend to agree Spector has an edge and is most likely the 5th LB. I'll still believe we're keeping 6 when I see it though. Though it is possible if they feel Morrow is a key contributor on ST. If they do keep 6, it will be either Morrow or Jones.

And Von Miller is listed as a LB and Jordan Phillips as a DE. That's not what they are though. Spotrac can have Williams listed as DE and Jonathan listed as a DT - but that's not what they are either. Jonathan plays exclusively on the Edge and Williams plays exclusively in the Middle (unless in a 3-4 alignment, which we don't employ).

Good stuff as always from you. I think we'll keep 6 WR's this year. We kept 5 last season, but that was an anomaly based on wanting to keep 12 DL's (which was an anomaly in and of itself as the number is usually 10). Every other year under this regime they've kept 6 and multiple years they've kept 7. I think we sign another veteran WR post 6/1 and then it ends up being a camp battle for the last spot with Justin Shorter having the edge, all things equal. Agreed on the DL. I think we'll keep 5 DE's and 5 DT's. Everyone you listed is safe IMO. Leaves one DT spot that I think goes to DeShawn Williams and one DE spot which will be a battle between Casey Toohill and Kingsley Jonathan. I believe Toohill takes it as his experience and production is better than Jonathan's and I think they view Jonathan as a Brandin Bryant type that lives on the PS until there's an injury and if they lose him, they don't really sweat it. Like a Bryant or Ankou, he seems to always find his way back. Linebackers - they could keep 6. But I lean towards them keeping 5, with either Nicholas Morrow or Baylon Spector being the odd man out. The number is usually 5, 6 seems a little high, given we only employ 2 LB's on the field. When it comes to OL, the number is usually 9. I don't see us keeping 5 OT's. I think it really comes down to either Grable impresses and takes to it quicker than expected - or he's cut and Collins is here. I don't think they're particularly concerned that someone's going to sign the 204th pick in the Draft to their 53 otherwise. I don't see us keeping 9-10 of our 10 Draft Picks. I think it will be 8, which is already a really high number for us (Grable and Clayton being out unless they are undeniable). Hardy, although taken after Grable, has an edge because there's a wide open spot for backup Nickel and KR/PR. I see Dawkins, Brown, Van Demark, and then either Collins or Grable (with Gouraige and Doyle Wild Cards) at OT. And for interior, McGovern, Torrence, Edwards, Van Pran, and then almost definitely Anderson - but he'll battle with the likes of Clapp, Clayton, and Bills.

Very confused by listing Kingsley Jonathan as a DT and DeShawn Williams as a DE. Jonathan's a DE and Williams is a DT.

It's like I said leading up to the Draft. Everyone was talking about all these packages to trade up and get Harrison or Nabers, as if it were as simple as just meeting the chart figures and it's a done deal. When it came to those top picks, no one was going to give up the kind of talents that they took without an INSANE overpay. And this just goes to show, even with an insane overpay - they STILL turned it down. We couldn't even touch the kind of offer Minnesota put forth. And it still wasn't enough.

This is 100% correct. According to the go to Comp Guy for OverTheCap on Twitter, we would have had another 6th for Dane Jackson, but it was cancelled out with the Curtis Samuel signing.

That's great that you think that. But that's not how the NFL works. It's like a fan saying they think a Guard can be converted to a Tackle, or a Nickel can be converted to a Boundary CB, a DT can be a Pass Rusher, a CB can be a Safety, etc. Tyler Boyd has taken 81% of his total career snaps out of the Slot. And that's a swayed number as he did it a lot more in earlier seasons before they realized he wasn't suited for the role and has exclusively worked and succeeded from the Slot ever since. He's even more of a Slot than Samuel is. Shakir is not an Outside WR either. Everyone wants to say he can play the role, but when we put him there in a pinch in the Playoffs when we were thin - he didn't produce.

I wouldn't. I expect it. As I said before, Beane talks out of both sides of his mouth *constantly*. I've had egg on my face around here numerous times taking him at his word. It's common knowledge and a talking point around the board that Beane lies (as do all GM'). So why are we so willing to take his word as gospel now? Especially when the hole is so obvious and in my opinion, the only real spot on the roster that needs an addition - when we have over 10m coming in a month? Him not taking more than one WR in the Draft doesn't mean what you think it does, in my opinion. As I stated above, we came into this Draft with everything in our core covered - save for 2 Starters on the Outside. We took one in Coleman at 33. But with what was available at 60 and beyond, you weren't getting a replacement for the other side. Nor do I think they'd have wanted to start two Rookies, even if they could. Anyone Drafted at 60 or beyond would have only served to replace Justin Shorter (and whomever could potentially beat out Shorter) on the bottom of the roster, behind Coleman, Samuel, Shakir, and Hollins. They wouldn't have filled the hole we had adequately for this season, so they didn't bother. The top remaining veteran FA (or someone who becomes available via surprise cut or manageable trade) can fill that role now. And I'd be shocked if he left it bare. It won't be Tyler Boyd. Or Hunter Renfrow for that matter. The hole is on the Perimeter. Boyd is a PURE Slot. We have more than we need there with Samuel, Shakir, and Kincaid. Adding Boyd would just crowd that room more and remove reps from all those guys - while still leaving a gaping hole on the Outside needing to be filled.

You are aware that we get 10.2m on 6/1 from releasing Tre White and also saved some on the cap from trading out of Round 1, right? Come 6/1 we will have some money to spend and there will be guys available. Damn. He is one of the top options available. Cross him off the list then.