BillsFanForever19

1.75m isn't much in and of itself. But the timing of it most likely says they have something in the works that requires them creating space. Which is huge.

The talk of Sweat has only come up bc of a Diana Russini report that said they're open to moving him. The current GM didn't Draft him. And it's said they have issues with his conditioning and standing with the team and are thinking a change of scenery may be what he needs. If not for that, I'd agree with you. But it appears that the new Titans administration are willing to move on from him.

First off, whatever we've heard is clearly just what was willing to be corroborated and likely just the tip of the iceberg. And if you think the Raiders didn't give him other chances and he wasn't aware he was on thin ice already (which would be the situation he'd be in here) before he continued to be an idiot and they decided it was better to eat 48 million dollars just to get him out of the building - I've got a bridge to sell you. And the issues with Wilkins don't just end with the things he would do on the field and in the locker room that made everyone uncomfortable. He also outright refused to follow what was asked of him by the team in injury rehabilitation and did whatever he wanted. The bottom line is there are 31 other teams in the league. Most of them would either kill to add his kind of talent or outright need DT's bc of injury. And not a single one has so much as brought him in for a visit. This really says all that needs to be said. You make it sound as if every player who's career is on the line like his is always smart enough to realize that and change their ways. That's not true. There's been a number of players that were just flat out as dumb as you say he can't be and floundered their 2nd and 3rd chances. Mental Illness and/or Drug Addiction will do that. And likely with Wilkins, there's at least one, if not both at play with his erratic behavior. And ultimately, my stance was that the "no risk!" point OP made is categorically incorrect. We aren't in a situation at DT where we can take chances. A no risk signing is one where if we have to walk away from them, we're still in good shape bc we weren't relying on them. That's not the case with us at DT. We need someone we can rely on. Bc if it doesn't work out with Wilkins, the trade deadline has passed and we're back to square one. That's a huge risk in and of itself in the position we're in right now.

Without getting into anything else - this is inherently a risk in and of itself. The Trade Deadline is tomorrow. You pass on making a deal for another DT to sign a loose cannon like Christian Wilkins. Then he goes and does... Christian Wilkins things. Well now you're back to square one and can't make a trade for another DT to improve things. The only "no risk" moves are for players at positions where you're already in good shape and if you have to cut them, no big. That's not the situation with us at DT.

Generally, at this point, they'll bring it down to the wire of Trade Deadline day - where sellers hope buyers get desperate and up their price at the buzzer and buyers hope sellers settle to their offer at the buzzer. I wouldn't expect us to swing a trade today. Tuesday is F5 Day, until just after 4 PM EST.

This is a fair point. But on obvious passing downs, they've been pulling Poyer off the field anyways. Today was almost a 50/50 split amongst the Jordan's (34 Poyer, 26 Hancock to Bishop's 60). So I don't think the light going on is all a credit to Poyer's on field work with him, as he's only out there just over half the time. And I can't imagine Budda Baker is a terrible communicator. My concern, much like yours, is just we don't have enough there. We're one injury away from having to play Poyer on 100% of snaps. There were a couple times today that I felt the 2025 version of Poyer hurt us. And while I think Hancock could become a guy for us, I don't think he's ready to be the full time starter as a Rookie. I just think Baker alongside Bishop would be a massive upgrade that could really help lock down the Secondary. Though at this point, DT and a WR who can separate are probably bigger needs.

Especially with Hoecht tearing his Achilles in Week 9. It's likely we may not have him to start the season. May also be the last year of A.J. Epenesa, who is really having a helluva season as an off the bench, rotational DE.

Allen Cook Kincaid Bosa Bishop There are many others deserving of recognition. But those five were at a different level.

I hope the light went on for Cole Bishop. But I still would like something on the other side of him beyond the Jordan Poyer/Jordan Hancock combination. I hope Hancock becomes the answer long term. But a rental of Budda Baker alongside Bishop playing at that level would move the needle QUITE a bit.

Epenesa's been a monster in an off the bench, rotational role this season. He's been popping off the screen fairly consistently all year.

That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that we had so many DE's that we couldn't even dress him. We weren't "relying" on Hoecht at Edge either. We lost one of 4 that were performing at a high level. Obviously, I'd rather have him. But Bosa (especially how he's been consistently performing), Groot (who has taken a step in the past couple games), and Epenesa (who is performing extremely well off the bench) is already a better situation at Edge than a lot of teams in the league. With Hoecht, it was an embarrassment of riches. We've just gone from that to "just" being in very good shape. Of course i'd prefer Hoecht as well. But this idea that we're in trouble at Edge bc we lost Hoecht isn't accurate. We're in trouble at Defensive Tackle, where Hoecht was filling in for Oliver on passing downs. We're in trouble at WR, where we still have no one who can get open with any sort of consistency (thank God for Kincaid). But Edge is fine, even with Hoecht's injury. We only had him for 1 1/2 games. Edge was never the problem without him in the lineup. If we lose Bosa or Groot, then it might become a problem. But we're fine there. We aren't at DT, WR, or Safety (opposite Bishop).

The Shaun Dolac that every Bills fan obsessed over like we missed out on the second coming of Lawrence Taylor (some even still) - that has played a grand total of 35 snaps on Defense all season for the Rams?

Would be feeling a lot better had Hoecht not gotten injured. The Defensive Line saw a tangible jump in juice with him infused into the lineup. He was able to pick up a lot of slack for Ed Oliver going down on passing downs as well. Now we really need to get another Defensive Tackle in here. And we still have an issue with WR's getting open. Thankfully, Dalton Kincaid is at least *a* option that seems to get open with some sort of consistency. Hopefully he can stay on the field. But we still need someone there. The win was obviously a high. And I don't think anyone was really thinking we would be picking in the Top 10 or anything. The issue is that we've done (many times over) the Division win. We've done the beating the Chiefs in the Regular Season thing. And we've done the multiple Playoff wins. Being good isn't the bar. Fans are looking for a Super Bowl team. And as good as the past couple weeks have been, I still need to see some parts added (DT, WR, and/or S) before I feel like we can win one. Beating the Chiefs in the Regular Season means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Especially this year with them at 5-4.

Why? We were so stacked there that we couldn't find room for our 3rd Round Pick to dress. Bosa's on fire, Groot has picked up steam, and Epenesa's been very good this year off the bench. Now we can also dress Jackson. We went the whole season save for 1 and a half games with the same Edge room. Edge wasn't remotely the problem for us. We need a DT *way* more than we need an Edge.

I think you just examine where you think the bigger need is at with 1T v. 3T. We should get Jones back within the next two games (hopefully this one coming up). It's pretty clear Daquan Jones is a 1T and Jordan Phillips is a 3T. But then you have Deone Walker and Larry Ogunjobi, who can play both spots. I think you start Jones and Walker alongside the other and rotate in. I'd imagine you go out and get a 3T as Phillips, while playing admirably, isn't someone you want to rely on. Edge we're okay at, even with Hoecht's injury. Don't think we need Jalen Phillips (and I don't think they'd trade him to us). Bosa is playing lights out, still have Groot and Epenesa (who is playing well as an off the bench option) and we were sitting Landon Jackson simply bc we were so loaded there that we didn't need him. Now he'll finally see action.

I'm not going to obsess over a 4th and 17 conversion in a tough fought game that we won an hour after the victory. Now isn't the time for that. That said, the problem is clear. It's the "exotic" scheme. Rather than keeping with the top options of teams like Rasheed Rice, we just let them go to the next guy. And too often there's confusion on who's assignment it is with other things going on or they just completely blow the assignment. Crossers are a nightmare for his Defense.

Automatic game ball? That's not how it works, imo. Shakir shouldn't get more credit than Kincaid for today's game based on other games. Kincaid easily cleared Shakir in this one. He's on everyone's list and you're the only person listing Shakir.

I think the idea that Kincaid is under Shakir is a bit of a hot take. Not to say Shakir wasn't very good. But Kincaid had a bigger game in my eyes.

As far as Beane going "bananas" - this is about as far as I'd take it. Unrealistic that he'd make three moves, but at least they're all likely to be moved players:

Welp - everyone complaining about Landon Jackson not being active, he will be now.

Why are we burning our 2nd Timeout on a 2nd Down Defensive re-alignment?

I have had it with this soft zone, give up your man for the guy behind you crap. Too often they either completely blow the assignment or just find the perfect moment of a guy going open. Absolutely ridiculous to constantly lose the opponents' top options.