Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

Who's going to beat him out? Hodkins? They really don't have another slot guy on the roster, lot of talk about the Bills drafting a WR, but more a guy who can play outside. I see the WR group as (order not meaningful): Diggs Davis McKenzie Kumarow Rookie Crowder Stevenson/Hodkins The only way I see him not making the team is if they pick up a guy either FA or draft who's a WR and also a top return man. But not so sure they'd want to trust a rookie in that role unless he did it alot in college.

So who should they have signed as the #3 QB for similar money who'd be a better asset to the Bills this coming season? Barkley knows Allen and knows the offense. If they are in a game where Allen is struggling and things aren't working, he has the ability to say to Allen, "How about you try this". He likely can help that way more than even Keenan can based on his knowledge of Allen and what his likes and dislikes are. What's a rookie going to say to help, " Can I bring you a clean towel?"

Not much really. When you have Josh Allen you're never going to be a strong running team as you're best way to gain yards is through the air. If Taylor was on the Bills he'd be lucky if he had 1/3 or the yards he's had as he'd been given the ball much less. I'd take Johnson's blocking ability in the back field over some rookie if you're so worried about Allen getting hurt. Also pass catching. For the most part rookie RB's are great at one thing, taking the handoff, blocking catching passes takes time to develop those skills at an NFL level.

Actually looks like he had some better games in 2016 per Wiki or did you not bother going back that far Barkley was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad on September 4, 2016.[73] He was elevated to the active roster on September 22, 2016.[74] Following an injury to the Bears' backup quarterback Brian Hoyer against the Green Bay Packers on October 20, Barkley made his first appearance as a member of the Chicago Bears, going 6 of 15 for 81 yards; he threw for zero touchdowns and two interceptions.[75] After Jay Cutler suffered a shoulder injury against the Giants, Barkley started the following week's game against the Tennessee Titans.[76] Barkley completed 28 of 54 passes for 316 yards with three touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 72.8 passer rating, nearly rallying the Bears from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter before losing 27–21.[77] Barkley earned his first NFL win the very next week on December 4, a 26–6 win over the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field. This was the Bears' third and last victory of the season.[78] He completed 11 for 18 passes for 192 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 97.5 passer rating.[79] On December 18, Barkley completed 30 passes for 362 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions as the Bears nearly upset the Green Bay Packers, ultimately losing 30–27 on a last-second field goal. It was the most yards by a Bears quarterback in a game against Green Bay in the rivalry's history.[80] Barkley struggled in the following week's game against the Washington Redskins, a 41–21 loss; although he threw for 323 yards and two touchdown passes, he also threw five interceptions, including on four consecutive drives in the second half. The five interceptions were the most by a Bears quarterback since Cutler threw five in 2009.[81]

So who you going to sign as a the #3 who's clearly better than Barkley and would sign for about the same amount of money? Saw your post above to about finding someone better in the draft. Unless you'd like to see the Bills use their 1st round pick on the #3 QB, I think it's pretty laughable if you think you're going to find someone that could play better than Barkley for the 2022 season. Maybe if they get real lucky a guy they draft in the 5th or 6th round might be better than Barkley in 2 to 3 years. Even if they drafted him in the 1st round, with this years QB class, you'd still be lucky if he turn out better.

Barkey was let go because they had Trubisky and Webb (and even Fromm for half the season) backing up the QB position, all of which are now gone. There was better talent there. IMO Barkley was brought back because he knows the offense and if due to injuries needed to play, could step in. Would it look good, would they win, likely would have to be against a weaker team to have a shot. Admittedly not setting the bar very high, but how many teams have a 3rd string QB as good as Barkley, doubt many. The one thing the Bills don't need is a development QB as Allen's not going anywhere for a long time, so why not bring in a vet instead as the #3?

He was a good signing on my Fantasy team about 3 years back.

OK but what your not doing is subtracting out the cap hits of the last 4 players as they now drop off and will become #51 thru #54. Gentry thru Harris salaries will no longer count so that saves about $3.1 mil. So $5.6 minus $3.1 = $2.5 additional needed. In your example above you state #1 pick is $2.6 and now your removing $.7, nets to $1.9 mil NOT $2.5 mil. Did you instead of taking away $700k or .7 mil take it as $70k or .07 mil. Then it would be $2.5 mil. There's still 6 guys who aren't even listed with salaries, Barkley, Lee, |Lawson, Phillips, Johnson so the salaries coming off will even be higher then for the rookies, more like the next four are all in the $900k range so that adds up to $3.6 dropping off. Think we're both understanding it correct, but maybe your calculator needs a new battery?? LOL

Why you counting Speedy with the rookies?? Agree about he $2 mil reserves part. The question was how much money is required to SIGN the rookies. Signing them occurs late spring, you're looking at who made the 53 man roster two very different things from a money standpoint. For signing them, only the top 51 salaries are included in the cap so only somewhere around $3 mil is needed, and maybe a little less as the 5th or 6th round pick makes less money than the 51st ranked player salary on the roster so isn't included. Once September rolls around only the players that make the roster count towards the cap If 5 picks make the active roster, likely means some other vets got cut along with their salary which was higher than a 5th or 6th round pick. Can't recall last year what vets were cut, but 2 years ago Hauska was cut, a much higher salary than say a six round pick who in this case ironically happened to be the rookie Bass. So if anything was a cap savings. Another year McCoy was cut, big savings. Will there be last minute signings of vets sure, but that's down the road. Now they need to keep around $3 mil for the rookies.

Think it will be a CB, the best one available, one ideally with long arms and a good tackler

As of now there are still 3 guys the Bills signed without contract values per Spotrac so the three you mention bumping for the rookies will actually be bumped off this week for them. in addition there likely will be others signed between now and then bumping off even more. To do that likely means other contracts will either be re-done or players cut. By the time the rookies sign the 51 cutoff will likely be higher. Think that means less money needed for the rookies?? Your math says a bit over $2 mil, but historically the number has been higher so not sure if we're missing something else?? Looking too at Groot and Bashams contracts from last year when we were drafting lower makes the numbers a bit higher, Groot was $2.1 mil which likely will go up some this year just because it's a year later. I know those were the numbers of Spotrac, but they somehow don't look quite right, but certainly not double. Saw another thread about Bills having highest payroll in the league, haven't read it yet, but that could explain why much less money this year needed for rookies as their 51 cutoff is much higher than other teams and normal?? I was kind of thinking the same about Edmunds. Maybe wouldn't mind signing Edmunds to a short 3 year contract that they can easily get out of after year 1 or 2, but he wants longer and larger. Agree too about kicking can down the road at end of a franchise QB's run. Tampa kind of did that to a lesser degree thought not so much due to Bradys contact, just in general, same with Rams, they may be in more serious trouble as have few good draft picks and Stafford is no spring chicken. Green Bay should be in that mode, but never seem to be.

Think it's more than $2 mil but less than $6 mil, maybe in the $4.5 mil range?? That's not exactly correct. Until the final cut downs in September, only the top 51 plays salaries count towards the cap. For a team picking at #25, likely means only the players selected in the 1st 4 rounds would factor in. A player taken in the 5th round for example would have a salary below the 51st highest player so doesn't count. Once final cutdowns occur, then the 53 players on the roster all count. So assuming the Bills do keep 5 to 6 of their draft picks, that means 5 to 6 other players got cut, some likely with a higher salary the a 5th or 6th round draft pick. So you can't just look at Spotrac and take the totals of the first 5 or 6 picks Based on the number of players currently on the roster, it looks like the last 7 players or so on the roster won't count. As more players are added the number not counting goes up.

Completely agree. Sounds like he wasn't in favor of Rex and not sure he really wanted Marrone either. Not sure I'd blame RW much though as by the time Whaley arrived RW had kind of turned everything over to Russ Brandon, which there lies the problem. Do think Whaleys problem was he wasn't forceful enough, when Marrone and Rex was pushed by Brandon, he didn't scream NO loud enough, he just would go along with everything.

Whats Progressive Insurance going to do? Maybe they'll use Watson, I'm sure he'd be a great face for the company. Maybe just like many of the Brown fans who are abandoning Cleveland, Progressive will do the same and follow Bills Mafia!

Agree with first 3! Will be shocked if not a punter in there around 5 or 6. Regardless of the outcome of Bates, doubt we see 4 O lineman drafted, 2 maybe 3. Likely also a 2nd CB/S, maybe LB? So what exactly are the rules? Can the Bills call up Bates today and offer him a long term deal or once they place the tender are they locked in and can't offer him anything else until the tender period ends which is sometime late April? I know they can match any offers he might get, but wasn't sure what else they can or can't do. He's also a pretty cheap contract, $2.5 mil so again reduces chances they let him go. He also in a pinch could play tackle if needed, not very good, but could get through a game if they had to.

So what's so bad about having some JAG's on a team? Yeah the problem with him is he was drafted high so should be better than a JAG. Diggs and Milano believe were both 5th round picks, Beasley was undrafted, just to name a couple. Teams draft guys who end up not being nearly as good as their draft position and others far exceed where they were drafted. Point is it balances out. How many threads are started about players who don't work out or live up to their contract, many, but how many are there talking about boy how much better that guy is, very few. Just seems to way too much mis placed hatred towards Edmunds purely based on where he was drafted.

To me this is pretty funny seems like 2/3 of the posters here say he's terrible and want to get rid of him. But then turn around and expect a 2nd rounder or more in a trade. If he's a as bad as people say, lucky to get a 5th or 6th for him. I'm sure I'll here how in a different style defense or position he'd be great and worth a 2nd or more. Is he worth the $12 mil, no but doubt he's going anywhere unless traded for much less. And then that leaves the defense with a big hole.

I read your response too before I read he was cut. LOL

Is he married, does he have kids? Uprooting a family is a big thing too. Unlike fans, to the players it's still a business.

If the Bills still have plans to add a vet, I'd kind of like to see them go after Marques Valdez Slandling(SP) from Green Bay. He's kind of a burner which is one thing the Bills are lacking and would come cheaper than Woods. Per Spotrac his value is $8.7 mil, that was likely on Tuesday, but now probably gone down a couple mil. Still may be too rich for Bills. Also possible Green Bay makes a bigger effort now to resign him with Adams gone.

So basically the only guy left who isn't happy is Star. Who may not even be here by September.

Yeah at the time he left, everyone was ripping the Bills for not resigning him, but recall reading he wanted to go to a west coast team so don't think the Bills really had much of a chance. Maybe now that itch is gone and he would consider coming back. The other big difference between then and now is we no longer suck.

I understand not his choice if a signed offer is brought to the Bills, they can match or not. But what if Bates gets an offer from Minn, before he signs anything his agent contacts Beane and says look he really wants to stay in Buffalo, will you match this and they do but in away convenient to the Bills cap situation and not have to worry about matching the Vikings terms. It may be that once you tender a player, the team tendering i.e. Bills can't give him another contract until after April 25th when the tender period ends. The more I think about it, ta rule like this would make sense to prevent teams from easily doing what I described.

IMO I think it's the other way around. Elite QB's can make good look elite. For that reason I'm not that worried about Beasley leaving as Allen will make Davis, McKenzie, rookie, Knox, and Howard all look better than they really are.

I'm just glad signings and cuts aren't made by vote of posters on TBD or we'd be so far over the cap in no time. Posters here want to give money out like it's candy and panic over everything. Yes Bates did well and the team played better once he was in the lineup. But he wasn't exactly in pro bowl discussion. Maybe the reason the team improved was more due to how bad Feleciano was once he lost the weight. Mid year they switched Williams from tackle to guard, they survived that OK. The season before mid year they benched then cut Spain and we went to the conference championship game. Think there's too much over valuation of a player. Have a hard time seeing him worth $4 mil. Seems not to many RFA get the 2nd round tender as either the player is worth a long term deal and was done or he's marginal talent who is given the lower tender. Assuming Bates would rather play in Buffalo and the Vikings make him an offer. BEFORE HE ACTUALLY WERE TO SIGN ANYTHING is there anything to prevent him from taking that offer back to Buffalo for them to match. This would allow Buffalo to match the spirit of the contract, give the same money overall, but structure it in a way that fits the Bills cap situation rather than having to identically the Vikings offer. Where as once he signs, then the Bills need to match all the terms including any potential poison pen terms. It may be unethical but is it not allowed?