Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

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?

So how would that work? Since the Bills just took a $1.5 mil cap hit by letting him go. Would anything he were to resign for be on top of the $1.5 mil?

Overall it was, other than Allen and Jackson. And Jackson is a bit questionable IMO. Not sure if his early success was solely because defenses didn't yet know how to play him? Now they've figure him out. So the one guy who was by many likely to be the biggest failure is arguably one of the top 5 players in the league and could be the best very soon if not already.

I'm sure Beane has put it out there , is anyone interested in trading for Star, let us know. Maybe if they take back $2 to 3 mil in salary and throw in a 6th rounder could get a taker. Would then still save them money But then the other side of it is, do they have a true 1 technique backup besides Jones. Not really IMO unless they draft one! That was one of the problems in 2020 when Star sat out no one able to fill that role. We're OK as long as Jones stays healthy. Settle could play some, but think there'd be a drop off I think Star could be one of the last players cut, go through training camp and pre-season, if no one gets hurt long term, then they cut him. Or I'm sure if they could trade him they would, but trades in the NFL don't happen to much for under performing players.

RB I think they will still sign a RB who is a decent receiver out of the back field Agree on punter Think the draft a LB,whether specific or Edmunds or not TBD, they do have Dodson who they just signed to a contract, so must like him O Line. I still think they draft interior line as do have Doyle as backup tackle. Can get out of Morse contact after this season so would think it would still make sense to draft the guy this year as backup, then starts at center or guard in 2023. Also think they will sign a mid tier OT yet in free agency. Safety Maybe can't argue either way, likely will come down to BPA when they are selecting TE maybe they draft one late one who's a good blocker and sit him on PS all year or again like safety, they don't WR You're forgetting Hodgins. Not that he's a big name but who knows. I do think they draft a WR likely in round #2 QB Free agent as the back up, but also could draft one late for PS and to run opposing team offense ion practice. Maybe Fromm comes back? CB Yes draft one in round 1 but also sign a mid level FA mainly in case White isn't back to 100% in September. So would draft CB, WR, G/C in 1st three rounds and punter in 5th or 6th. Or maybe trade back in 4th and sign that guy is it from San Diego St late in 4th to make sure they get him. FA still pick up back up QB plus mid level CB, OT, and RB

Do think Jackson played better than many expected. Also do think the Bills will draft a CB in the 1st round and will still sign a mid level FA CB in case White isn't ready or close to 100% Sept 1st. That's the one outlier here not knowing how/when White will be back playing a high level. But overall agree, we're not in as bad shape as some seem to think. CB IMO is one of the positions rookies can come in day one and start and more than hold their own.

Yes but then taking on a $7.7 cap hit this year. Is it worth when next years cap is expanding much more so a $2.6 mil hit is a much lower percentage of the total cap. I think if they do sign J Phillips, (maybe was already confirmed and I didn't see the post yet) good chance he's gone in the final cut downs. Basically if they cut him now, they're saving $1.5 mil. What if a couple of DT's get hurt in training camp or pre-season? Keep him around for now, see how camp goes if no big injuries then let him go in September. If you let Star go now and then have injuries, not likely they will find a player as good as he is basically for $1.5 mil which is the saving by cutting him now. As far as reps for other players go, if the team does intend to cut him in September, they can keep him around but keep him mainly on the sideline and give him minimal reps and practice time. He did start off the 2021 season playing well till Covid hit him I can think of 9.2 million reason why a team wouldn't want to trade for him, his salary. The Bills may have to throw in a 2nd or a 3rd to get someone with cap space to take on that salary. Throw in Beasley, now a team is taking on close to $16 mil in salary. Trades to dump players have to be sweet deals for the team taking on the player or the player must still be wort hat least close to the contract value. I recall the Texans trading Osweiler and his $16 mil contract along with a 2nd & a 6th round pick to Cleveland for 4th rounder who then cut him.

Think they will still sign a mid level CB and RB, backup QB, and another mid level lineman though that may wait till after the draft depending on who they draft. In draft go CB, WR, G/C in first three rounds. If for some reason they instead pick a tackle in round 3 then I'd sign another mid level G/C instead of tackle.

The other guy I'm surprised is still around is Tyler M, that's a $2.5 mil savings if cut. That's a higher number than most years, thought it was usually just under $5 mil. Drafting late saves some money there too as usually only first three picks will count towards top 51 contracts.

Forgot about the roster bonus. So agree it will happen soon then! And yes doubt he'd take the large pay cut, if he was open to it then likely never would have allowed him to look for a trade. But what if in trying to find a trade teams all tell him yes we'd love to have you but only at $3 mil a year. Would he then think different about going back to Bills at less money?

They likely will hang onto Beasley until they need the money saved or he agrees to a large pay cut, or a trade. As soon as that need arises, he'll be gone. When will that be? Could be tomorrow, Friday, next week, April? We'll find out! But don't see them cutting him until they need to.

Terry will dig another well.

Yeah I've been thinking CB for awhile. Part of my rational too is IMO CB is one of the positions rookies can come in and start and not look lost. CB and RB seem to be the two easiest for rookies. Think it will go CB, WR, G/C in first three rounds. Think they will still sign a mid level CB in case someone gets hurt plus RB and back up CB and likely another mid level lineman.

Not likely, they will sign someone well before mini camps.

Wonder to if part of the reason he came to Buffalo is knowing they use a deep rotation on the D line which is good news for a 30 something year old player. Fans here don't like it, but I'm sure the older players do.

Can recall Monday morning reading the Bills sign McKenzie for $8 mil, by Tuesday morning when contract detail came out it was $4 mil. Expect the same here. This is the first free agent the Bills ever signed that my wife knew right away who he was. She's a Dancing With the Stars viewer!

They can use Doyle in that role. As long as both tackles stay healthy and likely will add a 4th tackle anyway, can use Doyle for blocking. May even told him, catch 200 passes a day from JUGS machine so you're not just an obvious running play threat. But also could see them drafting a TE late and move to PS for this season.

TE take time to develop, very few rookie TE's do well. Better to let another team draft him, let him develop fr 4 years then sign him when they let him go. Granted you're not going to get the best talent as the Kelse's and Gronk's of the world won't become free agents, but the Bills need a #2 TE so that's fine as there will always be Hoopers and Howards out there.

Agree, likely sign him to a vet min contract compared to $2+ mil for the tender. Small chance he signs elsewhere, but not a big loss if it were to happen. With the injury unlikely anyone would sign him.

I also think they will draft a guy who can play center or guard. That gives them Morse's replacement and eliminates the issue you mention.

Yeah but next year cap takes a big jump due to new TV contract. Ideally they wouldn't have done this, but with the cap dropping last year due to Covid and this year barely above the 2019 level, has been down alot all over the league. Does anyone know on Spotrac at the top it says "Current contract" Is that what he just signed today or that isn't yet updated? It says 2 year contract, but then more years below are shown, assume for the restructure?? Wish they'd list the year signed next where it says Current Contract. Has there been any details on Milanos restructure? All I've read is "most of his salary has been converted" Again not sure if Spotrac is showing pre or post adjustment??