BillsVet

I didn't make any observation about their roster's average age. My point is, people expect the team to at least remain as good or perhaps improve from one season to the next. It's not within the worldview that they could regress. E.G.: They were 13-3 last season, not much changed...ergo, they'll be about that next year.

Players get older, slower, don't heal from injuries as quickly, and generally are degrading every year. It's the NFL. Contracts are closer to expiring and new players must be integrated to replace those older players on the decline. Which means what worked last year is not a guarantee to succeed this coming season. People don't like change, but if you're not improving you are regressing. Status quo doesn't get it done in this world.

The only doubling-down on disappointment would be using another premium asset for McD's defense. Coming off the Cincinnati loss going defense again is like a business revising an aging product line despite their opponents innovating and gaining market share. If Beane concludes from the Cincinnati and Kansas City losses the last 2 years that they need more defense the result is they'll continue losing track meets against top-end NFL offenses. There's stubborn and then there's stupid. McBeane are trending away from the former and pointing more toward the latter if they go defense in RD1.

I used to follow them for UFA news years ago, but they went full click-bait garbage level writing and I could care less what he says. But more than that...Mike Florio is the NFL's version of TMZ and acts like a clown on air.

"Obviously, a trade hasn’t occurred yet. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen. A team hoping to draft a quarterback could pivot to Jones, if that team doesn’t get the guy it wants." This passes for journalism in 2023. Then again, it's PFT so not surprised.

Bills have ~56M in cap devoted to DB's for 2023 which leads the NFL. But why not? It would be more indication that spending on DB's and sinking more into the defense overall won't work.

There will be more clapping. Lots more. And maybe a post game statement to the effect of, "sure, we'd like to shut out every team in the league, but it doesn't happen that way."

A lot of pundits who want industry cred tend to overlook that hard reality of a market every time a player is on the market. I'm actually surprised no one has yet claimed that owners have colluded with each other to make sure another large pay-out for a QB does not happen. Or maybe it has and I missed that. I'd also expect owners to see that there are significant headwinds economically happening in the US right now and to balance a large expenditure, even at QB, against that consideration. An outlay of 200M guaranteed is not the kind of financial decision a NFL team is going to take right now and especially not for someone who's had those injuries as you alluded to.

OP's thread is like political party A giving political party B advice on how to win elections. Not exactly the guidance you take. Until or unless the NFL changes rules surrounding RTP, PI, holding, et al. then the way to win remains throwing the ball downfield to as many solid receiving options as possible. Sheffield and Harty are effectively on 1 year deals, Davis in his last year of a rookie contract and Shakir is unproven. The draft could shake out any number of ways, but finding another receiver in RD1/2 should be a priority. One would think by now that banking on improved production from lower-tier players and Diggs isn't enough...but McBeane probably ain't changing this late in the game.

Check out Kelce blowing past Chargers 2nd Team All-Pro safety Derwin James in their Week 11 game game to put KC up with 30 seconds to play.

The irony to this is, both coaches have been criticized for not getting results until a franchise QB "fell into their laps." Of course, Belichick had been a member of 2 SB winning teams prior to becoming a HC. McCoach was a part of team with a SB appearance. Will likely never happen, but McD is still trying to jam that square peg into the round hole. Belichick has adapted his football vision as the game changed in the early 2000s from a balance between offense and defense to one where offense is primary. McD is not getting enough out of Josh and it's less on the QB than the HC by this point. That would not be the case with BB.

If Klein is someone they'd consider, best to sign him now to a contract deserving of a McD defensive player. Perhaps 1 year and 3M because contract negotiations might get tight for a player with little to no market. And, he can play special teams. It's a win-win.

Either Beane is not the wizard people think he is or McD is telling him to just get it done. 3rd week of UFA handing out 3M contracts to DTs is not a good look. And even though it's a moderate deal, it should be remembered when there's little to no cap room to make a trade at the deadline.

Having a HC establishing the vision and determining roster priorities with a GM supporting personnel acquisition is showing some serious drawbacks. That is, if the roster vision is askew and the HC is under pressure to get results. The draft has to be more strategic than Buffalo handles it, as GM's tend to think long-term and less on what will help them next season...which is what a HC is focused on. An example was the 2022 draft going CB and RB to address needs in Rounds 1 and 2. I don't want to belabor that draft., yet understandable if the HC's short-term perspective has more sway over the GM's. In that way, I can see them going defense heavy again to suit oncoming needs and the HC's vision. Still disagree that loading up on that side provides more wins than does building an offense to compete with AFC Championship teams and perhaps others.

Allen's been in his prime now three seasons - since 2020 - and there are things even he cannot mitigate.

We're not even past the draft or into mini-camp, training camp, or the pre-season. And already people are trying to get out in front of if there are bad results. Has nothing to do with "glass half full." It's mentally setting the basement for results and then we can go back and say...look, I told you so! "One of the problems with being a pessimist is that you can never celebrate when you are proven right." - Thomas Sowell But here, there's no celebration...people just start LAMP's as though they earn royalties off their pessimism.

This thread could be re-titled: "It's hard to win in the NFL."

The 2019 WC game against Houston comes to mind when it was obvious Josh tried to do too much. Back then it was because their top receivers amounted to Brown and Beasley who were good, but not WR1 types. Kudos to them on acquiring Diggs, but the plan on offense since the 2020 off-season is what exactly? There isn't one UFA or pick that is anywhere near Diggs to scare an opposing defense. Yeah, Josh needs to protect himself and make plays from the pocket. No argument there. But if keeping pace with KC and CIN is done with a UFA G, 2 WR3/4 types, and a RB this is more of the same from previous off-seasons. I don't put much into late 1st or 2nd round picks contributing out of the gate, but if they go defense with the 1st or both OBD is lost without a map.

McD is acutely aware of the criticism levied, so this is him getting out in front of it. He knows expectations are high for 2023 and being an astute PR minded guy, he will set the narrative. I also suspect McBeane are, for the first time in their tenure, chafing at the criticism about their "process" and trying to establish that it's not them that needs to change. It's always something or someone else in McD's world. Couldn't be that the emphasis on building defense has short-changed the offensive skill and OL areas leaving Josh to make plays. Nah, that would mean McD might have to adapt to having a franchise QB and admit his "process" needs major tweaks to an overhaul.

The benefit of trading a 2nd is that McBeane don't have a chance to over-draft a Cody Ford, Boogie Basham, or James Cook type player. KC signed Watkins to that 3 year 16 AAV contract with one 1,000 yard season on his then 4 year NFL career. Hopkins is a 10 year vet with 6 1,000+ seasons with 5 1st or 2nd All-Pro selections. The only similarity is the cost of the contract, of which Watkins' was in UFA as opposed to what comes over in a prospective trade.

I see it differently. McD couldn't fire the DC he hired in 2017 who'd been on the job 6 seasons without looking like he was throwing someone under the bus. Especially a guy who's liked in NFL circles, though will be 64 this year. It wouldn't surprise me if the Bills pay him this year on his "sabbatical" then allow and out to find another job in 2024. That transition keeps McD clean, gives the HC even more operational control over his beloved defense, McD can groom someone on the job, and McD does Frazier a favor. McD is more political behind the scenes than people recognize or give him credit for. Also doesn't hurt because it's abundant that McD gets whatever he wants to staff his defense...firing the DC after all the investment there really reflects poorly on the dominant voice in the room and his defensive preference.

This thread partly summarized: Let's use our highest draft asset to fill a need. Economy of resources and a positional value-based approach? Nah, too challenging.

Former Panthers players, coaches and admins are to the Bills as former Bills players, coaches, and admins and are to the Giants.

God rest Ted Thompson... But TT 2.0 is becoming a painfully appropriate comp. Hope Beane finds some guts and tells his boss McD that they're not going defense as regularly happened 2017-2022.

Time will tell...have to hope McBeane learn from mistakes and correct themselves. One thing I know is...Belichick was nothing without Brady. Right, CB? I kid, I kid.