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Until recently I have always been on "the Bills love him" train. But actually in his end of season presser this past January I thought Beane was more circumspect. He talked a lot about the areas that Edmunds needed to improve - getting off blocks still being one - and said he thinks he will be "better in year 5" which is a damning with faint praise statement if ever I heard one. I know he was more effusive at the Combine recently, said "we definitely do" when asked if they see Tremaine as a building block, said he "gets" the criticism but "isn't in that camp" and talked about him as a "match-up" linebacker. But my overall sense from the two pressers is that Beane is starting to just get a little frustrated that Tremaine isn't where they hoped he'd be by this stage. I think they still really like Tremaine as a person and they still believe in him as a player, but there is just a little bit of frustration and doubt that has crept in over the past 12 months. 12 months ago I was strongly of the view that they would extend Tremaine this offseason. If I was pricing the market now I think the most likely outcome is they let his 5th year play out and if they want to keep him they work on a deal next spring before he hits free agency.

There's only two starting Tackle positions on the team. We already have a Starting Left Tackle we're paying Long Term who was a Pro Bowl player last season. We have a Right Tackle who had a very good rookie season and has room for growth that we have for 3 more seasons. There's only 2 Starting positions. So we move a very good player we spent a Day 2 pick on last season to the pine for Penning? Meanwhile we have Dane Jackson at CB2, who we'll ask to play CB1 with Tre out and have Cam Lewis on the other side. We need another RB with Singletary (as Duke and Moss are fighting for #3) and Singletary's on the last year of his deal. We're down a WR from last season, Crowder's on a one year deal, and we're one injury away on the outside from having to start Jake Kumerow. And on top of Singletary and Crowder, TE Dawson Knox, LB Tremaine Edmunds, S Jordan Poyer, and OG Rodger Saffold are all FA's next season and we're going to have to replace some of them. Upgrading a position that doesn't need upgrading with all of that going on is absolutely ridiculous. I get BPA. But it's BPA at a position of need, at absolute most within the coming year or two. There's a MYRIAD of positions that fit that role. Offensive Tackle is not one of them.

Ended up giving up a 3rd and 5th next year for this draft. I’m not sure it could get any better honestly. Imo. ended up with a stud at WR and our future slot guy for years to come. Starting MLB either right away or after this season when Edmunds leaves. Gordon should be an instant starter opposite White. Faalele instantly becomes our swing tackle and maybe more in the future. Smith should be starting OG by next year. Woods immediately becomes our 3rd TE and when we lose Knox because we can’t afford him, or OJ next year he steps in and takes over. Punter for the next 15 years. And between Woolen and Kendrick you have potential at DB that makes DCs drool about the possibilities. If they work out, we are set at Corner for the next 5 years. 43. Jahan Dotson, WR Penn State 57. Kyler Gordon, CB Washington 58. Chad Muma, LB Wyoming 78. Tariq Woolen, CB UTSA 89. Daniel Faalele, OT Minnesota 99. Lecitus Smith, OG Virginia Tech 168. Jalani Woods, TE Virginia 170. Matt Araiza, P San Diego State 231. Derion Kendrick, CB Georgia

I like Edmunds, but his contract is coming up along with Oliver, Knox, and Poyer. I think they can only afford two pay two of them. Personally, I’d like those two to be Knox and Oliver. I don’t think Edmunds is as good as his biggest supporters claim or as bad as his biggest detractors claim. I think I he’s pretty good. But I also think he’ll want to be paid like he’s great, and I don’t want the Bills to do that. He doesn’t make game changing plays, he’s not an alpha tone-setter, and I’m sick of using his age as an excuse. All of this leads me back to this thread: if in the first three rounds of the draft, ILB is BPA at any point, take him. Let him learn and be depth and play the Klein role for a year and then take over for Edmunds next year, and we finally get a good compensatory pick when Edmunds walks.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they trade up using Edmunds to get him. Edmunds is a mis-fit, would clear 12M in cap. Then you have your guy for the next 5 years at a reasonable price. Makes it easier to move around again next year.

What do you and or Beane think he does well? He's a solid play caller is what you are saying? Maybe he'd make a good coach? Edmunds is comparable to the freakish speed burner receiver who has brick hands. Great athleticism but his instincts are God awful too many times. Hes just not dependable and the lack of big plays is icing on the cake. Beane certainly knows more than me but he's not always correct either. Thos could very well be the case with Edmunds. Sometimes the fans eyeball test is truly a good parameter of accuracy.

I agree with you. Last year, since the Bills ran a ton of nickel, Edmunds was required to cover two gaps ALOT. But this was also because the defense lacked a true 1 Tech at DT. McD wants to run a one gap system (remember Kuechly and Star in his prime). This would make Edmunds responsible for either the A or B gap, depending on the formation. My point is that the additions of Phillips, Jones and Settle (who all have the size and strength to eat space) should help. I want to preface also, that I am all for the Bills drafting Llyod if he's available at 25. I am not sold on Edmunds, but he should improve this season with a more beefed up D-line.

3 picks in the first 2 rounds and no CB? Don't see that happening at all, one of them would definitely be a CB. I get the logic, but I am skeptical they would trade Edmunds, who is the QB of our defense, in the middle of major SB run this season and turn that complicated position over to a rookie. That doesn't sound like McD or Beanes style personally. They also haven't met with a lot of LB's either. One guys they did meet with is Troy Anderson, who is the fastest LB in this draft, raw having just recently converted to LB and versatile playing positions even like QB and RB in college. Everything about him seems to be what McD and Beane love in players. Wouldn't surprise me if we took him in the 2nd or 3rd round regardless of what their intent is with Edmunds.

Tremaine Edmunds breathes a sigh of relief…….

Well, with Edmunds on his 5th and Klein out, I wouldn't be surprised if Beane took an early shot at him. Timing could be right.🤔. Honestly, I wouldn't be mad if he did. I think 57 may be a little early. I've picked him in a few of my mocks, but doubt he makes it to 89. Maybe Brandon Smith at 89 if we go LB in the 3rd?? As others have said and my best guess, top of the 3rd more than likely for Anderson.

Some of these stats can be misleading. I think his value is in clogging the middle of the field passing lanes with his size and speed. He is not often asked to play man coverage. He also does a good job roaming sideline to sideline on wide runs/short passes. Like all inside LBs, he is affected if the DL allows OL to reach the second level and block him on inside runs. His instincts may not b perfect, but I think the criticism of him on this board is overblown and is born from the misconceptions that all first round picks should be game changers and are slam dunks. i see Edmunds as a good starter that is a positive in the Bills’ preferred zone pass D and can impact outside run game as well. He is not at his best as an inside run stuffer, but if DL can keep him clean, it would help a lot. Now, is that enough to pay him a big contract next year? I’m not sure, but I think that Bills think much more highly of him than this message board does. I know that for his detractors this won’t matter, but he doesn’t turn 24 until this May. That is only a year (for some 2) older than this year’s rookie crop.

Yep, that's Beane's MO. He'll roll with Edmunds this year and say he's "earned the right to test the market" next year. Drafting his replacement now is a good idea.

I'm sure some teammates will miss Edmunds. However, I feel his departure would have little to no effect on current players. Players are used to the football business. Every year the team changes. I don't see Edmunds as the glue or outstanding leader on the defense. I can't recall ever seeing him gathering up the defense and rallying the defense. Perhaps he leads by quiet example. Either way, Edmunds departure will not negatively impact the team. To think otherwise is giving Edmunds way way too much credit.

God the off season can’t end fast enough You guys are high if you think Edmunds is going anywhere this year No way Beane blows up the middle of our D this year when we are primed for a run. If anything, he will draft Edmunds replacement and let him learn for a year. I can’t wait to see this board melt down when Beane gives him an extension. It will be one of those TBD defining moments. And I’m not a big Edmunds fan

It's my personal opinion (cant speak for the actual players) that Beane has enough of a well-established track record of paying guys (Tre White, Milano, Dawkins, Taron Johnson, Siran Neal, Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Poyer and Hyde already extended once) that he has the wiggle room to let a guy like Edmunds, and even Poyer, walk and players will chalk it up to the "business", and still believe in Beane's vision for building the team. You have so many guys that already got paid by the Bills, I dont think letting one guy go will undo that. And heck, it could be argued that "All of you who are here who got paid are the reasons why we had to let Edmunds walk".

This is the best response to the question. I would add that you have to view these on a case by case basis. For instance on the surface the Edmunds and Poyer situations might appear to be similar but only those in the organization would have a good idea of how well it would be received if the team drafted a rookie and traded away the veteran in either of these cases.

Again, my statements are not about whether Edmunds is worth keeping or not. Nor are my statements about whether he is a good player or not. I'm NOT addressing those questions. I'm questioning what effect if any replacing him with a rookie linebacker and trading him away might have on the locker room. Some here are arguing that it wouldn't have much negative effect but those same people are basing their opinion on their own belief that Edmunds isn't any good. That opinion is irrelevant. What's relevant is how valuable his teammates believe Edmunds is.

Well, whenever I watch him (and I watch him a lot), he's reacting at the snap and it's 50/50 his first step is going the wrong way. The RB isn't reading Edmunds, he's hitting the hole the OL is blocking--and Edmunds is in the wrong gap more often than not. And even when he isn't, I agree with you about his tackling. It's almost like the thing they like him for the most (his length) works against him in terms of getting leverage and defeating blocks. He's a "run-around," arm tackler more than a square-up guy.

I'm about as big of an Edmunds "basher" as they come, but the Cover1 guys did a great video that show how much he really is asked to cover. Most of the time, Edmunds has TWO gaps to cover, so he has to wait to see which side of the OLineman the back decides to cut to before he reacts. Otherwise, any halfway decent back will read Edmunds' choice and simply go the other way. If that is the way the scheme works, then anyone we put in MLB will likely still have the same hesitancy. My bigger issue is that when he does finally make the read, and goes to make a tackle, he either gets blocked out or the RB runs right through his arms.

Not just any rookie....Lloyd is arguably the #1 LB prospect in this draft. I don't think its unreasonable to think he could replace Edmunds and be good right away, and think that Edmunds is good enough to fetch a second round pick, IMO.

What? A LBs job is to read and react. From my view, Edmunds is about 50/50 on correctly diagnosing inside running plays. It's almost like he's guessing which hole to hit rather than seeing the play unfold. IMO, after four years, he's no more savvy about MLB play than he was in his second year. The Bills love him for his length and range in their zone passing defense. OK, I get that. But they need an upgrade in their run defense from what Edmunds provides, IMO. Tackle stats hide where contact is made--near the line of scrimage or 5-years down field. London Fletcher had a lot of those 5-yard down field tackle stats, just like Edmunds.

Do you really think they were a #1 defense? Edmunds started as a rookie why can't another rookie start? The Bills only need to find one willing trade partner that sees Edmunds and still thinks he will get better. Trading Edmunds now is all about avoiding future cost and getting some value now. The only options are trade now, let him walk and hope you get a 3rd round comp pick, tag him next season or sign him long term after this season. It will be interesting to see what they do. I just don't think he is that good. Others feel differently.

So I looked at these numbers - i took out corners and safeties because its not a fair comparison. I took out small sample sizes of players who started fewer than 8 games. That gives you a baseline of 63 linebackers (a couple are hybrids). He's not among the top, nor bottom. He only had 59 targets for one, which is like 25th - so a few more incompletions and that number goes way down. The numbers to me show that 75% isn't really that bad - 48 of the 63 players had numbers higher than 70. Seems to come with the territory that playing MLB in the current era will give you a tough number there. Bobby Wagner, Denzel Perryman, and Devin White were pro bowlers and all had higher comp% allowed, gave up more yards, and were both targeted more than Edmunds. Good news! Matt Milanos 55.2% comp percentage allowed was the best in the NFL among linebackers. Bad news, his 11.3% missed tackle percentage was the 16th highest in the NFL.

I stated that the trade for Edmunds would be contingent on him signing a long term extension....I agree that no team would trade a second round pick for a one year rental.

One interesting stat about Tremaine Edmunds and pass coverage is he allows a completion on 75% of targets to the man he is covering. Not exactly Revis Island. Yes, there are other LBers that give up as many completions, but there are plenty that give up a smaller %.