A state of atittude for FA as far as the Bills go

[JP-era]

Consider this:

 

Last year, TD mentioned going into FA that the Bills would not be as active as in previous years. He then followed by picking up a very good o-lineman who was a secnod tier player in Chris Villarial. Letting a guy like Damien Woody to head elsewhere. Then he grabbed one of the top rated CB's available in Vincent. However, Vincent jerked our chain a bit for several weeks and tied up some of our cap cash until he made his decision on where he would play. What I mean by tying up our cash is that we had a offer out to him and had to then put that money on reserve while other guys got signed. Im sure we didnt care much, but we may have lost a shot at a few guys over those weeks. We grabbed some backup depth with Oliver Gibso, later cut, and Jason Gildon also cut. So that was a ho-hum "not as busy in free agency", free agency.

 

This year, TD and Co. have laid it out on the line no pun intended. They have made a huge choice by going with a young QB who hasnt played or started yet. Then TD came out and said that we werent good enough on the O side of the ball and that our skill players need to step up even more. Add in the fact that we are loosing a starting LT and DT and you are set to make some serious waves. As if thats not enough, Moulds was asked to restructure and did, and Bledsoe was cut. Now you have a fairly large amount of cap space, have said your making waves, are starting a young QB, and have your most important o-line position empty.

 

All you cap conservatives and cheaper by the dozen type FA fans better look elsewhere. If you add all this up, I think we are set to make some big splashes. This wont be a repeat of last year at all. I see TD making some big moves for some big players. Who it will be? I dont know.

 

I will predict the following:

 

LT- We will either trade for a guy who is an upgrade to LT and yes a serious upgrade. Or, we will move Mike to LT and sign a high level RT, or we will move up in the draft and get a highly ranked T, maybe Khalif Barnes. I do not see us getting anyone at LT who isnt a upgrade to Jennings, who right now is the best LT in FA. So that must mean some out of the box serious move to upgrade.

 

LG- Another spot that we will upgrade. This may not be in the form of the top G available since basically any ofthe top 10 G's out there in FA is probably an upgrade to what we have. But we will upgrade this spot.

 

TE- With the serious injuries to both Euhus and Campbell, you cant say that we werent good enough on O and then do nothing at this spot. Again, we will upgrade to Campbell which will have to be a top tier TE considering most people think Campbell is a second tier TE.

 

QB- We need a backup. JP is durable and Mathews just may be the guy even though Id like a more realistic option than him if JP faulters.

 

DT- I have seen alot of talk out of Mularkey and TD about the 3 4. They have not come out and said that they are leaning toward switching. But they have talked about needing LB's. Thats a strange comment and a strange series of comments about the 3 4 if you have no intention of switching. My slepper move is for us to let Pat walk and not replace him as a starter but switch to the 3 4, then draft or sign a decent ILB or OLB. It could happen.

 

CB- I think we may ride out Terrence for next year and see where we are. We may wait and see in FA with lots of young guys out there. Maybe someone slips a bit and settles for less money. The draft doesnt seem realistic as far as replacing McGee. What guy in the 2nd or beyond can compete with him out of the gate? And then if your not competing in 2005, why not wait until the 2006 draft and maybe use your 1st rounder?

 

So, I think our biggest move will be at LT. The only version that doesnt mean a big big move forward in the form of a trade or trade up in the draft would be Mike to LT, and I think that may be our last option of the 3.

 

No way, I see us going the cheap route this year. JP's a_s has to be covered and we have made too many comments about improving on O too not seriously address it in FA and/or the draft.