Is it time to give up future assets, to stack our deck for a SB run?

[LEBills]

It almost feels unthinkable posing this question. And we all hate giving up draft picks. But I had to watch the Eagles win a Super Bowl last year from the confines of South Jersey...

 

They has a second year QB who played out of his mind, bolstered by a team that Howie Roseman crammed with talent by giving away players and draft picks for upgrades at positions of weakness. (You can read some of the highlights here: http://www.espn.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/24219/the-seven-days-that-transformed-eagles-into-super-bowl-contenders)

 

We are at the same point in a similar rebuild. And so I ask the question, is it an opportunity for us? 

 

We have a supposedly weak schedule, a budding 2nd year QB that gives us great cap flexibility and not that many holes to fill. Here are some moves I think could help us mirror the Eagles success:

 

1. Trade for Jadeveon Clowney. Houston’s lack of OLine talent could feed into our favor. Plus it seems Houston doesn’t want to meet the contract Clowney’s side wants. Trade them Dawkins and a 2nd for Clowney and a 6th?

 

2. Trade a 6th for Cameron Brate. TB has OJ Howard starting and are paying Brate, a backup TE a pretty penny. He would immediately be a very good pass catching TE for us and their is no guaranteed money on his contract after this year. He had a drop off in production last year as he played all 2018 with a hip injury but should be cleared by training camp.

 

3. Trade our first for AJ Green. The Bengals are entering a rebuild and having a second 1st round pick to maneuver around and get their top QB in 2020 may be too much for them to say no to.

 

I know it may seem surreal to think about us making that type of jump, but if the Eagles could do it would it be that crazy to think we could pull off something similar?

[Steve Billieve]

No

[nikuman]

You might be on to something here.  After we trade our #1 for a (nearly) 31 year old receiver who's played 16 games only twice in the last 5 years, then maybe we could send our 2nd round pick to Seattle for Janikowski to shore up our kicking game.

[CaptnCoke11]

[Boatdrinks]

While the QB is going into his second year, the similarities to that PHL team end there. I’d guess a minimum of one more season before the Bills are at anything near a win now at all costs mode. Find out if the QB is any good first. This season should tell a lot. 

[Rocket94]

One more good draft and FA signings away!

[BuffaloBillies]

We have like 20 shiny new toys already. Let's at least give them a chance and see what they can do as is. 

[gobills1212]

LEByeeeeee

Edited April 29, 2019 by gobills1212

[c-troop]

This post has me thinking about the Chicago Bears, Khalil Mack, and their playoff run. 

I think on this forum it will be scoffed at as blasphemy, yet there is a method to the madness.

I don't agree with the players you've chosen.

For the right combination of players though, I think it would at least be considered.

[Buddy Hix]

Your approach doesn’t seem

very processy...I’m going to have to let the McBeane thing play out before going in a new direction.

[Clyde Smith]

If the Brownies can get OBJ with a 1st, then we should be able to get a young stud for a 1st. A 1st is too much for AJ, I like him but not for a 1st.

[Zerovoltz]

Wentz completed 63% of his passes as a rookie and threw for more TD than INTs with an average group of recievers.  I’m pretty sure they knew what they had and went out and got him Alshon Jeffrey etc.  

 

Wentz recievers, who he completed 63% to were Zack Etta (good) Jordan Mathews (not good) Darren Sproles (very old) Trey Burton and Nelson Agahlor.

 

 

 

[HuSeYiN_NYC]

Clowney idea was sexy a few weeks ago...

Clowney idea today is played out... 

[Happy]

I don't think we're ready for a SB run this year, so no, I wouldn't give away a first round pick in 2020 for a pipe dream in 2019.  Also not real excited about a trade for Clowney; I suspect too many are over-rating him.

[klos63]

47 minutes ago, Zerovoltz said:

Wentz completed 63% of his passes as a rookie and threw for more TD than INTs with an average group of recievers.  I’m pretty sure they knew what they had and went out and got him Alshon Jeffrey etc.  

 

Wentz recievers, who he completed 63% to were Zack Etta (good) Jordan Mathews (not good) Darren Sproles (very old) Trey Burton and Nelson Agahlor.

 

 

 

Let's not forget Nick Foles in the Eagles success.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, LEBills said:

It almost feels unthinkable posing this question. And we all hate giving up draft picks. But I had to watch the Eagles win a Super Bowl last year from the confines of South Jersey...

 

They has a second year QB who played out of his mind, bolstered by a team that Howie Roseman crammed with talent by giving away players and draft picks for upgrades at positions of weakness. (You can read some of the highlights here: http://www.espn.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/24219/the-seven-days-that-transformed-eagles-into-super-bowl-contenders)

 

We are at the same point in a similar rebuild. And so I ask the question, is it an opportunity for us? 

 

We have a supposedly weak schedule, a budding 2nd year QB that gives us great cap flexibility and not that many holes to fill. Here are some moves I think could help us mirror the Eagles success:

 

1. Trade for Jadeveon Clowney. Houston’s lack of OLine talent could feed into our favor. Plus it seems Houston doesn’t want to meet the contract Clowney’s side wants. Trade them Dawkins and a 2nd for Clowney and a 6th?

 

2. Trade a 6th for Cameron Brate. TB has OJ Howard starting and are paying Brate, a backup TE a pretty penny. He would immediately be a very good pass catching TE for us and their is no guaranteed money on his contract after this year. He had a drop off in production last year as he played all 2018 with a hip injury but should be cleared by training camp.

 

3. Trade our first for AJ Green. The Bengals are entering a rebuild and having a second 1st round pick to maneuver around and get their top QB in 2020 may be too much for them to say no to.

 

I know it may seem surreal to think about us making that type of jump, but if the Eagles could do it would it be that crazy to think we could pull off something similar?

 

The whole premise McDermott sold the Pegulas was to build a perennial contender by gutting the team of high-cap underperformers and building the roster with draftees and "lunchpail" high-character hard-working guys.  I don't know if it's the right choice, I don't know if it's the wrong choice, but having gone this far into it I think they should "stay the course" and see how it works.

 

If we trade Dawkins, who do you see as our starting OL?

 

I don't think we want to trade a 1st for a 31 year old WR in his 9th season who has missed significant playing time 2 of the last 3 years.

 

 

[BillsfanAZ]

So you want to trade for Clowney and give him a mega deal when he has never had double digit sacks......you know Ansah can be given a good 2 or 3 year deal and he has had multiple double digit sack seasons. 

 

Trade a first for Green is crazy talk. Green is a fine WR but he is not going to put the Bills over the top and he is on the tail end of his career. Next years draft could have multiple Greens in it and you want to go into that draft with no #1 and no #2. Why would TB take a 6th for Brate? That is essentially saying I will give you a practice squad player.

 

Super Bowl run this season is pipe dream. Build the team. Draft good players and sign free agents. Josh Allen is the key to it all. His development will be the key the Bills playoff runs

[QCity]

Nope.

[JoPar_v2]

2 hours ago, LEBills said:

It almost feels unthinkable posing this question. And we all hate giving up draft picks. But I had to watch the Eagles win a Super Bowl last year from the confines of South Jersey...

 

They has a second year QB who played out of his mind, bolstered by a team that Howie Roseman crammed with talent by giving away players and draft picks for upgrades at positions of weakness. (You can read some of the highlights here: http://www.espn.com/blog/philadelphia-eagles/post/_/id/24219/the-seven-days-that-transformed-eagles-into-super-bowl-contenders)

 

We are at the same point in a similar rebuild. And so I ask the question, is it an opportunity for us? 

 

We have a supposedly weak schedule, a budding 2nd year QB that gives us great cap flexibility and not that many holes to fill. Here are some moves I think could help us mirror the Eagles success:

 

1. Trade for Jadeveon Clowney. Houston’s lack of OLine talent could feed into our favor. Plus it seems Houston doesn’t want to meet the contract Clowney’s side wants. Trade them Dawkins and a 2nd for Clowney and a 6th?

 

2. Trade a 6th for Cameron Brate. TB has OJ Howard starting and are paying Brate, a backup TE a pretty penny. He would immediately be a very good pass catching TE for us and their is no guaranteed money on his contract after this year. He had a drop off in production last year as he played all 2018 with a hip injury but should be cleared by training camp.

 

3. Trade our first for AJ Green. The Bengals are entering a rebuild and having a second 1st round pick to maneuver around and get their top QB in 2020 may be too much for them to say no to.

 

I know it may seem surreal to think about us making that type of jump, but if the Eagles could do it would it be that crazy to think we could pull off something similar?

 

Love your optimism bro, but no. We don’t even know if we have a NFL caliber QB yet homie. Let’s give it another year or two.

[MJS]

Let's make the playoffs first before we start making Superbowl plans.

[ProcessYaDigg]

i don't agree with this post at all.  I honestly feel that we do have the right pieces in place to win.  We obviously brought in a ton of FAs and now some drafted players, so they may not gel right away, but they'll get there.  We're not that desperate for Clowney.  We need stability on our OL so that trade is just absurd.  And we have to stop thinking that our WR corps is awful.  It's not.  Foster has shown us what he can do.  and now with the addition of Beasley, Brown, and Sills, I truly think that we'll be a lot better in the passing game this year.  I believe in what the FO has done so far with this organization. 

[Franco_92]

Gotta see what Josh turns into

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

No always gotta keep building. If Whaley was here he do this plan for a 2 year gain. After that be in cap hell. 

 

Always trust Beane and McDermott plan

[nedboy7]

Yes, but I would give two 1st rounders for AJ Green.  That would be sick.  And I would trade Josh Allen now that we have TJ. 

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

2 minutes ago, nedboy7 said:

Yes, but I would give two 1st rounders for AJ Green.  That would be sick.  And I would trade Josh Allen now that we have TJ. 

 

[Richard Crickets]

A 1st for AJ Green? Is this real?

[Big Turk]

Lmao...another person who plays Madden way too much and thinks that's actually realistic instead of a game ruled by "the next cool feature"

Edited April 29, 2019 by matter2003

[Putin]

First let’s see if we’re good enough to get a wildcard ( before we even think about SB ) 

we have bunch of new players and rookies who all need to jel , 

 

[Buffalo Barbarian]

 

Lets see how the season goes first.

 

 

50 minutes ago, nedboy7 said:

Yes, but I would give two 1st rounders for AJ Green.  That would be sick.  And I would trade Josh Allen now that we have TJ. 

 

Trade Allen ??? Jackson will be lucky to become a decent QB ... Please stop.

 

 

[KD in CA]

 

[ProcessYaDigg]

57 minutes ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

Trade Allen ??? Jackson will be lucky to become a decent QB ... Please stop.

 

i'm pretty sure his post was just sarcasm.  At least I hope so

[Stallions]

2 hours ago, Happy Gilmore said:

I don't think we're ready for a SB run this year, so no, I wouldn't give away a first round pick in 2020 for a pipe dream in 2019.  Also not real excited about a trade for Clowney; I suspect too many are over-rating him.

 

Yeah - stay put & enjoy the ride

[Doc Brown]

The Eagles won the Super Bowl through years of good drafting  especially on both sides of their line (Lane Johnson, Fletcher Cox, Vinny Curry, Jason Kelce, Zach Ertz, Jaylen Mills), landing key free agents (Jeffrey, Jenkins, Bradham, Ellerby, Blount, Wisniewski), aggressive trading (Darby, Jerrigan, Ajayi), adding a lot of depth on both sides of the line, and hiring the right coaches (Peterson, Reich, Schwartz).  They also had to move up and get their quarterback in Wentz and struck gold by snagging up Foles in free agency.  There was a lot of wheeling and dealing in the draft, through trades, and free agency. 

 

I think McBeane are building the roster in a similar way.  Prioritizing the o and d-lines through the draft and free agency, not being afraid to trade up to land your guy (Allen and Edmunds), making aggressive trades for picks and salary cap relief (Watkins, Darby, Glenn, Dareus), and creating good depth at both sides of the lines.  I agree somewhat with the OP that the time to be aggressive is now and I would be open to trade for and pay for Clowney only if the Texans panic and we get him for favorable compensation (a 2nd rounder or lower).  Kyle Rudolph is another player I wouldn't mind trading for.

[BillsFan1988]

5 hours ago, Zerovoltz said:

Wentz completed 63% of his passes as a rookie and threw for more TD than INTs with an average group of recievers.  I’m pretty sure they knew what they had and went out and got him Alshon Jeffrey etc.  

 

Wentz recievers, who he completed 63% to were Zack Etta (good) Jordan Mathews (not good) Darren Sproles (very old) Trey Burton and Nelson Agahlor.

 

 

 

Speaking of the Eagles I wonder if they would part with Dallas Goedert for a 2nd and 4th next yr I'm even willing to give them 1 of the guards we signed.  

[fansince88]

NO!!! Stay the course and make multiple SB runs

[North Buffalo]

I could see doing this if Beane et al felt that the Bills were close and just needed a player or two at key spots... as others have said, let's see how the QB develops, how the O line gels and what about the recievers and D line.  Yes there is talent there and I expect progress, but no the Bills are at least a year from even talking about SB, this is not hockey where a hot goalie and a couple key additions can get you to the SC final.  The O and D lines are too critical to success and with the Bills they are still unknowns.  I hope for the playoffs this year... and Brady to break both legs... but we shall see...

[ddaryl]

No, not until we show we can make the playoffs and win a playoff game or 2.... then your close enough to mortgage 

[BarleyNY]

7 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

The whole premise McDermott sold the Pegulas was to build a perennial contender by gutting the team of high-cap underperformers and building the roster with draftees and "lunchpail" high-character hard-working guys.  I don't know if it's the right choice, I don't know if it's the wrong choice, but having gone this far into it I think they should "stay the course" and see how it works.

 

If we trade Dawkins, who do you see as our starting OL?

 

I don't think we want to trade a 1st for a 31 year old WR in his 9th season who has missed significant playing time 2 of the last 3 years.

 

 

 

Building a team like that is pretty common, but once the foundation is built it would make sense to be aggressive to finish it off.  I have no problem with the Bills doing that when they think they’re ready.  If the right move was out there I’d like them to jump at it. None of the OP’s moves seem like the right one though.  AJ Green is the closest.  I’d actually want them to do this deal if we could negotiate a long term deal (that wasn’t obscene) with him first. I’m not giving up a first round pick for a one year rental though.  The real is is that Cincy isn’t trading him. They’ll make him play out his deal and then maybe franchise him one more year, or trade him then.

[SoCal Deek]

This year is still too soon. Even if you look back at the ‘90’s Bills it took a few years before they were ready to make their run at it. Allen didn’t even play the entire season last year. The current regime is on at least a three year building program (not counting the hold over Tyrod year). They’ll hope to be ‘In The Hunt’ this year and then make some noise in 2020.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

52 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

Building a team like that is pretty common, but once the foundation is built it would make sense to be aggressive to finish it off.

 

Is it?  I dunno Barley.  It seems to me that most of the recent cellar-to-stellar turn arounds have featured the new coaches and GM keeping and utilizing the talent from the previous regime with a handful of strategic trades or non-signings, not grabbing a broom and sweeping it all out the door.  I'm hoping you're right, but I can't think of examples.

 

It used to be more common - but that was before the salary cap and FA, when more homegrown key players could be kept on a team for longer.  That's the real problem - you get your great players and in 4-5 years you got to get out the checkbook and show them the winning or they're gone

 

Whatever the situation, I agree with @SoCal Deek that it's too soon.  We have promising pieces in place, but there are too many unknowns to tell whether we're only a couple of pieces away - whether the OL will gel and allow a good run game, whether Allen will take that needed step as a passer, whether this round of WR-corps rehab will pan out better than the two previous, and whether the flaws in the D that allow half of our losses to be ugly blowouts have been fixed.