The Competition for WR6 on the Bills Roster

[Rochesterfan]

31 minutes ago, Rc2catch said:

If you can catch punts you can catch some screens.. He’s not gonna go out there and make contested 20 yard passes or anything but neither is McKenzie. They’re the same kinda player, game plan to get them in some space 

 

Not necessarily- some guys are great at tracking the punts and kicks, but have trouble with the lower trajectory passes because they get there with a totally different velocity.

 

Additionally - McKenzie could run some routes and made catches on comebacks and out routes.  Therefore teams could not strictly assume a bubble screen or sweep was coming when he was in - Roberts has to prove he can do those things again.  

 

He did them well enough early in his career- so I do not see any reason he can not do it again and be the all around player for special slot, but he is older now - so let’s see.

Edited May 1, 2019 by Rochesterfan

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

...read an article where McBeane said the Duke Williams signing reduced the top priority/high draft pick necessity in 2019 Draft....must have pretty high expectations....interesting....

[nucci]

How often will the 6th WR actually play ?

[BuffaloHokie13]

I would flip Zay and Roberts. Roberts is very probable because of his return skills. Zay has not contributed on special teams at all, and he likely isn't top 3 if Foster picks up where he left off. That could leave him in an awkward position.

Edited May 1, 2019 by BuffaloHokie13

[Happy Days Lois & Clark]

The Bills May only keep 5 receivers instead of 6

 

[SoCal Deek]

What’s amazing to me is that you can have a list that long and all we’re really talking about is a guy who’ll maybe catch a Total of 12 passes all season long. I agree with many on here the actual question is which of these guys is most valuable on special teams.

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

...read an article where McBeane said the Duke Williams signing reduced the top priority/high draft pick necessity in 2019 Draft....must have pretty high expectations....interesting....

 

 

Ted Ginn was the top WR on a Carolina team that went to a SB.

 

So Beane and his mentor Gettleman might not quite value the WR position enough.

 

It was a one and done season though and all the abuse that Cam Newton took in those years without WR targets has taken its toll.

 

He's badly beaten up........can't afford to let that happen with Allen..........took 59 years for the team to be all-in on a QB on draft day they need to support him.

[Patrick Duffy]

10 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Just not a good looking group of recievers.

 

Cross your fingers nobody gets seriously hurt. 

 

I think McKenzie makes the team as one of your WRs.

 

Looks a hell of a lot better than last seasons core of WR's. There's just no disputing that.

[Chuck Wagon]

3 hours ago, njbuff said:

Beane did heavily explore AB and OBJ, so I don't think exploring another big name WR isn't out of the question for the next 3 boring football months.

 

 

It's been reported by several Bills beat writers the Bills were basically just tossed out as a name in OBJ rumors but had no real substantial talks.

[billsfan1959]

3 hours ago, Wayne Cubed said:

 

Agreed. Before FA and the draft I had the Bills receivers as:

WR1 - n/a

WR2 - n/a

WR3 - Foster

WR4 - McKenzie

WR5 - Jones

 

I think now it's this:

WR1 - n/a

WR2 - Brown

WR3 - Foster

WR4 - Beasly

WR5 - McKenzie

WR6 - Roberts

- I think they have to keep McKenzie because he offers something that those other receivers don't playing from the slot. He's the gadget guy/jet sweep WR.

 

I've said all off season the Bills would need to trade for a WR1 as there just wasn't one in the draft. They could draft a WR2 and trade for a WR1. With regards to DK, they COULD have drafted him but the chances of him putting up WR1 type numbers this season are slim, a rookie hasn't done that since 2016 and this class isn't nearly as good as the past 2. But that's also the problem, they would be putting the pressure on a rookie WR to be the guy. The Bills should have either drafted a WR1 before or with Josh so that they could take their first year lumps together or before Josh got here. They didn't do either of those, so at this point I think they need to trade for a proven WR1.

Good assessment. I think this year's WR class had a number of options for #2 - #4 receivers and was very thin on potential #1s. I think Oliver and Ford were both better picks and will help this team more than any WR pick in those slots. From the 3rd round on it didn't really matter to me that they didn't select a WR because I didn't see anyone that was likely going to come in and be any better than what is already on the team.

 

I believe next year is going to be the draft for WRs, but, it doesn't help the team this year. Beane is well aware of the need for an elite receiving talent now, as evidenced by his willingness to go after a cancer like Antonio Brown. Unfortunately, it is a year where both, FA and the draft, were lacking in WRs who could come in and be that elite talent now. For all those pissed at Beane for not finding Allen that elite receiver, I think it is more a about the lack of options rather than lack of desire. 

 

I believe he is looking to make a trade to bring someone in - if it is the right kind of WR for the right price. I hope he does. However, if he does not, I think the offensive improvements on this team, in total, will make them much better this year than people think - and next year will be when they add some elite level receiving options.

[billsbackto81]

Don't think Roberts is going anywhere. His primary purpose is to be a return specialist. Don't be surprised if they acquire someone better than Zay, Duke and McKenzie when teams start thinning out their rosters for cap relief.

[Wayne Cubed]

6 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

Good assessment. I think this year's WR class had a number of options for #2 - #4 receivers and was very thin on potential #1s. I think Oliver and Ford were both better picks and will help this team more than any WR pick in those slots. From the 3rd round on it didn't really matter to me that they didn't select a WR because I didn't see anyone that was likely going to come in and be any better than what is already on the team.

 

I believe next year is going to be the draft for WRs, but, it doesn't help the team this year. Beane is well aware of the need for an elite receiving talent now, as evidenced by his willingness to go after a cancer like Antonio Brown. Unfortunately, it is a year where both, FA and the draft, were lacking in WRs who could come in and be that elite talent now. For all those pissed at Beane for not finding Allen that elite receiver, I think it is more a about the lack of options rather than lack of desire. 

 

I believe he is looking to make a trade to bring someone in - if it is the right kind of WR for the right price. I hope he does. However, if he does not, I think the offensive improvements on this team, in total, will make them much better this year than people think - and next year will be when they add some elite level receiving options.

 

Yea I agree, they took a swing at AB and it didn't happen. I suppose they could have been a bit more aggressive for OBJ but I think the price was too rich and he didn't want to part with his 1st round draft pick. AB obviously could be had for less than a 1st. 

 

I think the WR group is better than it was last year but it's still in the bottom half of the league. The Bills should be giving Allen players that give him the best possible chance to succeed. They've invested that much in him, he deserves it.

 

I do think if they can't trade for a WR1 they'll grab one in this next class although in might be too little too late at that point, in terms of Allens development. It's no guarantee that a rookie WR can come in and be that guy, so you might be waiting another year after that.

Edited May 1, 2019 by Wayne Cubed

[billsfan1959]

10 minutes ago, Wayne Cubed said:

 

Yea I agree, they took a swing at AB and it didn't happen. I suppose they could have been a bit more aggressive for OBJ but I think the price was too rich and he didn't want to part with his 1st round draft pick. AB obviously could be had for less than a 1st. 

 

I think the WR group is better than it was last year but it's still in the bottom half of the league. The Bills should be giving Allen players that give him the best possible chance to succeed. They've invested that much in him, he deserves it.

 

I do think if they can't trade for a WR1 they'll grab one in this next class although in might be too little too late at that point, in terms of Allens development. It's no guarantee that a rookie WR can come in and be that guy, so you might be waiting another year after that.

I think the Browns are a year ahead of the Bills in building their team and could afford the asking price for OBJ. I think, if there is a possibility of a trade, it will be sometime in May, - and it may be a 1 -2 year fix. Looking at teams that could afford to part with a top wideout for a reasonable price, Cincinnati (Green) and Atlanta (Jones) come to mind. Thoughts on who they could target?

[bmur66]

Zay Jones was real good at making routine NFL catches look difficult last year. It's not good if nobody can knock him off the depth chart.

[Wayne Cubed]

8 minutes ago, billsfan1959 said:

I think the Browns are a year ahead of the Bills in building their team and could afford the asking price for OBJ. I think, if there is a possibility of a trade, it will be sometime in May, - and it may be a 1 -2 year fix. Looking at teams that could afford to part with a top wideout for a reasonable price, Cincinnati (Green) and Atlanta (Jones) come to mind. Thoughts on who they could target?

 

Yea for me before free agency and the draft I would have been pounding the phones to any of the teams seen to be rebuilding. So the likes of Tamp Bay(Evans) who are really tight up against the cap or Atlanta(Jones) who are also right up against the cap and Jones wanting an extension. As I understand it Green isn't available, Mike Brown has made that clear, but I certainly would have been calling.

 

Unfortunately I think it might be a bit late now to target a trade as I would guess most teams would have wanted that draft pick this year. And since this draft wasn't high in WR1 talent there aren't any teams that upgraded in the draft and can now look to trade.

 

I think if Atlanta does poorly this year, Jones could be on the trade market.

[Doc]

I think they'll keep 7 WRs.  The only locks I see are Brown, Beasley, Foster and Roberts, who will primarly be a return man.  After that it's anyone's guess but I think they try and keep Zay.  McKenzie can be replaced by Foster who can run jet sweeps and bubble screens just as well.  Hopefully one of the bigger guys like Duke and/or Sills will make the team.

[BillsInWilmingtonNC]

Roberts makes McKenzie expendable.  Unless Roberts has an injury in camp, I don't see McKenzie making the team.  Zay I could see being on the bubble, but only if Duke, Sills, and/or others perform.

[Stank_Nasty]

13 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I’m not trying to be “that guy” but it’s hard to argue average. Average would imply middle of the league ish. They are not there. They are improved from last year but it is absolutely one of the worst receiving groups in the league. They are somewhere in the low 20’s at best. With that being said, the addition of a number 1 next year and everyone getting bumped down could make them a pretty good group.

I would argue that IF.... and its a BIG "IF".... foster builds on or even maintains that 70 ypg average, that's solid #1 wr numbers and it pushes the group to middle of the pack. 

 

I mean he sustained that 70+ average for the full 6 games upon his return. its a real possibility I think.

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

13 hours ago, lacoy38 said:

These WR “groups “ are only as good as the QB. Allen needs to improve- I think he will. Biggest area of beef is the Offensive line. Improvement there will make everyone look better .

Our GM/ coach are going off Carolina model that went to a Super Bowl with Tedd Ginn as top wide out.

 

This is just so obvious to me I cannot even contemplate how people can complain about not having this mysterious "WR1."  

 

Honestly, with maybe 5 exceptions or so, the "WR1" is a complete product of the QB, and a guy that in a system with a lesser QB is not a "WR1"

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

1 hour ago, bmur66 said:

Zay Jones was real good at making routine NFL catches look difficult last year. It's not good if nobody can knock him off the depth chart.

 

Got any examples? A link? Maybe that was true his rookie year, but this sounds more like a narrative than anything based on actual fact.