What position does Beane prioritize in FA?

[Buffalo_Stampede]

I think they like their OL and will bring most back. DL IMO will be the target in free agency. Offensive skill positions in the draft.

[Happy]

FA priorities:

 

DE/edge

DT - 1-tech especially (McD greatly underestimated the importance of the D-line, as evidenced by the run stopping problems)

OL - RT mostly

RB - though I think the offense skill positions come through the draft

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

47 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I would love to see the Bills go after Ngakoue or Clowney.  But, my interpretation of what Beane said about “not being players in the deep end of the pool like last year” is that he doesn’t intend to make a splashy FA signing.

 

That disappoints me, I would like to see one each on offense and defense.

Interesting, my take was almost entirely the opposite of this. I took this to mean that last year we signed a lot of role players and this year would be more towards the difference makers. We shall see, IMO it makes no sense to not go after some "splashy" guys as that is what we lack.

[thebandit27]

34 minutes ago, papazoid said:

so many needs...

 

OT - move ford inside

DE - murphy and lawson are out

LB - lorax replacement

WR - need a true #1

RB - need a true #2 

TE - kroft and lee smith are out

CB- need a stud opposite tre de

 

They have Nsekhe at RT

Why would Murphy be out? He’s performing like a rotational EDGE guy should 

Rotational LB should be an easy 2nd wave fill

Agree on WR

I would be targeting a starting tier RB to pair with Motor. You can get them cheap, there are almost always injuries, and there’s always a good reason to have 2 players that can handle 15 carries per game. Look at SF.

No way are both Kroft and Smith out. Maybe (probably?) Kroft. Smith only saves $2.5M that they don’t really need and they’ll definitely want to keep him as a locker room guy. They’ll probably keep 4 again, and those 4 will be Knox/Smith/Sweeney/Croom.

I’d like another stud CB, but reality says that they can get by just fine with a KJ-level player.

[Jrb1979]

I don't get the obsession with adding to the defense. The Bills should be making the offense the priority in FA and the draft. These playoffs have shown you need to score points to win. The Bills offense didn't do enough of that. 

[Motor26]

2 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said:

I don't get the obsession with adding to the defense. The Bills should be making the offense the priority in FA and the draft. These playoffs have shown you need to score points to win. The Bills offense didn't do enough of that. 

 

The Bills have no game-changing edge rushers. Which are extremely important to have in todays NFL. 

[Putin]

11 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

I was kidding.  many credited the FO for fixing the O-line.  It's not fixed yet.

I don't think it was completely fixed but it was greatly improved 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

If what they are preaching is true

 

To score points IT HAS TO BE on offense 

 

A #1 WR and TE. 

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, DCbillsfan said:

I agree.  He's not great but he's alright.  WR spot gets most of the attention, rightfully so, but DE is a close second as far as need.  Beane won't dump Murphy unless there are 3 defensive ends on the Bills roster who are better than him.  Currently, they have one - Hughes.

Yup.  A #1 WR is a bigger overall need of the team, but DE should be more pressing in FA.  Just not a lot of options to improve at starting DE where we are sitting in the draft.  We can probably find a rotational guy somewhere, but that’s a crap shoot.  Finding a WR in this draft is the way to go.  So much depth in this class.  We might want to sneak up a little in the first or a lot in the second round to make sure we get our guy, but there’s a lot to chose from.  No need to pay big money to get a FA that isn’t elite since there aren’t any.
 

RB to back up Singletary shouldn’t be tough to find in FA or the draft.  I’d probably draft one in the middle rounds unless a stud fell to me in the second and WR and OL were in good shape or not good values. 
 

OL is trickier.  We are going to need to do some real work in both FA and the draft as we have a lot of guys coming off of their contracts.  I’d have no problem going with a big ugly in the first or second and then again later in the draft.

 

CB doesn’t get mentioned a lot but I’d love to see us bring in another one who is starting caliber.  I’d pony up in FA a bit for that too. 

 

Additionally DT, LB and S could use some depth.  That 3rd DE is really important.  I don’t think Phillips is going to be worth what he’s going to get paid, but there will be other guys out there.

 

Oh yeah, I forgot.  I’m always looking for TEs too.  Load up where there’s value.  

Edited January 14, 2020 by BarleyNY

[78thealltimegreat]

I really think this draft particular we should load on skill talent and maybe add LB depth later on ...but free agency we need an edge rusher and possibly a RT to move Cody Ford to guard which he seems better suited to play 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

20 minutes ago, Jrb1979 said:

I don't get the obsession with adding to the defense. The Bills should be making the offense the priority in FA and the draft. These playoffs have shown you need to score points to win. The Bills offense didn't do enough of that. 

Typically number 1 WR's don't hit free agency. I mean who is the target on offense? Amari Cooper isn't getting to free agency. AJ Green would be nice but what exactly are we getting? I'de rather go through the draft or trade. 

 

I could see some OL hitting free agency that would help but I think they like their OL.

[The Jokeman]

22 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

They have Nsekhe at RT

Why would Murphy be out? He’s performing like a rotational EDGE guy should 

Rotational LB should be an easy 2nd wave fill

Agree on WR

I would be targeting a starting tier RB to pair with Motor. You can get them cheap, there are almost always injuries, and there’s always a good reason to have 2 players that can handle 15 carries per game. Look at SF.

No way are both Kroft and Smith out. Maybe (probably?) Kroft. Smith only saves $2.5M that they don’t really need and they’ll definitely want to keep him as a locker room guy. They’ll probably keep 4 again, and those 4 will be Knox/Smith/Sweeney/Croom.

I’d like another stud CB, but reality says that they can get by just fine with a KJ-level player.

Thank you, people keep wanting to cut Murphy yet we're paying him relatively half what a guy like JJ Watt gets, people act like the $7 million is starters money. He's getting paid for what he does, to toss that aside is foolish unless paying someone less that's as productive which we don't have. 

 

Kroft and Smith both could be gone if we think Sweeney is the future and we can find a better starter (I'd love to sign Henry). I can't see Croom making this team as think Sweeney has more upside.

 

A starting caliber CB be nice to add but that's a luxury until we shore up a replacement for LoRax, Shaq, Jordan Phillips and depth at LB.  

2 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Typically number 1 WR's don't hit free agency. I mean who is the target on offense? Amari Cooper isn't getting to free agency. AJ Green would be nice but what exactly are we getting? I'de rather go through the draft or trade. 

 

I could see some OL hitting free agency that would help but I think they like their OL.

A guy like Devin Funchess could give us size and while he may not be a true #1 he'd still be better than all but Brown on the roster. Toss in he could be cheap coming off an injury. I'd risk it and draft a guy in the first three rounds to compete (I like Michael Pittman Jr in the 2nd). 

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Linebacker and OT.

[Putin]

9 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Typically number 1 WR's don't hit free agency. I mean who is the target on offense? Amari Cooper isn't getting to free agency. AJ Green would be nice but what exactly are we getting? I'de rather go through the draft or trade. 

 

I could see some OL hitting free agency that would help but I think they like their OL.

I agree about the WR position I would actually draft and try a trade maybe with Tampa , what kind of trade for a  WR would you like Bills to go after?

Edited January 14, 2020 by Putin

[TheBeaneBandit]

27 minutes ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

I really think this draft particular we should load on skill talent and maybe add LB depth later on ...but free agency we need an edge rusher and possibly a RT to move Cody Ford to guard which he seems better suited to play 

Very good sir.....very good.

[The Jokeman]

46 minutes ago, Putin said:

I agree about the WR position I would actually draft and try a trade maybe with Tampa , what kind of trade for a  WR would you like Bills to go after?

I'm sure he's advocating trading for Mike Evans, yet not sure giving up the picks to get him are worth it as we aren't one player away. 

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

13 hours ago, Dkollidas said:

I believe it will he edge rusher.

 

In his press conference he really got a bit more detailed about how there’s not enough elite pass rushers for each team in the league and how important a position it is. 
 

I think they realize the defense could be do for a slight regression, and that edge is one of the few places they could make a splash that would change that defense around overnight. 
 

I also believe there’s better money to be spent on the edge position than any in free agency. Ngakoue, Clowney, Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler, hell Jason Pierre-Paul had 8.5 sacks in 10 games. Robert Quinn, Mario Addison... etc etc. 

 

 

 

I agree with you that edge rusher is the absolute #1 position of need, we have the cap and I believe Jadaveon Clowney will be the target. He said he wants to go to a SB contender and I think this team is on the rise, maybe he'll see it that way also. I think we unload the Murphy contract that has been a bust since signing him as a FA, hey Beane took a swing and missed, it happens. 

 

I think after edge rusher we go for an OL, LG/RT either one of those positions would help tremendously then see if Ford is even serviceable as a RG or maybe a LT since Dawkins wasn't that great either. All I know is this line at times looked great but also got whipped bad by the Texans in the playoff game. We need at least 2 positions filled along the OL in either FA or the draft or both and to me they are either LG/RT (I was disappointed in Spain and Ford but I think we can kick Ford over to RG but that remains to be seen?.

[foreboding]

Our guy seems pretty damn good at finding B players ready to move into A- status.

 

For the first time in decades I absolutely trust our leadership team to be smart with FA and draft. Mistakes will be made, the nature of the beast, but these guys and the 'growth mindset' philosophy is a self-correcting strategy.

[Putin]

13 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

I'm sure he's advocating trading for Mike Evans, yet not sure giving up the picks to get him are worth it as we aren't one player away. 

You don't think adding someone like Mike Evens would give us a TRUE # 1 WR that IMO we desperately need AND would solidify our WR core ?

Edited January 14, 2020 by Putin

[Putin]

I understand that we need to spread the wealth , but I think offense must be our First priority we will not get far with scoring 16 points a game no matter how good our defense is , and BTW didn't we have a # 3 ranked defense this year ? How about our offense ? 

[The Jokeman]

7 minutes ago, Putin said:

You don't think adding someone like Mike Evens would give us a TRUE # 1 WR that IMO we desperately need AND would solidify our WR core ?

It would but I also spot holes at RB, TE, RT, LG (pending what happens with Spain), DE, OLB and CB. Again, not one player away. 

[SCBills]

I think the easiest way for us to make a huge jump next year is to let Spain walk due to kicking Ford inside, and then make a run at Conklin for RT.   That right there, is a very good OL.

 

Then on defense, let Phillips walk, re-sign Lawson and Johnson, then target Ngakoue.

 

Higgins in the 1st.  Dobbins in the 2nd.  Linebacker in the 3rd. 

 

It all seems so simple on paper...

[Putin]

14 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

It would but I also spot holes at RB, TE, RT, LG (pending what happens with Spain), DE, OLB and CB. Again, not one player away. 

Yes we are not one player away , but we were one catch away from moving from Houston to KC  we had to settle for 3 field goals if we score one TD that game would have been OVER , Texans had the worst defense coming in to the playoffs and we could only muster 3 points in the second half ? 

How are we supposed to compete with a teams like KC ? 

Edited January 14, 2020 by Putin

[All I Need is Hope]

If you consider Beane's approach to-date, how close we are to competing for a championship and the young core that we have; then I think that he spends on 1-2 playmakers this offseason.

 

For example, the 49ers added Dee Ford and Emanuel Sanders... I could see something like this happening; then continue to draft well, add a few tier 2 free agents (OL/DB) keep and develop our own.

 

[MrEpsYtown]

Defensive end. Jerry is nearing the end here and a part time player. Shaq is a FA and Lorax (though he is not a DE had rotational reps) is retiring. I do think they may wind up cutting Murphy, simply base on the cap savings and the fact that his production does not match the salary. Maybe ask him to take a pay cut. 

 

I don't love Yannick Ngakoue's game honestly and don't think he is a great fit for what McDermott wants to do. I also don't think he is a good locker room guy. I know that people think that Clowney is a diva and a selfish guy...I actually think that applies to Ngakoue much more. I think Clowney makes sense, and he is the prototype.  I don't really like Vic Beasley or Dante Fowler much either, in terms of their fit.

 

Outside of Clowney maybe you can look at the next tier like a Robert Quinn type. I also think Leonard Williams could be interesting as a 4-3 DE if he lost like 15-20lbs. 

 

So plan A sign Clowney. 

 

Plan B, sign Leonard Williams and a hybrid guy like Kyler Fackrell/Bruce Irvin. Base downs Williams plays LE and Fackrell/Irvin plays SAM. In passing situations Fackrell goes to DE and Williams goes in side and rushes the passer next to Ed Oliver. You are basically replacing Lorax, Shaq, Murphy and J. Phillips. Just my 2 cents. 

[Mr. WEO]

4 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Would be nice to see them being in a guy like Hooper or Ebron.... but yea wouldn't surprise me if they are fine with what they got.... which is average at best. 

 

Not sure Arizona would let him walk, but I'd love to see them bring in Drake. 

Inside. My guess is LG to replace Spain. They aren't going to give up on a 2nd round pick this early even though it looks like a bad one to this point. 

 

AJ Brown or DK Metcalf would look real nice right now...

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, ScottLaw said:

Still shocked they didn't draft one WR last year. 

 

This FO struggles with that.

[SCBills]

9 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Would be nice to see them being in a guy like Hooper or Ebron.... but yea wouldn't surprise me if they are fine with what they got.... which is average at best. 

 

Not sure Arizona would let him walk, but I'd love to see them bring in Drake. 

Inside. My guess is LG to replace Spain. They aren't going to give up on a 2nd round pick this early even though it looks like a bad one to this point. 

 

It wouldn't be giving up on Ford to move him inside.  If he is, as his scouting report suggested, a potential pro-bowl caliber G, there's nothing wrong with that. 

[Putin]

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

This FO struggles with that.

If we don't put ALL the effort / resources in to improving the offense I will be really disappointed , sick and tired to even talk about defense when our offense is ranked almost next to LAST 

Edited January 14, 2020 by Putin

[Mr. WEO]

Just now, Putin said:

If we don't ALL the effort / resources in to improving the offense I will be really disappointed , sick and tired to even talk about defense when our offense is ranked almost next to LAST 

 

McD was clear that he thinks this team does not need a "#1 WR", so don't be too surprised or disappointed with more of the same.

[Putin]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

McD was clear that he thinks this team does not need a "#1 WR", so don't be too surprised or disappointed with more of the same.

  just think about this 16 points IS ALL we could muster against one of the worst defense  in the league ,  bottom line is this if we can not score 24-27 points a game consistently we are not going ANYWHERE , look at our schedule next season 

[TheBeaneBandit]

13 minutes ago, SCBills said:

 

It wouldn't be giving up on Ford to move him inside.  If he is, as his scouting report suggested, a potential pro-bowl caliber G, there's nothing wrong with that. 

Exactly.

[Putin]

We lost 6 games this year if I remember correctly we all sat here and held the offense responsible , to me personally the  one that hurt the most was the pats**** game at home , Cleveland, Baltimore, when we needed one more score and the offense FAILED....

 

 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2020 by Putin

[thebandit27]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

McD was clear that he thinks this team does not need a "#1 WR", so don't be too surprised or disappointed with more of the same.

He also said that they weren’t getting rid of McCoy.

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

McD was clear that he thinks this team does not need a "#1 WR", so don't be too surprised or disappointed with more of the same.

When was that, at end of year PC?

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

3 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Typically number 1 WR's don't hit free agency. I mean who is the target on offense? Amari Cooper isn't getting to free agency. AJ Green would be nice but what exactly are we getting? I'de rather go through the draft or trade. 

 

I could see some OL hitting free agency that would help but I think they like their OL.

 

If you're the bengals AJ green is exactly the guy you keep if you draft burrow.  Assuming some of their offensive linemen don't get injured this time around.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

From Beane’s comments, I don’t see them

making a big splash at all. Maybe some more depth guys on D and a mid-tier interior linemen. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 minute ago, ScottLaw said:

That'd be awful....

I hope I am wrong or he was bluffing. 

[Dkollidas]

I think what they do with Ford depends First; on what happens with Spain. Second, if Spain leaves what free agents are available and decide to actually come here if they are pursued. 
 

ultimately I think they bring back Spain and keep Ford at tackle. They trust their coaches to develop the player. He only played one year of college at tackle, flipped between tackle and guard all training camp, and was in the Big12. I think they believe he has RT upside and that they can develop him. 

[DrDawkinstein]

20 minutes ago, JR in Pittsburgh said:

From Beane’s comments, I don’t see them

making a big splash at all. Maybe some more depth guys on D and a mid-tier interior linemen. 

 

Beane hopes he has other GMs as convinced as you with his smoke and mirrors.

12 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

That'd be awful....

 

Is it common for a GM to lay out his offseason plan to the public before the playoffs are even over? ?