Where Bills park Ford in 2020 dependent on FA/Draft

[YoloinOhio]

“Yeah, absolutely,” Sean McDermott answered without hesitation.

The Bills head coach is in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine.

 

Ford, a 2^nd round pick in 2019, played guard and tackle during his rookie season.

“Cody‘s position flexibility was very apparent in year one,” McDermott said.

His ability to play both spots is valuable but it’s also a statement on Ford’s inability to lockdown the starting job at right tackle.

“He had some really good moments and he had some moments he’ll learn from,” General Manger Brandon Beane told reporters on Tuesday.

Edited February 25, 2020 by YoloinOhio

[klos63]

The question is where do they see the best position for him. Will they be aggressive in finding a starting tackle to move him to guard, or will they be content with whichever position he ends up in.

[Bray Wyatt]

Sign Conklin and kick Ford into LG

[Logic]

I'm hoping they sign a legitimate RT in free agency, but with the money they're about to have invested in Dawkins and Morse, that may not be likely.

Instead, we may see a cheaper option brought in to compete at that spot, like a Joe Haeg.

Alternately, I would be thrilled if one of the big four OTs falls to the Bills in round 1. Given the money they'll have invested on the o-line and given how Beane tends to operate with respect to not overspending on one position group, a rookie right tackle for the next five years sounds like the winning choice.

[Happy]

6 minutes ago, Logic said:

I'm hoping they sign a legitimate RT in free agency, but with the money they're about to have invested in Dawkins and Morse, that may not be likely.

Instead, we may see a cheaper option brought in to compete at that spot, like a Joe Haeg.

Alternately, I would be thrilled if one of the big four OTs falls to the Bills in round 1. Given the money they'll have invested on the o-line and given how Beane tends to operate with respect to not overspending on one position group, a rookie right tackle for the next five years sounds like the winning choice.

 

The money is there for a RT bought in FA.  I don't see why that would be a hesitation as Ford was pretty close to being a turnstile.

[Bray Wyatt]

2 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

I'm not using a first round pick on a RT. 

 

I hope not

[LABILLBACKER]

48 minutes ago, Bray Wyatt said:

Sign Conklin and kick Ford into LG

Exactly, this isn't brain surgery. This is the best and most obvious solution. Ford is a LG. Stop trying to force feed his "slow feet" at RT.

[thebandit27]

Maybe it’s as simple as they feel that Nsekhe outplayed him.

 

That would be absolutely fine with me

[njbuff]

1 hour ago, Bray Wyatt said:

Sign Conklin and kick Ford into LG

 

The Bills will be paying 2 T's in excess of 15 million dollars.

 

Do you really wanna do that?

[John from Riverside]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

I'm hoping they sign a legitimate RT in free agency, but with the money they're about to have invested in Dawkins and Morse, that may not be likely.

Instead, we may see a cheaper option brought in to compete at that spot, like a Joe Haeg.

Alternately, I would be thrilled if one of the big four OTs falls to the Bills in round 1. Given the money they'll have invested on the o-line and given how Beane tends to operate with respect to not overspending on one position group, a rookie right tackle for the next five years sounds like the winning choice.

I really liked Haeg coming out of college

28 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

Maybe it’s as simple as they feel that Nsekhe outplayed him.

 

That would be absolutely fine with me

I absolutely thought Ty was better at RT.....and they kept Waddle for a reason

 

I really think Ford ends up at OG.....and that is ok with me

[Bray Wyatt]

34 minutes ago, njbuff said:

 

The Bills will be paying 2 T's in excess of 15 million dollars.

 

Do you really wanna do that?

We have the space this year, structure the deal where he gets most of his guaranteed money up front

[John from Riverside]

8 minutes ago, Bray Wyatt said:

We have the space this year, structure the deal where he gets most of his guaranteed money up front

My question is Conklin THAT much better then Ty N.

 

I have not seen anything in their play that says yes.

 

Just give me a boring veteran free agent like Haeg

[Bray Wyatt]

Just now, John from Riverside said:

My question is Conklin THAT much better then Ty N.

 

I have not seen anything in their play that says yes.

 

Just give me a boring veteran free agent like Haeg

Nsekhe is like 35 and 1 yr left on his deal

[John from Riverside]

Just now, Bray Wyatt said:

Nsekhe is like 35 and 1 yr left on his deal

I think he could be extended for a couple of years....in either case that feels like a situation to me where we have a starter and need to find a draft pick replacement to groom.

[Bray Wyatt]

Just now, John from Riverside said:

I think he could be extended for a couple of years....in either case that feels like a situation to me where we have a starter and need to find a draft pick replacement to groom.

How many lineman play til they are 37?

 

Keep ty as the backup swing tackle for this year sign Conklin who can be here for longer and is younger

[John from Riverside]

2 minutes ago, Bray Wyatt said:

How many lineman play til they are 37?

 

Keep ty as the backup swing tackle for this year sign Conklin who can be here for longer and is younger

So the fact that Conklin and Ty's actual play on the field doesnt sway your opinion on this

 

That is a LOT of money to tie up on OT's and I really do value good OL play......but I dont want to pay just for the sake of paying......

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

I'm not using a first round pick on a RT. 

And then everybody cries when our green RT struggles! We need a new RT!!

 

As I said you either take one first round or you need to give them 2-3 years to develop

 

Even Dawkins needs to develop a lot . He isn't a top 10-15 guy rn

[CNY315]

"park Ford". I see what you did there ?

[MJS]

I'm in wait-and-see mode with Ford. I like his aggressiveness and the edge he plays with. He obviously needs to get better. Let's see how he does going forward. I don't much care if he is a tackle or a guard. Wherever the coaches think he can contribute the most.

[Seasons1992]

I think Ford will be here for a while. He did just fine, he was a rookie. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

4 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 

 

Isn't that sort of bass-ackwards?  They should decide where they think he should play, and then go after a RT or a guard accordingly.

 

[YoloinOhio]

8 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Isn't that sort of bass-ackwards?  They should decide where they think he should play, and then go after a RT or a guard accordingly.

 

Smokescreen? 
 

They were talking on Cleveland radio today about how obviously desperate the browns are this year at OT and like Houston last year teams could try to jump them for a guy, since the OT class is top heavy. 
this would push other players down to the Bills

Edited February 26, 2020 by YoloinOhio

[Buffalo716]

And just a drive something home Cody Ford was a better tackle at Oklahoma than guard

 

He does not have Zack Martin talent at guard

[Logic]

3 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

I'm not using a first round pick on a RT. 

Good thing you're not the GM.

3 hours ago, Happy Gilmore said:

 

The money is there for a RT bought in FA.  I don't see why that would be a hesitation as Ford was pretty close to being a turnstile.

The Bills under Beane tend to only commit so much money to one position group. 

With Morse the highest paid center in football and Dawkins about to receive a lucrative left tackle contract, I don't anticipate the Bills ponying up enough dough in free agency to get a surefire starter at RT. It's not a matter of if the Bills have enough money OVERALL -- they do. To me, it's more a matter of how they seem to like to allocate funds. Based on the big contracts of Morse and (soon to be) Dawkins, I anticipate the Bills either going the cheap competition route (a Joe Haeg or a Daryl Williams) or the rookie route.

I'd love to be wrong, too. I have no problem paying big money to offensive tackles -- particularly when your prized young QB is entering a pivotal year three campaign.

Edited February 26, 2020 by Logic

[Mr. WEO]

3 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

I'm not using a first round pick on a RT. 

 

 

Grounds for firing...

[Happy]

11 minutes ago, Logic said:

The Bills under Beane tend to only commit so much money to one position group. 

With Morse the highest paid center in football and Dawkins about to receive a lucrative left tackle contract, I don't anticipate the Bills ponying up enough dough in free agency to get a surefire starter at RT. It's not a matter of if the Bills have enough money OVERALL -- they do. To me, it's more a matter of how they seem to like to allocate funds. Based on the big contracts of Morse and (soon to be) Dawkins, I anticipate the Bills either going the cheap competition route (a Joe Haeg or a Daryl Williams) or the rookie route.

I'd love to be wrong, too. I have no problem paying big money to offensive tackles -- particularly when your prized young QB is entering a pivotal year three campaign.

 

If McD and Beane have a problem allocating too many funds to a particular position group, they may want to reconsider that view with regards to the lines.  They should allocate a larger percentage of cap space to both the offensive and defensive lines.  Games are won and lost in the trenches, not in the defensive backfield or WRs.  Your franchise QB will get a good portion of the cap, and so should both lines.

[CommonCents]

Swallow your pride, move him inside!!!

[gobills404]

33 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Grounds for firing...

Just stop. Every single position on offense and defense is worth a first round pick if the talent is there.

[Mr. WEO]

6 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

Just stop. Every single position on offense and defense is worth a first round pick if the talent is there.

 

oy

[thebandit27]

6 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

Just stop. Every single position on offense and defense is worth a first round pick if the talent is there.

What? No.

 

Dear sweet mercy no.

[gobills404]

4 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

What? No.

 

Dear sweet mercy no.

Care to let me know which ones aren't?

[thebandit27]

6 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

Care to let me know which ones aren't?

Everything that’s not a QB, WR1, dominant LT, pass rusher, or CB.

 

You can find everything else in FA in any given offseason.

[gobills404]

2 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

Everything that’s not a QB, WR1, dominant LT, pass rusher, or CB.

 

You can find everything else in FA in any given offseason.

Yeah every 1st round pick that wasn't at one those positions was a bad pick I agree.

[YoloinOhio]

4 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

Everything that’s not a QB, WR1, dominant LT, pass rusher, or CB.

 

You can find everything else in FA in any given offseason.

I would throw in - sideline to sideline MLB

Edited February 26, 2020 by YoloinOhio

[thebandit27]

14 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

Yeah every 1st round pick that wasn't at one those positions was a bad pick I agree.

Not necessarily a “bad” pick, but certainly not optimal.

[Buffalo716]

Anybody who thinks Travis Frederick or Zach Martin or Quentin Nelson , or Ray lewis isn't worth a first-round pick is crazy

[H2o]

To me this sounds like they are going to let Spain walk more than likely. Hopefully Conklin is their target. My money is on Ford playing LG next season. 

[thebandit27]

1 minute ago, Buffalo716 said:

Anybody who thinks Travis Frederick or Zach Martin or Quentin Nelson , or Ray lewis isn't worth a first-round pick is crazy

Is Frederick or Martin or Nelson so much better than Quinton Spain or Mitch Morse? Not really, and Buffalo picked those two up in FA for zero investment.

 

If you want to make a case that a generational talent at LB is also worthy, then sure, I’ll listen.

 

But there’s absolutely no way that Quentin Nelson is a better draft pick than a franchise LT. As good a guard as he may be, he’s never going to be the difference between winning the Super Bowl and not.

 

Are there situations where a team might go outside those premium positions to fill a need? Sure, but they should only do so when they’re already set at the premium spots and feel that the guy they’re taking is the final piece to winning a championship.

[Buffalo716]

3 minutes ago, thebandit27 said:

Is Frederick or Martin or Nelson so much better than Quinton Spain or Mitch Morse? Not really, and Buffalo picked those two up in FA for zero investment.

 

If you want to make a case that a generational talent at LB is also worthy, then sure, I’ll listen.

 

But there’s absolutely no way that Quentin Nelson is a better draft pick than a franchise LT. As good a guard as he may be, he’s never going to be the difference between winning the Super Bowl and not.

 

Are there situations where a team might go outside those premium positions to fill a need? Sure, but they should only do so when they’re already set at the premium spots and feel that the guy they’re taking is the final piece to winning a championship.

Yes without a doubt Martin and Nelson are much much much better than Spain, not even close

 

They are gonna walk into the HoF in 15 years. Spain won't even get a pro bowl

 

And I never said a top Guard has more value than a top Tackle. But a top Guard absolutely has more value than a decent or slightly above average Tackle

Edited February 26, 2020 by Buffalo716

[thebandit27]

11 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Yes without a doubt Martin and Nelson are much much much better than Spain, not even close

 

They are gonna walk into the HoF in 15 years. Spain won't even get a pro bowl

 

And I never said a top Guard has more value than a top Tackle. But a top Guard absolutely has more value than a decent or slightly above average Tackle

Hmmm...weird then that the team with the star-studded Martin-Frederick tandem got absolutely manhandled by the team with the better pass rush on thanksgiving.

 

The point here is that you win games with great pass rushers, great corners, or great individual efforts from QBs and WRs. You’ll never once hear that Quentin Nelson was the difference in a winning effort. 
 

Not because he’s not good, but because guard simply isn’t an impact position.

 

Just follow the money. There’s a reason that QBs, WRs, pass rushers, tackles, and corners are the 5 highest paid positions in the game.

 

You want to have those guys on your roster already, so that you don’t have to pay a premium to get them in FA. Other positions are MUCH easier to fill in FA, so it’s not nearly as important to draft them early.