Best WR Trio in the AFC, or in the League?

[C.Biscuit97]

17 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

At the least, Diggs and Brown represent the best 1-2 X and Z combo in probably a decade plus.  Difference is I think they've got a QB who'll get them the ball.

 

I think I read that Buffalo now has the 3rd most money invested at the WR position.  That guarantees nothing, but it's a move toward where the league has gone toward passing-driven offenses.

 

Opposing secondaries will need to respect that where previously they didn't.   

Evans and TO.  And Sammy before the injuries and Woods was very good too.  Honestly, receiver hasn’t really been the proud with the franchise.  We just have had qbs that waste them. 

Edited March 19, 2020 by C.Biscuit97

[ngbills]

Last several super bowl teams. Most common configuration I see is strong TE and strong #1 or balanced #1 and #2. 

 

KC: Hill, Watkins, Robinson or Hill, Kelce

SF: Sanders, Samuel, Pettis or Sanders/Samuel. Kittle

 

NE: Edelman, Hogan, Gordon/Dorsett or Edelman, Gronk

LAR: Woods, Cooks, Cupp or Cooks/Woods, Higbee

 

NE: Cooks, Amendola, Hogan or Cooks, Gronk

PHI: Jeffery, Agholor, Smitth or Jeffery, Ertz

 

NE: Edelman, Amendola, Hogan or Edelman, Gronk/Bennett

ATL: Jones, Sanu, Gabriel or Jones, Tamme/Hooper

 

DEN: Thomas, Sanders, Norwood or Thomas, Daniels

CAR: Ginn, Funchess, Brown or Ginn, Olsen

 

NE: Edelman, Lafell, Amendola or Edelman, Gronk

SEA: Baldwin, Kearse, Richardson or Baldwin, Wilson

[DCOrange]

Really depends on what the other trios look like when the dust settles:

 

Tampa: Evans, Godwin, ???

Cleveland: OBJ, Landry, ???

Kansas: Tyreek, Sammy, Hardman/rookie

Dallas: Cooper, Gallup, ???

Atlanta: Julio, Ridley, ???

Arizona: Hopkins, Fitz, Kirk

Rams: Kupp, Woods, Cooks

 

Assuming they get a decent #3 option, I think Tampa, Cleveland, KC, and Arizona are probably better. We'll see if the Rams ultimately keep Cooks or not; if they do, they're better as well.

[ngbills]

15 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Diggs isn't far off from Hopkins, talent wise.  Better route runner too . We got a dominant # 1.  People might say "but he had Thielen" . Yes , and still had the opposing defenses #1 CB on Diggs every week. Hopkins had Stills AND Fuller. 

 

Diggs also has been very good in the playoffs last 2 years. And Diggs cost much less than Hopkins. 

Defenses are going to struggle mightily . You take Diggs away? Brown will kill you 1 on 1 . Take away the deep ball? Beasley will kill you underneath. Play us straight up ? Diggs will kill the opposing CB . . I love this offense , once Dabol went to 3 WR sets , Allen had so much more success . We have a top 3 trio now.  Each capable of 100+ yards any given week . 

Last year in playoffs 

 

Diggs caught 2 for 19 on 3 targets in one game and 2 for 57 on 4 targets in the other.

Just keeping the conversation honest.

[C.Biscuit97]

21 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Diggs isn't far off from Hopkins, talent wise.  Better route runner too . We got a dominant # 1.  People might say "but he had Thielen" . Yes , and still had the opposing defenses #1 CB on Diggs every week. Hopkins had Stills AND Fuller. 

 

Diggs also has been very good in the playoffs last 2 years. And Diggs cost much less than Hopkins. 

Defenses are going to struggle mightily . You take Diggs away? Brown will kill you 1 on 1 . Take away the deep ball? Beasley will kill you underneath. Play us straight up ? Diggs will kill the opposing CB . . I love this offense , once Dabol went to 3 WR sets , Allen had so much more success . We have a top 3 trio now.  Each capable of 100+ yards any given week . 

Um, yes he is. Hopkins is thought time be possibly the best receiver in the nfl and has size. Diggs wasn’t even the best receiver on his team. Diggs is talented but let’s not just make things up. 

[Boatdrinks]

They’ll be a very good WR group. That’s something you haven’t been able to say about the Bills in awhile. That will matter for opposing defenses.  Best in the league? Rankings? Doesn’t mean a thing, so who cares? It’s a WR corps that should be good enough to compete for a championship. 

[C.Biscuit97]

Just now, Boatdrinks said:

They’ll be a very good WR group. That’s something you haven’t been able to say about the Bills in awhile. That will matter for opposing defenses.  Best in the league? Rankings? Doesn’t mean a thing, so who cares? It’s a WR corps that should be good enough to compete for a championship. 

Watkins, Woods, Hogan, Goodwin.  Rarely has receivers been the problem with the Bills.  

[BuffaloHokie13]

7 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Watkins, Woods, Hogan, Goodwin.  Rarely has receivers been the problem with the Bills.  

Issue with that group was health. And then the position went severely downhill. Glad it's returning to form, hopefully with more availability!

[Boatdrinks]

7 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Watkins, Woods, Hogan, Goodwin.  Rarely has receivers been the problem with the Bills.  

Yep, that was the last good group, was awhile ago now. Sure they’ve had good WRs in the past, but lacked talent elsewhere such as QB. They’ve had issues at WR in recent seasons for sure. 

[RyanC883]

1 hour ago, whatdrought said:

 

If you look at strictly Stats ours are better: 

 

Fitz, Kirk, Hop: 2,678 yards, 14TD's

 

Brown, Diggs, Beasley: 2,968 yards, 18TD's

 

But even beyond that, I think Brown is significantly better than Fitz (at this stage) Beasley is at least equal with Kirk, probably better. And where Hopkins is better than Diggs, I don't think it's a runaway... 

 

great points.  I’d also take Diggs over Hopkins.  More complete WR Imo.  but close either way.  

28 minutes ago, DCOrange said:

Really depends on what the other trios look like when the dust settles:

 

Tampa: Evans, Godwin, ???

Cleveland: OBJ, Landry, ???

Kansas: Tyreek, Sammy, Hardman/rookie

Dallas: Cooper, Gallup, ???

Atlanta: Julio, Ridley, ???

Arizona: Hopkins, Fitz, Kirk

Rams: Kupp, Woods, Cooks

 

Assuming they get a decent #3 option, I think Tampa, Cleveland, KC, and Arizona are probably better. We'll see if the Rams ultimately keep Cooks or not; if they do, they're better as well.

 

we have a solid 3 and a good TE in Knox.  

[BillsVet]

33 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

Evans and TO.  And Sammy before the injuries and Woods was very good too.  Honestly, receiver hasn’t really been the proud with the franchise.  We just have had qbs that waste them. 

 

I can see Watkins and Woods in 2014 perhaps.  Moulds-Evans in 04-05

 

The irony is that much of the offense in 2020 will be veteran players and not so much youth developed in their system.  Not an indictment of McBeane, just ironic considering that for many years here when Buffalo was inactive in UFA people responded with cries of you can't build through UFA. 

 

 

[C.Biscuit97]

1 minute ago, BillsVet said:

 

I can see Watkins and Woods in 2014 perhaps.  Moulds-Evans in 04-05

 

The irony is that much of the offense in 2020 will be veteran players and not so much youth developed in their system.  Not an indictment of McBeane, just ironic considering that for many years here when Buffalo was inactive in UFA people responded with cries of you can't build through UFA. 

 

 

Based on how they have drafted offensive players, it’s better they are signing FAs.  

[White Linen]

57 minutes ago, FireChans said:

The upside is with them. Beasley and Brown are maxed out in terms of production. Both of their numbers will fall next year playing with Diggs.

 

Watkins is on the rise while Brown and Beasley leveled off?  Uh no.  The Chiefs offense has more opportunity to grow than ours?  Uh no.

 

And Beasley and Browns numbers crush Hardman and Watkins.  The only thing keeping it close are Hill's 2018 numbers and you think he's going to do more than 87 - 1479 - 12?  Uh no. 

 

Brown - 72 - 1060 - 6              Hardman - 26 - 538 - 6

Beasley - 67 - 778 - 6              Watkins - 52 - 673 - 3

 

Totals  -   139 - 1838 - 12           78 - 1211 - 9

Edited March 19, 2020 by White Linen

[FireChans]

8 minutes ago, White Linen said:

 

Watkins is on the rise while Brown and Beasley leveled off?  Uh no.  The Chiefs offense has more opportunity to grow than ours?  Uh no.

 

And Beasley and Browns numbers crush Hardman and Watkins.  The only thing keeping it close are Hill's 2018 numbers and you think he's going to do more than 87 - 1479 - 12?  Uh no. 

 

Brown - 72 - 1060 - 6              Hardman - 26 - 538 - 6

Beasley - 67 - 778 - 6              Watkins - 52 - 673 - 3

 

Totals  -   139 - 1838 - 12           78 - 1211 - 9

Hardman was a rookie last year. Cole and Brown are vets. Hardman has more upside than both.

[White Linen]

1 minute ago, FireChans said:

Hardman was a rookie last year. Cole and Brown are vets. Hardman has more upside than both.

 

Allen has more upside than Hardman. 

[BobChalmers]

3 hours ago, Forward Progress said:

I didn't open the article (personal PFF boycott), but assume the concluding sentence ends with, "... but the world will never know because their QB is Josh Allen."

 

Seriously - I am certain the PFF praise of the Bills receivers is absolutely a setup to justify their initial take on Josh Allen - not kidding even a little.

[Virgil]

As pure receivers, I would take our guys over KC.  KC to me is speed and deep routes.  Their route trees and contested catches are nowhere near our guys.  
 

However, that’s just how their offense works. Our guys would fail in their system and vice versa.  
 

As pure receivers, I would take the Bills

[Hapless Bills Fan]

3 hours ago, whatdrought said:

 

 

Saw this and thought it would be worthy of discussion... Who has the best WR trio in the league/ AFC? 

 

 

I am severely allergic to "on paper" proclamations ever since we signed Mario Williams and thought we had the best DL "on paper"

 

Best is as best does....play the games.

[DCOrange]

5 minutes ago, BobChalmers said:

 

Seriously - I am certain the PFF praise of the Bills receivers is absolutely a setup to justify their initial take on Josh Allen - not kidding even a little.

Or, and I'm just spit balling here, it could be due to them having Beasley (the worst of the 3) rated as the #36 WR in the league.

[Billl]

1 hour ago, Crayola64 said:

Topic about WR trios......

 

everyone talking about TEs and RBs....

 

dies

 

1 hour ago, Logic said:

My answer here is the same as what I commented on that Tweet: 

 

Duos and “whoever else” don’t count. The tweet said “TRIOS”.

 

Two WRs and a tight end don’t count, the tweet said “WR trios”. 

 

In the AFC, the Chiefs can make a good case. 

 

In the NFC, the Bucs and MAYBE the Cards (Fitzgerald is well past his prime) can make a good case.

 

At the very least, the Bills have a top 5 WR trio, and that’s something we couldn’t say last Sunday!

 

1 hour ago, formerlyofCtown said:

Who is the 3rd WR.  I see a TE and some RBs.

Funny how the same people who want to split hairs and say that Tight Ends who line up in the slot and split out wide at times shouldn’t count as WRs want to include slot receivers as WRs.  If you only want to include bonafide Wide Receivers in the conversation, then you can’t include anyone who doesn’t line up on the LOS.

[whatdrought]

23 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I am severely allergic to "on paper" proclamations ever since we signed Mario Williams and thought we had the best DL "on paper"

 

Best is as best does....play the games.

 

Understandable.. worth noting though, for a couple years (Petrine/Schwartz) the argument could easily have been made that we had the best DL

 

Mario - Kyle - Dareus - Jerry

[Turk71]

  Josh Allen was tied for last in the league in pocket time at 2.3 seconds. Pocket time is the seconds from snap until pocket collapses. If the Bills want to get the ball down the field to this suddenly top 5 or 10 wr group they need an improved offensive line. For whatever reason it has not been much of a priority this off-season. Morse is the only above average free agent lineman they have acquired in the last 3 years. I don't see much out there still to be had this free agency. A great offensive line elevates every offensive player imo.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Turk71

[Billl]

43 minutes ago, White Linen said:

 

Watkins is on the rise while Brown and Beasley leveled off?  Uh no.  The Chiefs offense has more opportunity to grow than ours?  Uh no.

 

And Beasley and Browns numbers crush Hardman and Watkins.  The only thing keeping it close are Hill's 2018 numbers and you think he's going to do more than 87 - 1479 - 12?  Uh no. 

 

Brown - 72 - 1060 - 6              Hardman - 26 - 538 - 6

Beasley - 67 - 778 - 6              Watkins - 52 - 673 - 3

 

Totals  -   139 - 1838 - 12           78 - 1211 - 9

Hardman was a rookie who started 5 games last year when Hill was hurt, and Tyreek was a RB in college 5 years ago.  Hardman turned 22 last week, and Tyreek turned 26 the week before that.  Brown and Beasley have a combined 14 years of experience in the NFL and will turn 30 and 31 years old next month.

 

How in the world do you come to the conclusion that Brown and Beasley have more room to grow than Hardman and Hill?

[John from Riverside]

3 hours ago, whatdrought said:

 

 

Saw this and thought it would be worthy of discussion... Who has the best WR trio in the league/ AFC? 

 

I def dont think it is us and of course our revamped group needs to prove it

 

but

 

The thing is we were one of the WORST lastyear

 

Even if we moved into the top 10 of teams....a huge improvement...and what your really trying to achieve is balance between strength of offense and defense

[FireChans]

46 minutes ago, White Linen said:

 

Allen has more upside than Hardman. 

They don’t play the same position, but that’s nice I guess.

[formerlyofCtown]

1 hour ago, Billl said:

 

 

Funny how the same people who want to split hairs and say that Tight Ends who line up in the slot and split out wide at times shouldn’t count as WRs want to include slot receivers as WRs.  If you only want to include bonafide Wide Receivers in the conversation, then you can’t include anyone who doesn’t line up on the LOS.

Actually the slot Receiver is a WR. Cole Beasley is listed as a WR correct.

That really was a sad response.

1 hour ago, whatdrought said:

 

Understandable.. worth noting though, for a couple years (Petrine/Schwartz) the argument could easily have been made that we had the best DL

 

Mario - Kyle - Dareus - Jerry

No argument.  We had the best DL.  Anyone who would argue would have to be drunk or insane.  Maybe both.

[Billl]

4 minutes ago, formerlyofCtown said:

Actually the slot Receiver is a WR. Cole Beasley is listed as a WR correct.

That really was a sad response.

No argument.  We had the best DL.  Anyone who would argue would have to be drunk or insane.  Maybe both.

A slot receiver is not a wide receiver any more than a full back is a tail back.  Wide Receivers line up out wide and on the LOS.  Slot receivers line up in the slot and off the LOS.  TEs line up on the end of the line.  Pretty simple stuff, but if being pedantic is your thing then you may as well go all in with it.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Billl

[formerlyofCtown]

2 hours ago, White Linen said:

 

Watkins is on the rise while Brown and Beasley leveled off?  Uh no.  The Chiefs offense has more opportunity to grow than ours?  Uh no.

 

And Beasley and Browns numbers crush Hardman and Watkins.  The only thing keeping it close are Hill's 2018 numbers and you think he's going to do more than 87 - 1479 - 12?  Uh no. 

 

Brown - 72 - 1060 - 6              Hardman - 26 - 538 - 6

Beasley - 67 - 778 - 6              Watkins - 52 - 673 - 3

 

Totals  -   139 - 1838 - 12           78 - 1211 - 9

How about you take a look at Watkins Playoff stats.  

I think both groups are great but I think our numbers would look different if we ran Reids Offense. TE and the RBs kinda of a big deal in the passing game.

[Doc Brown]

We could be a poor man's version of the greatest show on turf (Bruce, Holt, Proehl) with our three wideouts (Diggs, Brown, Beasley).  Now if we only had our Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk.

[White Linen]

2 hours ago, Billl said:

Hardman was a rookie who started 5 games last year when Hill was hurt, and Tyreek was a RB in college 5 years ago.  Hardman turned 22 last week, and Tyreek turned 26 the week before that.  Brown and Beasley have a combined 14 years of experience in the NFL and will turn 30 and 31 years old next month.

 

How in the world do you come to the conclusion that Brown and Beasley have more room to grow than Hardman and Hill?

 

Ok you're not a quick learner.  Want to do it that way?

 

Because Diggs is dominant compared to Watkins.

[Billl]

2 minutes ago, White Linen said:

 

Ok you're not a quick learner.  Want to do it that way?

 

Because Diggs is dominant compared to Watkins.

Brown and Beasley have more room to improve than Hill and Hardman because Diggs is better than Watkins.  Got it.  That makes perfect sense.  Sorry I didn’t catch on more quickly.

[Chandler#81]

4 hours ago, T master said:

A lot hinges on Allen, his knock coming out of college was his accuracy we all knew he has a cannon of a arm & he can prolong plays due to his athleticism & as long as the O line does their job he should have more than enough time to deliver but will he ? 

 

All of the tools he needs are at his disposal he has a decent running game 3 top notch WR's a decent O line & decent TE play,  i would say it's all on Josh at this point if you were to give Brees or any number of other QB's in the NFL this line up they would be tearing it up !

 

Josh has the work ethic & i believe with all my heart he is working on his short comings from last year with Palmer & i hope he is fixing what needs fixed if he holds up his end of the bargain it will be a really good year if he doesn't questions will be many from Bills fans !! 

Does the Pandemic interfere with offseason workouts? I’d have thought Josh & Stefon would have hooked up already..

[BuffaloHokie13]

1 minute ago, Chandler#81 said:

Does the Pandemic interfere with offseason workouts? I’d have thought Josh & Stefon would have hooked up already..

Right now he's catching passes from Tyrod. Probably eventually, though.

[Troll Toll]

Do we even have the best group in our division? New England does have Edelman and Sanu.

[White Linen]

27 minutes ago, Billl said:

Brown and Beasley have more room to improve than Hill and Hardman because Diggs is better than Watkins.  Got it.  That makes perfect sense.  Sorry I didn’t catch on more quickly.

 

I'll try one more time but I think you're just trying to be.... you know. 

 

Brown, Beasley and Diggs had better stats than Hill, Hardman and Watkins last year even if you use Hill's 2018 stats which were unbelievable.  The likelihood of him passing those incredible numbers are small - they were that good.  Based on the numbers, they're just as dangerous of a set as the Chiefs. 

 

Of course Allen has to perform for Diggs as Cousins did and that will take time.  Said another way if we swapped the 3 receivers with the Chiefs, Mahomes could perform with them as he did or better with our receivers.  They are a dangerous group.  It all comes down to Allen performing. 

[White Linen]

2 hours ago, Billl said:

Hardman was a rookie who started 5 games last year when Hill was hurt, and Tyreek was a RB in college 5 years ago.  Hardman turned 22 last week, and Tyreek turned 26 the week before that.  Brown and Beasley have a combined 14 years of experience in the NFL and will turn 30 and 31 years old next month.

 

How in the world do you come to the conclusion that Brown and Beasley have more room to grow than Hardman and Hill?

 

I've tried to tell you a couple times/ways.  Because Mahomes is at peak right now, maybe he'll get better but they're offense is already running on all cylinders and they use their tight ends and backs a lot.  Allen has more room to grow because he's not peaked like Mahomes.  So it stands to reason Beasley and Brown should do better as/if Allen does.  Watkins also downgrades their group because all 3 of our receivers are better than him.  

[gordong]

Houston with Hopkins..... errr nevermind...   

[78thealltimegreat]

6 hours ago, whatdrought said:

 

 

Saw this and thought it would be worthy of discussion... Who has the best WR trio in the league/ AFC? 

 

If Dallas signs Emmanuel Sanders as is rumored with Gallup, Sanders, and Cooper I’d say their one but Buffalo is a solid top 3 as The Rams are still really good with Cupp, Cooks, and Woods as well

[JerseyBills]

4 hours ago, ngbills said:

Last year in playoffs 

 

Diggs caught 2 for 19 on 3 targets in one game and 2 for 57 on 4 targets in the other.

Just keeping the conversation honest.

He scored a TD vs 49ers .

 

[Shaw66]

50 minutes ago, White Linen said:

 

I'll try one more time but I think you're just trying to be.... you know. 

 

Brown, Beasley and Diggs had better stats than Hill, Hardman and Watkins last year even if you use Hill's 2018 stats which were unbelievable.  The likelihood of him passing those incredible numbers are small - they were that good.  Based on the numbers, they're just as dangerous of a set as the Chiefs. 

 

Of course Allen has to perform for Diggs as Cousins did and that will take time.  Said another way if we swapped the 3 receivers with the Chiefs, Mahomes could perform with them as he did or better with our receivers.  They are a dangerous group.  It all comes down to Allen performing. 

I think this is an excellent way to look at.  Take any trio and put them on the Chiefs with Mahomes.   I think it's tough to find a trio of wideouts Mahomes would want over these three.   They could be that good.   We could argue all day about it, because there are some other good trios, but for me the fact that each of the Bills has succeeded in the league at a consistently high level, and each is still playing at a high level.   That's tough to beat.   These three are guys who each have recently been top in their category (primary, secondary and slot), real threats, and they still play at that level.   Who else has that at all three positions?