Forget Diggs! These 4 Free Agents need to produce!

[LB48]

Diggs is a given!  No doubt he'll help the team.

 

These 4 new Free Agents  all fall within the top 12 of the Bills 2020 salary cap.  They total $30 mil for the season.

 

1. Mario Addison, DE, $10 mil

2. Vernon Butler, DT, $7 mil

3. Quinton Jefferson, DT, $7 mil

4. A.J. Klein, OLB, $6mil

 

Can they help push this team to a deep run in the play-offs???   Comments?

 

 

[GunnerBill]

The best player among those 4 is the one who didn't play for Carolina. 

[BornAgainBillsFan]

The Bills are loaded on the DL with solid to very good players. None are superstars, although Oliver is on his way. If Addison, Butler and Jefferson are among the final 8-9 left standing after the final cuts, I think they'll hold up well in a platoon system that sees all playing 40-60% of the snaps.

 

Klein should start at weak side LB. Unless Joseph comes on strong and beats him out. Either way, Klein should be a solid contributor.

 

I'm not worried about their cap hits. Beane and his cap gurus have a handle on all of that.

Edited August 8, 2020 by BornAgainBillsFan

[Richard Noggin]

47 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

The best player among those 4 is the one who didn't play for Carolina. 

I like to think so, too. Might be poised for a breakout season rotating all along the Bills D-line. Love those lengthy tweeners on the line. 

 

Then again, Star's sudden absence probably shines a light on Butler now, right? I was thinking of the signing as a moderately expensive roll of the dice on a young, talented, but thus far underwhelming, DT. Like a house money kind of signing to a team with depth at the position. It worked with Jordan Phillips (albeit at a lower price tag). But now that the D-line rotation is missing one "starter," Butler's role has been elevated by default. 

[billsbackto81]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

The best player among those 4 is the one who didn't play for Carolina. 

I too have high expectations for Jefferson as I feel IMO he is really under rated. Overall solid player who makes everyone on the D-Line better.

[Wizard]

Agree these four need to contribute, but I am not concerned about any of them in particular. All seem to have solid character and these are players with starting or frequent rotation experience adding depth and consistency to an already solid defense. None of these players are JAGS. Solid contributors who bend but don't break.

 

None of these players are signed to cost-prohibitive contracts, so the young drafted core players that Beane and Co. want can be signed.

 

Cap and overall depth is in good shape. Yes, I would like a more solid backup QB, a more experienced 4th linebacker, and a belief that Norman will be the solid #2 CB he can be, but every roster has some holes and flaws.

 

Addison, Jefferson, Klein, and Butler are good adds. 

Edited August 8, 2020 by Wizard

[Utah John]

30 minutes ago, Wizard said:

Cap and overall depth is in good shape. Yes, I would like a more solid backup QB, a more experienced 4th linebacker, and a belief that Norman will be the solid #2 CB he can be, but every roster has some holes and flaws.

 

This is a key point.  When your list of holes is a more solid backup QB, a more experienced 4th LB, and which of the good players fighting to be the #2 CB will be the guy -- you're in better shape than almost any team in the NFL.

 

I love that McBeane haven't gone out and grabbed the most expensive FAs.  They have a team of very good players, all across the board, with good depth. Very few of them are the best at their position in the NFL.  The players might care about that, but I don't.  The Lombardi Trophy goes to the team that wins the SB, not the team with the most Pro Bowl picks.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

I've said it since the Houston game. The defense collapsed. The OP is dead on.  This team needs a pass rush and these four need to replace some decent players that left.  

 

But let's get real.  This season is about one player. Josh Allen. He has to show he is a franchise QB.  

[Ethan in Cleveland]

23 minutes ago, Utah John said:

This is a key point.  When your list of holes is a more solid backup QB, a more experienced 4th LB, and which of the good players fighting to be the #2 CB will be the guy -- you're in better shape than almost any team in the NFL.

 

I love that McBeane haven't gone out and grabbed the most expensive FAs.  They have a team of very good players, all across the board, with good depth. Very few of them are the best at their position in the NFL.  The players might care about that, but I don't.  The Lombardi Trophy goes to the team that wins the SB, not the team with the most Pro Bowl picks.

I agree with your assessment of the team.  They have been built much like Belichik built the Patriots - a solid mix of veterans on defense with good middle of the road free agents that were scheme versatile.  The guys Beane signed can play anywhere on the line and their corners can hold up in man coverage enough that they don;t have to exclusively play zone.   

 

All that said though, the trophy usually goes to the team that has one of the best QBs.  There are exceptions like Seattle and Denver recently.  They had truly elite defenses.  Without an improved pass rush, I don't think this defense can win a championship if Allen doesn't get significantly better.  They gave up 19 points in 24 minutes and blew a 16 point lead.  

 

2020 is all on Allen

[Doc Brown]

I'm pry the minority in this thread but Diggs is still pretty important.

[HOUSE]

I refuse to forget Diggs

[1ManRaid]

"Players expected to play well and produce need to play well and produce."

 

Brilliant insight.  Also, "Comments?" is as annoying and redundant as "Thoughts?"  People on a discussion forum don't need permission or prodding to participate in a public parlay parlor.

 

Yes I'm feeling a bit grumpy this morning.

[machine gun kelly]

2 hours ago, HOUSE said:

I refuse to forget Diggs

As the indomitable “The Jerk” says, I dig Diggs, ya dig.

 

All kidding aside, I have high hopes for Jefferson inside.  He was solid in Seattle.  In addition, all of this talk about Clowney, but Addison had almost twice the amount of sacks as Clowney over the same period of time in five years.  He has shown pers his stats he hasn’t fallen off at all last year.  Klein’s a hammerhead, so should do well and provide some nastiness to our LB’s, amd Butler is decent depth.  I love how Beane finds good players, but doesn’t overpay and get enamored with a name.  Diggs is not a name.  He is true #1 WR, and if I remember correctly ranked the best in contested catches in the NFL up there with Michael Thomas.

[Bangarang]

I already know I’m not going to like Butler. 

[GunnerBill]

35 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

As the indomitable “The Jerk” says, I dig Diggs, ya dig.

 

All kidding aside, I have high hopes for Jefferson inside.  He was solid in Seattle.  In addition, all of this talk about Clowney, but Addison had almost twice the amount of sacks as Clowney over the same period of time in five years.  He has shown pers his stats he hasn’t fallen off at all last year.  Klein’s a hammerhead, so should do well and provide some nastiness to our LB’s, amd Butler is decent depth.  I love how Beane finds good players, but doesn’t overpay and get enamored with a name.  Diggs is not a name.  He is true #1 WR, and if I remember correctly ranked the best in contested catches in the NFL up there with Michael Thomas.

 

The advanced stats do show a drop off with Addison and the tape did too. The raw sack numbers were there... but he was winning his assignments considerably less often. I am not sure the sack numbers are sustainable with such a low rush win % but we will have to see. 

[machine gun kelly]

GB, don’t forget on a bad team.  Fair points though.

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

GB, don’t forget on a bad team.  Fair points though.

 

Yep and without the beast that is Kawann Short healthy and playing inside him at the 3tech. Put him next to Ed Oliver and maybe that win % shoots back up. 

[DCbillsfan]

4 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

I've said it since the Houston game. The defense collapsed. The OP is dead on.  This team needs a pass rush and these four need to replace some decent players that left.  

 

But let's get real.  This season is about one player. Josh Allen. He has to show he is a franchise QB.  

I'm looking at the offense in general has to improve.  They need to score more points.  There's not much margin for error for the defense.  The defense needs a better pass rush (hopefully that has been fixed) but to me the offense is holding this team back.  Getting Diggs should help but Allen, Knox, Ford, and Singletary need to crank up their game.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

7 hours ago, LB48 said:

Diggs is a given!  No doubt he'll help the team.

 

These 4 new Free Agents  all fall within the top 12 of the Bills 2020 salary cap.  They total $30 mil for the season.

 

1. Mario Addison, DE, $10 mil

2. Vernon Butler, DT, $7 mil

3. Quinton Jefferson, DT, $7 mil

4. A.J. Klein, OLB, $6mil

 

Can they help push this team to a deep run in the play-offs???   Comments?

 

 

 

Not shocking at all.  I'd be very surprised if newly signed FA aren't going to be at the top of a teams salary cap, it's pretty much a given for anyone signed near the beginning phase of free agency as new contracts will always far exceed older ones.  Guys signed in April or May time frame, they are in a position to take whatever they can get.  As has been pointed out too they are all on contracts that the Bills can easily walk away from after this season.

[ganesh]

3 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

I'm pry the minority in this thread but Diggs is still pretty important.

+1

[SoCal Deek]

Having finally seen a Bills game replayed on ESPN the other night (Bills v Ravens) I’m going to agree with the poster that said it’s all about Josh Allen. He was 100% horrible in the Ravens game. Diggs can’t throw it to himself! 

[Doc]

In the absence of Star, yes the DT free agents need to step up.  Not really worried about Addison or even Klein, much less Diggs. 

[Orlando Tim]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The advanced stats do show a drop off with Addison and the tape did too. The raw sack numbers were there... but he was winning his assignments considerably less often. I am not sure the sack numbers are sustainable with such a low rush win % but we will have to see. 

I say this as a guy who watched none of the Panthers last year but the advanced stats are notable for him since he was winning his assignment much less often. Now could that have been those around him? Of course but Addison is my biggest concern of the new guys by a good margin.

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

6 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

I've said it since the Houston game. The defense collapsed. The OP is dead on.  This team needs a pass rush and these four need to replace some decent players that left.  

 

But let's get real.  This season is about one player. Josh Allen. He has to show he is a franchise QB.  

I don't know if the defense fell apart as much as Tre fell apart...

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Buffalo Timmy said:

I say this as a guy who watched none of the Panthers last year but the advanced stats are notable for him since he was winning his assignment much less often. Now could that have been those around him? Of course but Addison is my biggest concern of the new guys by a good margin.

 

I agree with you totally. But it was a fair counter point made that he was missing some of the talent around him. 

[Rocky Landing]

I would say that we also need Daryl Williams, or Brian Winters (or both?) to produce on the O-line, as well.

[GreggTX]

Addison is average. The other 3 are below average. I don't expect much from them. Trent Murphy is better than all of them despite his relative lack of pass rushing skills.

[GunnerBill]

15 minutes ago, GreggTX said:

Addison is average. The other 3 are below average. I don't expect much from them. Trent Murphy is better than all of them despite his relative lack of pass rushing skills.

 

He ain't better than Jefferson. 

[GreggTX]

13 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I would say that we also need Daryl Williams, or Brian Winters (or both?) to produce on the O-line, as well.

Winters is average or maybe just a tick above, but he should be a measurable upgrade over Feliciano unless there is something wrong with him that we haven't heard yet. Williams came back from a serious knee injury and played LG last year. He played poorly. If I were him, I might consider opting out to focus on rehabbing that knee and hope for a big rebound in '21. T Murphy isn't as good as he was in Washington, but he did make it back to near his prior level. Williams was an all pro before and so was J Norman. Hopefully those 2 guys can get back to 95%.

[Don Otreply]

Not that Diggs won’t be playing an important part, but the game is won or lost at the lines, these new linemen  need to perform at least as well as last seasons guys. That said, imo we got a bit better on the D & O sides. 
 

Go Bills!!!

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

8 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

I agree with your assessment of the team.  They have been built much like Belichik built the Patriots - a solid mix of veterans on defense with good middle of the road free agents that were scheme versatile.  The guys Beane signed can play anywhere on the line and their corners can hold up in man coverage enough that they don;t have to exclusively play zone.   

 

All that said though, the trophy usually goes to the team that has one of the best QBs.  There are exceptions like Seattle and Denver recently.  They had truly elite defenses.  Without an improved pass rush, I don't think this defense can win a championship if Allen doesn't get significantly better.  They gave up 19 points in 24 minutes and blew a 16 point lead.  

 

2020 is all on Allen

Maybe, but the OC play calling was poor during most games.  How many times did you watch third down knowing it was Frank Gore up the gut for no gain?  A bunch of drives ended on plays where we were all wondering about the third down play call. The team was also very vulnerable to the blitz because the offense very seldom had a hot receiver, either because the receivers didn't make the blitz read or the play didn't provide that assignment.  Either way the OC didn't recognize this as an issue and never corrected it.  It was a problem from opening day until the playoff loss.  If Daboll doesn't up his game, the results for the season will continue to be mediocre.

 

I'm less worried about any of these defensive free agents or the defense in general than I am with the offense.

[Kirby Jackson]

I’m optimistic about Jefferson and think that Butler will be a solid role player (especially with no Star). I think Addison is going to disappoint and Klein is just not very good. 

[I'm Spartacus]

1 hour ago, GreggTX said:

Winters is average or maybe just a tick above, but he should be a measurable upgrade over Feliciano unless there is something wrong with him that we haven't heard yet. Williams came back from a serious knee injury and played LG last year. He played poorly. If I were him, I might consider opting out to focus on rehabbing that knee and hope for a big rebound in '21. T Murphy isn't as good as he was in Washington, but he did make it back to near his prior level. Williams was an all pro before and so was J Norman. Hopefully those 2 guys can get back to 95%.

Unfortunately it's too late to opt out.

[Putin]

5 hours ago, ganesh said:

+1

+1

[billsbackto81]

6 hours ago, Bangarang said:

I already know I’m not going to like Butler. 

Underwhelming career so far. And it's not like he didn't have any talent around him. 

[Punching Bag]

7 hours ago, GreggTX said:

Winters is average or maybe just a tick above, but he should be a measurable upgrade over Feliciano unless there is something wrong with him that we haven't heard yet. 

 

Winters has had trouble staying healthy and availability especially for OL is very important attribute.

If he was a flex OT who was only playing to substitute it would be different.

 

Aug 6, 2020: Buffalo Bills signed G Brian Winters to a one-year, $3 million contract.

Aug 3, 2020: New York Jets cut G Brian Winters.

Nov 12, 2019: New York Jets placed G Brian Winters on IR.

Dec 27, 2017: New York Jets placed G Brian Winters on IR.

Jan 16, 2017: New York Jets re-signed G Brian Winters to a four-year contract extension.

Very strange - 4 year contract extension after being put on IR 3 weeks earlier

Dec 21, 2016: New York Jets placed G Brian Winters on IR.

Oct 13, 2014: New York Jets placed G Brian Winters on IR.

May 9, 2013: New York Jets agreed to terms with OL Brian Winters on a four-year contract.

4 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

I said as much back in March and got flamed... he fell off last season. 

 

You do appear to prefer extra crispy.

 

 

[Captain_Quint]

I forgot we signed Klein. 

 

I'm looking forward to seeing Metakavich on special teams this year. I think he will have a handful of good plays and bring toughness to that unit. 

[first_and_ten]

19 hours ago, LB48 said:

Diggs is a given!  No doubt he'll help the team.

 

These 4 new Free Agents  all fall within the top 12 of the Bills 2020 salary cap.  They total $30 mil for the season.

 

1. Mario Addison, DE, $10 mil

2. Vernon Butler, DT, $7 mil

3. Quinton Jefferson, DT, $7 mil

4. A.J. Klein, OLB, $6mil

 

Can they help push this team to a deep run in the play-offs???   Comments?

 

 

 

Up to this point I think Beane has done a very good job with free agents, so I'm going to trust him.

Edited August 9, 2020 by first_and_ten

[LB48]

16 hours ago, Ethan in Portland said:

I've said it since the Houston game. The defense collapsed. The OP is dead on.  This team needs a pass rush and these four need to replace some decent players that left.  

 

But let's get real.  This season is about one player. Josh Allen. He has to show he is a franchise QB.  

I thought the defense wasn't as good as advertised.  We've lost Shaq, Phillips and now Star from last season.  We'll see is they will be missed - or - were they part the reason we  couldn't stop teams consistently.

[John from Riverside]

20 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

The best player among those 4 is the one who didn't play for Carolina. 

I just got this feeling about Mario Addison.....I think he is gonna be a good player for us

27 minutes ago, LB48 said:

I thought the defense wasn't as good as advertised.  We've lost Shaq, Phillips and now Star from last season.  We'll see is they will be missed - or - were they part the reason we  couldn't stop teams consistently.

What we need is balance.....we need to score more points and run the ball consistantly to help our defense (which was very good)