Source: LB Matt Milano looking for “top dollar” in FA

[Figster]

2 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Haha if you find the UFA that can stop Kelce, I’m sure that several GM’s would be interested, make sure you forward them your list!

Thanks for this,

 

Can we pls not evaluate Milano's career or worth to the Buffalo Bills football team on his inability to cover Kelce...

[BuffaloRebound]

13 minutes ago, Figster said:

Thanks for this,

 

Can we pls not evaluate Milano's career or worth to the Buffalo Bills football team on his inability to cover Kelce...

It’s not just Kelce.  Tight Ends killed us all year.  

[Cvanvol7]

29 minutes ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

Please, please stop.  Milano is NOT, I repeat, NOT better than Edmunds.  People here are ridiculous to think so.  

Milano is much better than Edmunds is. I dont know how anyone that watched this year could think otherwise. 

[Niagara Dude]

22 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Haha if you find the UFA that can stop Kelce, I’m sure that several GM’s would be interested, make sure you forward them your list!

Right so go ahead and pay him 14-15million ,  and lets cut 3-4 players to do that because he thinks he should be paid more even though he cannot stop or even contain Kelce

[RichRiderBills]

I know we play a different D , but the money we are talking about , OLB,  the guy needs to pop on film...he needs to be a difference maker and all pro type guy.

 

I dont see that from Milano.  Sorry...functional player, above avg for certain skill sets, but not the big money.

 

 

[Bing Bong]

love me Matt Milano

1 minute ago, Cvanvol7 said:

Milano is much better than Edmunds is. I dont know how anyone that watched this year could think otherwise. 

by far

[Hapless Bills Fan]

48 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

https://fansided.com/2021/02/01/bills-free-agent-matt-milano-looking-top-dollar-free-agency/

In the latest Stacking the Box column, FanSided’s national NFL reporter Matt Verderame has heard from a source that linebacker Matt Milano is looking for “top dollar” in free agency.

“Per source, Milano is looking for top-dollar at his position,”  writes Verderame. “Although he’s without Pro Bowl or All-Pro accolades, Milano has been a playmaker and culture-maker. The fourth-year man has racked up 101 tackles in 2019 and then 3.5 sacks and win [10?] hits in 2020, while providing quality coverage. He’ll have a strong market.”

 

That seemed what Beane was alluding to in his presser when he said of Milano "he wants to and he's earned the right to test the market for FA"

Milano thinks he's a difference maker on defense, and he wants to be paid like a top LB.

 

Well, Milano IS a difference maker on defense - when he's on the field.

 

I don't watch enough details of how other teams play to really know who the best comparators for Milano might be on OTC's list of 4-3 OLBs - many of them are listed by pro-football-reference as MLB!!!

 

The best comparable might be Deion Jones of ATL who got paid 2 years ago (2019).  6'1, 227.  He had an injury shortened 3rd season and appeared in 77% of his games at the point where he re-upped, vs Milano at 84%.  Similar size guy.  He got $57 million for 4 years with $18.8M fully guaranteed.  Average of $14.25/yr. 

 

Maybe Shaq Thompson? 

 

The bottom line is that the Bills are in a quandry.  Milano slots in exactly as a homegrown "draft and develop" success of a player they say they want to keep. 

 

On the other hand, as @WideNine and @BADOLBILZ have pointed out, competitive players that try to do too much may get injured more often.  Josh Allen isn't the only fiercely-competitive guy who wants to win on every down.  Bills can't afford to keep a "spare" LB for Milano, given that they apparently need to re-work the entire defense to function without him.  I imagine the Bills would like to craft a contract with per-game roster bonuses and other incentives.

 

I imagine Milano believes he's earned the right to be paid, period.

 

Working for him:

-excellent player with exceptional coverage skills for LB

-difference maker for our defense when on the field

-when he played a full season in 2019, put up great tackle stats

-end of this season, put up very good sack/QB hit stats AND flashed in coverage

 

Working against him:

-tight cap for most of the league.  marketing himself to a limited set of teams who make best use of his size/skills AND have cap available to pay him

-hasn't had a complete season yet where he put up both great tackle numbers AND difference-maker plays (TFL, QB hits/sacks)

-availability.  most of the top paid guys (other than Jones) have appeared in 5-9 more games/4 years - available 92-95% of games over 4 yrs vs. 84% (and even less, when one takes into effect limited snap counts in some of those games)

-possibly, his game vs KC.  Mahomes moved him around the field with his eyes and fundamentally pwn'd him in coverage - not on him, but highlighted weaknesses

 

Decision he may have to make:

-the team that offers to pay him may not be the greatest organization.  does that matter to him at all?

 

Time will tell.

 

[Food_Pyramid_Wrong]

Jabril Cox would be a fine replacement for Milano.

[Niagara Dude]

48 minutes ago, Southern_Bills said:

Well he shouldn't get it from Buffalo, hopefully for him he finds what he wants.

 

Our lack of ability to cover TEs (all TEs not just kelce, we were nearly worst in the league against them) doesn't scream keep the band together. Get Edmunds some help, Edmunds isn't all pro level but he definitely has potential. 

I agree,  our LB'S were worse in the league covering TE'S,  plenty of cheaper options to keep up to those standards yet he thinks he needs to get paid. I guarantee that on open market this season because of Covid & loss revenues he does not get more than 6-8 mll a season.

 

The fact is the cap is down and many teams are going to need to cut players including the Chiefs who are around 200 mill witn a cap around 176-178.  So that means the supply will go up and demand down,  bad year to be a free agent. Teams were projecting a cap well over 210 mill,  so plenty of cuts coming.  Book it and people and copy this post and let me know if i am wrong.   Do your homework & you will see that the salary cap math this season for all teams is not good

Edited February 1, 2021 by Niagara Dude

[Aussie Joe]

49 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Still, the defense struggled all year with and without Milano. They need to get better upfront fist and foremost. Let him walk. 

Then you will get to complain when they pick a LB at 30 to replace him....

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

Klein will be here per his contract which improves flexibility but I expect a fair offer to Milano and then a plan to replace him in the draft if he takes more elsewhere. I think the LB position is easier to replace on the draft, and get immediate production from as a rookie,  than say RT. 

 

That's pretty much where I am.  I think we need to improve on OL, which we can't do by filling holes.

 

If it's between Darryl Williams and Matt Milano for limited cap $$, I'm kind of going with Williams.  He brought stability to the RT position we have not seen for years.

[whatdrought]

Hope he stays, but I’m fine with him going and being average wherever he ends up. Defensive players leveraging success in McD’s system never work out.

[Jauronimo]

16 minutes ago, Cvanvol7 said:

Milano is much better than Edmunds is. I dont know how anyone that watched this year could think otherwise. 

Yet every talent evaluator in the NFL and Milano's peers still think otherwise.  Weird.  

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

2 hours ago, Rock-A-Bye Beasley said:

Guess we are getting a 3rd round comp pick for once 

 

So if he leaves say this March, do we get the extra pick in 2021 or would it be the 2022 draft?

Edited February 1, 2021 by Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

[Niagara Dude]

11 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

That seemed what Beane was alluding to in his presser when he said of Milano "he wants to and he's earned the right to test the market for FA"

Milano thinks he's a difference maker on defense, and he wants to be paid like a top LB.

 

Well, Milano IS a difference maker on defense - when he's on the field.

 

I don't watch enough details of how other teams play to really know who the best comparators for Milano might be on OTC's list of 4-3 OLBs - many of them are listed by pro-football-reference as MLB!!!

 

The best comparable might be Deion Jones of ATL who got paid 2 years ago (2019).  6'1, 227.  He had an injury shortened 3rd season and appeared in 77% of his games at the point where he re-upped, vs Milano at 84%.  Similar size guy.  He got $57 million for 4 years with $18.8M fully guaranteed.  Average of $14.25/yr. 

 

Maybe Shaq Thompson? 

 

The bottom line is that the Bills are in a quandry.  Milano slots in exactly as a homegrown "draft and develop" success of a player they say they want to keep. 

 

On the other hand, as @WideNine and @BADOLBILZ have pointed out, competitive players that try to do too much may get injured more often.  Josh Allen isn't the only fiercely-competitive guy who wants to win on every down.  Bills can't afford to keep a "spare" LB for Milano, given that they apparently need to re-work the entire defense to function without him.  I imagine the Bills would like to craft a contract with per-game roster bonuses and other incentives.

 

I imagine Milano believes he's earned the right to be paid, period.

 

Working for him:

-excellent player with exceptional coverage skills for LB

-difference maker for our defense when on the field

-when he played a full season in 2019, put up great tackle stats

-end of this season, put up very good sack/QB hit stats AND flashed in coverage

 

Working against him:

-tight cap for most of the league.  marketing himself to a limited set of teams who make best use of his size/skills AND have cap available to pay him

-hasn't had a complete season yet where he put up both great tackle numbers AND difference-maker plays (TFL, QB hits/sacks)

-availability.  most of the top paid guys (other than Jones) have appeared in 5-9 more games/4 years - available 92-95% of games over 4 yrs vs. 84% (and even less, when one takes into effect limited snap counts in some of those games)

-possibly, his game vs KC.  Mahomes moved him around the field with his eyes and fundamentally pwn'd him in coverage - not on him, but highlighted weaknesses

 

Decision he may have to make:

-the team that offers to pay him may not be the greatest organization.  does that matter to him at all?

 

Time will tell.

 

In a normal year he would have been paid,  this is not a normal free agency year.  Plenty of teams will be cutting players just to get under the cap,  their spread sheets do not add up.  The projected cap was targeted at around 210-215,  Beane talked about this in his presser.  He is lucky to sign for around 6-8 million this season on open market and Beane knows that.  So beyond what he is worth,  you have to consider supply & demand and how many teams have cap space space.

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

8 minutes ago, Niagara Dude said:

The fact is the cap is down and many teams are going to need to cut players including the Chiefs who are around 200 mill witn a cap around 176-178.  So that means the supply will go up and demand down,  bad year to be a free agent. Teams were projecting a cap well over 210 mill,  so plenty of cuts coming.  Book it and people and copy this post and let me know if i am wrong.   Do your homework & you will see that the salary cap math this season for all teams is not good

 

If you look at a salary tracking site like Overthecap, you will see that 8 teams have >$20M over a projected cap of $176M.  16 teams have $7M or more free.

All Milano needs is one team with free cap $$ and a need for a LB of his skill set.

 

Was that the math you had in mind?

[Kwai San]

2 hours ago, mannc said:

He should try to get as much as he can because this will be the last contract he gets...

 

Show me on the doll where the bad man hurt you......sheesh dude.....lighten up...

[YoloinOhio]

8 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

So if he leaves say this March, do we get the extra pick in 2021 or would it be the 2022 draft?

2022, but it’s not an automatic comp pick. It is factored into the comp pick formula and weighed against FA adds, etc

[aristocrat]

next man up

[Hapless Bills Fan]

10 minutes ago, Niagara Dude said:

In a normal year he would have been paid,  this is not a normal free agency year.  Plenty of teams will be cutting players just to get under the cap,  their spread sheets do not add up.  The projected cap was targeted at around 210-215,  Beane talked about this in his presser.  He is lucky to sign for around 6-8 million this season on open market and Beane knows that.  So beyond what he is worth,  you have to consider supply & demand and how many teams have cap space space.

 

Yes, it's not an average year.  The point is, what average teams or "plenty of teams" do, doesn't necessarily impact Milano.  All he needs is one of the 8-10 teams who are in a favorable cap position to 1) need a LB with his skill set to improve their D 2) decide he's their guy, and he can get paid. 

 

I don't have a good feel for the defensive styles and needs of the teams with free cap space, but (for example) Washington has $35M in free cap and a HC who may have some philosophical alignment to McDermott's defense as well as a DC who played LB, for example.

 

49 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Culture maker?  Guess he wants to let it be known he’s ok going to a rebuilding team as long as they pay him.  

 

That's how I read that statement.

[JohnBonhamRocks]

I like Milano and think he’s been a great LB for us, but if he is getting top $ then it will not be in Buffalo. Even if we were not somewhat cap-strapped, I would not be able to justify spending that money on a player who has his injury history and is not a player for whom OCs have to specifically gameplan. 
 

Regardless, what’s the worry? Just draft another Milano in the 5th. Easy. Geez. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

2 hours ago, Kelsayrundefense said:

As he should

Agree. I would be more worried if he said, “nah— looking for a mediocre deal in free agency.”

 

isn’t the goal of free agency to maximize your contract? 

[BillsFanForever19]

Coming into this year, I felt Milano was a candidate for extension if he had a great season and stayed healthy. 

 

Instead he was dinged up more than both years prior and in the Playoffs, his skills as a cover guy on TE's were non-existent.

 

Considering the upgrades we need to make and the amount of key contributors that are FA's, I was kinda against re-signing him to begin with. Top Dollar? Hahahahahahahahahahaha

Edited February 1, 2021 by BillsFanForever19

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 hour ago, eball said:

Matakevich!

for real. This guy just smooshes people. 

[Aussie Joe]

1 minute ago, JohnBonhamRocks said:

 

Regardless, what’s the worry? Just draft another Milano in the 5th. Easy. Geez. 

They took a swing at that a few years back...

 

Vosean Joseph I believe the fellas name was...

 

Has been quiet to date though... last seen at Walmart...

 

I would suggest with the value of this position to MCD’s defense that they are going to have to invest an early pick if Milano needs replacing which seems likely

[Hapless Bills Fan]

 

40 minutes ago, RichRiderBills said:

I know we play a different D , but the money we are talking about , OLB,  the guy needs to pop on film...he needs to be a difference maker and all pro type guy.

 

Cover1 says "Hi"

 

 

And that's not even including some of the eye-poppers he laid down in the 2nd half of the season this year.

 

I get it that Beane may have to make difficult prioritization decisions and if I were he, I'm not sure where Milano falls on my prioritization, but let's not diss on a guy who has totally played his ass off and been a difference maker - when on the field.

 

As Beane said in his presser, that's really their only concern with him.  Best ability, availability and all that.

 

[SCBills]

36 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Then you will get to complain when they pick a LB at 30 to replace him....

 

I'd be pretty annoyed if they let Milano walk (they should) but then draft a LB at 30.

 

Fix the defense by cutting guys like Jefferson, Butler and Addison, then using that money on an actual pass rusher. (There are going to be some available)

 

Draft a couple linebackers in the middle rounds to compete for a spot with Klein/Dodson in the mix. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, DJB said:

I'm fine with Milano walking so long as we get a real MLB and move Edmunds to WLB 

 

Don't hold yer breath.  Edmunds at MLB appears to be a "ditch" McDermott and Frazier are prepared to die in.

[billsbackto81]

I'd be all for paying Milano top LB pay, if he played like a top LB. He doesn't have the resume to make such demands. He's a scheme specific player who lacks " thump" in run defense. 

[DJB]

8 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Don't hold yer breath.  Edmunds at MLB appears to be a "ditch" McDermott and Frazier are prepared to die in.

 

Yup and its unfortunate. Hes an average MLB but has the potential to be a stud WLB

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 minutes ago, billsbackto81 said:

I'd be all for paying Milano top LB pay, if he played like a top LB. He doesn't have the resume to make such demands. He's a scheme specific player who lacks " thump" in run defense. 

 

Do we watch the same football team?  I mean, Criminy, no one is perfect and Milano does miss more tackles than I'd like, but when he thumps a guy, generally he stays thumped.

[Mr. WEO]

lol, top dollar...

[Rubes]

25 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Agree. I would be more worried if he said, “nah— looking for a mediocre deal in free agency.”

 

isn’t the goal of free agency to maximize your contract? 

 

True, but "maximize" is not quite the same as "top dollar".

 

[Aussie Joe]

5 minutes ago, SCBills said:

 

I'd be pretty annoyed if they let Milano walk (they should) but then draft a LB at 30.

 

Fix the defense by cutting guys like Jefferson, Butler and Addison, then using that money on an actual pass rusher. (There are going to be some available)

 

Draft a couple linebackers in the middle rounds to compete for a spot with Klein/Dodson in the mix. 

Well... they don’t have a 4th round ...and I can’t see them waiting until the 5th to roll the dice given the value of the position to the team...

 

If Milano moves on for more money, and they like someone else at 30 who they think they can replace him and can be a cost effective contributor for 4 years then why not take him?

 

Its pick 30, not a top 10 pick

 

 

[John from Riverside]

Milano in our defense IS super important

 

but

 

top dollar would hamstring us.....In that case I would rather let him walk.....put that money into our offensive line .....and draft a LB high

 

The reason why Milano is so important is we dont have linebackers who can cover......go get a less expensive version of Milano

10 minutes ago, SCBills said:

 

I'd be pretty annoyed if they let Milano walk (they should) but then draft a LB at 30.

 

Fix the defense by cutting guys like Jefferson, Butler and Addison, then using that money on an actual pass rusher. (There are going to be some available)

 

Draft a couple linebackers in the middle rounds to compete for a spot with Klein/Dodson in the mix. 

SC.....what if letting Milano walk and drafting a LB at 30 allowed you to keep RT Williams?  Who also deserves a contract?

[SCBills]

4 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Well... they don’t have a 4th round ...and I can’t see them waiting until the 5th to roll the dice given the value of the position to the team...

 

If Milano moves on for more money, and they like someone else at 30 who they think they can replace him and can be a cost effective contributor for 4 years then why not take him?

 

Its pick 30, not a top 10 pick

 

 

 

We can get a 4th if we want.  We have two 5ths to play with. 

 

I'd much rather use Pick 30 on Offense.   Give me the best playmaker or OL.

4 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

Milano in our defense IS super important

 

but

 

top dollar would hamstring us.....In that case I would rather let him walk.....put that money into our offensive line .....and draft a LB high

 

The reason why Milano is so important is we dont have linebackers who can cover......go get a less expensive version of Milano

SC.....what if letting Milano walk and drafting a LB at 30 allowed you to keep RT Williams?  Who also deserves a contract?

 

I'm 100% in on cutting Brown, Jefferson, Butler and Addison.  Letting Milano walk, and using some $$$ on Williams.  

 

Edited February 1, 2021 by SCBills

[YoloinOhio]

1 hour ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Culture maker?  Guess he wants to let it be known he’s ok going to a rebuilding team as long as they pay him.  

Jacksonville might be the destination.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

22 minutes ago, Rubes said:

 

True, but "maximize" is not quite the same as "top dollar".

 

I figured he would go out there and try to make the most of any MLB in the league, and take the best offer he could get. To me, that’s not an unreasonable approach. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

12 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Jacksonville might be the destination.

 

They do have the most free cap. 

 

Reportedly hiring Ravens DL coach Joe Cullen as their new DC:

https://www.nfl.com/news/jaguars-to-hire-ravens-dl-coach-joe-cullen-as-new-defensive-coordinator

 

I guess we don't know what his defensive philosophy is, but don't the Ravens traditionally look for big thumpers at OLB?  Do you think Milano is a fit for him? 

 

What kind of defense is Urban Meyer known for?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

3 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I figured he would go out there and try to make the most of any MLB in the league, and take the best offer he could get. To me, that’s not an unreasonable approach. 

 

Why would Milano be looking to move to MLB?