Free Agents We Should Be Looking At

[BillsVet]

Fans debate each off-season over LBs, DTs, and Safeties, but using cap dollars there is not going to result in W's like it will making Allen better.

 

That's just where the NFL is now, but people want to pursue balance on both sides of the ball?  Why?  Allen is the way you win now and so long as you can rush the passer on defense.  All this talk about lower positional values signings is just that. 

 

If there's any balance this team needs, it's a running game that complements the passing game.  And I'd start up front before falling into the new narrative about drafting yet another RB.  This off-season remains a discussion about how they continue making Josh the centerpiece and giving him everything he needs to succeed. 

[RyanC883]

21 minutes ago, The Governor said:

Yeah. I don’t think there’s any reason to think Star can still play. That’s another hole. 

 

he might be able to, but I agree, we can't count on it.  If he shows up and balls out, then it's a bonus.  

 

 

[Rc2catch]

1 hour ago, BuffaloRebound said:

What’s so special about Vrabel?  His defenses have been poor in Tennessee.  And coming from Belichik and O’Brien tree, I can’t imagine he’s a player friendly coach.   

Tennessee plays hard. His players give 100% that’s part of the reason they’ve been successful with lesser talent than some other teams. I’m not a big Vrabel fan but the guy gets the most from his players. 

[Paul Costa]

2 hours ago, aristocrat said:

kj wright would be an interesting look for milano replacement. 

I like this idea. Had a very productive year last year. Plenty of gas in the tank left. Come in and start day 1. Half the money as Milano on cap too. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

10 hours ago, RyanC883 said:

 

I think we def need interior help.  Even if Star comes back, you've gotta question the guys passion (he took the year off because he'd get paid anyway), and what shape will he be in?  That said, I agree we should focus FA on Edge.  I think the draft is decently deep in space eating 1T.  Ideally, I'd grab a 1T in FA and the draft.  

 

I'm fine with drafting a DT  this year as Stars eventual replacement either in 2022 or 23 as is low cost now.  But I look at it for 2021, they have Star and maybe they keep either Jefferson or Butler plus Oliver, Phillips, and Zimmer on cheap deals.   That leaves either four or five DT without drafting someone depending on whether they keep/cut both Jefferson and/or Butler. 

 

Ideally they draft the guy maybe mid round, then someone steps on his toe or something in training camp so they can stash him on IR for a year to avoid any numbers issues.

[Doc]

8 hours ago, The Governor said:

Yeah. I don’t think there’s any reason to think Star can still play. That’s another hole. 

 

There's no reason to think he can't.  He had the year off so should be fresher than he's been in years.  And he'll be able to get the vaccine so that won't be an excuse.

[John from Riverside]

22 hours ago, The Governor said:

We are way lacking in talent. The process can only get you so far. We need 3 or 4 great players added to this team. How?

The team in the AFC Championship is "way lacking on talent"

 

ok

20 hours ago, The Governor said:

I truly believe this team has been over performing and I’m worried that it won’t last.

 

We need the best FA DE we can find, draft the best LB available and even trade back up for a RB if need be, and call it a day. I’m also worried about Star.

Go back and take a look at strength of schedule for the bills last year.....then come back and apologize

12 hours ago, The Governor said:

I really just don’t see it. I think the offense was obviously playing over their heads and the coaching did a great job of hiding the lack of talent on defense. I lived in Carolina all of those years and there’s no resemblance at all. 
 

Who is the Julius Peppers of this defense? Who is the Charles Johnson of this defense? Those D lines were absolutely dominant. We don’t have ANY of those pieces. I would send BOTH of our LB’s packing tomorrow. We aren’t close on defense at all if the model is Carolina.

I think a few posters here recently hit it right on the head. We don’t just need an edge guy. Those Carolina defenses had outstanding pressure and sacks coming from up the middle.

Go back and see where we ranked in pressures compared to the rest of the NFL....then come back and apologize again.

[John from Riverside]

10 hours ago, The Governor said:

My GF and I are both UNCW alums and have a soft spot for Beane, but man, we really need to get this off-season and draft right with surgical precision or I fear we could take a substantial step backwards next season.

Your posts get worse with each another every passing one.   The reason why Beane needs to be on it is if he doesnt draft right draft picks MIGHT NOT MAKE THE TEAM because of the talent already on the roster.

 

This team was literally one of the top 4 teams in the league last year.....with no running game and a declined defense....stop and think about what you are saying.

[Governor]

13 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

Your posts get worse with each another every passing one.   The reason why Beane needs to be on it is if he doesnt draft right draft picks MIGHT NOT MAKE THE TEAM because of the talent already on the roster.

 

This team was literally one of the top 4 teams in the league last year.....with no running game and a declined defense....stop and think about what you are saying.

I’ll let him know you’ll be running the draft this year.

[Doc]

5 minutes ago, The Governor said:

I’ll let him know you’ll be running the draft this year.

 

Maybe Beane can copy off your crib sheet...

[Governor]

I figured the “built-in” excuses would come late night. OMG guys, did you see all of those “pressures” we had this season?

 

Pressures? 
 

We did all of this “without this and that.”

 

Well, isn’t that the problem? You’re not supposed to be “without” a bunch of things. That usually means that your team has a bunch of holes.

 

I don’t remember them announcing that we’d be rolling with a “declined” defense. In fact, everyone said the defense would be improved. 

 

 

Edited March 3, 2021 by The Governor

[Doc]

7 minutes ago, The Governor said:

I figured the “built-in” excuses would come late night. OMG guys, did you see all of those “pressures” we had this season?

 

Pressures? 
 

We did all of this “without this and that.”

 

Well, isn’t that the problem? You’re not supposed to be “without” a bunch of things. That usually means that your team has a bunch of holes.

 

I don’t remember them announcing that we’d be rolling with a “declined” defense. In fact, everyone said the defense would be improved.

 

Send your resume to OBD...

[Governor]

7 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Send your resume to OBD...

I could be in charge of hanging motivational signs around the locker room. My first one will read, “It’s all about the pressures.”

[John from Riverside]

51 minutes ago, The Governor said:

I’ll let him know you’ll be running the draft this year.

Great come back you sound like a two-year-old

15 minutes ago, The Governor said:

I could be in charge of hanging motivational signs around the locker room. My first one will read, “It’s all about the pressures.”

The only thing you would be charge of his handing out the towels and that’s a maybe

34 minutes ago, The Governor said:

I figured the “built-in” excuses would come late night. OMG guys, did you see all of those “pressures” we had this season?

 

Pressures? 
 

We did all of this “without this and that.”

 

Well, isn’t that the problem? You’re not supposed to be “without” a bunch of things. That usually means that your team has a bunch of holes.

 

I don’t remember them announcing that we’d be rolling with a “declined” defense. In fact, everyone said the defense would be improved. 

 

 

You don’t need built-in excuse is when you play in the AFC championship game the bills had a great season

Edited March 3, 2021 by John from Riverside

[Locomark]

21 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Not only are we lacking a replacement for Murphy but Jerry isn't exactly young anymore. Who knows how AJE develops?  We almost need 2 edge rushers. I know Ngakoue will cost us but you all saw how Tampa beat KC.

Ngakoue sucks against the run but does force turnovers.  I question if we need to fork over big money for a guy who is fairly one dimensional when there are 4-5 other really good young age pass rushing options on the market this year at a $5-6mil less lower price (Okwara, Carl Lawson, Henrickson) and we will likely need another DE in a year or 2. 

Edited March 3, 2021 by Locomark

[T master]

Can you say reunion ??

 

 Would it be cap worthy to bring in Kyle Rudolph now that he has been cut ?

 

Him & Diggs made quite the pair up nort A .

 

Sweeney is coming back this season but with Lee Smith likely leaving they can fill a hole not to mention they could clear a bit of cap by releasing Tyler Kroft if needed .

[Governor]

9 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

Great come back you sound like a two-year-old

The only thing you would be charge of his handing out the towels and that’s a maybe

You don’t need built-in excuse is when you play in the AFC championship game the bills had a great season

“With patience, comes pressures.”

[Locomark]

19 hours ago, BillsVet said:

Fans debate each off-season over LBs, DTs, and Safeties, but using cap dollars there is not going to result in W's like it will making Allen better.

 

That's just where the NFL is now, but people want to pursue balance on both sides of the ball?  Why?  Allen is the way you win now and so long as you can rush the passer on defense.  All this talk about lower positional values signings is just that. 

 

If there's any balance this team needs, it's a running game that complements the passing game.  And I'd start up front before falling into the new narrative about drafting yet another RB.  This off-season remains a discussion about how they continue making Josh the centerpiece and giving him everything he needs to succeed. 

If Modon gets a big deal before FA,  Williams is likely the top RT which means he will get $12-14 from a team like Jax and I don’t believe we will pay that. That would be too much spend in our two tackles. That means we will be drafting that RT in round 1 IMO and paying Feliciano or another guard in FA. 

[Governor]

5 minutes ago, Locomark said:

If Modon gets a big deal before FA,  Williams is likely the top RT which means he will get $12-14 from a team like Jax and I don’t believe we will pay that. That would be too much spend in our two tackles. That means we will be drafting that RT in round 1 IMO and paying Feliciano or another guard in FA. 

The Giants are going to sign Williams. They were already looking at him late in the season. That’s what my team employee friend said at least. They’ve been sniffing around him for some time now.

Edited March 3, 2021 by The Governor

[Locomark]

I wonder do the Bills go after someone like the Chiefs Breeland as their Veteran CB this year? The reason I pick him besides I think he is an upgrade over Norman is: a) he comes from a winner and b) he knows everything about the Chiefs receivers and offense and that is important because we need to beat them twice next year. (once to get home field and likely twice to get into a SB) 

2 minutes ago, The Governor said:

The Giants are going to sign Williams. They were already looking at him late in the season. That’s what my team employee friend said at least. They’ve been sniffing around him for some time now.

I heard Jags are going to sign 3-4 OL and have a boatload of cap money and are opening the bank to protect Lawrence. 

[dje85]

4 minutes ago, Locomark said:

I wonder do the Bills go after someone like the Chiefs Breeland as their Veteran CB this year? The reason I pick him besides I think he is an upgrade over Norman is: a) he comes from a winner and b) he knows everything about the Chiefs receivers and offense and that is important because we need to beat them twice next year. (once to get home field and likely twice to get into a SB) 

I heard Jags are going to sign 3-4 OL and have a boatload of cap money and are opening the bank to protect Lawrence. 

 

That'd be smart of them to do that. Bengals showed what happens when you hang your rookie qb out to dry when it comes to the oline. 

[Simon Says]

On 3/1/2021 at 9:48 PM, wagne591 said:

These are free agents I think the Bills would go after in the open market. The Bills and their front office doesn't over spend on anyone (not even their own) and they seem to find players who have to prove something or if they don't they can go find another job. The Bills are also an organization that most players want to come play for. So here are my thoughts on some free agents we should be looking for and not the high priced guys that you would get into a bidding war with. My list is in no particular order.

 

Jadeveon Clowney (DE) Sportrac has his value at 6.5M a year. We could sign him to a 1 year prove it deal like we did with Jordan Philips after we got him from Miami. Clowney would replace Murphy who would cost a little more then Murph but is 2 years younger and has a lot more talent he just needs a kick in the butt and with our Defensive Coaching staff they just might be able to do it. 

 

Ndamukong Suh (DT) Sportrac has his value at 6.8M a year. I would cut Jefferson and Butler and sign this guy for a couple years. I know he is at the end of his career but can you imagine Suh and Star in the middle of our D-line. Them two alone would clog up four O-linemen and leave our ends and LB's room to roam and make plays. If I did this I would also draft a big bodied DT for a space eater to learn how to maneuver and handle double teams in the NFL behind those two. Plus he would bring some attitude to our line which needs it.

 

Solomon Thomas (DE) Sportrac has his value at 5.6M a year. This guy reminds me of Jerry Hughes coming over from Indy when we got him. A new environment might be good for this dude and he is young 25 years old. Affordable, and he was a round 1 # 3 overall pick in 17'. I just think he played at Stanford then drafted by SF....same area maybe a change of scenery might help him focus. 

 

I would also try to sign our own like D Williams and Flaciano for our O-line; and I would love to get Milano back but I don't see that happening. 

I doubt ANY of these guys interest the Bills. Clooney under-performs and isn't a great pass rusher. You aren't going to sign Suh when you have Star. Thomas hasn't done much and is coming off ACL injury.

[Don Otreply]

On 3/2/2021 at 10:09 AM, mjt328 said:

 

Despite what people think, the Bills front office is not trying to make a carbon-copy of the Carolina Panthers.

With our GM and HC both from that organization, there are obviously going to be similarities.  But over the years they have learned what works and what doesn't.  They are clearly trying to do their own thing here.

 

Josh Allen became a Top 5 quarterback in 2020.  That was the main reason for our success on offense.  If you don't believe he can replicate that going forward, then yeah.. maybe we were playing over our heads.  But personally, I don't see any reason to believe he's going to step back as his career progresses.  I've heard many state that Allen is possibly the most physically gifted QB to ever enter the NFL.  The question was if he could develop that talent, and he's clearly doing that.  

 

On defense, we lack a big-name All-Pro talent on the Front 7.  No disagreements there.  But I would also say that Buffalo's secondary (Tre White, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde) has more talent than anything Sean McDermott had on his defense in Carolina.  

 

Very few teams can boast more than 3-4 elite guys on their roster.  The Chiefs are considered the absolute class of the league, and they basically have Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and maybe Chris Jones that you can put in that elite category.  The Bucs won the Super Bowl.  Their elite guys are basically Tom Brady, and maybe Mike Evans and Shaq Barrett.  The Bills have Allen, Stephon Diggs and Tre White as elite players.  Like Kansas City and Tampa, we have very few holes, solid/good starters at most positions and strong depth on the sideline.  Bottom line, we really aren't far behind anyone in the NFL in talent.

 

 

Yah, but if I believe what your sayin, I won’t be able to spend time this off season being overtly  worried/concerned about the teams personnel decisions,  I’m just gonna say it now,  we’re dooooooomed...

 

😁

 

 

Go Bills!!!

[Boxcar]

On 3/1/2021 at 11:15 PM, The Governor said:

We are way lacking in talent. The process can only get you so far. We need 3 or 4 great players added to this team. How?

The second or third best team in the NFL is lacking talent...lol

[Mark Vader]

On 3/2/2021 at 7:55 AM, LABILLBACKER said:

Not only are we lacking a replacement for Murphy but Jerry isn't exactly young anymore. Who knows how AJE develops?  We almost need 2 edge rushers. I know Ngakoue will cost us but you all saw how Tampa beat KC.

 

On 3/2/2021 at 8:05 AM, The Governor said:

 I totally agree. I didn’t think Hughes would still be on the team last season. I expected to already have upgraded there. 

How exactly has Jerry Hughes regressed? I have not seen it, even at his age.

[The Jokeman]

1 hour ago, Mark Vader said:

 

How exactly has Jerry Hughes regressed? I have not seen it, even at his age.

Hughes isn't getting double digit sacks like he did earlier in his career and for much of the early season he seemed a step slower. He's good but not great. I don't mind keeping him for leadership and he can get to the QB on occasion. He's similar to Addison and I might be in minority but I keep both and then sign an UFA and draft a kid in the mid rounds to maybe compete. The UFA I like the most is Dawuane Smoot as I don't think he'd break the bank but think he's starting to come into his own. 

6 hours ago, Locomark said:

Ngakoue sucks against the run but does force turnovers.  I question if we need to fork over big money for a guy who is fairly one dimensional when there are 4-5 other really good young age pass rushing options on the market this year at a $5-6mil less lower price (Okwara, Carl Lawson, Henrickson) and we will likely need another DE in a year or 2. 

Don't forget to include Dawuane Smoot in the lower cost option guys who could be worth adding. 

[Mark Vader]

6 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

Hughes isn't getting double digit sacks like he did earlier in his career and for much of the early season he seemed a step slower. He's good but not great. I don't mind keeping him for leadership and he can get to the QB on occasion. He's similar to Addison and I might be in minority but I keep both and then sign an UFA and draft a kid in the mid rounds to maybe compete. The UFA I like the most is Dawuane Smoot as I don't think he'd break the bank but think he's starting to come into his own. 

Don't forget to include Dawuane Smoot in the lower cost option guys who could be worth adding. 

Smoot wouldn't be a sexy signing, but he would be a good and very affordable addition.

 

As for Hughes, I understand that he's not getting double digit sacks, yet he is still a force as a pass rusher. Some people see him as a liability and I don't.

 

I would be fine with keeping Addison too, but he has to take a pay cut.

[Aussie Joe]

28 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

The UFA I like the most is Dawuane Smoot as I don't think he'd break the bank but think he's starting to come into his own. 

Don't forget to include Dawuane Smoot in the lower cost option guys who could be worth adding. 

Good find that has been under the radar....

 

They could do a lot worse... only problem will be getting them away from money bags Jags if they want to keep him... couldn’t go much higher than $12m 2 years... 

[LABILLBACKER]

2 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

 

How exactly has Jerry Hughes regressed? I have not seen it, even at his age.

The definition of regressing according to Webster's is going from 10 sacks to averaging 5 sacks over the last 6 years.  Add in carte blanche holding on Jerry every game because of his history with the refs and you have "regressing".....it's ok, it happens to all of us when we get older. 

[Victory Formation]

I’d like to see us re-sign Isaiah McKenzie and maybe go after Dede Westbrook to round out that WR room. Kyle Rudolph would be a good option at TE, I think he would instantly come in and start and provide production. Wouldn’t mind a high ceiling/low cost option at DE like Taco Charlton. I think he has untapped potential. Ultimately I hope we don’t spend a whole lot..

[John from Riverside]

 

[poblano]

I'm usually an anti-Pats players, but lately i notice  Lawrence Guy is FA, he is a player that could push  players around him, my concern is that he is able to play in Buffalo's defensive scheme.