State of the Bills Roster 3 weeks into FA

[Hapless Bills Fan]

 

 

What do you all make of this?  Thoughts?

Some of mine:

1) Remaining gaps.

Safety: The one guy I still see as a FA that I thought the Bills would like to re-sign or replace is Safety Dean Marlow

CB: I'm also a bit surprised they haven't added anyone to compete at CB.

DL: I guess I'm also surprised there haven't been more moves there. 

Perhaps this is a clue to the Bills draft direction, looking for DL or CB?

2) The number of OLmen who've been signed seems crazy to me.  I really hoped the Bills would draft a top C/G to develop, and the sheer number of OLmen now on the roster makes this seem unlikely to me.  Thoughts?

3) Corey Bojorquez is still a free agent.  Huh.  So much for leading the league in average punt distance.  Guess teams must be looking at a different overall picture when signing a punter.  Either that or he has an inflated sense of his own value that the market doesn't accept.

4) So are Kenny Stills (WR) and Darron Lee (LB)

 

 

 

 

[NewEra]

It might currently be the 2nd best roster in football.  I’d give the Bucs the #1 overall.  I think we have more depth and less holes than the chiefs, but they have a huge edge in elite talent. 

[H2o]

Duke Williams career with the Bills is on the end of this punch

[Process]

With all the o line moves, it's no longer a position that needs to be addressed this draft. 

 

We signed some LB depth. 

 

I'm fine with Moss and Breida at RB. 

 

Only pressing needs are CB and pass rusher (rounds 1 and 2?). Grab a mid round TE or WR. 

 

We are in good shape.

[KGun12TD]

SUPER BOWL, BABY!!!

[jkeerie]

1.  Agree with you at Safety.  I really thought/hoped they'd resign Marlowe.

2.  I thought they'd bring in a veteran corner as well.  Perhaps the price was too high.  I expect them to draft one since that is a deep position this year.

3.  I suspect DL positions were too pricy.   They know they're getting star back.  Edge is likely a target early in the draft.

4.  I think they will still draft OL this draft at some point, or bring in undrafted free agents.  They like their competition on the oline and they are bringing back all the starters from last year.

5.  With the depth at WR in this draft, teams are likely looking to get younger before they pick up a vet.  Darron Lee hasn't distinguished himself in the league.  Bojo had one good year.

[Malazan]

I've said they're doing edge rusher early. Edge and CB are both high paid positions that tend to have disappointing results in free agency. Those are high value positions to draft because of the disparity in return if you 'hit' on a draft pick versus a free agent

[GunnerBill]

It is an all around solid roster. They don't have holes. They need to find a couple more difference makers. 

 

An on Bojo I can't say I am that surprised. He had his best season in 2020 but had he been a free agent a year ago nobody would have been surprised he was unsigned. I do think he ends up in a job somewhere but teams are not just going to ignore the adventures of dropped snaps, bad FG holding, line drive kicks that allow long returns and shanks at inopportune moments that was his career pre-2020.  

 

[babulator]

Beane has definitely put us in a position to do whatever he wants.

 

He can easily take the BPA without any glaring holes, and it looks like we could land someone worthwhile at Edge or CB.

With our core in tact and under contract he could move up and grab someone if he really covets them (not likely).

Or he could move back a few places and find a value pick(s). Depending on where Beane see's our needs and mostly how the draft unfolds.

I can't remember having this kind of flexibility in the draft in a long while. (ever?)

 

Go Bills!

'

[First Round Bust]

1.  signing your own FAs is not only smart but super-smart when they take home-town discounts...expecting Josh to get his extension just before the season starts.

2. I really like the collection of FA vet depth at the bottom of the roster - depth, competition and value rather than relying on last year PS guys which exposed some roster weakness now addressed

3. so now the draft is about BPA - other than CB, edge, TE, where we need a push - but none of these positions have to be starters at least not right away.  Vets are in place this season to mentor the picks as well (Addison, Wallace, OL) other than TE I feel good, as I dont see good options beyond Knox should he get hurt and or a mid-round draft pick helping this season. 

 

 

 

Edited April 7, 2021 by First Round Bust

[Utah John]

At this point I think Beane will be drafting for 2022 and 2023.  So if you want to guess where he'll go in the draft, look at which key players are likely to leave after 2021 and 2022. 

 

The roster looks solid all around.  He's accumulating excess O linemen as FAs whom he'll trade for draft picks to desperate teams during training camp.  (The only time this went wrong was when he traded away Wyatt Teller to Cleveland.)

 

Beane wants to build a dynasty.  He's not going all-in on any particular year.  He wants to be a consistent 11 or 12 game winner, year in and year out, which makes it easier to pop up to a championship one of those years. 

[TPS]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

What do you all make of this?  Thoughts?

Some of mine:

1) Remaining gaps.

Safety: The one guy I still see as a FA that I thought the Bills would like to re-sign or replace is Safety Dean Marlow

CB: I'm also a bit surprised they haven't added anyone to compete at CB.

DL: I guess I'm also surprised there haven't been more moves there. 

Perhaps this is a clue to the Bills draft direction, looking for DL or CB?

2) The number of OLmen who've been signed seems crazy to me.  I really hoped the Bills would draft a top C/G to develop, and the sheer number of OLmen now on the roster makes this seem unlikely to me.  Thoughts?

3) Corey Bojorquez is still a free agent.  Huh.  So much for leading the league in average punt distance.  Guess teams must be looking at a different overall picture when signing a punter.  Either that or he has an inflated sense of his own value that the market doesn't accept.

4) So are Kenny Stills (WR) and Darron Lee (LB)

 

 

 

 

I think they'll try to find their big nickel (S) in the draft and add a CB.

 

 

[Buffalo Boy]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

 

What do you all make of this?  Thoughts?

Some of mine:

1) Remaining gaps.

Safety: The one guy I still see as a FA that I thought the Bills would like to re-sign or replace is Safety Dean Marlow

CB: I'm also a bit surprised they haven't added anyone to compete at CB.

DL: I guess I'm also surprised there haven't been more moves there. 

Perhaps this is a clue to the Bills draft direction, looking for DL or CB?

2) The number of OLmen who've been signed seems crazy to me.  I really hoped the Bills would draft a top C/G to develop, and the sheer number of OLmen now on the roster makes this seem unlikely to me.  Thoughts?

3) Corey Bojorquez is still a free agent.  Huh.  So much for leading the league in average punt distance.  Guess teams must be looking at a different overall picture when signing a punter.  Either that or he has an inflated sense of his own value that the market doesn't accept.

4) So are Kenny Stills (WR) and Darron Lee (LB)

 

 

 

 

Regarding # 2:

   Obviously you can’t fill every hole and this year is especially tough with the Cap being what it is.

   My guess is, Beane feels he can continue with a middle of the road line due to JA’s mobility and pocket awareness. Last year, Josh’s command of the pocket and seeming nonchalance in dealing with jail breaks by defenders has Beane feeling ok with this approach.

    I think it is inarguably more important to shore up the D this offseason.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

As long as Duke is on there, I am good. 

[Rochesterfan]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

 

What do you all make of this?  Thoughts?

Some of mine:

1) Remaining gaps.

Safety: The one guy I still see as a FA that I thought the Bills would like to re-sign or replace is Safety Dean Marlow

CB: I'm also a bit surprised they haven't added anyone to compete at CB.

DL: I guess I'm also surprised there haven't been more moves there. 

Perhaps this is a clue to the Bills draft direction, looking for DL or CB?

2) The number of OLmen who've been signed seems crazy to me.  I really hoped the Bills would draft a top C/G to develop, and the sheer number of OLmen now on the roster makes this seem unlikely to me.  Thoughts?

3) Corey Bojorquez is still a free agent.  Huh.  So much for leading the league in average punt distance.  Guess teams must be looking at a different overall picture when signing a punter.  Either that or he has an inflated sense of his own value that the market doesn't accept.

4) So are Kenny Stills (WR) and Darron Lee (LB)

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for this - totally love looking at the roster.

 

1st thing is that if training camp opened - we are ready - we have starters and depth set before the draft - nice feeling to have lots of options.

 

2nd thing - very surprised at number of LBs and OL signed and lack of DBs - especially as we run a lot of 4-2-5 - wonder if part of the bigger, faster, more physical is a bigger change to philosophy and the return of more traditional 4-3 looks?

 

3rd thing - I think I really like this roster heading into the draft - very similar to last year - I really like the added depth at QB and OL compared to guys like Winters we brought in late last year.  I think there is still room for talent that can knock some vets off, but it is also a roster ready to go if needed. 
 

I still think between now and training camp - we will see the draft and UDFAs, but I would expect 1-3 more signings of cut players or guys that are still free and some more chaff being separated from the wheat.  Some of these bottom of the roster guys (maybe even a veteran or two) might not make it to camp if they can get the right fit.

[TBBills]

They are def gonna draft CB/DL/LB something like that early.

[whatdrought]

I just did a similar spreadsheet last night and then did a TDN mock draft where I traded around and got 5 guys between 40-120, added them to the roster and then did cuts. 
 

after I had my 53 it was very very hard to get to 48 or whatever for a game day. We are so deep at so many spots that good players are going to be sitting out games. 

[BigdaddyinOrlando]

2 hours ago, babulator said:

Beane has definitely put us in a position to do whatever he wants.

 

He can easily take the BPA without any glaring holes, and it looks like we could land someone worthwhile at Edge or CB.

With our core in tact and under contract he could move up and grab someone if he really covets them (not likely).

Or he could move back a few places and find a value pick(s). Depending on where Beane see's our needs and mostly how the draft unfolds.

I can't remember having this kind of flexibility in the draft in a long while. (ever?)

 

Go Bills!

'

Agree, plus as we have seen before w Beane he does make trades of guys that are gonna be cut, I wouldn’t at all be surprised if this happens again this year especially on the OL.

[DrDawkinstein]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

 

What do you all make of this?  Thoughts?

Some of mine:

1) Remaining gaps.

Safety: The one guy I still see as a FA that I thought the Bills would like to re-sign or replace is Safety Dean Marlow

CB: I'm also a bit surprised they haven't added anyone to compete at CB.

DL: I guess I'm also surprised there haven't been more moves there. 

Perhaps this is a clue to the Bills draft direction, looking for DL or CB?

2) The number of OLmen who've been signed seems crazy to me.  I really hoped the Bills would draft a top C/G to develop, and the sheer number of OLmen now on the roster makes this seem unlikely to me.  Thoughts?

3) Corey Bojorquez is still a free agent.  Huh.  So much for leading the league in average punt distance.  Guess teams must be looking at a different overall picture when signing a punter.  Either that or he has an inflated sense of his own value that the market doesn't accept.

4) So are Kenny Stills (WR) and Darron Lee (LB)

 

 

 

 

 

To the bolds...

 

I'm less surprised than most with the Bills not bringing in a CB. I think they are very happy with the development of Taron Johnson and Dane Jackson, and will look to add via another mid/late-round pick.

 

The high number of OL is Beane's MO. He couldnt do this last year with COVID mucking everything up, but his usual trick is to sign a lot of "decent" OL and then trade away the extras for mid-round picks as we get through camp.

[ngbills]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

 

What do you all make of this?  Thoughts?

Some of mine:

1) Remaining gaps.

Safety: The one guy I still see as a FA that I thought the Bills would like to re-sign or replace is Safety Dean Marlow

CB: I'm also a bit surprised they haven't added anyone to compete at CB.

DL: I guess I'm also surprised there haven't been more moves there. 

Perhaps this is a clue to the Bills draft direction, looking for DL or CB?

2) The number of OLmen who've been signed seems crazy to me.  I really hoped the Bills would draft a top C/G to develop, and the sheer number of OLmen now on the roster makes this seem unlikely to me.  Thoughts?

3) Corey Bojorquez is still a free agent.  Huh.  So much for leading the league in average punt distance.  Guess teams must be looking at a different overall picture when signing a punter.  Either that or he has an inflated sense of his own value that the market doesn't accept.

4) So are Kenny Stills (WR) and Darron Lee (LB)

 

 

 

 

Well you cant have everything you want sop you pick your battles. The areas that are open to upgrade:

 

QB: Set at 1 and 2 for next year. 

RB: Could upgrade, but serviceable group given passing offense. A better pass catching RB would be nice but these guys can at least be outlets.

TE: Clear upgrade needed. 

OL: Set. Solid group

DE: Clear upgrade needed both short term and long term. 

DT: Some questions here. Star is in his last days, Oliver needs to step up. 

LB: Rolling with these guys. Edmunds $ coming up; Milano got paid. Inconsistent group.

DB: Need CB2 upgrade; Depth at S.

[CorkScrewHill]

Since several people mentioned Dean Marlowe .. he was visiting with the Lions this week

 

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/04/07/dean-marlowe-visits-with-lions/

[IgotBILLStopay]

Thanks. Looking at that depth chart, there is little doubt our draft will be defense centric! need upgrades at DE, DT and CB (and TE also).

[billybrew1]

Trade a 6th rd. pick for Zach Ertz and sign Dean Marlowe, then go into the draft....

 

WR or DE at one, CB at two, DE or WR at three.

 

Then trade up the pair of fives to get a DT....

 

Finish draft with BPAs....

[Punching Bag]

Nobody who is backup would I want to play safety if Poyer or Hyde is out for a game.  

 

Sign Dean.

[The Jokeman]

4 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

To the bolds...

 

I'm less surprised than most with the Bills not bringing in a CB. I think they are very happy with the development of Taron Johnson and Dane Jackson, and will look to add via another mid/late-round pick.

 

The high number of OL is Beane's MO. He couldnt do this last year with COVID mucking everything up, but his usual trick is to sign a lot of "decent" OL and then trade away the extras for mid-round picks as we get through camp.

Taron is a nickel/slot guy. While Jackson can compete for #2 I fully expect us to draft a guy for the CB2 role. Eric Stokes fits the Bill with his ability to play zone and on the outside. Toss in his a bit of an athletic freak he seems to be a guy Beane would want to take with our 1st.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

It is an all around solid roster. They don't have holes. They need to find a couple more difference makers. 

 

An on Bojo I can't say I am that surprised. He had his best season in 2020 but had he been a free agent a year ago nobody would have been surprised he was unsigned. I do think he ends up in a job somewhere but teams are not just going to ignore the adventures of dropped snaps, bad FG holding, line drive kicks that allow long returns and shanks at inopportune moments that was his career pre-2020. 

 

Bojo had a few episodes of these adventures in 2020 as well, as I recall.

[K-9]

8 hours ago, NewEra said:

It might currently be the 2nd best roster in football.  I’d give the Bucs the #1 overall.  I think we have more depth and less holes than the chiefs, but they have a huge edge in elite talent. 

Unfortunately, elite talent trumps most everything else. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

36 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

Nobody who is backup would I want to play safety if Poyer or Hyde is out for a game.  

 

Sign Dean.

 

I agree.  I expect the Bills want him back at vet minimum, and he wants a raise.

 

But, he's been in the league for 5 years, and he may also be looking for a place where he has an option to start. 

 

The Lions have Tracy Walker and Will Harris at the top of their Safety depth chart, although currently I think they've got like 6 safeties on the roster.

Would that be his chance to compete for a starting role?

[Nester]

Looks awesome!

 

will echo the need for more depth in the secondary and a playmaker DE. 

[Jeff1954]

Beane has said that he wants to settle JA’s contract asap because it will affect the entire roster. The one thing we know now about that contract is that, come 2023, it will be a very big number. Therefore, the balance of the current roster is going have to change to replace highly priced veterans with players still on their rookie contracts. This is again doubly true if Edmunds and Oliver are extended.

The players whose age/ contract number suggests they will be gone in/by 2023 are Lotulelei , Morse, Addison, Beasley, Hughes, Poyer, Klein and Sanders.

So, in the next three drafts, we will likely be looking for 2 Edge, 2 WR’s, centre, safety, OLB, and DT. That’s 8 players. Add in CB2, and maybe big nickel and that’s ten positions over the next 3 drafts.

I know nothing about college football. Thanks to everybody for their thoughts. I am enjoying researching them. However, I suspect that a majority of the top of our next two or three drafts will be going BPA from the above positions.

Edited April 8, 2021 by Jeff1954

[Mat68]

7 hours ago, Utah John said:

At this point I think Beane will be drafting for 2022 and 2023.  So if you want to guess where he'll go in the draft, look at which key players are likely to leave after 2021 and 2022. 

 

The roster looks solid all around.  He's accumulating excess O linemen as FAs whom he'll trade for draft picks to desperate teams during training camp.  (The only time this went wrong was when he traded away Wyatt Teller to Cleveland.)

 

Beane wants to build a dynasty.  He's not going all-in on any particular year.  He wants to be a consistent 11 or 12 game winner, year in and year out, which makes it easier to pop up to a championship one of those years. 

I suspect Edge rusher and Cb are high on the draft board.  I think with everything equal thats where they go.  Watching Chris Simms positional break downs I think both his top edge and cb could be on the table.  Jalean Phillips and Caleb Farley have some injury questions.  Teams could take them off their boards or drop them significantly.  Imo Buffalo is positioned to take risks with them. 

[Richard Noggin]

I'd mistakenly thought the Bills signed Sean Davis after his visit. Guess not. 

 

Totally agree that there is a roster hole there, at backup S, and another at boundary CB. They need someone, like Marlowe, who can either replace a starter if necessary or be utilized in 3-safety sub-packages. I don't know if Johnson is ready to step into that role, or if he'll remain just a (solid) ST guy. 

 

As for CB, I'll bet we can all agree they'll draft a guy in the first three rounds to compete with Wallace and Jackson for the #2 job. Heck, Tre was picked at 27. Another first rounder, with five years of term/manageable salary, to pair with him just makes too much sense. 

 

Question: do we like Cam Lewis as slot depth? And Siran Neal? I think we could do worse. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

6 hours ago, billybrew1 said:

Trade a 6th rd. pick for Zach Ertz

 

Something tells me the Eagles haven't dropped their asking price from a 3rd to a 6th just yet.

1 hour ago, Mat68 said:

I suspect Edge rusher and Cb are high on the draft board.  I think with everything equal thats where they go.  Watching Chris Simms positional break downs I think both his top edge and cb could be on the table.  Jalean Phillips and Caleb Farley have some injury questions.  Teams could take them off their boards or drop them significantly.  Imo Buffalo is positioned to take risks with them. 

 

Jalean Phillips just makes me nervous.  The whole retire/unretire thing...

 

I agree he's the sort of high ceiling guy that fits Beane's MO, but I wonder if the inability to meet with these guys in person will affect that.

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I agree.  I expect the Bills want him back at vet minimum, and he wants a raise.

 

But, he's been in the league for 5 years, and he may also be looking for a place where he has an option to start. 

 

The Lions have Tracy Walker and Will Harris at the top of their Safety depth chart, although currently I think they've got like 6 safeties on the roster.

Would that be his chance to compete for a starting role?

 

He could probably choose his position to start on the Lions roster. Man they are going to stink this year.

[ROONDOGG55]

Looking at the current roster I'm thinking there's a strong possibility the Bills will take 3 DBs (1st rd, 2 x 5th rd), and a speed back in the draft (6th or 7th). All others will be BPA without an emphasis on positional need. Obviously this is all dependent on how the draft goes, but it's just a hunch.

 

I hope they take Kelvin Joseph or Stokes at 30. Both guys have had success against speedy receivers in the SEC. I'm leaning towards Joseph due to his success against Alabama's WRs. I think he only gave up a pass or two and had a pick. Stokes played well too but gave up a few contested catches to Smith with one being a TD. Either way, I'd be thrilled with either player. Both would be extremely successful playing opposite of Tre White.

 

I also like the idea of adding a big nickle as well. JaCoby Stevens could be an option in the later rounds. With his size and speed combo, he'd be a real nice asset on special teams as well.

 

I feel our 3rd DB will be a hybrid type that can be plugged in at safety or CB. Israel Mukuamu could be that guy and could also contribute against move TEs as he develops further. 

 

Outside of the DBs, I think they may look at a speed back / return specialist in the later rounds. Adding speed with Brieda tells me they want guys that can hit the hole or get to the edge FAST. I think the kid from Iowa State, Kene Nwangwu could add great value in the later rounds. The kid has all the gears and can be a return specialist as well. I don't think he has a lot of experience here, but if he wants to make the team he may need to make an impression as a gunner as well. Would love to see us move on from T Jones. 

 

Either way, can't wait to see who they pick. Go Bills!!

[BillsIsrael]

17 hours ago, NewEra said:

It might currently be the 2nd best roster in football.  I’d give the Bucs the #1 overall.  I think we have more depth and less holes than the chiefs, but they have a huge edge in elite talent. 

I agree and with the depth we have at most position it would make sense to trade up and pick a difference maker to compete with the elite talent in KC. We have a window for the SB with our QB set for the few years and we're above average at most positions. What we need  are difference makes.

[Niagara Bill]

LB is weak as it was last year. When Milano was hurt we hurt bad. Klein is not the answer to start.

Safety is also very thin without Marlowe.

[Punching Bag]

12 hours ago, Niagara Bill said:

LB is weak as it was last year. When Milano was hurt we hurt bad. Klein is not the answer to start.

Safety is also very thin without Marlowe.

 

Klein is a good player to start when they run 3 LB sets and can play in 2 LB set in right defenses but not every week as starter.

[BarleyNY]

On 4/7/2021 at 4:39 PM, ngbills said:

Well you cant have everything you want sop you pick your battles. The areas that are open to upgrade:

 

QB: Set at 1 and 2 for next year. 

RB: Could upgrade, but serviceable group given passing offense. A better pass catching RB would be nice but these guys can at least be outlets.

TE: Clear upgrade needed. 

OL: Set. Solid group

DE: Clear upgrade needed both short term and long term. 

DT: Some questions here. Star is in his last days, Oliver needs to step up. 

LB: Rolling with these guys. Edmunds $ coming up; Milano got paid. Inconsistent group.

DB: Need CB2 upgrade; Depth at S.

That’s a pretty good synopsis.  My only changes:

RB: A difference maker here would be huge IMO.  I’d like to see an upgrade 

OL: Need a C of the future and could really use an upgrade at OG

DB: Agree but also would like to see that Big Nickel safety added 

WR: A speedy X should be on the shopping list 

[elijah]

Possible we may be waiting to see how the draft falls and then holding out to sign a CB/DE after? 

 

clowney/ingram/houston/griffen & sherman/breeland/heyward are all still available. Older players but all capable starters and all may be looking for a 1 year deal prove it in a shrunken market. 

 

I’ve  been personally pounding the table for Sherman & Houston, both seem like they’d be great ‘culture’ fits