Internet Rumors of Zack Moss trade availability from an unverified Twitter account

[SCBills]

31 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

A really doubt that a 5th rounder for Moss would be attractive to McBeane.

 

 

If Moss isn’t in the plans for much, outside inactive back on the 53, why not get back a pick?  Especially if he likes Duke or Blackshear in that role. 

 

A RB’s rookie deal is a huge piece of their value.  Moss was a 3rd, but only has two years left on that rookie deal.  A 4th or 5th as depreciation is probably fair.  
 

 

1 minute ago, Rc2catch said:

went from we have no talent and need as many draft picks as we can get, to now Allen’s contract is too big we need as many picks as we can get. 
Then week 5 when there’s an injury or god forbid two injuries in the same game and they only have Gilliam and Taiwan… EXPLOSION 

I actually really like Duke Johnson as RB3.   I’d be fine if he had to fill in for either Singletary or Cook for a few games. 

Edited August 30, 2022 by SCBills

[Turk71]

 I think Moss is gonna be good, whether it's in Buffalo or not remains to be seen.  I am hoping they can find a roster spot for him. If not, I think he will be on another roster.

He breaks tackles, catches passes, good pass blocker, on a rookie contract and finally healthy.

  

 

[Buffalo716]

Moss is the only pure power back on the roster 

 

I don’t wanna waste singletary on unnecessary goal line touches unless moss can’t perform 

[Rc2catch]

7 minutes ago, SCBills said:

 

 

 

I actually really like Duke Johnson as RB3.   I’d be fine if he had to fill in for either Singletary or Cook for a few games. 

I wanted him 3-4 years ago when he left Cleveland.  He’s kinda fizzled out everywhere he’s gone though and never wins a job. Hes one of those checkdown running backs imo.. Those backs that play on bad teams and the quarterback just targets them non stop in the pass game and their stats get kinda inflated. Like that Theo Riddick guy from Detroit years ago. Maybe even like mckissic.  I wouldn’t keep Duke around over anyone but I’m not always right either. 

[HamSandwhich]

12 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Moss is the only pure power back on the roster 

 

I don’t wanna waste singletary on unnecessary goal line touches unless moss can’t perform 

This is why I think he wont be traded. That skill set isn’t found elsewhere in the RB room

[Rc2catch]

8 minutes ago, Turk71 said:

 I think Moss is gonna be good, whether it's in Buffalo or not remains to be seen.  I am hoping they can find a roster spot for him. If not, I think he will be on another roster.

He breaks tackles, catches passes, good pass blocker, on a rookie contract and finally healthy.

  

 

It’s hard to gauge his talent. Some backs need 15+ touches to get in a rhythm and wear defenses down. That’s definitely not Buffalos style. You gotta get your stats in under 10 rushes most games. 
Same for singletary, on a small scale he’s one of the best backs in the league statistically. An extra 75 carries at his average puts him in the top 5 I think last year for rushing. Can he handle more and stay effective I guess is the only question. But if Buffalo plans on staying in the bottom 10 for rush attempts you’re just looking for a hot hand each game (take away Allen’s rush attempts last season and buffalo was dead last I believe behind the jets) 

[julian]

3 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Amazing the resources they’ve used on running backs… 

I prefer doing it that way and not paying 2nd contracts to RBs. Obviously have Josh Allen and a solid roster allows for using 2nd and 3rd day picks 

 

 I think it’s smart team building IMHO

 

[Richard Noggin]

3 hours ago, 716er said:

Singletary has shown in actual regular season games he is the better goal line back that Moss is. I really don’t want to see them trotting out Moss this year in those situations.

 

With that said, though, I don’t think Moss is a bad player. It’s just that Devin is simply better in all facets of the game. Hopefully Moss improves this year (and Cook plays well). It would be nice to not have to worry about a Singletary contract in the off season and roll with Moss and Cook next year. 
 

While we have Devin, though, ride that horse to the promise land and let him get paid by someone else this off-season.

 

Love your post except for the bolded point. Moss is MUCH better in the passing game (especially as a receiver but as a blocker, too). I've actually never seen or heard someone suggest Singletary is even "good" at that facet of the game. LOVE where Devin's at as a ball carrier; he might even be underrated there. But Moss is actually a decent complimentary committee member for the superior skill sets of Singletary and Cook. And he's under contract for another season once #26 is gone (as you rightly recognize).

[RyanC883]

7 hours ago, mushypeaches said:

I also wonder if maybe Devin Singletary is a trade candidate.

 

Yes - he's #1 on the depth chart currently, but this is also his contract year, vs having 2 years left on Moss's contract

 

I get it - Singletary is the better player, but if we're trading or releasing a RB, does remaining contract length also weigh into the decision?

 

not a bad question.  usually it likely does if the RBs are close.  But Singletary is the only one on the roster who has flashed, and you keep that in a SB contender year. 

[Aussie Joe]

1 hour ago, Malazan said:

ahh, fans..

 

We have depth.. like enough to get through an injury with a pretty decent replacement.. 

 

Bills fans:  a 6th round pick though.. 

 

Yes… and in a year when they are all in on the SB…

 

”But if we trade him we might get a conditional sixth for next season”…

 

24 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Two 3rds and a 2nd on RBs is not smart team building… it’s a dime a dozen position.

Do they ever do anything right?

In regards to “team building “..Have they put together a good team or not?

[4merper4mer]

13 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Two 3rds and a 2nd on RBs is not smart team building… it’s a dime a dozen position.

Who would you consider the top three RBs in the NFL?  In what round were these guys drafted?

 

Who would you consider the top 3-5 teams in the NFL.  In what round were their RBs drafted?

 

I can think of one RB on one top team that you might be able to cite in those parameters but it is a bit of a stretch for both the player and the team.  Good luck.

[TC in St. Louis]

I thought trading Moss might be doing him a favor.  He probably won't get more than 5-6 touches a game, and he seems to be at his peak right now.  If he got to a team that needed him, he might do quite well.  Here, he's probably wasted.

 

However, if he stays healthy and next year we move on from Singletary....well, that's a good thing.  

[Richard Noggin]

21 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

Who would you consider the top three RBs in the NFL?  In what round were these guys drafted?

 

Who would you consider the top 3-5 teams in the NFL.  In what round were their RBs drafted?

 

I can think of one RB on one top team that you might be able to cite in those parameters but it is a bit of a stretch for both the player and the team.  Good luck.

 

The Chiefs have spent on the RB position, sort of. And while they've been elite for a few years now, it really has NOTHING to do with those high-value RBs (Edwards-Helaire in the 1st and signing Ronald Jones, a former 2nd but for peanuts, who seems to be behind the 7th round rookie Pacheco). 

 

I guess one easy criticism is that one of the last three years that RB draft pick could have been spent on another OL. Gotta start redirecting assets to that group (who then makes RBs more effective). Obviously Ford not panning out here hurts. Trading away Teller remains a major ouchy. Hence, we seem to be missing at least ONE promising IOL in the pipeline. Backup G/C is lacking. Backup RB is NOT. Wouldn't we all rather invert those two groups?

[NickelCity]

3 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Moss is the only pure power back on the roster 

 

I know this is the common view of him, and certainly it was his reputation during his draft year (I loved his college tape), but I sure think Singletary runs with more power. The notable exception was the Pittsburgh game like two years ago to run out the clock in the 4th.

 

I hope all the folks who are high on him (more than I expected) are right and he's been bogged down by injury. 

[Buffalo716]

3 minutes ago, NickelCity said:

 

I know this is the common view of him, and certainly it was his reputation during his draft year (I loved his college tape), but I sure think Singletary runs with more power. The notable exception was the Pittsburgh game like two years ago to run out the clock in the 4th.

 

I hope all the folks who are high on him (more than I expected) are right and he's been bogged down by injury. 

This is the nfl in 2022 

 

Unless your Derek Henry , you don’t want your lead runner taking the bulk of dangerous goal line Carries 

 

You want a back to take the majority of reps between the 20s… A pass catching back … and a sure blocking short yardage back 

 

we have all 3 in singletary , Cook and moss

[mrags]

3 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Two 3rds and a 2nd on RBs is not smart team building… it’s a dime a dozen position.

Except if you would spent a late 1 or early 2nd with a trade back you could have gotten 1 really good back that could do the job that 3 of our jack of one trade, master of none RBs can do. 

[mrags]

17 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

This is the nfl in 2022 

 

Unless your Derek Henry , you don’t want your lead runner taking the bulk of dangerous goal line Carries 

 

You want a back to take the majority of reps between the 20s… A pass catching back … and a sure blocking short yardage back 

 

we have all 3 in singletary , Cook and moss

Unfortunately you might as well just hand the defense your play call sheets because of this. Every team we play has at least an idea of what type of play we’re going to be calling based on personnel.
 

One of the reasons I’ve always argued for a back that has the ability to do it all. You generally won’t be getting that in the 3rd or 4th rd. 

[Buffalo716]

2 minutes ago, mrags said:

Unfortunately you might as well just hand the defense your play call sheets because of this. Every team we play has at least an idea of what type of play we’re going to be calling based on personnel.
 

One of the reasons I’ve always argued for a back that has the ability to do it all. You generally won’t be getting that in the 3rd or 4th rd. 

I mean zack moss can block and catch and run pretty well

 

singletary is a good runner , who is decent as a receiver and getting better every year as a blocker 

 

and we will find out about cook

 

That doesn’t mean you only run singletary between the 20s , Or Moss in short yard situations 

 

It just means over a long 17 game season you don’t want to give Your lead back The Bulk of hard yards inside the 5

 

It only keeps your backs fresher for more important games late in the season, When you can ride the hot guy

 

 

[GunnerBill]

6 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Two 3rds and a 2nd on RBs is not smart team building… it’s a dime a dozen position.

 

Yep. No more day 2 picks at RB. I am fine for them to go the draft, use for 4 years and then don't pay model... but only if they are chucking day 3 picks at the problem. Three day 2 picks is too many when they haven't drafted a single receiver on day 1 or 2 in five years now. They hit on Gabe which is covering themselves... I am optimistic they hit with Shakir too... but good outcomes does not always justify bad process. Draft receivers on day 2 and running backs on day 3. 

[No_Matter_What]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yep. No more day 2 picks at RB. I am fine for them to go the draft, use for 4 years and then don't pay model... but only if they are chucking day 3 picks at the problem. Three day 2 picks is too many when they haven't drafted a single receiver on day 1 or 2 in five years now. They hit on Gabe which is covering themselves... I am optimistic they hit with Shakir too... but good outcomes does not always justify bad process. Draft receivers on day 2 and running backs on day 3. 

On a side note, I really hope they hit on Cook so we don't have to go through annual "Let's draft RB XY in the 1st round" mandatory thread

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, No_Matter_What said:

On a side note, I really hope they hit on Cook so we don't have to go through annual "Let's draft RB XY in the 1st round" mandatory thread

 

Yep. If they let Devin walk, and then spend another day 2 pick on a back next April I don't care if we won the blasting Superbowl I am marching on OBD with my pitchfork!!

 

If you don't think Cook is ever more than a change of pace and receiving back type guy he isn't worth a 2nd round pick. On a passing team that faces 2 high and light boxes a lot a 2nd round pick should be more than capable of the 12-15 carries a game the Bills need from RB1. Not saying he HAS to be that as a rook... but if Devin isn't here next year and he isn't that them the value evlauation is off somewhere IMO.

[machine gun kelly]

It’s an unsubstantiated rumor.  I seriously doubt it.  RB’s get banged up all the time and they know it.  We need depth.

[GunnerBill]

27 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

It’s an unsubstantiated rumor.  I seriously doubt it.  RB’s get banged up all the time and they know it.  We need depth.

 

And what are you getting back? A 5th if you are really lucky? Maybe a 6th? Isn't the depth more valuable to a team in a SB window? Like if we expected this to be am 8-9, 9-8 type year and you can get a 5th do it.  But the Bills are trying to win now.

[eball]

26 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

And what are you getting back? A 5th if you are really lucky? Maybe a 6th? Isn't the depth more valuable to a team in a SB window? Like if we expected this to be am 8-9, 9-8 type year and you can get a 5th do it.  But the Bills are trying to win now.

 

It is really just people talking about stuff to fill the void.  There is no return for Zack Moss right now that helps Buffalo in the present.

[SectionC3]

26 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

And what are you getting back? A 5th if you are really lucky? Maybe a 6th? Isn't the depth more valuable to a team in a SB window? Like if we expected this to be am 8-9, 9-8 type year and you can get a 5th do it.  But the Bills are trying to win now.

I'm thinking the way you are, but I'll add three potential wildcards here.  (I'm not saying either is what the Bills are thinking, the possibilities simply are things that they reasonably could be thinking.)

 

 1.  They don't think Moss will be a regular gamely active and, even if he is, they might not think Moss can hack it in the 12-15 carry per game, pass pro, limited receiving role in the event of injury to Singletary and unreadiness of Cook.  (Doubtful, I know, but it's a possibility.)  

 

2.  They like Blackshear/Johnson, and feel that there either won't be any drop-off between that person and Moss, or that any drop-off is negligible and therefore worth the pick they would acquire in the trade. 

 

3.  They like Blackshear/Johnson on ST, where Moss offers nothing, and they feel they may need one of those two on teams given their plans with the rest of the 53 and the gameday actives.  (Also unlikely, I know, but at least somewhat plausible.) 

 

Assuming, for sake of argument, they're thinking along the lines of my second wildcard, the analysis is whether two years of Moss plus, say, a fifth round pick is worth either one year of Johnson (at probably a slightly higher price), four years of Blackshear (at a marginally lower price), or investment at a different position on this year's 53.  Given how irregularly Moss is likely to be a gameday active this year, I understand kicking the tires on a trade if they think they have a suitable substitute on hand.  

 

(Ultimately, though, I'm with you and I'm not sure that I'd do it given this year's expectations and the risk a trade would entail.)

[machine gun kelly]

57 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

And what are you getting back? A 5th if you are really lucky? Maybe a 6th? Isn't the depth more valuable to a team in a SB window? Like if we expected this to be am 8-9, 9-8 type year and you can get a 5th do it.  But the Bills are trying to win now.

I don’t see a world where we wouldn’t have Singletary, Moss, Cook, Taiwan (in name only as he’s a specialist in ST), and Gilliam.  You can call Gilliam a FB, RB, or TE as he’s all of the above.  This will be confirmed at 4 pm today.

[DCbillsfan]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yep. No more day 2 picks at RB. I am fine for them to go the draft, use for 4 years and then don't pay model... but only if they are chucking day 3 picks at the problem. Three day 2 picks is too many when they haven't drafted a single receiver on day 1 or 2 in five years now. They hit on Gabe which is covering themselves... I am optimistic they hit with Shakir too... but good outcomes does not always justify bad process. Draft receivers on day 2 and running backs on day 3. 

IIRC in the past draft, it appeared the Bills were caught off guard in the 2nd round.  Big run on WRs in that round.  Bills traded down a few times and took Cook.  Makes me believe they were eyeing a WR but outmaneuvered.  Beane used a 4th rd to trade up in first rd.  Probably didn't want to give up any more picks at that point in the draft.

[machine gun kelly]

Section, I just read you’re post, and Duke was just released by the Bills as I have on WGR now.  Moss may not be active each game, but he’s in the insurance policy when Motor gets banged up sometime in the year and has to skip 2 games.

 

It just seems given the nature of their positions, RBs and O Lineman get injured a little more as far as the constant contact.

[GunnerBill]

49 minutes ago, SectionC3 said:

I'm thinking the way you are, but I'll add three potential wildcards here.  (I'm not saying either is what the Bills are thinking, the possibilities simply are things that they reasonably could be thinking.)

 

 1.  They don't think Moss will be a regular gamely active and, even if he is, they might not think Moss can hack it in the 12-15 carry per game, pass pro, limited receiving role in the event of injury to Singletary and unreadiness of Cook.  (Doubtful, I know, but it's a possibility.)  

 

2.  They like Blackshear/Johnson, and feel that there either won't be any drop-off between that person and Moss, or that any drop-off is negligible and therefore worth the pick they would acquire in the trade. 

 

3.  They like Blackshear/Johnson on ST, where Moss offers nothing, and they feel they may need one of those two on teams given their plans with the rest of the 53 and the gameday actives.  (Also unlikely, I know, but at least somewhat plausible.) 

 

Assuming, for sake of argument, they're thinking along the lines of my second wildcard, the analysis is whether two years of Moss plus, say, a fifth round pick is worth either one year of Johnson (at probably a slightly higher price), four years of Blackshear (at a marginally lower price), or investment at a different position on this year's 53.  Given how irregularly Moss is likely to be a gameday active this year, I understand kicking the tires on a trade if they think they have a suitable substitute on hand.  

 

(Ultimately, though, I'm with you and I'm not sure that I'd do it given this year's expectations and the risk a trade would entail.)

 

Yea I think all that is fair I just think in respect of #1 Moss is the best pass pro back they have and has been a reliable receiver too. That is why he supplanted Motor briefly at the end of his rookie year. 

[machine gun kelly]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea I think all that is fair I just think in respect of #1 Moss is the best pass pro back they have and has been a reliable receiver too. That is why he supplanted Motor briefly at the end of his rookie year. 

Agreed.  That ankle screwed up his 2021 season and he admitted it.  He’s looked sound in the preseason.  Motor is still #1.  I like what Sal has written and stated on WGR that dressing which RB will be game plan specific.  If they feel they need him in a particular red zone scenario to punish through on the goal line, I can see him dressing.  Most of the games it will be motor.

[GunnerBill]

18 minutes ago, DCbillsfan said:

IIRC in the past draft, it appeared the Bills were caught off guard in the 2nd round.  Big run on WRs in that round.  Bills traded down a few times and took Cook.  Makes me believe they were eyeing a WR but outmaneuvered.  Beane used a 4th rd to trade up in first rd.  Probably didn't want to give up any more picks at that point in the draft.

 

You are not wrong. They clearly were not enamoured about what was there at the end of round 2. We know they had 4 guys they liked but reasonable to conclude they had high 3rds on all of them. Two of them we know were James Cook and the safety Bryan Cook who went to Kansas City. Not sure who the other two were but again I think legit to say the true 2nd round talents at WR had gone. The thing is when you laser in on any single pick you can always justify this over that. It is why you have to be a bit stricter with your rules IMO. Like I said they got away with it by nailing the Gabe pick. They might do the same with Shakir but relying on always nailing a day 3 receiver while investing day 2 picks on backs is a dicey way to make a living in the NFL draft in this day in age.

[DJB]

We just released Duke making this run or even less likely. 
 

close it up Mods

[benderbender]

Why all the hand wringing? Everyone keeps parroting RBs are a dime a dozen. We’ll just get a dozen for $2.12 (adjusted for inflation)

and all will be well. 

[SectionC3]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea I think all that is fair I just think in respect of #1 Moss is the best pass pro back they have and has been a reliable receiver too. That is why he supplanted Motor briefly at the end of his rookie year. 

Totally agree with you on pass pro and capability as a receiver. When I thought all of this through I thought of Cook getting blown up on pass pro.  

 

I'm kind of wondering if the Moss conversation is motivated by the Bills' thoughts on the 53 and then on game day actives.  I wonder how much they expect Moss to be active this year.  I also wonder if they're looking for a way to keep 7 WRs.  (With Josh and the structure of our offense, it's a reasonable approach.) 

 

The other layer to this is short yardage.  If Moss isn't a regular active, then who is our short yardage back?  They better not lean on Allen for that as much as they did last year.  At some point that's going to catch up with them.  

[Billsforumsucks]

16 hours ago, ddaryl said:

I will say I thought Duke Johnson looked real good against the Pathers when no other Bills RB playing in the game did

He appears to have good vision 

 

that being said, I'm not convinced the Bils are looking to trade Moss, but it could happen.

That did not age well

[SCBills]

The context I’d give in regards to our WR draft capital investment is that we took Davis (RD4) and Shakir (RD5) in two of the more loaded WR drafts in recent memory.  
 

Both guys had Day 2 grades from a lot of analysts, and in other drafts, maybe go there.  
 

That being said, I do agree that moving forward, it would be nice to spend a Day 1 or 2 pick on a WR for once.. just not sure they’ll need to with Diggs, Davis and Shakir all likely in their long term plans.  
 

Cook is a guy I’m hesitant to throw into the “Running Back” category.  The guy could become a legit WR if he focused on it. 

[Alphadawg7]

15 hours ago, MasterStrategist said:

Random rumor, if this was substantiated by a reliable source...then sure.  Otherwise, it's foolish to trade our best goalline/short yardage/pass protecting back.  

 

Motor deservedly is RB1, but he needs spelled, and heaven forbid an injury....

 

Couple that with Motors last yr under contract, and we at least have a future option if Motor prices himself out of our future plans at RB.

Oh I get it, I wasn’t advocating for it.  I only said it was a possibility earlier in camp if they get more comfortable with Cook as a runner too, not just a pass catcher specialist. 
 

I don’t think Beane would trade him unless he got a strong offer anyway.

[FilthyBeast]

I suppose there's a chance that Moss could still be traded but what real value does he have anyway,  a conditional 7th round pick if the Bills are lucky??

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, SCBills said:

The context I’d give in regards to our WR draft capital investment is that we took Davis (RD4) and Shakir (RD5) in two of the more loaded WR drafts in recent memory.  
 

Both guys had Day 2 grades from a lot of analysts, and in other drafts, maybe go there.  
 

That being said, I do agree that moving forward, it would be nice to spend a Day 1 or 2 pick on a WR for once.. just not sure they’ll need to with Diggs, Davis and Shakir all likely in their long term plans.  
 

Cook is a guy I’m hesitant to throw into the “Running Back” category.  The guy could become a legit WR if he focused on it. 

 

Yea it isn't that they haven't got results from Davis, and I am optimistic Shakir is our long term starting slot receiver. But you can't rely on making a living that way. For those to be the highest drafted receivers in five years of this GM.... well he darn well better have hit on both or your WR room is going to be a problem. WRs in the first three rounds, running backs in the last 4 is a much better sustainable strategy. 

[HappyDays]

On 8/30/2022 at 11:15 AM, GunnerBill said:

For those to be the highest drafted receivers in five years of this GM.... well he darn well better have hit on both or your WR room is going to be a problem.

 

Stefon Diggs is actually the highest drafted WR since Beane took over. We can't ignore the use of a 1st round pick just because it was used unconventionally.

 

And the fact that they hit on their WR picks in Diggs and Davis directly led to their decision making at that position in future drafts. If Davis had played like an ordinary 4th round pick they would have made it a point to try and upgrade him in the draft.

 

Like I see people comparing Beane's draft investment in the DL compared to the WR room. The difference is the DL picks have not hit at anywhere near the same success rate. You don't base your investments on how much you've already invested in certain position groups; you base them on the actual value of a position group at that time.