Who's our slot WR in 2023, Shakir or...?

[MrEpsYtown]

I may be going out on a limb here, but Cole Beasley doesn't seem like the "mentor" type. 

 

And McKenzie can't be a mentor. Like what is his training called? How to drop passes and trip all over yourself? 

[CincyBillsFan]

13 hours ago, KzooMike said:

He still ran a couple really sexy routes. He's excellent on slants. We had nothing like him to replace what he did this year. Sure, that is telling, but he is a very specific type of player and seemed to have great rapport with Josh. Shame on us for thinking that was so disposable.  

The Bills are a defensive minded organization that spends all their time worrying about who the 4th CB will be or how do we best protect a nickle DB on the practice squad.  They don't really pay attention or value critical offensive groups like the O line or WR room.  How else do you lose a Hogkins and not fully grasp how the loss of Beasley's production would hurt the O in the middle of the field.

 

If you don't believe me look at how the Bills addressed the D versus O lines.  After using TWO first round picks (Groot & Oliver) and TWO 2nd round picks (Epi & Boogy) on the D line the previous couple of years the Bills went out and made a huge FA signing with Miller and then added FOUR more FA D linemen to the team!  Compare this to the TWO O linemen signed. 

 

This is what Cowherd is talking about when he goes on and on about the limitations of franchises with defensive minded head coaches.

 

 

[I'm Spartacus]

14 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

I do....stupidity....Andy would've encorporated Shakir into his offense immediately.  Dorsey was like a newborn having no clue what to do and it showed.  Letting the guys run street ball deep ball with little to no discipline taking advantage of checkdowns ( other than weeks 1-2).  

 

Shakir needs to be the slot guy getting 80% of the plays. I'm cutting Crowder, that experiment failed. I might keep Beasley around long enough to mentor Shakir.  Davis takes on the WR4 role as our WR2 will have to come from 1st or 2nd round.

This ^

[RyanC883]

would like Beasley and Shakir combo.  a later round slot pick would be nice also.  Good slots usually available around round 5.  

[NoSaint]

On 2/6/2023 at 10:31 PM, Nephilim17 said:

Lots of talk about needing to give Josh more weapons. I think most agree the other outside WR needs to be upgraded as a priority.

But who's playing slot? My gut says we don't have the money or draft capital to spend on a premium free agent or college prospect. But maybe Shakir is the answer.

190 lb. and six feet tall. Good size compared with some other slot guys like McKenzie (5'8", 173 lb.) or Beasley (5'8", 174 lb.). And no, I don't think 48-year-old Beasley should start for us.

What I like about Shakir: good attitude and focus (from the little I've seen of interviews and yes, this is very subjective); history of lining up in the slot and outside so he's versatile; cost controlled for years; fairly good speed; good hands and YAC.

Yes, he doesn't have a lot of experience at the NFL level but given our lack of cap space and our more pressing, arguably, draft needs (WR2, O-line in multiple spots, LB, safety, edge, maybe LB) I don't think we're spending a pick in the top five rounds on a slot WR. But maybe I'm wrong.

I don't trust McKenzie's history, hands, or focus. And I suspect Josh and management don't either.

Tell me why the slot starting job belongs to Shakir, McKenzie, a free agent or a draft prospect...

mix of Hines, and Shakir plus maybe a high drafted rookie 

[NastyNateSoldiers]

On 2/6/2023 at 11:31 PM, Nephilim17 said:

Lots of talk about needing to give Josh more weapons. I think most agree the other outside WR needs to be upgraded as a priority.

But who's playing slot? My gut says we don't have the money or draft capital to spend on a premium free agent or college prospect. But maybe Shakir is the answer.

190 lb. and six feet tall. Good size compared with some other slot guys like McKenzie (5'8", 173 lb.) or Beasley (5'8", 174 lb.). And no, I don't think 48-year-old Beasley should start for us.

What I like about Shakir: good attitude and focus (from the little I've seen of interviews and yes, this is very subjective); history of lining up in the slot and outside so he's versatile; cost controlled for years; fairly good speed; good hands and YAC.

Yes, he doesn't have a lot of experience at the NFL level but given our lack of cap space and our more pressing, arguably, draft needs (WR2, O-line in multiple spots, LB, safety, edge, maybe LB) I don't think we're spending a pick in the top five rounds on a slot WR. But maybe I'm wrong.

I don't trust McKenzie's history, hands, or focus. And I suspect Josh and management don't either.

Tell me why the slot starting job belongs to Shakir, McKenzie, a free agent or a draft prospect...

I believe Shakir will be the slot next season and a very good one at that. Bills need to be very careful with how they proceed with outside Wr #2 .
 

The draft is weak at Wr this yr most of the higher ranked guys are more slot players then outside Wrs. If I’m the Bills I’m bringing back Gabe as my #2 Wr maybe he adds a couple routes to his tree this off-season. He is going into his last yr of his deal and he’s a hard worker so we might see a huge improvement going into his last yr .Gabe might of gained to much weight last offseason I heard he gained 20lbs of muscle he needs to trim that bk down to his playing weight in 2021 . Doing that and working on his route tree and hands can go along way to him reaching his ceiling at WR. 

 

When it comes to free agent Wr the answer is not there either how much of a upgrade is Dj Chark over Gabe? To be honest I think there the same type of player and to me Chark is not worth the 10mil plus a yr contract he’s seeking. I think the Bills should be patient in free agency go after some of these lesser named talents like Darius Slayton on a cheap 2yr deal for about 12mil . Don’t overspend on middle of pack Wrs that’s not a good way to build a team. 
 

This off-season is the perfect time to rebuild the Oline and add some nasty backs. This is the best way to get better offensively for Bills. Having a strong rushing attack would help Josh and his Wrs drastically I would much rather spend some cap money on Oline and RB like Saquon or Jacobs then a Juju type or Chark . I don’t believe Cook is anything more then a scat back change of pace kind of guy. 
 

Offensive philosophy changes are in need here I think we have a lot of talent and adding  a running game would help but also adding some screens too this offense would be huge as well as changing up the pecking order of targets . Dorsey needs to diagram way more looks for Knox and make him our 2nd go to guy in this offense in the passing game. If Knox played in SF or KC u would see him getting targeted much more. I believe he has the talent to be a great TE he just needs his coaches to make life easier on him. All in all this team needs to fix this Oline and add a superior running back and make some adjustments to peaking order in passing game and look out ! 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

17 hours ago, NoSaint said:

mix of Hines, and Shakir plus maybe a high drafted rookie 

"OK, I'm nearly finished with that..."

[T master]

On 2/7/2023 at 8:35 PM, Jim said:

We talking about the guy who was a distraction for basically the entire ‘21 season? That guy? 
 

For the record btw before anyone jumps on me I don’t care about how Covid opinions. But to say he’s a team guy after nearly going out of his way to be a distraction is just disingenuous to me.

 

Well when the rules are absolutely ridiculous & don't have a shred of common sense with in the thought process of implementing them like most all of the covid rules did i totally understood where he was coming from .

 

But when the rubber hit the road the guy was still money had a good chemistry with Josh & you could depend on him to move the chains hell there have been a lot of others such as TO, AB, & others that have caused a lot more of a distraction that teams have kept around but Beasely's thing had a lot more politics involved in it .

 

And it has all since been proven to be pretty foolish in the way that belief & implementation was put into the plan .

[TheyCallMeAndy]

I feel like we should be talking about Mecole Hardman more. Blazing (4.33) speed, very good catch percentage and rarely drops passes. Insane upgrade in the slot.

[LABILLBACKER]

On 2/6/2023 at 11:56 PM, MJS said:

Honestly, I hope McKenzie is gone. He has proven over and over again that he is not the guy. I don't want Shakir to lose a single snap to him.

 

Can't rely on Crowder because he is always hurt.

 

So for me it is Shakir and Beasley, or bring in a cheap upgrade.

 

If they are going to spend money or significant draft capital, I'd rather it be for the #2 WR, not the slot.

I could live with a platoon of Shakir & Beasley but Shakir better get 60-70% of the touches.  I'd love to see us draft someone like Demario Douglas in the 6th round to compete at slot after Beasley is gone.  Save 27 or 59 for WR2 prospect. 

[BillMafia716ix]

You let Cole Beasley and Shakir battle it out in camp. Best man wins. McKenzie is traded or cut…

[BuffaloRebound]

How about Gesicki as our slot guy?  Could see him catching 80+ passes in this offense and would be a matchup problem in the red zone.  

[Victory Formation]

38 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

How about Gesicki as our slot guy?  Could see him catching 80+ passes in this offense and would be a matchup problem in the red zone.  

This is where I’m at, but trust me, you’ll probably get several dislikes for saying so, but honestly, like you said, Gesicki could potentially get 60-70 catches in this offense and we would have nearly a 100% guarantee that Josh would have a reliable guy in the slot. He fills that void that was left by Cole Beasley in his prime and wouldn’t be terribly expensive.

[OldTimer1960]

I like what little we saw of Shakir, but that would not deter me from picking another slot receiver.  Now, if you wait until round 4 or later to do so, it may not be worth doing, but I think there are some nice slot options in rounds 1-3 that could be worth taking, even if they really like Shakir.  But, they have enough holes to fill that they might shy away from another slot option.

[John from Riverside]

Do you wanna hope that it’s shakur

 

Because he’s young

On a cost control contract

But I wouldn’t sit on my ass on this. I’d love to get Robert woods back.

[Yantha]

I think that Shakir is going to win the slot job.  He already did everything asked of him and more last season.  Take the training wheels off.

 

Reminds me of Detroit's Amon Ra St. Brown

 

 

 

Edited March 8, 2023 by Yantha

[Victory Formation]

11 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

Do you wanna hope that it’s shakur

 

Because he’s young

On a cost control contract

But I wouldn’t sit on my ass on this. I’d love to get Robert woods back.

Speaking of cost control contracts, if Buffalo hits on a few picks at WR over the next year or two, old and expensive veterans like Diggs become expendable.

[T master]

Well seeing as they drafted a guy out of college that was a slot guy and highly touted as such but kept him mostly inactive even when others didn't prove their worth in Hodgins i hope they don't do the same with Shakir . He was suppose to be the steal of the draft & other teams were pissed because the Bills got him so i hope they at least use him .

 

Given the cap if it were me i would cut Mckenzie sure he's fast & once a game you can get a really good catch out of him but after that not much so i would bring back Beasely as a veteran on a smaller contract to work with Shakir for 1 last season he is a good team mate & when he was cut (for reasons other than his production) he was responsible for some 90 receptions & north of 800 yds a season .

 

The money saved by cutting McKenzie would be enough to cover the low cost of Bease plus a little extra to bring in another rookie UDFA & if Bease doesn't cut it then cut him nothing ventured nothing gained but we know Josh has a chemistry with Bease so that can't hurt if every one would get over the other stuff !! 

 

But why look at another slot guy until we use the one they have more than a inactive roster spot ? 

[T master]

19 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I feel like we should be talking about Mecole Hardman more. Blazing (4.33) speed, very good catch percentage and rarely drops passes. Insane upgrade in the slot.

 

If so what happened to Shakir & Mckenzie plus the extra money it will cost to get him given the cap restraints . Shakir & Hodgins were both drafted & seen as slot guys or that's what they were in college plus all the hype around Shakir to be that guy use him there .

 

Sure Hardman is fast but he will demand much more can the Bills afford that right now ?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

13 minutes ago, T master said:

 

If so what happened to Shakir & Mckenzie plus the extra money it will cost to get him given the cap restraints . Shakir & Hodgins were both drafted & seen as slot guys or that's what they were in college plus all the hype around Shakir to be that guy use him there .

 

Sure Hardman is fast but he will demand much more can the Bills afford that right now ?

Neither McKenzie, Shakir, or Hodgins are on Hardman’s level. If Bills want him they absolutely can find a way to pay him. There has been countless, realistic examples of how Buffalo can open 20-30m in cap space. Let Shakir develop as WR4 for another year or two. 

Edited March 9, 2023 by TheyCallMeAndy