UDFA signings 2023

[Coach Tuesday]

35 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

There's no way Von starts on PUP. His recovery and what he had done isn't the same as Tre's. By all accounts, he's not expected to miss any time. He's said at worst a game or two. They aren't going to shut him down for a guaranteed 6 games. If Beane felt that was the case, we'd have done more at DE.

 

As for Murray, we've always kept 4 RB's on the 53. Beane called his agents on Draft Day and told them that if he signed with them, he wouldn't Draft a RB. While I see the logic in carrying 3, keeping someone like Morris, and stashing Murray on the PS - I don't see them doing that. Any team in the league could have a player injured and playing time available to Murray and he'd be gone. He wouldn't stick around on a PS and give up the chance to play for someone else.

 

I do like Morris. But I feel that Gilliam could get more reps and cover Morris' role switching between behind the line blocking and on the line blocking when Harris (a solid run blocker) is in the Backfield.

 

While I could see a scenario where Spector makes the roster over a Dodson or Klein, I don't see it as likely. We keep 5 LB's, 6 max. With the uncertainty at MLB, I see us keeping 6.

 

Milano, Bernard and Williams (recent 3rd Round picks), and Tyler Matakevitch (core ST) are locks. That's 4 of the 6. Then I give Klein and Dodson the edge over Spector. I think we'd try and bring Spector back to the PS. But Klein and Dodson are more valuable at the moment.

I don’t think Benard is a lock.

[GunnerBill]

39 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

There's no way Von starts on PUP. His recovery and what he had done isn't the same as Tre's. By all accounts, he's not expected to miss any time. He's said at worst a game or two. They aren't going to shut him down for a guaranteed 6 games. If Beane felt that was the case, we'd have done more at DE.

 

As for Murray, we've always kept 4 RB's on the 53. Beane called his agents on Draft Day and told them that if he signed with them, he wouldn't Draft a RB. While I see the logic in carrying 3, keeping someone like Morris, and stashing Murray on the PS - I don't see them doing that. Any team in the league could have a player injured and playing time available to Murray and he'd be gone. He wouldn't stick around on a PS and give up the chance to play for someone else.

 

I do like Morris. But I feel that Gilliam could get more reps and cover Morris' role switching between behind the line blocking and on the line blocking when Harris (a solid run blocker) is in the Backfield.

 

While I could see a scenario where Spector makes the roster over a Dodson or Klein, I don't see it as likely. We keep 5 LB's, 6 max. With the uncertainty at MLB, I see us keeping 6.

 

Milano, Bernard and Williams (recent 3rd Round picks), and Tyler Matakevitch (core ST) are locks. That's 4 of the 6. Then I give Klein and Dodson the edge over Spector. I think we'd try and bring Spector back to the PS. But Klein and Dodson are more valuable at the moment.

 

Disagree strongly on Murray. I feel his chance of making the 53 are less than 50%.

[BillsFanForever19]

5 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

I don’t think Benard is a lock.

 

He might not be a lock to take the Starting role. But he's absolutely a lock to make the 53. You don't spend a 3rd Round pick on a guy, bring him along slowly as a Rookie, and then cut him before his 2nd season. That's a waste of an investment. Day 2 Picks are going to at least get 2 years and probably won't be cut at all unless there's off the field issues.

[Shaw66]

22 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Disagree strongly on Murray. I feel his chance of making the 53 are less than 50%.

Why do you think that?   I think it all depends on what he shows in the summer.  If he looks like he did last season, I would think he's a lock.   He sounds like a guy who stays in shape and who wants this opportunity.   Based strictly on what each has shown so far during their pro careers, I think Murray's the best back on the team.  He's had a whole career of being a part-time starter with better seasons than Cook. 

 

Now, I'm not saying he's the best back on the team, but he has proven ability to be a serious ball carrier for this team.   If he's out of gas, he's out of gas, but what I expect is that he's going to be inactive early in the season and Harris will get touches.   Then, as we get into November, I think Murray will start getting playing time.  

[Coach Tuesday]

18 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

He might not be a lock to take the Starting role. But he's absolutely a lock to make the 53. You don't spend a 3rd Round pick on a guy, bring him along slowly as a Rookie, and then cut him before his 2nd season. That's a waste of an investment. Day 2 Picks are going to at least get 2 years and probably won't be cut at all unless there's off the field issues.

Oh it definitely would be a wasted investment but he was Maybin-like in the buyer’s remorse department last season and if he doesn’t show this offseason that he belongs in the league, they could and should just cut bait.

[BADOLBILZ]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Disagree strongly on Murray. I feel his chance of making the 53 are less than 50%.

 

 

Yeah I've heard Marino and others saying that Latavius Murray is a roster lock but I think the way the contract is constructed they basically guaranteed him a sum ($800k) that will put him on par with the lowest values that will count against the cap if they cut him.    Which would seem to be structured to allow them to cut him and keep him on the practice squad for compensation that is not far from league minimum for an on-roster player.   Perhaps I am wrong on how that would have to be accounted for but that was the impression I got when I saw the contract details.

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by BADOLBILZ

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Oh it definitely would be a wasted investment but he was Maybin-like in the buyer’s remorse department last season and if he doesn’t show this offseason that he belongs in the league, they could and should just cut bait.

 

He had ONE game with significant snaps in his Rookie year on Defense. 59 snaps in a Week 9 against the Jets. He had a grand total of 109 snaps on Defense all season. 

 

The idea that they would cut a 3rd Round pick after 1 season that he barely played in is ridiculous. There's no way Beane would do that. He's still learning and developing. 

Edited May 7, 2023 by BillsFanForever19

[BillsFanForever19]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Disagree strongly on Murray. I feel his chance of making the 53 are less than 50%.

 

I'm not saying he's an absolute lock. But less than 50, I don't see that.

 

Like I said, we signed him instead of Drafting a RB. We always keep 4 RB's on the roster. Cook, Harris, and Hines will be active on Game Day.

 

But if we try and stash him on the Practice Squad, he's going to walk if given the opportunity to sign on anyone's 53 who has a RB injured. And then we're one injury at the position away from having no one. 

 

If Jordan Mims shows out in the Pre-Season, maybe we can feel safe stashing both of them and if we lose one, we still have the other. But I really feel given the way Beane has spoken and the situation that odds are definitely more in the favor of him being here than risking losing him on the PS.

[Doc]

Murray will be on the PS.  No one signed him this late in FA and it's a job/money, with a chance to play later in the season.

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

Why do you think that?   I think it all depends on what he shows in the summer.  If he looks like he did last season, I would think he's a lock.   He sounds like a guy who stays in shape and who wants this opportunity.   Based strictly on what each has shown so far during their pro careers, I think Murray's the best back on the team.  He's had a whole career of being a part-time starter with better seasons than Cook. 

 

Now, I'm not saying he's the best back on the team, but he has proven ability to be a serious ball carrier for this team.   If he's out of gas, he's out of gas, but what I expect is that he's going to be inactive early in the season and Harris will get touches.   Then, as we get into November, I think Murray will start getting playing time.  

 

Because I don't see him getting a jersey on gameday. Cook, Harris and Hines will be up one would think. Murray doesn't play teams.... so what are you gaining from a 34 year old back who is a healthy scratch?

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I'm not saying he's an absolute lock. But less than 50, I don't see that.

 

Like I said, we signed him instead of Drafting a RB. We always keep 4 RB's on the roster. Cook, Harris, and Hines will be active on Game Day.

 

But if we try and stash him on the Practice Squad, he's going to walk if given the opportunity to sign on anyone's 53 who has a RB injured. And then we're one injury at the position away from having no one. 

 

If Jordan Mims shows out in the Pre-Season, maybe we can feel safe stashing both of them and if we lose one, we still have the other. But I really feel given the way Beane has spoken and the situation that odds are definitely more in the favor of him being here than risking losing him on the PS.

 

And so what if someone takes Latavius Murray off your PS when they get an injury in October? Like genuinely - so what? I think at his peak Murray was underrated but now he is the definition of a ten a penny vet. 

[BillsFanForever19]

46 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

And so what if someone takes Latavius Murray off your PS when they get an injury in October? Like genuinely - so what? I think at his peak Murray was underrated but now he is the definition of a ten a penny vet. 

 

Then why even sign him at all? Why make a point of signing him instead of Drafting a guy in the 6th and making a point of doing so during the Draft?

[CNYfan]

Lat is a local though.  He has been running wild for over two decades starting here in Bills Country as a High School phenom.  I believe he shows out and makes the team and will be valuable as the weather turns and D. Harris is on the IR.  4.5 tough yards a pop.   Been that way for all my time.

Edited May 7, 2023 by CNYfan

[Turk71]

 Murray faced a higher % stacked boxes than any rb w over 150 carries in the NFL last year, and still ran for 171 carries 760 yds 6 tds 4.5yds/carry.

He didnt look washed up at all. No idea how it will shake out but I thought he looked good whenever I saw him. Maybe they just stash him for insurance.

 

Edited May 7, 2023 by Turk71

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Then why even sign him at all? Why make a point of signing him instead of Drafting a guy in the 6th and making a point of doing so during the Draft?

 

Because Beane said himself the board didn't fall for them to take a running back.

[Shaw66]

13 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Because I don't see him getting a jersey on gameday. Cook, Harris and Hines will be up one would think. Murray doesn't play teams.... so what are you gaining from a 34 year old back who is a healthy scratch?

Thanks.   I think they'll have four running backs, and there may be a healthy scratch every weekend.  I think they say Murray as an important contributor on the back half of the schedule and into the playoffs.   They will decide this summer if they think he can be that guy, and if so, I think he will in fact be a healthy scratch from time to time.  So long as he and Harris are healthy, teams won't know from week to week who will see as the Bills power back.  

 

What I like about the running back room now is that it's as though the Bills have four guys spead across the spectrum from power back to scat back, with Harris on one end and Hines on the other, with Cook a speed back who's durable and talented enough to carry the main load, and with Murray a power back with some shiftiness that Harris lacks.   If Shakir can return punts, Hines could even be the healthy scratch from time to time.   

 

Once again, I think they're building toward more and more versatility.  

[Shaw66]

8 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Because Beane said himself the board didn't fall for them to take a running back.

But that isn't what Beane said.   He didn't say there wasn't a back for him to take.   He said that he realized he could go after other needs if he knew he didn't need a back.   It's very clear that his drafting strategy was that if a premium back fell to him, he'd take the back and tell Murray that he no longer was of interest to the Bills, and if no back fell his way, then Beane could sign Murray and shore up other areas of the lineup.   

 

Murray's not a long-term solution, and no fifth or sixth round back likely is on either.  A first round, maybe second round premium back is taken because he MAY be a long-term solution.  Murray is as good or better short-term solution than a fifth or sixth round rookie.  So, just like a fifth or sixth round rookie might be a healthy scratch (or possibly PS), Murray may be a healthy scratch from time to time.  I would bet that McBeane and Murray had the conversation with Murray when he visited Buffalo.  

 

[LabattBlue]

So the draft has been over for a week now, and no official announcement from the team regarding UDFA’s and rookie camp invites?

[ColoradoBills]

14 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

So the draft has been over for a week now, and no official announcement from the team regarding UDFA’s and rookie camp invites?

 

I've noticed they are slower this year.

Beane also said something to the effect that the rookies and UDFAs won't be coming to Buffalo until the 2nd option week which is May 12th-15th.

Maybe they are just waiting for that.  I expect to hear official stuff soon and the signing will happen when they get to Buffalo.

[Aussie Joe]

On 5/7/2023 at 4:41 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

Because Beane said himself the board didn't fall for them to take a running back.

 

They have paid him some guaranteed money to make him feel better when he ends up on the PS.. and then when there is an inevitable injury they will promote him to the 53