GASabresIUFan Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 (edited) I've mentioned it in other threads, but I like how this team looks on paper heading into next season. Only looking at players under contract Offense: QB - Allen RB - Cook OLine - Brown, McGovern, Morse (Bates), Torrence, Dawkins TE - Kincaid, Knox, WR - Diggs, ?????, Shakir Defense: DLine - Oliver, Rousseau, Miller LB - Milano, Benard, Williams, Spector CB - Douglas, Benford, Johnson, White (if healthy and not cut) and Elam S - Poyer Players under contract who I think will be cut - Gilliam (FB), Harty (WR), Hamlin (S), Hines (RB), Doyle (LT), and Neal (CB). Others under contract - Van Denmark (T), Davidson (TE), Anderson (RT), Shorter (WR), Jonathan (DE) I think that's 11 very good to great (Allen) players on offense, which only needs another 2 WRs and some OLine depth. I'd also bring back Ty Johnson to back up Cook and draft an RB with one of our 3 6th Rd picks. On defense, there are 7 excellent starters (Oliver, Rousseau, Milano, Benard, Benford, Douglas, and Johnson), plus the ever capable Poyer (if he returns). We need another starting safety and help on the DLine, but these are not insurmountable issues, especially if Floyd and DaQuan Jones return and by some miracle, Tre White returns healthy. If White does return, would he be moved to Free Safety to replace Hyde? I love our depth at LB, especially if Dodson is also re-signed. This is the core of a very good football team that could be a SB contender with the right tweaks and some luck in the health department. Edited January 23 by GASabresIUFan 5 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan in Cleveland Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Some core backups like Dodson, Edwards, Van Demark and Isabella will return as well. Only free agent I would offer a contract to is Jones The rest can go and hopefully turn into a comp pick Draft: WR Edge S C WR OT DT P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFanForever19 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Everyone's assuming Hines is cut. And in a vacuum, it seems like a no brainer. However, Beane has said he wants him next season and Hines has said he'll be here next season. The fact that there was no dispute over his lost money, the two came to an agreement on a number, and he wasn't outright released with a settlement says to me they struck a deal. We saved a little cap last season. He didn't push the issue with the Union and he's back next year. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10098381-bills-nyheim-hines-reflects-on-jet-ski-accident-my-life-is-like-final-destination 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Process Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 We really don't have that many needs. I feel way better about the roster going into this offseason than I did last year. Last year we all thought we had huge holes at MLB and RT, turns out we already had quality starters at each position already on the team. That's in addition to the needs we had at LG, RG, TE, DE, S, WR etc. WR S DE DT Outside of WR1 our entire starting offense is already on the team and under contract. 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFan Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 2 minutes ago, Process said: Outside of WR1 our entire starting offense is already on the team and under contract. This is one of the reasons I started the thread. So many people are screaming in other threads fire McD, fire Beane, we are in cap hell (we aren't), the offense sucks and the defense sucks etc.. However, when you put together a visual view of the roster, it reveals that Beane isn't an idiot, but has built a core of a very solid football team, which is getting younger again. In the last 3 drafts, he has added starters Rousseau, Brown, Cook, Benard, Shakir, Benford, Kincaid, and Torrence. He has 10 draft picks in 2024 to add more depth at WR, safety, and to fill other needs such as D Line. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I think white is really iffy to come back 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 5 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said: Some core backups like Dodson, Edwards, Van Demark and Isabella will return as well. Only free agent I would offer a contract to is Jones The rest can go and hopefully turn into a comp pick Draft: WR Edge S C WR OT DT P I’d be shocked if Dodson returns. Someone will pay him more and will make him a starter. 5 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said: Everyone's assuming Hines is cut. And in a vacuum, it seems like a no brainer. However, Beane has said he wants him next season and Hines has said he'll be here next season. The fact that there was no dispute over his lost money, the two came to an agreement on a number, and he wasn't outright released with a settlement says to me they struck a deal. We saved a little cap last season. He didn't push the issue with the Union and he's back next year. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10098381-bills-nyheim-hines-reflects-on-jet-ski-accident-my-life-is-like-final-destination That very well may be the case….but taking a 5M cap hit for him is a poor decision imo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 hour ago, John from Riverside said: I think white is really iffy to come back Yeah- I be shocked if he returns. Extend Douglas and roll with Benford, Dane (if he wants to come back for cheap) and elam. If Dane bolts, he won’t be very hard to replace. But tres cap savings is a must for a player that has on been good 3 games (due to injury) over the last 2.5 years. If he wants a huge pay cut to take Danes role, that would be fine, but that’s unlikely imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills!Win! Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Is Rapp a FA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 2 hours ago, NewEra said: Yeah- I be shocked if he returns. Extend Douglas and roll with Benford, Dane (if he wants to come back for cheap) and elam. If Dane bolts, he won’t be very hard to replace. But tres cap savings is a must for a player that has on been good 3 games (due to injury) over the last 2.5 years. If he wants a huge pay cut to take Danes role, that would be fine, but that’s unlikely imo No team is giving Tra a big contract. Im guessing he restructures for a team friendly deal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan2313 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 10 minutes ago, Bills!Win! said: Is Rapp a FA? Yeah, but he will probably return on a similar deal with a chance to start 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_In_NH Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 People will be very upset the bills will have to sign or draft a lot of DL. But there are no numbers there and a lot of work to do. I am good with a first round WR. But people expect too much there. Need to get young and talent at safety too. I would consider some cap moves to allow for other players now and in future years. Morse Poyer and White is what I am thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewEra Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 hour ago, Pete said: No team is giving Tra a big contract. Im guessing he restructures for a team friendly deal I didn’t say anyone was going to give him a big contract. I just think someone might pay him more than we will. After two major injuries back to back- I’d pay him the minimum only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Deek Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Thanks for putting this together. I don’t think the opposing threads are at odds with your well outlined assessment. I believe what others are pointing out is that the Bills have painted themselves into a contract loaded corner. They have little financial wiggle room to build upon the core roster you laid out. A successful 2024 Draft is going to be crucial not only for next season but for the long term future. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanC883 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 10 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said: I've mentioned it in other threads, but I like how this team looks on paper heading into next season. Only looking at players under contract Offense: QB - Allen RB - Cook OLine - Brown, McGovern, Morse (Bates), Torrence, Dawkins TE - Kincaid, Knox, WR - Diggs, ?????, Shakir Defense: DLine - Oliver, Rousseau, Miller LB - Milano, Benard, Williams, Spector CB - Douglas, Benford, Johnson, White (if healthy and not cut) and Elam S - Poyer Players under contract who I think will be cut - Gilliam (FB), Harty (WR), Hamlin (S), Hines (RB), Doyle (LT), and Neal (CB). Others under contract - Van Denmark (T), Davidson (TE), Anderson (RT), Shorter (WR), Jonathan (DE) I think that's 11 very good to great (Allen) players on offense, which only needs another 2 WRs and some OLine depth. I'd also bring back Ty Johnson to back up Cook and draft an RB with one of our 3 6th Rd picks. On defense, there are 7 excellent starters (Oliver, Rousseau, Milano, Benard, Douglas, and Johnson), plus the ever capable Poyer (if he returns). We need another starting safety and help on the DLine, but these are not insurmountable issues, especially if Floyd and DaQuan Jones return and by some miracle, Tre White returns healthy. If White does return, would he be moved to Free Safety to replace Hyde? I love our depth at LB, especially if Dodson is also re-signed. This is the core of a very good football team that could be a SB contender with the right tweaks and some luck in the healthy department. yeah, that's a pretty great roster on paper that also has experience playing together, particularly the OL. Diggs is a question mark given his fall off this year, but I think the ??? WR will either be a round 1 pick, or a FA like Pittman. I think the other S will be a FA or a rookie pick. (I think we get a FA WR or S starter, and go rookie with the other position). 2 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said: People will be very upset the bills will have to sign or draft a lot of DL. But there are no numbers there and a lot of work to do. I am good with a first round WR. But people expect too much there. Need to get young and talent at safety too. I would consider some cap moves to allow for other players now and in future years. Morse Poyer and White is what I am thinking. I think we go DL later in the draft, particularly at interior DL. I think the WRs coming out there year we won't be expecting "too much" from them. Rice (KC) and the guy Green Bay drafted both had great seasons this year. We need to hit on guys like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 6 hours ago, John from Riverside said: I think white is really iffy to come back i think it's more likely to have White on the roster than Miller. maybe wishful thinking but i am hoping that Gooddell suspends him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warriorspikes51 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Just now, boyst said: i think it's more likely to have White on the roster than Miller. maybe wishful thinking but i am hoping that Gooddell suspends him. won't happen if there's no charges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paup 1995MVP Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 14 minutes ago, RyanC883 said: yeah, that's a pretty great roster on paper that also has experience playing together, particularly the OL. Diggs is a question mark given his fall off this year, but I think the ??? WR will either be a round 1 pick, or a FA like Pittman. I think the other S will be a FA or a rookie pick. (I think we get a FA WR or S starter, and go rookie with the other position). I think we go DL later in the draft, particularly at interior DL. I think the WRs coming out there year we won't be expecting "too much" from them. Rice (KC) and the guy Green Bay drafted both had great seasons this year. We need to hit on guys like that. The Diggs Miller and Knox contracts stink. If we can get rid of all 3 (which is unlikely) and replace w more productive cheaper players, Beane will have earned his keep 10 times over. Bills D is OLD. We need pass rushers. WE need younger safeties.. And we need more playmakers (at least 2) at the WR position. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 16 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said: won't happen if there's no charges see: Elliot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brand J Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 10 minutes ago, Paup 1995MVP said: The Diggs Miller and Knox contracts stink. If we can get rid of all 3 (which is unlikely) and replace w more productive cheaper players, Beane will have earned his keep 10 times over. Bills D is OLD. We need pass rushers. WE need younger safeties.. And we need more playmakers (at least 2) at the WR position. Which is why I’m NOT a fan of trading up for a position that isn’t QB, regardless who Beane thinks he can reach. We need more young players on cost controlled contracts. There are numerous guys we could’ve picked in the 4th round the last two years that would’ve been a core starter or great depth. Every non-QB we’ve traded up for, there’s been someone who goes later who’s either just as good or better. Trade down if anything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFan Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 (edited) 4 hours ago, SoCal Deek said: . They have little financial wiggle room to build upon the core roster you laid out. I thought that as well. However after watching Greg Tompsett video referenced elsewhere I feel much better about the cap situation. They are between 30-40 mill over the cap depending on how much the cap rises. Cutting Harty, Hines, Gilliam, White, Neal and a few others gets us toward the goal. Add some extensions and a little restructuring and your’re there. Edited January 23 by GASabresIUFan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st pete gogolak Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Ironically enough, I look at this off-season as similar to the Sabres’ 22 - 23 offseason. Sabres were an up and coming team (of course that differs from the Bills who are an established playoff team) with well defined needs (veteran goalie, vet D man to partner with Power, add some grit up front). Kevin Adams failed miserably in the off-season and the Sabres have paid the price. Bills, like the Sabres, have well defined needs going into the offseason - WR, S, depth on the DL. I have no doubt that Beane, unlike Adams, will adress these needs in free agency and the draft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFan Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 41 minutes ago, Paup 1995MVP said: Bills D is OLD. That was certainly the case heading into last season. Jones, Miller, Settle, Phillips, Floyd, Poyer and Hyde certainly made it that way, but heading into next season many of those players will be gone. Hyde, Settle and Phillips are almost certainly gone. The youth movement centers around Benford, Benard, and Rousseau and should continue with new draftees at safety and along the D Line. The team as a whole is going to continue to get younger. McGovern, Brown and Torrance now anchor the O Line. New WRs will be drafted and Kincaid is now the starting TE. Cook is the starting RB. I think the only over 30 starters on offense are Diggs and Morse. (Dawkins will be 30 next year). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Might Rather Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 3 hours ago, Pete said: No team is giving Tra a big contract. Im guessing he restructures for a team friendly deal I agree, a healthy Tre with Douglas would be a nice starting CB tandem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
947 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Tre is not coming back. No CB in the history of the NFL has ever gotten even close to their prior abilities after an achilles tear. We constantly see guys at other positions come back as shells of themselves & are out of the league a year later. Maybe they restructure him into a big pay cut to allow him to rehab, but he isn't ever going to be a key player for us again. I love the guy, and it sucks, but it's time to move on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty98 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Just now, 947 said: Tre is not coming back. No CB in the history of the NFL has ever gotten even close to their prior abilities after an achilles tear. We constantly see guys at other positions come back as shells of themselves & are out of the league a year later. Maybe they restructure him into a big pay cut to allow him to rehab, but he isn't ever going to be a key player for us again. I love the guy, and it sucks, but it's time to move on. Maybe not as a corner, but Tre is a player you could make the case for attempting a move to FS. I'm not saying he's a guaranteed surefire stud there, but it's something to look at. Coverage wise he's able to sit in zone and let it come to him more and he's been quick enough to patrol a deep cover 2 zone. He's a willing tackler on top of it, so I'm just saying it could be a possibility to have less needs come draft and lets you re up Rapp if necessary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brand J Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 2 minutes ago, Monty98 said: Maybe not as a corner, but Tre is a player you could make the case for attempting a move to FS. I'm not saying he's a guaranteed surefire stud there, but it's something to look at. Coverage wise he's able to sit in zone and let it come to him more and he's been quick enough to patrol a deep cover 2 zone. He's a willing tackler on top of it, so I'm just saying it could be a possibility to have less needs come draft and lets you re up Rapp if necessary Could you imagine Tre being the last line of defense with a charging Derrick Henry running at him? Hyde has taken him down in this exact scenario, but tackling has never been Tre’s strong suit and you need sure tacklers at safety. I believe he’d have the mind to play the position, but not the physicality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty98 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 6 minutes ago, Brand J said: Could you imagine Tre being the last line of defense with a charging Derrick Henry running at him? Hyde has taken him down in this exact scenario, but tackling has never been Tre’s strong suit and you need sure tacklers at safety. I believe he’d have the mind to play the position, but not the physicality. He's shown a willingness to tackle, also not to be forgotten, Hyde was a slot corner guy for Green Bay when we signed him. White has never shied away from contact, he may not be the greatest tackler ever, but he will make contact and he's got a knack for making the ball pop out. I'm just saying he's something that the team looks at and goes hey, he could be our cover guy vs getting a bonafide SS that's "imposing" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFan Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 7 minutes ago, Brand J said: Could you imagine Tre being the last line of defense with a charging Derrick Henry running at him? Hyde has taken him down in this exact scenario, but tackling has never been Tre’s strong suit and you need sure tacklers at safety. I believe he’d have the mind to play the position, but not the physicality. Others have made this point as well. I agree Tre is not a good tackler but he does bring other good things to a possible move to free safety such as coverage and ball hawking skills. He is also like Hyde, a very smart defender positionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyCallMeAndy Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 10 minutes ago, Brand J said: Could you imagine Tre being the last line of defense with a charging Derrick Henry running at him? Hyde has taken him down in this exact scenario, but tackling has never been Tre’s strong suit and you need sure tacklers at safety. I believe he’d have the mind to play the position, but not the physicality. Benford is born to be an elite safety, best case scenario is White returns and Benford moves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ngbills Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Our roster with an older Diggs, no Davis, no Harty, no Sherfield...we are only going as far as the WR group. Beane passed on Dhop, passed on OBJ, etc. This is not a year to pass. We need a legit threat as it could even be questionable if Diggs is still a #1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brand J Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 minute ago, Monty98 said: He's shown a willingness to tackle, also not to be forgotten, Hyde was a slot corner guy for Green Bay when we signed him. White has never shied away from contact, he may not be the greatest tackler ever, but he will make contact and he's got a knack for making the ball pop out. I'm just saying he's something that the team looks at and goes hey, he could be our cover guy vs getting a bonafide SS that's "imposing" A willingness to tackle doesn’t account for much if the play goes for a long gain because the tackle is missed. Without going back to look, I’m almost certain the 80 something yard run Breece Hall had in the opener happened because Tre missed a tackle at the LoS. He showed a willingness to hit Hall, but what does it matter if he can’t bring him down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty98 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 minute ago, Brand J said: A willingness to tackle doesn’t account for much if the play goes for a long gain because the tackle is missed. Without going back to look, I’m almost certain the 80 something yard run Breece Hall had in the opener happened because Tre missed a tackle at the LoS. He showed a willingness to hit Hall, but what does it matter if he can’t bring him down? Tre missed the tackle but he's in a tough spot, he's the contain guy. He's doing his job by forcing Hall inside where the flow is supposed to clean up. Does he miss a tackle? Yes, did he olé the tackle? Not at all. Poyer was worse down the field flat footed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Deek Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 hour ago, GASabresIUFan said: I thought that as well. However after watching Greg Tompsett video referenced elsewhere I feel much better about the cap situation. They are between 30-40 mill over the cap depending on how much the cap rises. Cutting Harty, Hines, Gilliam, White, Neal and a few others gets us toward the goal. Add some extensions and a little restructuring and your there. I guess everything’s relative, but in general once you’re among the teams paying a franchise QB, DE, TE, and WR the cap puzzle gets much more complicated than for teams that don’t have similar salaries on their books. By definition, It’s a money driven competition for free agents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFan Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 20 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said: I guess everything’s relative, but in general once you’re among the teams paying a franchise QB, DE, TE, and WR the cap puzzle gets much more complicated than for teams that don’t have similar salaries on their books. By definition, It’s a money driven competition for free agents. Absolutely. The terrible contracts for Knox, Diggs and Miller are huge issues, but I think all 3 will probably be gone after 2025. After 2025 we can move on from all 3 with a cap savings of 44 million. I think we can get decent production from Knox and Diggs over the next 2 years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flmike Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 13 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said: This is one of the reasons I started the thread. So many people are screaming in other threads fire McD, fire Beane, we are in cap hell (we aren't), the offense sucks and the defense sucks etc.. However, when you put together a visual view of the roster, it reveals that Beane isn't an idiot, but has built a core of a very solid football team, which is getting younger again. In the last 3 drafts, he has added starters Rousseau, Brown, Cook, Benard, Shakir, Benford, Kincaid, and Torrence. He has 10 draft picks in 2024 to add more depth at WR, safety, and to fill other needs such as D Line. and LB. We saw how badly we need one more reserve LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASabresIUFan Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 15 minutes ago, flmike said: and LB. We saw how badly we need one more reserve LB I don't think that will be an issue. Milano and Benard will be back. Williams and Spector are under contract and acquitted themselves well. I suspect Dodson will also be re-signed. Given Milano's injury history, I expect at least 2 LBs on the practice squad, but the 5 players mentioned above give us the most talented and deepest LB room we have arguably had during the McBeane tenure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Won't the Bills have to do more with less cap next year? That means a lot of young players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandon Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 21 minutes ago, flmike said: and LB. We saw how badly we need one more reserve LB Yes, but realistically, you're never going to be 5-6 deep at LB. If you are, you're short-changing another position. The guys they have played remarkably well under the circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 14 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said: Everyone's assuming Hines is cut. And in a vacuum, it seems like a no brainer. However, Beane has said he wants him next season and Hines has said he'll be here next season. The fact that there was no dispute over his lost money, the two came to an agreement on a number, and he wasn't outright released with a settlement says to me they struck a deal. We saved a little cap last season. He didn't push the issue with the Union and he's back next year. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10098381-bills-nyheim-hines-reflects-on-jet-ski-accident-my-life-is-like-final-destination Overall agree with you, think he will be back. They did miss him too as a return man. Can't recall did he also return punts or was it just KO? But do question the settlement part. Since it was a non-football injury, did or could the Bills even legally by league rules offer a settlement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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