Free Safety options already on our roster... or do you really think it should be in the draft?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Tre White’s recovery is the wildcard. He should be back in October, Benford isn’t starting over him. 
 

Benford has the talent and tools to be an elite safety. His shortcoming also are hid better at safety. 

[BillsVet]

3 hours ago, Rico said:

Just say NO to the goofy looking high-motor lunch-pailer from Iowa in the 1st round please.

 

And I'd add...the insanity of using their top pick to fill a need at a position of low value should have died around 2009.  

 

(Cue the response that McD's safeties are not of low positional value)

[transplantbillsfan]

4 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

McDermott's defense us driven by the safeties, not the nickel corner.  Safety is the most important position on the defense. When McBeane arrived, did they sign a free agent nickel corner?  No, they signed two safeties.  

 

Shaw, just think of Taron's versatility. He's the reason the team plays such a high percentage of nickel. He's amazing in coverage. He's an amazing Blitzer. He's an amazing tackler.

 

There's a reason he's 2nd team All Pro.

 

You don't move Taron to Safety for the same reason we really never considered or even tried to move Milano to MLB.

2 hours ago, freddyjj said:

Hyde was a 5th round pick and Poyer a 7th.  Granted they had played a few years in league already but neither had high draft pick pedigree. 

 

Bolded is the reason our starting Safety in 2024 won't be a 5th-7th round draft pick.

[MrEpsYtown]

Kyle Dugger. Something like 4 years, 45 million…11.25 per maybe? They were all over him pre draft and spent all that scouting time at that D2 school. 

 

I’d pay more for Xavier McKinney. He can play either strong or free and can play single high, two high. He tackles, makes plays and still has upside. He’s also 3 years younger than Dugger. 
 

I’d also sign up for Gardner-Johnson. The Bills showed a lot of interest in him pre draft. Drafted Dawson Knox about 10 picks before he went. But he is a great fit and similar to Hyde in terms of skill set. 

[BillsFanForever19]

We're not going to convert young Starting CB's or starting quality CB's to Safety. It's infinitely easier and cheaper to find a Safety than it is a CB. 

[transplantbillsfan]

42 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

We're not going to convert young Starting CB's or starting quality CB's to Safety. It's infinitely easier and cheaper to find a Safety than it is a CB. 

 

That's part of the reason for the proposal.

 

We have 4 potential (3 for sure when healthy) high calibre starting CBs on the roster already. Do you really want to see 1 or 2 high quality CBs on the bench while our Safety position languishes?

1 hour ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Kyle Dugger. Something like 4 years, 45 million…11.25 per maybe? They were all over him pre draft and spent all that scouting time at that D2 school. 

 

I’d pay more for Xavier McKinney. He can play either strong or free and can play single high, two high. He tackles, makes plays and still has upside. He’s also 3 years younger than Dugger. 
 

I’d also sign up for Gardner-Johnson. The Bills showed a lot of interest in him pre draft. Drafted Dawson Knox about 10 picks before he went. But he is a great fit and similar to Hyde in terms of skill set. 

 

Forgot Dugger was a UFA. Let's see if he hits the market 

[BillsFanForever19]

40 minutes ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

That's part of the reason for the proposal.

 

We have 4 potential (3 for sure when healthy) high calibre starting CBs on the roster already. Do you really want to see 1 or 2 high quality CBs on the bench while our Safety position languishes?

 

Forgot Dugger was a UFA. Let's see if he hits the market 

 

White will have to be moved on for Cap Space. He has an out in his contract this offseason that we have to exercise. We simply cannot pay him the contract we signed him to before his ACL and Achilles injuries back to back.

 

He's a 16.4m cap hit this season and a 16.7m cap hit next season. We can get out from under it this offseason and with the condition he's in and our cap situation, we really don't have a choice.

 

So that leaves Douglas and Benford as our Starters. Taron in the Nickel. Elam as a backup on the outside.  Dane and Cam Lewis are FA's - White and Neal will be cap casualties. We'll have to get some depth underneath Douglas, Benford, Johnson, and Elam as is. 

 

Safety will be fine. Hyde will probably retire and even if he doesn't, he won't be playing here. Poyer will probably be here another year to help bring along a Rookie in Round 2 or 3. Or we sign a guy they like who doesn't break the bank, being a Safety. The position will not "languish".

 

It'll be fine. But one things for sure, we won't be moving a CB. Makes no sense and there's no guarantee they can even play the position or even want to anyways.

 

Like any other position, we have a hole and we'll fill it through the Draft or FA.

Edited January 25 by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

9 hours ago, Rico said:

Just say NO to the goofy looking high-motor lunch-pailer from Iowa in the 1st round please.

 

I think "high-motor lunch-pailer" is an unfair description of Cooper Dejean. He was state 100m champion in high school he is freakish athletically. 

 

I am NOT advocating the Bills drafting him in round 1 though. I think he will be a good NFL defensive back and I actually think he can play corner - as long as it is in a zone heavy scheme - but if the Bills draft him in round 1 to play corner they are chasing their own tails for the Elam miss and if they draft him in round 1 to play safety then the positional value is horrible. 

 

I want a first round wide receiver. I have wanted one for three years now. The only non-receiver pick I could see a logical defence of is a dynamic pass rusher. But late first doesn't exactly feel like the spot for that in this draft anyway. 

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

He's a 16.4m cap hit this season and a 16.7m cap hit next season. We can get out from under it this offseason and with the condition he's in and our cap situation, we really don't have a choice.

 

If he won't re-negotiate we don't have a choice. But we do have leverage for a re-negotiation. He has no new money left on his contract. If he still wants to play surely his best chance of getting back to something like his best is on a team, with a staff and a scheme he knows? So there is I would think a pretty obvious re-negotiation route there. He is a very real candidate for a pay cut. 

[GunnerBill]

The free agent I can see them targeting is Kamren Curl of the Commanders. Former 7th rounder out of Arkansas, has played in a similar defense in Washington, is a genuine multi-functional safety who has played in the box and deep centre field which allows them to carry on doing a lot of the disguise they have done with Hyde and Poyer. 

 

Spotrac has him at $15.8m AAV. If he genuinely gets that much he is probably out of our price range, but I think it is a tad high. I can see him in that $12m range. Draft a guy in the 3rd or 4th, let Curl and Poyer play, bring that guy along so he steps in for 2025. 

[Pete]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think "high-motor lunch-pailer" is an unfair description of Cooper Dejean. He was state 100m champion in high school he is freakish athletically. 

 

I am NOT advocating the Bills drafting him in round 1 though. I think he will be a good NFL defensive back and I actually think he can play corner - as long as it is in a zone heavy scheme - but if the Bills draft him in round 1 to play corner they are chasing their own tails for the Elam miss and if they draft him in round 1 to play safety then the positional value is horrible. 

 

I want a first round wide receiver. I have wanted one for three years now. The only non-receiver pick I could see a logical defence of is a dynamic pass rusher. But late first doesn't exactly feel like the spot for that in this draft anyway. 

Im OK with Cooper in the first if we sign a #1 WR.  The number one priority must be finding a #1 WR for Josh

[NeverOutNick]

CJ Gardner Johnson is the answer if we can’t hit on one after the 2nd round. I HOPE we don’t take a safety in the first couple rounds because that’s just spinning the wheels as always of not really helping the only part of our team that gets us to a SB out. 
 

CJ is young, he’s going to be relatively cheap after this injured season and he’s very good with room to grow. He fits the mold of bargain with big upside that Beane usually goes for. I’d love grabbing him as I think he still could be star in this league. 
 

Let’s save the early round picks for WR and OT so we can keep our dreams of winning a Super Bowl alive. There is no Kyle Hamilton in this draft and even if there was I’m still going WR with how epic the talent there is at the top

[Pete]

Can we please put to bed the notion of Tra being moved to Safety?  The position of Safety is like the name implies.  You must be a sound tackler being a Safety, because usually you are the last line of defense.  Tra was a great CB and lockerroom guy, but he is not a good tackler.  Benford is one that could make the transition, but I like him at CB

Edited January 25 by Pete

[The Jokeman]

12 hours ago, Brandon said:

I expect them to re-sign Rapp and then add a safety on day 2. 

 

 

I wouldn't be shocked if we took another DB in Round 6 or 7 or even add another cheap veteran. 

[Bill from NYC]

13 hours ago, JMM said:

Safety is a priority, Beneford is staying as a starting CB, Elam has absolutely NO skills to play as a safety in a zone scheme. The only answer will be a FA and a safety drafted in either 1st or 2nd rd. Count on it

Something that stupid wouldn't surprise me even a little bit. In fact, I can see McDermott actually trading up in round one for a safety.

 

Josh needs wide receivers and protection but first things first. Let's grab a safety. This can be a 2006 Groundhog day. Wouldn't that be swell?!?!

 

https://www.drafthistory.com/index.php/teams/bills

[Shaw66]

9 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Shaw, just think of Taron's versatility. He's the reason the team plays such a high percentage of nickel. He's amazing in coverage. He's an amazing Blitzer. He's an amazing tackler.

 

Uh, yeah.  This is EXACTLY why he should be a safety.   Hyde and Poyer play all over field because they do all of what you said.  

 

Before Taron arrived, the Bills never thought of moving Hde or Poyer to slot corner.  Why not?  Because safety is a more important position.  

 

Have you ever seen a team draft a slot corner in the first round?  I don't think so.  But teams take safeties in the first round.  Why one and not the other?  Because safety is a more important position.

 

 

[Orlando Tim]

I voted Elam 100% on what I hope happens because otherwise we wasted his talent. Picking a good coverage CB to play zone is dumb. Dude is a freak athlete and I hope we get some use, but I expect a draft pick

[Allen2Moulds]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I think "high-motor lunch-pailer" is an unfair description of Cooper Dejean. He was state 100m champion in high school he is freakish athletically. 

 

I am NOT advocating the Bills drafting him in round 1 though. I think he will be a good NFL defensive back and I actually think he can play corner - as long as it is in a zone heavy scheme - but if the Bills draft him in round 1 to play corner they are chasing their own tails for the Elam miss and if they draft him in round 1 to play safety then the positional value is horrible. 

 

I want a first round wide receiver. I have wanted one for three years now. The only non-receiver pick I could see a logical defence of is a dynamic pass rusher. But late first doesn't exactly feel like the spot for that in this draft anyway. 

I couldn't agree more.

Not only a good year for WR talent, but this is a BIG class, opposite of last year. I just started YouTube scouting and haven't made up my mind, but it already seems like the general consensus is 

1. Harrison

2. Neighbors

3. Odunze.

 

These 3 are likely to be long gone, and not even trade up targets. The next 2 that I like that could be mid to late 1st, are Legget from SC, looks like an AJ Brown type to me, and Brian Thomas from LSU. LSU guys seem to always transfer well to the NFL.

 

What are your thoughts on WR?

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, Allen2Moulds said:

I couldn't agree more.

Not only a good year for WR talent, but this is a BIG class, opposite of last year. I just started YouTube scouting and haven't made up my mind, but it already seems like the general consensus is 

1. Harrison

2. Neighbors

3. Odunze.

 

These 3 are likely to be long gone, and not even trade up targets. The next 2 that I like that could be mid to late 1st, are Legget from SC, looks like an AJ Brown type to me, and Brian Thomas from LSU. LSU guys seem to always transfer well to the NFL.

 

What are your thoughts on WR?

 

I put my list elsewhere earlier in the week but basically at this stage I have it Harrison, Odunze, Nabers tier 1. Then Legette, Franklin, Thomas tier 2. Then Worthy, Mitchell, Coleman tier 3.

[Allen2Moulds]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I put my list elsewhere earlier in the week but basically at this stage I have it Harrison, Odunze, Nabers tier 1. Then Legette, Franklin, Thomas tier 2. Then Worthy, Mitchell, Coleman tier 3.

I also like Tez Walker a lot. Removing the top 3, I think I like Tez Walker, Thomas, and than Mitchell. But I admit, Legget feels like the biggest boom or bust pick. Would love to see the Bills double dip. 1st and 4/5th round pick on WR. 

Edited January 25 by Allen2Moulds