DeShawn Williams (DT) Expected To Sign With Bills

[4merper4mer]

34 minutes ago, mrags said:

@4merper4mer

so are you saying you want to keep signing guys over the age of 30 and plug them into some of the most physical spots on a football team? 
 

The argument for more DT help isn’t my issue. We need bodies there. My issue is we went from one of the oldest teams in the league last year, to cutting a lot of aged players and being one of the younger teams just by addition by subtraction. And yet here we are getting older again with a lot of these free agents.
Hollins is over 30

Jones is over 32

Morrow is 28

Williams is 31

Austin Johnson (if he’s even signed I have seen confirmation yet) will be 30 by the time camp starts. 

 

I’m chomping at the bit to see your list of available 25 year old free agents that have skill sets to contribute and will be on low end contracts/camp fodder like some of the guys above.   I’ll hang up and listen.

[Turbo44]

if he's an upgrade over Settle and Ford then great.  Little moves like this increased WR as our first pick, so I'm all for DL signings

[Captain Hindsight]

17 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

It’s so weird to see ‘born: 1992’ and think ‘sweet, he’s young,’ and then see ‘Age: 31’ and be momentarily confused. 

I've now reached the age where the guys drafted were born in a different century than me.

 

I'm 35 

[4merper4mer]

I haven’t seen anyone complain that his name makes him sound like a sexual predator.  You guys are slipping.  That should have taken less than an hour.

[Warriorspikes51]

1 minute ago, Turbo44 said:

if he's an upgrade over Settle and Ford then great.  Little moves like this increased WR as our first pick, so I'm all for DL signings

was more productive than both players combined

 

Oliver

DaQuan

A.Johnson

D. Williams

Eli Ankou

 

if Sweat is there at 60, I’d still be very interested.  If not that, one of the LSU DT’s in the 4th, the Baylor DT or Northern Iowa DT on Day 3 

[Kirby Jackson]

2 minutes ago, mrags said:

I’m not upset about the signing. I’m annoyed by the fact that they said they needed to get younger. They cut a bunch of fat. Then they resigned guys that were just as old or older at many of the same positions. 
 

we went from one of the oldest teams in the league, to one of the youngest after the cuts, back to one of the oldest again. Just annoying. 
 

it’s not this guy that bothers me. It’s the mindset. And I’m not so sure they take a DT in the draft now personally. I’ll say this, Beane has found a way to fill all the holes on the team and can pick the BPA in the draft now. But it also scares me that we have specific needs at WR, DT, S, C, and I’m not sure they feel the same way. 
 

 

Well they’ll draft 2 guys there. If you’re that concerned about the age of our 5th and 6th DTs (being under 31), advocate for Ankou and our 6th round pick over Williams.

[BarleyNY]

1 hour ago, JGMcD2 said:

Jesus Christ. He played for the Panthers for 1 season… 2023. We’re 7 years removed from McBeane being there… are some of you that clueless? 

 

 

You must be new here. Welcome to Two Bills Drive. 

[Process]

Not sure what McBeane has against drafting DTs in later rounds. Bring in some young bodies with potential. He loves filling in the depth at DT with vets that end up being useless. 

[boyst]

1 hour ago, The Jokeman said:

We likely signed him to a 1 year deal, not horrible for a 31 year old rotational DT. 

Carrington and Northern were both draft picks. 

fair enough. but my point was more of a joke that those guys were starters for us who were only realistic depth players. i wish we had a roster full of starters.

41 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I just referenced CJ Ah You in another thread 😂

it's amazing that these players were starters, as mentioend above. you have to have capable backups that are not all wordly. 

 

some less than capable starters survive on their name from the draft or their has-been careers: clowney, von miller, etc.

59 minutes ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

John McCargo anyone? 😂

i hired (and then fired) his neice. she was lazy af. runs in the family i guess.

[DrDawkinstein]

This fulfills our quota for DL named Williams.

[Turbo44]

12 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

was more productive than both players combined

 

Oliver

DaQuan

A.Johnson

D. Williams

Eli Ankou

 

if Sweat is there at 60, I’d still be very interested.  If not that, one of the LSU DT’s in the 4th, the Baylor DT or Northern Iowa DT on Day 3 

EDGE is a much bigger need right now. Was hoping for Clowney but his price tag was too high

[CaptnCoke11]

22 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

I’m chomping at the bit to see your list of available 25 year old free agents that have skill sets to contribute and will be on low end contracts/camp fodder like some of the guys above.   I’ll hang up and listen.

It’s amazing how ridiculous people are over free agency 

8 minutes ago, Process said:

Not sure what McBeane has against drafting DTs in later rounds. Bring in some young bodies with potential. He loves filling in the depth at DT with vets that end up being useless. 

This doesn’t stop them from drafting a DT at any point in the draft 

[Process]

2 minutes ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

It’s amazing how ridiculous people are over free agency 

This doesn’t stop them from drafting a DT at any point in the draft 

Thanks. I'm going off of 7 years of history. 

[mrags]

26 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

I’m chomping at the bit to see your list of available 25 year old free agents that have skill sets to contribute and will be on low end contracts/camp fodder like some of the guys above.   I’ll hang up and listen.

Yeah I’ve already said this multiple times. I don’t have a list. I’m not an nfl GM after all. The point is you can’t come out and say you want to get younger. And then go and pick up guys that are just as old as the ones you e released. 
 

I’ve also said it at least a dozen times. I don’t care what players are there. If you’re not getting a difference maker, just take an undrafted player that’s hungry, healthy, and driven and hope to get the best out of them. Save the little money you have and try and throw it at the few difference makers that are out there that might actually help you. If the response about this guy is only going to be a 4th or 5th DT anyway; then there’s no reason to spend the little money you have on a vet minimum or more, when you could find a rookie off the street (there will be plenty there after the draft) for less money. 

20 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Well they’ll draft 2 guys there. If you’re that concerned about the age of our 5th and 6th DTs (being under 31), advocate for Ankou and our 6th round pick over Williams.

I don’t believe they will draft 2 at DT. One at best. And it might just be a 6-7th round pick. 

[T master]

2 hours ago, Whkfc said:

Another older guy

 

Another reasonable contract . Guys like Phillips won't be back i feel because of his injury's not that he wasn't a good rah rah guy but his body is just done so it makes sense especially given the cap situation to bring in some older guys that still may have something left in the tank .

 

They can learn a lot about them in OTA's & mini camp too to find out what he looks like going forward . Some of them won't be here when it comes game time but why not kick the tires they may work out . 

[HappyDays]

2 hours ago, colin said:

the difference this year vs prior years imo is that we used to way over pay depth type positions and marginal starters, at S, OL (staffold!), and always at DL.  looks like we are packing in more bottom of the pile contracts.

 

Beane is like a college kid who spent years overdrafting his credit card and now is finally forced to make smart spending decisions. Let's hope it's a long term lesson and not just a short term change out of necessity.

[Dablitzkrieg]

2 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

Jesus Christ. He played for the Panthers for 1 season… 2023. We’re 7 years removed from McBeane being there… are some of you that clueless? 

 

 

Yes, most here would find a problem with a cancer cure....I can hear it now, "took too long.  Why even bother"

Edited March 28 by Dablitzkrieg

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, mrags said:

I’m annoyed by the fact that they said they needed to get younger. They cut a bunch of fat. Then they resigned guys that were just as old or older at many of the same positions. 

 

Cutting the fat was as much about bloated salaries as it was about age. I criticized the DQ signing for being too expensive for an older player. This signing however is probably vet minimum for a roster bubble player. Save your energy for moves that are worth thinking about. This one is a blip on the transaction wire. If it means Beane isn't reaching for a DT in the 1st round, all the better.

[Whkfc]

1 hour ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

What do you expect two weeks into free agency?

Wasn't a complaint just an observation 

[mrags]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Cutting the fat was as much about bloated salaries as it was about age. I criticized the DQ signing for being too expensive for an older player. This signing however is probably vet minimum for a roster bubble player. Save your energy for moves that are worth thinking about. This one is a blip on the transaction wire. If it means Beane isn't reaching for a DT in the 1st round, all the better.

I generally agree with this. But again, like I’ve pointed out time and time again. All these “blips” add up. Vet minimum is about double that of rookie minimum. For a guy that’s going to be at best out 4th or 5th DT anyway. Save what little money we have and use it on someone that might actually make a difference. 

[HappyDays]

36 minutes ago, Process said:

Not sure what McBeane has against drafting DTs in later rounds. Bring in some young bodies with potential. He loves filling in the depth at DT with vets that end up being useless. 

 

One of their reported top 30 visits is a DT projected to go in the 6th round (Khristian Boyd out of Northern Iowa). I think Beane has finally learned his lesson after years of wasting money 3-4 players deep at the position. The savings from Jordan Phillips/Tim Settle to the depth DTs he has signed this offseason is probably enough to cover the year one salary of Curtis Samuel. Small philosophical changes at the bottom of the roster lead to more difference makers at the top of the roster.

[JGMcD2]

1 hour ago, mrags said:

@4merper4mer

so are you saying you want to keep signing guys over the age of 30 and plug them into some of the most physical spots on a football team? 
 

The argument for more DT help isn’t my issue. We need bodies there. My issue is we went from one of the oldest teams in the league last year, to cutting a lot of aged players and being one of the younger teams just by addition by subtraction. And yet here we are getting older again with a lot of these free agents.
Hollins is over 30

Jones is over 32

Morrow is 28

Williams is 31

Austin Johnson (if he’s even signed I have seen confirmation yet) will be 30 by the time camp starts. 

 

They're one-year deals for depth purposes. The median age of NFL free agents is 28 years old... it is hard to get younger through free agency.

 

We have given out 5 multiyear deals so far this offseason to players with a median age of 27.6. The median age of all players that we've signed so far is 28. 

 

It's really not as big of a deal as you're making it out to be. 

[YattaOkasan]

26 minutes ago, mrags said:

Yeah I’ve already said this multiple times. I don’t have a list. I’m not an nfl GM after all. The point is you can’t come out and say you want to get younger. And then go and pick up guys that are just as old as the ones you e released. 
 

I’ve also said it at least a dozen times. I don’t care what players are there. If you’re not getting a difference maker, just take an undrafted player that’s hungry, healthy, and driven and hope to get the best out of them. Save the little money you have and try and throw it at the few difference makers that are out there that might actually help you. If the response about this guy is only going to be a 4th or 5th DT anyway; then there’s no reason to spend the little money you have on a vet minimum or more, when you could find a rookie off the street (there will be plenty there after the draft) for less money. 

I don’t believe they will draft 2 at DT. One at best. And it might just be a 6-7th round pick. 

I think what youre missing is younger in regards to our big contracts.  Yes we still have the same average maybe but the cuts had bigger contracts than the people we replaced them with. 

 

Also "hope to get the best out of them" seems like a terrible plan.  I (and seemingly McBeane) would rather pay a bit more to get known quantities while were competing for a championship, that little bit of extra money will likely not move the needle for a difference maker.  if we were rebuilding then sure throw a UDFA out there (Levi Wallace), but now that were contending you need to not play a UDFA (if we can help it) that can be exposed.  Heck our 3rd rd LB got exposed by the giants and patriots and you wanna just hope for the best with a UDFA. 

 

We'll see about the draft but I think they will prioritize the trenches.  

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

2 hours ago, eball said:

 

Hi.  Welcome to The Stadium Wall.

 

I was literally thinking "Hey, a guy with a bit of production probably on a vet minimum contract. Won't affect the salary cap due to the rules. Worst case scenario he's a camp body. We'd have to really try to be upset about that"

 

And then some of us did.

[Kirby Jackson]

37 minutes ago, mrags said:

 

I don’t believe they will draft 2 at DT. One at best. And it might just be a 6-7th round pick. 

Well, then they will be signing 3 more. They’ll bring AT LEAST 8 to camp of the 90. If this 31 year-old DT competing for the 5th or 6th DT, cheer for Ankou, draft pick(s) and rookie free agents.

[khlax3]

57 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Well they’ll draft 2 guys there. If you’re that concerned about the age of our 5th and 6th DTs (being under 31), advocate for Ankou and our 6th round pick over Williams.

Ankou will be 30 in June so he is also not young. I like the move. DT generally take some time to develop. Draft 1 if he beats this guy out for the 4th spot awesome Williams can be the 5th DT if he doesn’t at least you got a guy with starting experience. Ankou can go on the practice squad again and be available if there are injuries

[somnus00]

Few weeks ago, we literally had no one besides Oliver at DT. This signing makes sense.

[Royale with Cheese]

12 minutes ago, YattaOkasan said:

I think what youre missing is younger in regards to our big contracts.  Yes we still have the same average maybe but the cuts had bigger contracts than the people we replaced them with. 

 

Also "hope to get the best out of them" seems like a terrible plan.  I (and seemingly McBeane) would rather pay a bit more to get known quantities while were competing for a championship, that little bit of extra money will likely not move the needle for a difference maker.  if we were rebuilding then sure throw a UDFA out there (Levi Wallace), but now that were contending you need to not play a UDFA (if we can help it) that can be exposed.  Heck our 3rd rd LB got exposed by the giants and patriots and you wanna just hope for the best with a UDFA. 

 

We'll see about the draft but I think they will prioritize the trenches.  

 

Yes and it's the reason why there isn't a single GM who has ever or will ever do that.  It's not a terrible plan, it's unrealistically bad.

The majority of your roster is going to be players under $3 million in base salary.  Its not just the McBeane, it's every single roster in the history of the NFL.

 

I think teams average about 2-3 UDFA making the 53 man roster.  And we want the majority of our roster being that??

[todd]

I don't understand the complaining about beane and the Panthers/Wash connections when it comes to players. I don't know how many of you hire people as part of your job, but I do. I gladly go with someone I know, or comes with a recommendation from someone else I trust over someone off the street I don't know much about other than their resume. It's a damn no-brainer. It's the sign of a good and responsible leader.

[Kirby Jackson]

11 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Well, then they will be signing 3 more. They’ll bring AT LEAST 8 to camp of the 90. If this 31 year-old DT competing for the 5th or 6th DT, cheer for Ankou, draft pick(s) and rookie free agents.

Okay, then he shouldn’t be cheering for Ankou either. He should be cheering for the draft pick(s) and UDFAs then to be DTs 5 and (maybe) 6. If we are out on Ankou & Williams competing for the 5th and (maybe) 6th spots because they are 30 & 31. We should probably have a separate thread on “What to look for in a 6th defensive tackle.”

[henry jones]

Come on people.  You’re not going to find an All-Pro free agent that signs a league minimum contract.  They need camp bodies and depth at all positions.

[SoCal Deek]

4 minutes ago, henry jones said:

Come on people.  You’re not going to find an All-Pro free agent that signs a league minimum contract.  They need camp bodies and depth at all positions.

As I said earlier, the key variable right now is that the free agent has to be CHEAP. So the universe of potential signings is down to players who’re 25-29 and have probably been close to a bust off of their rookie contract, and players who’re 29 and over who at least some point were considered good to decent. Without any money to spend, those are your choices.

[hondo in seattle]

4 hours ago, CheshireCT said:

There are more factors to signing a player than just what you see on tape. Beane has friends inside the Panthers he trusts, which is why the Bills sign players from the Panthers. Just because the Panthers are a bad team, doesn't mean every player coming from them is worthless.

 

 

 

The average NFL career is 3.3 years.  An average NFL player, during his short tenure in the league, will play for 2.4 teams.  Roughly 1 in 7 players will sign with Carolina at some point.

 

There are 32 teams each with a 53-man roster.  1,696 players start the season on a 53-man roster.  But those rosters change and evolve over the course of the long season.  Let's estimate that 2,100 different players are on NFL rosters at some point during a season.  Roughly 300 will have Carolina somewhere on their resumes.  When Beane goes shopping, there are a lot of ex-Panthers to choose from.

 

Additionally, a vet with more than 3 years of NFL experience will rotate typically rotate through more than 2.4 teams.  Williams, for example, has been on 6 professional football rosters including a short stint with the Stampeders.    Our old friend, Fitz, played on 9 different teams before hanging up the cleats.  The chances of an experienced vet having been at Carolina at some point are fairly good.  

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, mrags said:

All these “blips” add up. Vet minimum is about double that of rookie minimum.

 

The blips don't add up. Only the top 51 contracts count towards the cap. Vet minimums push other vet minimums out of the calculation. My hope is that the team will be more willing to let day three picks replace the likes of DeShawn Williams and Casey Toohill. But we still need a baseline piece in place before the draft because maybe we won't get any DEs for example on day three. At least now we are spending the vet minimum or close to it on these baseline depth pieces, instead of paying Jordan Phillips $5M to sit in the medical tent.

[Logic]

4 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

likely a vet minimum to give them a baseline 4th DT after Oliver, Jones and Johnson. I'd be surprised if he ends up making the 53. But if they don't land a DT anywhere in the draft maybe he has a shot. 

This is pretty much all that needs to be said. 

/Thread.

[Kirby Jackson]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

 

One of their reported top 30 visits is a DT projected to go in the 6th round (Khristian Boyd out of Northern Iowa). I think Beane has finally learned his lesson after years of wasting money 3-4 players deep at the position. The savings from Jordan Phillips/Tim Settle to the depth DTs he has signed this offseason is probably enough to cover the year one salary of Curtis Samuel. Small philosophical changes at the bottom of the roster lead to more difference makers at the top of the roster.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Complain about the DT signings all you want, but who else will the rookies compete with?

[RyanC883]

Great depth. We can’t get younger all over, and having depth vets who have been more productive than what we had is a step forward. 

[Chandler#81]

 

[dgrochester55]

Not a bad signing for veteran eepth.  With 11 picks, I'm sure that we are adding at least one defensive lineman.   If our rookies aren't ready, we have a backup.   If not. he either gets cut or stashed on the practice squad.  No biggie, we aren't getting 90 pro bowlers, especially at vet minimum.

Edited March 28 by dgrochester55