Impact Players and the case for doing whatever it takes at WR1

[SCBills]

Remember the year we were Super Bowl favorites?

 

We rolled into LA with Allen, prime Diggs and Von.  All 3 played like impact players.  Team looked like a juggernaut. 
 

Then Diggs faded and disappears in the Playoffs.  He’s gone.   Von gets hurt.  Hasn’t been the same since.  
 

Who do we keep losing to in recent contending years?  KC (2) and CIN (1). 

CIN Impact Players:

 

Burrow, Chase, Higgins

 

KC Impact Players:

 

Mahomes, Kelce, Jones, Hill

 

Mahomes, Kelce, Jones, Snead

 

Who does KC roll into ‘24 with this year?

 

Mahomes, Kelce, Jones

 

We should always be at 3 impact players.  That seems to be a consensus number of what you need to lead your team into the games where it matters.   Who can you count on to step up in the clutch. 
 

We enter this year with:

 

Allen. ?.  ?. 
 

Kincaid is a guy we can reasonably hope becomes an impact player.
 

So where does the third impact player come from?

 

Not sure I see any DT’s or EDGE rushers out there for us that fit the bill.  Same goes for CB.  
 

Maybe Simmons at S?  But that’s not a position I’d advocate paying big money at, especially for an older player.  And can a S really take over a game?
 

All roads lead to WR1.  
 

The Bills, who haven’t been able to get over the hump, could draft around 28 and or slightly move up for a Tier 2 WR.  And that’s fine.. maybe this time it works.  Maybe they double up with a vet or in RD2 and we have a really nice WR room, albeit without a true game wrecker. 
 

Or maybe we finally get that guy to join Allen and potentially Kincaid.  To give us that 3rd impact player.  
 

A trade for an Aiyuk level receiver or packaging up picks for Nabers would signal a massive shift from building a roster with no holes, above average talent everywhere and plenty of depth (who haven’t been able to win when it matters) to a team with guys coming at you that can truly take over a game. 
 

There’s risk involved if doing this through the draft, but the Big 3 all seem to be consensus Top 5 picks in any other draft. 

 

Of course, the other option is fielding a competitive team this year, while playing it safe with the intention of going big fish hunting in FA next year. 

So.. which way Beane?

 

Because at some point.. Josh Allen needs 2 other impact players riding with him.  A luxury that has helped propel Mahomes over him year in/year out. 
 

The obvious way to get there this year is by going all out to address WR1. 

[Nephilim17]

Oliver can be.

[SoonerBillsFan]

Matt Milano has entered the chat...

[Rubes]

I feel like I've read this somewhere before...

 

[SCBills]

Oliver “can be”.  He hasn’t shown “to be”. 
 

I also fear he’s too small to take over games.  Something is holding him back from being a game wrecker in big moments, and that’s the only major flaw I see in his game.  
 

“Milano has entered the chat”

 

For one, he’s a LB. Do we view Fred Warner or Roquan Smith as take over impact players?  Maybe some do.. I don’t.  
 

He’s also coming off a major injury. 

[Kirby Jackson]

Milano is (and was) the 2nd best player on the team. He’s a top of the league player at his position. I’d says he’s the only other star on the roster. 
 

The Bills have a lot of good players and most of them are ascending still. They lack top of the roster talent for sure. They’ve lost to the teams who have more top talent.

Edited April 6 by Kirby Jackson

[SoonerBillsFan]

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Oliver “can be”.  He hasn’t shown “to be”. 
 

I also fear he’s too small to take over games.  Something is holding him back from being a game wrecker in big moments, and that’s the only major flaw I see in his game.  
 

“Milano has entered the chat”

 

For one, he’s a LB. Do we view Fred Warner or Roquan Smith as take over impact players?  Maybe some do.. I don’t.  
 

He’s also coming off a major injury. 

Yes Milano has been a defensive impact player. Wait until September to get yourself all worked up over this.  Still have the draft, post June 1st cuts and trades.  

 

Make like Frankie and relax...

Edited April 6 by SoonerBillsFan

[SCBills]

Just now, SoonerBillsFan said:

Yes Milano has been a defensive impact player. Wait until September to get yourself all worked up over this.  Still have the draft, post June 1st cuts and trades.  

 

Make like Frankie and relax...

The whole point of my post is advocating for finding an impact player in the Draft or via Trade. 
 

I don’t think there’s going to be a ton of game wreckers all of a sudden made available in post June 1st cuts. 
 

But ok, nobody post about the Bills roster until September. 

[Kirby Jackson]

6 minutes ago, SCBills said:

The whole point of my post is advocating for finding an impact player in the Draft or via Trade. 
 

I don’t think there’s going to be a ton of game wreckers all of a sudden made available in post June 1st cuts. 
 

But ok, nobody post about the Bills roster until September. 

There’s really only 1 FA left now that can be considered an impact player. The Bills should sign him post June 1. 
 

They’re going to need impact player(s) in the draft. They have a hard time finding them.

[Turbo44]

16 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Remember the year we were Super Bowl favorites?

 

We rolled into LA with Allen, prime Diggs and Von.  All 3 played like impact players.  Team looked like a juggernaut. 
 

Then Diggs faded and disappears in the Playoffs.  He’s gone.   Von gets hurt.  Hasn’t been the same since.  
 

Who do we keep losing to in recent contending years?  KC (2) and CIN (1). 

CIN Impact Players:

 

Burrow, Chase, Higgins

 

KC Impact Players:

 

Mahomes, Kelce, Jones, Hill

 

Mahomes, Kelce, Jones, Snead

 

Who does KC roll into ‘24 with this year?

 

Mahomes, Kelce, Jones

 

We should always be at 3 impact players.  That seems to be a consensus number of what you need to lead your team into the games where it matters.   Who can you count on to step up in the clutch. 
 

We enter this year with:

 

Allen. ?.  ?. 
 

Kincaid is a guy we can reasonably hope becomes an impact player.
 

So where does the third impact player come from?

 

Not sure I see any DT’s or EDGE rushers out there for us that fit the bill.  Same goes for CB.  
 

Maybe Simmons at S?  But that’s not a position I’d advocate paying big money at, especially for an older player.  And can a S really take over a game?
 

All roads lead to WR1.  
 

The Bills, who haven’t been able to get over the hump, could draft around 28 and or slightly move up for a Tier 2 WR.  And that’s fine.. maybe this time it works.  Maybe they double up with a vet or in RD2 and we have a really nice WR room, albeit without a true game wrecker. 
 

Or maybe we finally get that guy to join Allen and potentially Kincaid.  To give us that 3rd impact player.  
 

A trade for an Aiyuk level receiver or packaging up picks for Nabers would signal a massive shift from building a roster with no holes, above average talent everywhere and plenty of depth (who haven’t been able to win when it matters) to a team with guys coming at you that can truly take over a game. 
 

There’s risk involved if doing this through the draft, but the Big 3 all seem to be consensus Top 5 picks in any other draft. 

 

Of course, the other option is fielding a competitive team this year, while playing it safe with the intention of going big fish hunting in FA next year. 

So.. which way Beane?

 

Because at some point.. Josh Allen needs 2 other impact players riding with him.  A luxury that has helped propel Mahomes over him year in/year out. 
 

The obvious way to get there this year is by going all out to address WR1. 

Ladd at #28 (he’ll catch 100 passes as a rookie)

legette at #45 (after a trade up from #60) - the deep threat Josh really never has. Substitute Legette for with Franklin, Polk, Worthy, Coleman, even Walker depending on who the Bills like 

3 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

There’s really only 1 FA left now that can be considered an impact player. The Bills should sign him post June 1. 
 

They’re going to need impact player(s) in the draft. They have a hard time finding them.

Who’s that? Odell?

[Kirby Jackson]

13 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Ladd at #28 (he’ll catch 100 passes as a rookie)

legette at #45 (after a trade up from #60) - the deep threat Josh really never has. Substitute Legette for with Franklin, Polk, Worthy, Coleman, even Walker depending on who the Bills like 

Who’s that? Odell?

Justin Simmons

[Turbo44]

Just now, Kirby Jackson said:

Justin Simmons

Yep that would be nice 

[SCBills]

Justin Simmons, while I’m cautious in that idea, and say Aiyuk or Nabers would completely change the narrative going into this season.  
 

That’s the interesting choice presented because doing something like this, would mean we have some holes at depth/rotational spots with late round rookies or JAG free agents.. which is something Beane hasn’t really been willing to do. 

[mannc]

We needed a WR before Diggs left…now we need two.  Get Aiyuk without giving up 28, then take Leggette, McConkey or whomever at 28.

[GoBills808]

The reason we are losing in the playoffs is not for lack of impact players

 

It's because the defense lays down. It's as simple as that. They need to play better

[Kirby Jackson]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

Justin Simmons, while I’m cautious in that idea, and say Aiyuk or Nabers would completely change the narrative going into this season.  
 

That’s the interesting choice presented because doing something like this, would mean we have some holes at depth/rotational spots with late round rookies or JAG free agents.. which is something Beane hasn’t really been willing to do. 

Yep, Simmons is a great player at a position of need

 

I’m personally hoping that they’re more open to getting stars and sacrificing depth. I’d make a big move for a WR. I like the idea of the top 3 but would be good with an Ayiuk deal instead. His game fits perfectly with Josh.

 

[SCBills]

6 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

The reason we are losing in the playoffs is not for lack of impact players

 

It's because the defense lays down. It's as simple as that. They need to play better

And why do you think the defense lays down?

 

KC had an elite defense all season.  When matched against Josh Allen, even missing his WR2 in Gabe Davis, they were in a world of hurt until Chris Jones made a play by beating Dawkins to prevent a TD.  
 

Ballgame. 
 

They were struggling against Philly in the Super Bowl, but had a return for a TD and got bailed by the refs. 
 

Snead, when not locking down Diggs, forced a fumble to alter the Ravens game. 
 

Who’s making plays like that for us?  Poyer kept the game alive with his goal line punch out, but that’s the extent that I can remember in all these big games (im not talking about WC games where we’re clearly better than the opponent)

 

Meanwhile, Kelce shows up every game for Mahomes.  So did Hill. 

 

 

Edited April 6 by SCBills

[Jrb1979]

6 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

The reason we are losing in the playoffs is not for lack of impact players

 

It's because the defense lays down. It's as simple as that. They need to play better

Impact players on defense would help. 

[GoBills808]

Just now, SCBills said:

And why do you think the defense lays down?

 

KC had an elite defense all season.  When matched against Josh Allen, even missing his WR2 in Gabe Davis, they were in a world of hurt until Chris Jones made a play by beating Dawkins to prevent a TD.  
 

Ballgame. 
 

They were struggling against Philly in the Super Bowl, but had a return for a TD and got bailed by the refs. 
 

Snead, when not locking down Diggs, forced a fumble to alter the Ravens game. 
 

Who’s making plays like that for us?  Poyer kept the game alive with his goal line punch out, but that’s the extent that I can remember in all these big games (im not talking about WC games where we’re clearly better than the opponent)
 

 

How does Cincinnati get consistently good performances out of their defense in the postseason? Their talent level on that side of the ball looks a lot like ours if not worse

[SCBills]

5 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

How does Cincinnati get consistently good performances out of their defense in the postseason? Their talent level on that side of the ball looks a lot like ours if not worse

Honestly, that’s a great question .. and the answer to that is depressing to think about. 
 

Reality:

 

Spags and Anarumo are better DC’s than what we have/have had in McDermott, Frazier etc. 

 

CIN doesn’t have any reason to have a defense they can rely on like that in the playoffs, aside from the fact their coaching and schematics are on another level. 
 

But we have what we have, so it is what it is.  Which is why we needed a Von Miller, before that blew up in our face. 
 

But the fact is, the year they went to the Super Bowl, they still had 3 elite impact players.   Just all on one side of the ball. 
 

Edited April 6 by SCBills