Latest Wande Owens (UDFA) Hype

[Peace Frog]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/bills-rookie-udfa-named-player-154328322.html

 

[BillsFanForever19]

I don't see Owens having much of a shot. The problem with Safety isn't Depth. Which is usually what a UDFA makes it on. It's lack of studs at the top. There's hope Bishop can be one of those guys for us and we'll see.

 

But between all of the depth chart from last year returning in Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, and Cam Lewis (Backup Nickel and Safety) plus the additions of Derrick Forrest and Jordan Hancock (Backup Nickel and Safety) - we're already going to be cutting a couple from that list alone. 

 

Owens would essentially have to beat out 3 of those players above to make it as the last Safety.

[GunnerBill]

4 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

I don't see Owens having much of a shot. The problem with Safety isn't Depth. Which is usually what a UDFA makes it on. It's lack of studs at the top. There's hope Bishop can be one of those guys for us and we'll see.

 

But between all of the depth chart from last year returning in Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, and Cam Lewis (Backup Nickel and Safety) plus the additions of Derrick Forrest and Jordan Hancock (Backup Nickel and Safety) - we're already going to be cutting a couple from that list alone. 

 

Owens would essentially have to beat out 3 of those players above to make it as the last Safety.

 

While it is definitely a crowded room I think he has a shot. All UDFAs face an uphill battle to make rosters but there is only Rapp and Bishop of all the safeties the Bills have that I think are roster LOCKS. There is a lot of traffic between Owens and one of those other spots and the odds are against him, but he has a chance. 

[Doc]

Good. The more competition at safety the better.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

While it is definitely a crowded room I think he has a shot. All UDFAs face an uphill battle to make rosters but there is only Rapp and Bishop of all the safeties the Bills have that I think are roster LOCKS. There is a lot of traffic between Owens and one of those other spots and the odds are against him, but he has a chance. 

 

Yeah have to agree.  No one from Hamlin, lewis, forest, or hancock is really a lock in the safety room.  There's also no major cap ramifications cutting anyone for a UDFA, since the UDFA salary is so low.  

 

Also - the 4th safety?  He's a special teamer... so that goes into the evaluation as well.  

Edited yesterday at 01:29 PM by Bleeding Bills Blue

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

Good. The more competition at safety the better.

 

Competition in preseason doesn't make Rapp/Bishop/Hamlin better on game day.  It just weeds out the low end for cuts.

[Don Otreply]

Never heard of him…

[billsfan89]

4 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

I don't see Owens having much of a shot. The problem with Safety isn't Depth. Which is usually what a UDFA makes it on. It's lack of studs at the top. There's hope Bishop can be one of those guys for us and we'll see.

 

But between all of the depth chart from last year returning in Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, and Cam Lewis (Backup Nickel and Safety) plus the additions of Derrick Forrest and Jordan Hancock (Backup Nickel and Safety) - we're already going to be cutting a couple from that list alone. 

 

Owens would essentially have to beat out 3 of those players above to make it as the last Safety.

 

Bishop and Rapp will likely be the starters, Forrest and Hamlin are quality depth both of whom will compete to start and while I'm not sure about Forrest Hamlin plays special teams decently so Hamlin adds value there. Then you have a mid round pick in Hancock added to the mix. Likely it will take an outstanding camp performance and pre-season for Owens to "force" the Bills to make room for him or it will take an injury there to open up an opportunity. Plenty of room to make the PS however...

[BigAl2526]

I agree he is a long shot to make the active roster.  His route of least resistance is probably to end up on the PS and hope for an injury to a guy ahead of him on the roster.

[Logic]

The expansion and change in rules for practice squads in recent years should change how fans look at NFL rosters and players.

Essentially, even though NFL teams have 53 players on their roster, they have an additional 16 spots on the practice squad. Ten for rookies and second year players and six unrestricted spots.

So whereas a guy like Wande Owens may not realistically have a great chance at a roster spot, he likely DOES have a good chance at a practice squad spot. Same guys for guys like Tyrell Shavers and Laviska Shenault.

Sure, they may not be on your main roster, but they're practicing with the team, they have the playbook, they know the scheme, and they're ready on a moment's notice if you want to call them up. In terms of readiness to contribute, there's a world of difference between calling up a practice squad safety or receiver that's been with your team all season and signing a free agent off the streets.

This thinking applies to both youngsters (like Wande Owens) and vets that may not make it through final cuts (a Leviska Shenault or a Dane Jackson). I believe that NFL teams have evolved their thinking with regard to rosters and practice squads, and I think fans should follow suit.

As for Owens specifically: As I understand it, he's supremely athletically gifted. As with anyone looking to play safety in Sean McDermott's defense, his chance at success with the Bills will come down to his football IQ and mental processing. And that's where a year or two on the practice squad can do wonders for players like him.

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Competition in preseason doesn't make Rapp/Bishop/Hamlin better on game day.  It just weeds out the low end for cuts.

You don’t think competition in preseason  can make a player better?  

Edited 23 hours ago by NewEra

[Doc]

2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

Competition in preseason doesn't make Rapp/Bishop/Hamlin better on game day.  It just weeds out the low end for cuts.

 

 More bodies means more chances for a better player to assume the starting role.  But you knew that.                 

 

[Mr. WEO]

5 minutes ago, NewEra said:

You don’t think competition in preseason  can make a player better?  

 

against teammates in scenarios where everyone knows the plays?  why would it?  it may make some of the scrubs work harder to get a roster spot I guess, but not really at the top end.

Just now, Doc said:

 

 More bodies means more chances for a better player to assume the starting role.  But you knew that.                 

 

 

see above

[Alphadawg7]

This article/thread is a bit misleading as it isn't about anything he has been doing thus far.  Its just an article about his potential as an UDFA based on his college history and player profile.

 

By default, he has a shot as safety isn't really set yet in terms of the depth, but there are some guys ahead of him that they either like or paid like they feel will contribute.  So I would say its a bit of an uphill battle still, but not unsurmountable if he shows out in camp.  

 

BUT - Until I start seeing his name come up as someone impressing or standing out, he will remain a long shot though because there are guys well ahead of him going into camp.  If he does start to impress, then sure, there is room in the competition for him to make a case to make the roster, especially if he is also making an impression on ST.

[NewEra]

7 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

against teammates in scenarios where everyone knows the plays?  why would it?  it may make some of the scrubs work harder to get a roster spot I guess, but not really at the top end.

 

see above

Competition isn’t dependent on the plays being called.  In this specific situation, which safety is assured of being a starterr in 2025?  Imo, none are.  This increases the chances that everyone…:not just scrubs, will be working harder, hence giving them a better chance to improve…. My point.

 

competition breeds improvement in many cases.  Except w/e is going on in your head

[Nephilim17]

This kid is smart, has character and is explosive:

Owens played four years at Yale where he earned two first-team All-Ivy selections and one second-team, while serving as a team captain for a year.

 

43-inch vertical jump and 11-3 broad jump.

[Mr. WEO]

7 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Competition isn’t dependent on the plays being called.  In this specific situation, which safety is assured of being a starterr in 2025?  Imo, none are.  This increases the chances that everyone…:not just scrubs, will be working harder, hence giving them a better chance to improve…. My point.

 

competition breeds improvement in many cases.  Except w/e is going on in your head

 

well, let's see... Rapp and Hamlin have, combined, 6 training camps in Buffalo.  Has this annual competition made them much better?  You would have to argue, based on your own statement above, that obviously it has not.

 

 

 

[ROCBillsBeliever]

53 minutes ago, Logic said:

As with anyone looking to play safety in Sean McDermott's defense, his chance at success with the Bills will come down to his football IQ and mental processing. And that's where a year or two on the practice squad can do wonders for players like him.

 

@Logic Well, considering he went to Yale, then graduated from Harvard with a bachelor's in Computer Science, I'm thinking the dude doesn't have a Commodore 64 upstairs... That's some black-box government clearance level computing power Owens is processing with. 

 

I think he's going up to the task 😉

[Mat68]

7 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

I don't see Owens having much of a shot. The problem with Safety isn't Depth. Which is usually what a UDFA makes it on. It's lack of studs at the top. There's hope Bishop can be one of those guys for us and we'll see.

 

But between all of the depth chart from last year returning in Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Damar Hamlin, and Cam Lewis (Backup Nickel and Safety) plus the additions of Derrick Forrest and Jordan Hancock (Backup Nickel and Safety) - we're already going to be cutting a couple from that list alone. 

 

Owens would essentially have to beat out 3 of those players above to make it as the last Safety.

I think that is what opens the door.  No one has taken control of either spot.  Rapp and Bishop are on the roster and Hancock is likely a utility Db. Thats its.  I felt one of the biggest glaring issues with the team was the athleticism of the secondary.  Owens brings that.  Would have to wow on teams.  His ability lend itself to the type of guys that do that.   Talking 53rd guy who would be active game days.  I dont think he is a lock but certainly a guy to monitor. 

[Dan]

I think folks need to get used to Hamlin being on the team longer.  I know it’s a popular opinion to dump on him, but he started all season on a team that was a few minutes away from a SuperBowl.   He’ll be on the team, at the very least throughout his rookie deal and probably longer depending upon his contract  amounts.