Bills need(s) after week 3

[BillsFanForever19]

14 hours ago, Cubanmist 1 said:

After the Bills 3rd win, I think there are major areas where they can improve. One is at backup RB, 2nd at WR, and 3rd at Pass Rush. Maybe even another LBer. Bills are direly in need of a force opposite of Bosa. Groot just ain’t it.

So, who would you trade for and what would you give up? Also, what position(s) do you think we need?

 

We've got 1 DE that we signed to a 3 year deal that is sitting on suspension that we haven't dressed yet.

 

We have another DE we spent a 3rd Round Pick on that we haven't dressed yet.

 

As it is, if they all stay healthy - we're going to have a tough decision to make roster wise and/or keep SIX DE's.

 

We brought in 3 new Ends in this offseason. Again, two of which we haven't seen yet. We gave Bosa 12.7m for a year. We signed Groot to an 80m deal. And you want them to bring in ANOTHER DE?

 

It's not going to happen.

Edited September 21 by BillsFanForever19

[Mister Defense]

20 hours ago, Cubanmist 1 said:

After the Bills 3rd win, I think there are major areas where they can improve. One is at backup RB, 2nd at WR, and 3rd at Pass Rush. Maybe even another LBer. Bills are direly in need of a force opposite of Bosa. Groot just ain’t it.

So, who would you trade for and what would you give up? Also, what position(s) do you think we need?

 

Well, of course the Bills have needs now, every team does, even the top ones.  And the Bills are well aware of this.

 

But just surprised at what you list as the most needful positions! Not expecting to see those, especially RB and WR, as your first, and even pass rush as your next. I think that is why the very legitimate question in the OP has so many negative reactions.  A good topic, but bad choices there!

 

Wouldn't cornerback be #1 for everyone, and with a bullet?? I assume it is for the Bills.

 

We have a starting CB in White who cannot cover NFL receivers in the pass game on a consistent basis.  Just like he could not last year with the two teams who cut him.  He will lose games for the Bills, as he almost did on Sunday, whether he is a starter or backup.  Corner should be #1 on the Bills list of most obvious, glaring needs.

 

I think the pass rush looks a lot better this yea, but a great pass rusher added would be nice, of course.  The pass rush, with our new star to be, I think, Walker ended the game with his pass rush, a giant of man coming straight for little concussion prone Tua.  Like Tua said after the game, he saw "color" in front of him, before he threw the ball around that color to Bernard.

 

Safety would likely be my second choice. The reason is we are just not sure how good our safeties are still. I think they are a big question mark, though they may both end up having solid years in the end.

 

So, yes they could use some help, but it is the defensive back field that has the most question marks, even when Hairston plays and plays well--as we would then be one injury away from having a CB in White who  is no longer an NFL CB,  A great player before the two career ending injuries,  and one of my favorite players, but done now.  Ready to coach. Just watch the Dolphins game again to see the clear consistent evidence.

 

 

[dave mcbride]

13 hours ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Source? 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6643448/2025/09/19/bills-dolphins-tnf-josh-allen/

 

“Bosa had an outstanding game against the Jets, and with fellow starter Greg Rousseau dealing with a bone bruise on his knee from the Ravens game, Bosa — at least in the short-term — has become their most trusted asset.”

 

He was limited in practice the last couple of weeks.

[Thurman#1]

Groot's got a bone bruise. They're saying it's from the Ravens game. He's not playing the way he will when he's better. 

 

Ahhh, Dave McBride already posted it. Thanks, Dave.

Edited September 21 by Thurman#1

[Billsfanatic8989]

In a weird way, I hope the weak positions (LB/S) get exploited in the next few weeks. But the Bills still do very good. The schedule is favorable. Then the pressure to improve the D will be there by the deadline. 

 

My fear is the opposite will happen. The D improves against some meh to garbage QB's. Management thinks things are great. The postseason rolls around and an elite QB puts up at least 30 on the D. All the while Allen can't quite bail them out. Which is what we have consistently seen with this regime.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 21 by Billsfanatic8989

[mannc]

3 hours ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Well, of course the Bills have needs now, every team does, even the top ones.  And the Bills are well aware of this.

 

But just surprised at what you list as the most needful positions! Not expecting to see those, especially RB and WR, as your first, and even pass rush as your next. I think that is why the very legitimate question in the OP has so many negative reactions.  A good topic, but bad choices there!

 

Wouldn't cornerback be #1 for everyone, and with a bullet?? I assume it is for the Bills.

 

We have a starting CB in White who cannot cover NFL receivers in the pass game on a consistent basis.  Just like he could not last year with the two teams who cut him.  He will lose games for the Bills, as he almost did on Sunday, whether he is a starter or backup.  Corner should be #1 on the Bills list of most obvious, glaring needs.

 

I think the pass rush looks a lot better this yea, but a great pass rusher added would be nice, of course.  The pass rush, with our new star to be, I think, Walker ended the game with his pass rush, a giant of man coming straight for little concussion prone Tua.  Like Tua said after the game, he saw "color" in front of him, before he threw the ball around that color to Bernard.

 

 

 

 

I’ll let you in on a little secret…about 4 months ago, the Bills used their very first pick in the NFL draft on a cornerback…like all Bills defensive players, he had an injury, but he’ll probably be on the roster in about three weeks

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Raid the Browns after they start the fire sale. Get Bojorquez and Greg Newsome. Instant upgrades over whoever the punter is this week and Rapp/Bishop

[BigAl2526]

I did not know that Rousseau is dealing with a bone bruise.  Sad that he's hurt, but glad there might be a reason he's been ineffective for a couple games.  The Bills clearly need to upgrade their safety position.  Beyond that, the Bills may have players on the roster who can improve enough to give the team what they need.  At safety, Cole Bishop is young enough that he still might get better, but with Taylor Rapp, what you see is what we're gonna keep on getting. 

[Mister Defense]

4 hours ago, mannc said:

I’ll let you in on a little secret…about 4 months ago, the Bills used their very first pick in the NFL draft on a cornerback…like all Bills defensive players, he had an injury, but he’ll probably be on the roster in about three weeks

 

But that was not enough, as that would still mean that there was almost no actual depth on the roster if the pick, or Benford, got hurt.

 

Loved the dominance of defense in the draft, but they needed an earlier 2nd CB, as in the cupboard, behind Benford, it was bare.  Strong is a project, likely not for immediate help.

 

The Bills have an excellent team, but this weakness at corner needs to be fixed.  Cut White after doing a deep dive into practice squads or free agents and bringing in someone who could at least run down the field with receivers. White cannot do so consistently.  That spells disaster for the defense, as on Sunday.

 

Wait , THREE more weeks for Hairston?  I thought he was coming backer after this week?  Better not let White start again...

 

 

[mannc]

1 minute ago, Mister Defense said:

 

But that was not enough, as that would still mean that there was almost no actual depth on the roster if the pick, or Benford, got hurt.

 

Loved the dominance of defense in the draft, but they needed an earlier 2nd CB, as in the cupboard, behind Benford, it was bare.  Strong is a project, likely not for immediate help.

 

The Bills have an excellent team, but this weakness at corner needs to be fixed.  Cut White after doing a deep dive into practice squads or free agents and bringing in someone who could at least run down the field with receivers. White cannot do so consistently.  That spells disaster for the defense, as on Sunday.

 

Wait , THREE more weeks for Hairston?  I thought he was coming backer after this week?  Better not let White start again...

 

 

Hairston is eligible to return after next week, but I don’t expect him to be activated until after the bye…

[JaCrispy]

We’ve known Groot wasn’t “it” for quite some time now.

 

Edge rusher should be our first pick next year.

[OldTimer1960]

On 9/20/2025 at 2:12 PM, LABILLBACKER said:

It's supposed to start from the DL first.  If they pressure,  it allows the zone coverage to collapse on the receivers.  But if there is no pass rush, the dbs are naked on an island. It's the Dlines responsibility to do their job first. Very rarely do you get coverage sacks.

I still think it’s a balance - coverage benefits from pass rush by not having to cover as long and therefore can cover more tightly with less worries about deep shots that take longer to develop.  On the flip side good coverage helps the pass rush by giving them time to beat the OL.

[HOUSE]

Don't need any RBs 

Where does this come from? 😬

[finn]

On 9/20/2025 at 11:53 AM, dave mcbride said:

Rousseau is a very good player currently suffering from a bone bruise in his leg that he got late in the Ravens game (which he played pretty well in). I *guarantee* you that it’s affecting his performance. They tend to be very painful. They do heal, though.

They heal, yes, but very slowly, sometimes very slowly indeed. Two weeks minimum and up to several months. And that's with resting it; it won't heal otherwise. But a lot depends on where it is and how severe it is. Of course, he's getting the best treatment available, too. 

 

Source: my own experience. A bone bruise on the knee, which has sidelined me since May. Getting better, finally, but naturally I tried to play through the pain, which only got worse. I wonder if the Bills are considering putting Rousseau on IR so he can heal up. With a stretch of "easy" games, it might be wise. 

[JP51]

Not to be coy... but they need to be better than 32 in the league against the run and 29th in the league in pass pressure...  they need to clean up some drops by WRs and figure out if Coleman is a true 1...  and they better have a plan at RB for Cook because Ray Davis does not look good.   In short, however they do that I dont care... but I do not think it involves trading and bringing in new mid range players... to me for better or worse this is the team and improvement mostly needs to come from within...  Hoecht, Ogunjobi, Hairston, maybe even a Gabe who knows... now there may be a move or two out there that falls into our laps... but at 3-0 I am not looking to trade and retool this roster...  But I think if there are significant solutions they pretty much on the team already...  I do feel like I have seen some improvement out of Bishop, but Poyer needs to be ready because Rapp is a menace to himself and others... 

[finn]

On 9/20/2025 at 9:57 PM, gobills404 said:

The Bills could really benefit from having guys Ed Oliver, Maxwell Hairston, and Michael Hoecht on the field. Anyone know if they’re able to be traded for?

LOL. I agree that the reinforcements  on defense will help. At the very least, the prospect of them returning en masse will make Beane very reluctant to give up assets for help at CB and DL. Plus, it's too early for any kind of trade, since it's not clear yet that the team weaknesses will stay weaknesses. For example, Bishop might still develop, Hancock might be a revelation for all we know, and Strong is already showing promise. 

 

For the time being, if I'm McBeane, I'd be watching Ray Davis closely and keeping an eye on the practice squads around the league. I love Ty as a third-down back (or at least I did last year, when he wasn't dropping passes), but I'm with those who want a change of pace bruiser to keep Cook healthy and close out games, and the slimmed-down Davis is not appear to fit that bill anymore. RB is about the only position where you might find real talent on a practice squad, a player that can play now and make an impact. 

[Don Otreply]

On 9/20/2025 at 2:27 PM, chris heff said:

I’ve said this before, it’s been three games. They have some new guys and some rookies playing, can we give this group a chance to gel? Why do some of you think they can just make a trade? To trade you have to have a trading partner.

Fans just assume all sorts of stuff can happen because they thought of it all of a sudden, it’s our entitlement society rearing its head, lol

[notpolian]

Based on the recent McDermott update, it looks like Hairston coming back isn't even a given this year.  

 

Here's a question that may not belong in this thread.  Is White an upgrade over Douglas at CB2?  I don't know myself.  My opinion is the defense is certainly no better than last year (worse?), but I don't think CB play is driving the problems we've been having on third downs.