2026 Roster Fill In The Holes

[stlbills13]

Just now, Aussie Joe said:

The OL won’t return in full… MCGovern and Edwards are free agents and both are likely gone 

 

I also think it's time to start planning for Dawkins replacement. Not saying it needs to be next year but his play is starting to fall off

[Aussie Joe]

Just now, stlbills13 said:

 

I also think it's time to start planning for Dawkins replacement. Not saying it needs to be next year but his play is starting to fall off

Yes … I agree … he has been restructured so many years though that he is here another 12 months at least 

[quincy]

For 2026 there are some big name players that I think we should move on from.

 

Dawkins - his play doesn't seem to warrant what he is being paid and the more he talks the less impressed I am with him.

Knox - he has gotten enough $ already from the Bills, I don't care that he is buddies with Josh, we shouldn't keep anyone for the sake of "harmony". 

Shakir - it is less about him, more about I want to see other options in the slot, no problem if he stays but his ceiling has been reached and we need more. 

Bernard - I just cannot see what he brings, always injured, only had one good year, he will be a liability going forward. 

Johnson - Father Time is calling and he has been a great Buffalo Bill but we need a replacement for him as a starter. 

 

It seems like McDermott and Beane will be here next year no matter what so I would expect all the players to be back next year.

 

I would replace all of them even if we win a miracle Super Bowl this year yet I am going to root for all of them whilst they are still Buffalo Bills. 

[MasterStrategist]

Top of priority list:

1. WR - find a top-end guy, trade/FA/draft, but we should also double up with more speed/someone who can also handle kick or punt returns.  I think there is a 30/70 chance that Keon is traded in the offseason, depending on how he finishes out the season.  It's early to give up on your top 2024 draft pick for what will likely be a 6th rounder.  I think this decision is more likely if we have a new GM in place, otherwise can't see Beane admitting a mistake that fast for such a young player.

 

2. Run defense (DT and LB) --- this to me is multi-faceted, but starts up front at DT.   Walker doesn't play like a 1-tech nose, he lacks the powerful base to hold up to double teams consistently.  We need a 1-technique to replace Daquan.  Then we need to find a LB to replace Milano.  I'm in favor of moving Bernard to Milano's role.

 

3. DE - with our current needs, we need to find a another 1-year deal type (think Floyd, Bosa types) to fill that #2 role.  Hopefully Hoecht is able to make a return by start of season, but I wouldn't count on that.  I think we need to draft another or find a couple 1-year rentals.  Our 3rd rounder Landon Jackson can replace AJE and add depth, but we should be looking for up to 3 new bodies here (counting on Bosa, AJE gone and Solomon experiment is done -- he's a practice squad player).

 

4. Then I'm looking for a quality safety to pair with Bishop, who I think will be a pro-bowler this season and a chance for all-pro next year.

 

5. Nickle corner --- I think we need to see if we stick with McD, but if we do, finding a replacement for Taron might climb to #4.  I hate the idea of Cam Lewis, he's a stop-gap type.  Hancock is a safety/nickle hybrid, maybe he is ready.  But I think we need to search FA.

 

Our draft should be focused on: WR, LB, DT/DE

 

We should have some modest $$$ to play with in FA, not a big signing to multiple years, but could easily find a LB replacement for Milano & a safety.  Then find a 1-year rental at DE (like a Floyd/Bosa type).

[corta765]

21 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

Well our 1st rounder will forever be compared to Waddle so can't wait to see how that plays out 

He has created the dumbest burden possible between his comments and then failing to get this trade where the pressure on what happens with this pick/whatever WR is brought in good luck

[Aussie Joe]

1 minute ago, quincy said:

For 2026 there are some big name players that I think we should move on from.

 

Dawkins - his play doesn't seem to warrant what he is being paid and the more he talks the less impressed I am with him.

Knox - he has gotten enough $ already from the Bills, I don't care that he is buddies with Josh, we shouldn't keep anyone for the sake of "harmony". 

Shakir - it is less about him, more about I want to see other options in the slot, no problem if he stays but his ceiling has been reached and we need more. 

Bernard - I just cannot see what he brings, always injured, only had one good year, he will be a liability going forward. 

Johnson - Father Time is calling and he has been a great Buffalo Bill but we need a replacement for him as a starter. 

 

It seems like McDermott and Beane will be here next year no matter what so I would expect all the players to be back next year.

 

I would replace all of them even if we win a miracle Super Bowl this year yet I am going to root for all of them whilst they are still Buffalo Bills. 

Dawkins, Shakir and Bernard don’t make much sense to move on from in 2026 given dead cap implications …Johnson saves $2m … but will then need to be replaced …Im a bit indifferent there for the backup RB

Knox is likely gone to free us some money 

 

[Charles Romes]

20 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

The OL won’t return in full… MCGovern and Edwards are free agents and both are likely gone 

Based on what the world saw on Thursday, McGovern and Edwards will not be breaking the bank in free agency. 

[corta765]

Just now, Charles Romes said:

Based on what the world saw on Thursday, McGovern and Edwards will not be breaking the bank in free agency. 

McGovern I would be stunned if they move on from. Center QB is a very delicate thing and he has done well with Josh. I can see a 2-3 year deal especially with holes elsewhere and then in a year or two drafting a guy to replace him.

[Aussie Joe]

21 minutes ago, Charles Romes said:

Based on what the world saw on Thursday, McGovern and Edwards will not be breaking the bank in free agency. 

Maybe …they were no worse than the other 3…

 

20 minutes ago, corta765 said:

McGovern I would be stunned if they move on from. Center QB is a very delicate thing and he has done well with Josh. I can see a 2-3 year deal especially with holes elsewhere and then in a year or two drafting a guy to replace him.

 

I will be stunned if he stays … he says he left money on the table the last time … and this is his last payday  … Beane has had all year to get an extension done and free up some money … he extended plenty of others …

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Aussie Joe

[quincy]

8 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

Dawkins, Shakir and Bernard don’t make much sense to move on from in 2026 given dead cap implications …Johnson saves $2m … but will then need to be replaced …Im a bit indifferent there for the backup RB

Knox is likely gone to free us some money 

 

 

I didn't consider the dead cap at all, thanks for the reminder. 

 

I just wanted to replace some veterans, thinking that we could get some new talents and voices in the locker room for 2026. Looks like it is easier said than done! 

[Aussie Joe]

Just now, quincy said:

 

I didn't consider the dead cap at all, thanks for the reminder. 

 

I just wanted to replace some veterans, thinking that we could get some new talents and voices in the locker room for 2026. Looks like it is easier said than done! 

yes I hear you man …unfortunately we are in a pickle looks like 

[stlbills13]

31 minutes ago, corta765 said:

He has created the dumbest burden possible between his comments and then failing to get this trade where the pressure on what happens with this pick/whatever WR is brought in good luck

 

Beane needs to stop talking and stop leaking things for a long time. Never seen a guy inflict so much burden on himself. And now it's also going to be unfair burden on whatever WR he ends up bringing in 

[quincy]

17 minutes ago, Aussie Joe said:

yes I hear you man …unfortunately we are in a pickle looks like 

 

I was meaning Taron Johnson and not Ty Johnson in my original post but it looks like I need to look at dead caps for all players. 

[warrior9]

1 hour ago, stlbills13 said:

We spent what 6 draft picks on defense last April and here we are talking about how we genuinely need a defensive overhaul

Well, 3 looks like potential starters next year with 2 of them being studs (other being Hancock). Walker, IMO will be a star and Hairston has been pretty solid even missing most of TC and having a few weeks of playing. 

 

Hitting on 3 picks in a draft is pretty darn good. Sanders is still a who knows and Landon Jackson was an absolute miss and I hated that draft pick with every ounce of my being. 

 

On the O side, Hawes has been excellent. So, all in all hitting on 5-6 is really a good draft. This draft (outside of the obvious miss on Jackson) seems solid

[billieve420]

I am willing to gut the defense and use majority of the money on the offense.

[stlbills13]

1 minute ago, warrior9 said:

Well, 3 looks like potential starters next year with 2 of them being studs (other being Hancock). Walker, IMO will be a star and Hairston has been pretty solid even missing most of TC and having a few weeks of playing. 

 

Hitting on 3 picks in a draft is pretty darn good. Sanders is still a who knows and Landon Jackson was an absolute miss and I hated that draft pick with every ounce of my being. 

 

On the O side, Hawes has been excellent. So, all in all hitting on 5-6 is really a good draft. This draft (outside of the obvious miss on Jackson) seems solid

 

I'm not faulting the draft. I'm saying we spent almost an entire draft on one side of the ball and we still need an overhaul at more than half the positions on that side. That's years of bad roster building and drafting. Especially when this upcoming draft and FA period must focus on a #1 WR and potentially offensive line help 

[warrior9]

45 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

 

 

4. Then I'm looking for a quality safety to pair with Bishop, who I think will be a pro-bowler this season and a chance for all-pro next year.

 

 

Our draft should be focused on: WR, LB, DT/DE

 

I'm really interested to see Hancock and how he develops. He played so many positions in college he never really stuck anywhere. I hope that with NFL coaching and stuck to one position, he can be a solid solid player for us. I really like the kind of player he is: versatile, hybrid, not slow, not bad at tackling, 

[Aussie Joe]

2 minutes ago, warrior9 said:

Well, 3 looks like potential starters next year with 2 of them being studs (other being Hancock). Walker, IMO will be a star and Hairston has been pretty solid even missing most of TC and having a few weeks of playing. 

 

Hitting on 3 picks in a draft is pretty darn good. Sanders is still a who knows and Landon Jackson was an absolute miss and I hated that draft pick with every ounce of my being. 

 

On the O side, Hawes has been excellent. So, all in all hitting on 5-6 is really a good draft. This draft (outside of the obvious miss on Jackson) seems solid

It takes 2-3 years to assess a draft class …so I’ll reserve judgement for now…

 

he had an extra 2nd and a couple extra 4th snd 5th rounders to work with

[warrior9]

1 minute ago, stlbills13 said:

 

I'm not faulting the draft. I'm saying we spent almost an entire draft on one side of the ball and we still need an overhaul at more than half the positions on that side. That's years of bad roster building and drafting. Especially when this upcoming draft and FA period must focus on a #1 WR and potentially offensive line help 

Oh totally, I wasn't suggesting you were. The fact we are rolling out Tre White and Jordan Poyer is a serious serious problem.

1 minute ago, Aussie Joe said:

It takes 2-3 years to assess a draft class …so I’ll reserve judgement for now…

 

he had an extra 2nd and a couple extra 4th snd 5th rounders to work with

Yeah, it does take adjustment to the NFL. I'm still VERY hopeful for Sanders. As a SC fan, I watched a lot of him and he was very solid in college. Injury sucks, of course but yeah, 3ish years is a good amount of time to judge on the whole, for sure. 

[MasterStrategist]

Just now, warrior9 said:

I'm really interested to see Hancock and how he develops. He played so many positions in college he never really stuck anywhere. I hope that with NFL coaching and stuck to one position, he can be a solid solid player for us. I really like the kind of player he is: versatile, hybrid, not slow, not bad at tackling, 

I think Hancock eventually replaces Cam Lewis -- if that's next year, or we keep Cam around if cutting Taron as insurance.  

 

They think highly enough of him to put Hancock in there on high-leverage passing situations, I think he eventually can play that "dime" role/jack of all trades that Cam does, but at a higher level.