More important than WR, is the OL which might be very different this year.

[SoonerBillsFan]

McGovern at Center is a must re-sign in my opinion. Only 28, and Josh's most important OL. Problem is, I am sure he will be in great Demand. I hope we hear he doesn't hit the market. 3 years 30-45 mill is about what I think it will cost to keep him.

 

David Edwards, Im kinda torn. I get he is only 28, and has been good, but not great.  He is the 15th ranked Pass blocking guard, BUT according to OTC his FA contract value is Projected Contract: ~3 years, $59.7 million ($19.9M-$20M per year).  That is way too rich for me.

 

Lastly:  My grandson messages me about did we trade Deon Dawkins.  I guess rumors are running Amok we are trading him this offseason. I explained how the offseason works, and keep an eye on March 9th and after that.  So  here is the deal, It seems some experts that follow the Bills are torn. 2nd Biggest contract, and his play regressed the entire year. Some say for a couple years now.  

 

There are arguments both ways.  If we trade him we can move Brown to LT or Let Van Demark have a shot (not my first option).  It frees up cap room and keeps us from keeping on kicking is cap can per say, down the road.  I just dont know.

 

I feel the reality here is we need to make sure we shore up the OL first, as there will be WR's out there to get. But if we cant block, Allen is running for his life taking unnecessary hits, Throwing picks and Cook wont be very functional either. 

[warrior9]

Yeah it was all but sealed when we resigned cook that we'd lose either McGovern or Edwards. 

 

I genuinely do not see us trading Dawkins. It would be a complete shock to most. He's been good borderline great and a top 10 OT. Maybe they kick some of his salary down the road but I don't think he's going anywhere. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

25 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

McGovern at Center is a must re-sign in my opinion. Only 28, and Josh's most important OL. Problem is, I am sure he will be in great Demand. I hope we hear he doesn't hit the market. 3 years 30-45 mill is about what I think it will cost to keep him.

 

David Edwards, Im kinda torn. I get he is only 28, and has been good, but not great.  He is the 15th ranked Pass blocking guard, BUT according to OTC his FA contract value is Projected Contract: ~3 years, $59.7 million ($19.9M-$20M per year).  That is way too rich for me.

 

Lastly:  My grandson messages me about did we trade Deon Dawkins.  I guess rumors are running Amok we are trading him this offseason. I explained how the offseason works, and keep an eye on March 9th and after that.  So  here is the deal, It seems some experts that follow the Bills are torn. 2nd Biggest contract, and his play regressed the entire year. Some say for a couple years now.  

 

There are arguments both ways.  If we trade him we can move Brown to LT or Let Van Demark have a shot (not my first option).  It frees up cap room and keeps us from keeping on kicking is cap can per say, down the road.  I just dont know.

 

I feel the reality here is we need to make sure we shore up the OL first, as there will be WR's out there to get. But if we cant block, Allen is running for his life taking unnecessary hits, Throwing picks and Cook wont be very functional either. 

David Edwards came here to play under Kromer again. He was successful in LA with him and seemed to struggle after he left IIRC. 

 

Basically, without Kromer here Edwards has less value then he may have had if Kromer stayed. I am fine moving on and getting younger/cheaper there. 

 

As far as Dawkins, I don't think they trade him. Especially likely losing the LG and possibly C. Too much overturn in one season there. BUT I think the time has come for them to stop counting on kicking the can down the road with him. No more redoing his deal. Draft and groom a guy and get ready to jettison him next offseason 

[juno999]

I believe Edwards is gone. He’ll be offered a contract the Bills won’t be able to match but they will likely get a comp pick in return. 
 

McGovern is the trickier situation. Do the Bills feel they have a suitable replacement already on the roster?  If so, then McGovern will leave as well and likely another comp pick. If they retain McGovern, this likely means Torrence will become a free agent after this upcoming season.  The Bills can only spend so much money on oline without it  impacting the rest of the roster. 
 

As of now, I’m hoping the Bills re-sign McGovern, let Edwards walk, and draft a guard in the upcoming draft (4th round or later). 

[billieve420]

Time to see what the depth guys can do and if possible keep McGovern. Guard is easier to play and I would move on from Edwards.

[ngbills]

The best way to have a good OL and not break the bank is scheme and coaching. They are a unit. If you have a few staples then you can plug and play the other spots and not see a significant drop off. You can't pay the entire OL $15-20M each. 

Edited February 12 by ngbills

[quincy]

Does McGovern only want to play C now? My scenario as of now would be to try and bring back McGovern as the LG and have VPG as the starting Center. 

 

VPG seems to have played C for Mitch and Alec Anderson has the backup C for when Josh is the starting QB and Anderson is much more versatile. 

 

VPG is a C only having played and started in the SEC, we got to give him an extended shot at C if McGovern does not return. Keep Anderson as OL6. 

 

I guess the alternative is trying Grable at LG if Buffalo loses both starters? I think only Brown is truly settled at RT.

 

Dawkins has to regress even further with age, the 2xFA at LG and C and Torrence may only have 1 year remaining here if not extended. Decisons, decisions! 

 

Will Lundt show something this preaseason? I would image both RVD and Alec Anderson will be back on 1 year deals again.  

 

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Think it's likely they can only afford either McGovern or Edwards.  I thought this past year both McGovern and Dawkins had a lot of flat out total missed blocks. Noticed at both NFL Honors and Sunday at SB when he was on the field pregame, doesn't look like Dawkins has missed many meals lately.  Brown for instance is much leaner.  Personally I'd be OK with trading Dawkins as he has decent trade value.  If we could get a 1st rounder for Cordy Glenn who was 2 years younger, think we could get similar return for Dawkins.

[SoonerBillsFan]

9 minutes ago, quincy said:

Does McGovern only want to play C now? My scenario as of now would be to try and bring back McGovern as the LG and have VPG as the starting Center. 

 

VPG seems to have played C for Mitch and Alec Anderson has the backup C for when Josh is the starting QB and Anderson is much more versatile. 

 

VPG is a C only having played and started in the SEC, we got to give him an extended shot at C if McGovern does not return. Keep Anderson as OL6. 

 

I guess the alternative is trying Grable at LG if Buffalo loses both starters? I think only Brown is truly settled at RT.

 

Dawkins has to regress even further with age, the 2xFA at LG and C and Torrence may only have 1 year remaining here if not extended. Decisons, decisions! 

 

Will Lundt show something this preaseason? I would image both RVD and Alec Anderson will be back on 1 year deals again.  

 

 

Definitely food for thought

[Cash]

37 minutes ago, billieve420 said:

Time to see what the depth guys can do and if possible keep McGovern. Guard is easier to play and I would move on from Edwards.

At some point the young, promising backups need to step in for the more expensive vets you can’t afford. Between Anderson (RFA) and SVP-G, plus the potential of Grable or Lundt at guard, it feels like we should have at least 1 answer on the roster already. 

[Einstein's Dog]

53 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I feel the reality here is we need to make sure we shore up the OL first, as there will be WR's out there to get. But if we cant block, Allen is running for his life taking unnecessary hits, Throwing picks and Cook wont be very functional either. 

WR upgrade is more important than the slight adjustments on the OL.  If Beane is messing around w the details involving Edwards while New England signs J Jeff for two firsts, Beane might as well book his flight out of Buffalo.

 

Also what level of WR they can get will affect the amount of cap they can put into other areas.  If they can land J Jeff other areas will need to compensate, and the odds of trading Dawkins would increase.  If they can't get a J Jeff/AJ Brown/C Olave/Waddle and settle for M Evans/J Jennings/R Doubs then money will be spent differently.

 

So, IMO, the WR acquisition is the key linchpin of the cap allocation.

[TheFunPolice]

I am a WR guy but I would 100% spend the $ on OL first and just draft a WR in the 1st round instead if need be. 

 

Then again, Palmer+Samuel= at least a decent WR contract or a decent OL contract. The money is just being wasted in places. 

 

OL is an absolute spending priority. OL play league wide is mediocre to poor, so having a great OL is even more of an advantage than ever before. 

[Alphadawg7]

SVPG was who I thought the future of the C position was going to be, and I think a lot of people assume he is next man up and why they might let McGovern walk...but what almost everyone missed to me was something very telling.  

 

When McGoven went down in the Broncos game, it was NOT SVPG who next came into the game, meaning after 2 seasons he still has not even earned the backup spot yet.  

 

I would have expected SVPG to enter that playoff game when McGovern had to come off the field.  When he didn't it was very telling that maybe he just isn't in the plans outside of depth.  If that is the case, then McGovern shoots up the priority list unless they plan to address it in the draft.  

Edited February 12 by Alphadawg7

[mannc]

There is no sense having the deepest o-line in football if you’re gonna re-sign guys like McGovern and Edwards for big $, and keep all your young talent on the bench.  Time to let guys like Anderson, Grabel and SVPG spread their wings…

[gonzo1105]

I don’t see us signing either back. It’s not that I don’t want to but Edwards and McGovern are going to command top dollar and IOL salaries have exploded in the last couple of years. I would think with the depth we have it’s time to utilize that and supplement it. 
 

We have 4 young guys who need a shot. Grable, Lundt, SVPG, and Anderson. 
 

I expect Anderson will get one of those spots either at Center or LG and if none of the other 3 are ready I expect the Bills to sign a guy like McGovern. Someone who got a lot of work but never locked a spot down to be in the other from another team. Then we sign or draft some guys for depth to continue the developmental pipeline. 

[Sweats]

1 minute ago, Einstein's Dog said:

WR upgrade is more important than the slight adjustments on the OL.  If Beane is messing around w the details involving Edwards while New England signs J Jeff for two firsts, Beane might as well book his flight out of Buffalo.

 

Also what level of WR they can get will affect the amount of cap they can put into other areas.  If they can land J Jeff other areas will need to compensate, and the odds of trading Dawkins would increase.  If they can't get a J Jeff/AJ Brown/C Olave/Waddle and settle for M Evans/J Jennings/R Doubs then money will be spent differently.

 

So, IMO, the WR acquisition is the key linchpin of the cap allocation.

 

 

 

You bring up a good point, however, i think you'd want to keep the "working" units intact as much as possible and we know that our OL has been one of the best in the league, so i'd focus on doing whatever i could to keep a somewhat elite unit on the field with as little as change as possible........i think this may be where our money is spent.

 

You also have to do what you can in order to protect your most valuable asset (JA) and if that means a mid-tier WR or a WR in the draft, then you scheme to adapt.

[Kirby Jackson]

My OL question/concern is how much of the success was tied to Kromer? We know Edwards has been a much better player under Kromer in his career. I think McGovern is back, as is Anderson who plays LG. It should still be a very good OL assuming the talent matched Kromer’s coaching. 

Edited February 12 by Kirby Jackson

[TheFunPolice]

10 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

WR upgrade is more important than the slight adjustments on the OL.  If Beane is messing around w the details involving Edwards while New England signs J Jeff for two firsts, Beane might as well book his flight out of Buffalo.

 

Also what level of WR they can get will affect the amount of cap they can put into other areas.  If they can land J Jeff other areas will need to compensate, and the odds of trading Dawkins would increase.  If they can't get a J Jeff/AJ Brown/C Olave/Waddle and settle for M Evans/J Jennings/R Doubs then money will be spent differently.

 

So, IMO, the WR acquisition is the key linchpin of the cap allocation.

 

Beane is 100% going to land some "big name" WR either in the trade market or free agency. I cannot imagine a world where he doesn't. 

 

 

[billsfan89]

The Bills need to retain either McGovern or Edwards. Retaining both will be very difficult but if they keep one it will greatly alleviate the offensive line issue much easier to intergrade one new starter than two. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

22 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

SVPG was who I thought the future of the C position was going to be, and I think a lot of people assume he is next man up and why they might let McGovern walk...but what almost everyone missed to me was something very telling.  

 

When McGoven went down in the Broncos game, it was NOT SVPG who next came into the game, meaning after 2 seasons he still has not even earned the backup spot yet.  

 

I would have expected SVPG to enter that playoff game when McGovern had to come off the field.  When he didn't it was very telling that maybe he just isn't in the plans outside of depth.  If that is the case, then McGovern shoots up the priority list unless they plan to address it in the draft.  

That really concerned me as well.