Maybe Current Roster Isn't Missing As Much As People Think

[MrEpsYtown]

I don’t think much has changed. The issue with this team is that they had a dimwit coach and lacked talent. Well the coach is gone, but we still lack talent. I am not a Beane hater, but this team didn’t really get much better. 

 

QB: down. Trubisky to K. Allen is a huge downgrade. But all that matters is Josh.

RB: same. It’s a good room.

FB: down. Whoever replaces Gilliam won’t be as good. 
TE: same. Good room. Needs to stay healthy.

WR: up. Huge upgrade with DJ Moore. Third big time talent to go along with Josh and Cook.

OL: down. Losing Edwards is not the end of the world. But the OL got worse. 
 

DT: same.

Edge: Up slightly. Chubb is probably a little better than Bosa. Everyone else is the same. 
ILB: down. Shaq and Milano >>> Bernard and Williams

CB: Up slightly if Hairston is healthy. 
Nickel: down. Not a big Taron guy, but he is still better than Alford. Banking on Alford being a better fit for the new scheme.
Safety: Up. Bishop, Gardner-Johnson and Stone are an upgrade to Bishop, Poyer and Rapp. 
 

So a couple of positions are down, a couple are up. DJ Moore is the big talent add. But this roster isn’t much better than it was last year. The draft is weak and so is our draft capital. We are banking an awful lot on the defensive scheme change and hoping the shackles come off of Brady. If indeed McDemott was the turd in the punchbowl, we are good. If not, this could end pretty badly. 

[Dr. Who]

23 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I don’t think much has changed. The issue with this team is that they had a dimwit coach and lacked talent. Well the coach is gone, but we still lack talent. I am not a Beane hater, but this team didn’t really get much better. 

 

QB: down. Trubisky to K. Allen is a huge downgrade. But all that matters is Josh.

RB: same. It’s a good room.

FB: down. Whoever replaces Gilliam won’t be as good. 
TE: same. Good room. Needs to stay healthy.

WR: up. Huge upgrade with DJ Moore. Third big time talent to go along with Josh and Cook.

OL: down. Losing Edwards is not the end of the world. But the OL got worse. 
 

DT: same.

Edge: Up slightly. Chubb is probably a little better than Bosa. Everyone else is the same. 
ILB: down. Shaq and Milano >>> Bernard and Williams

CB: Up slightly if Hairston is healthy. 
Nickel: down. Not a big Taron guy, but he is still better than Alford. Banking on Alford being a better fit for the new scheme.
Safety: Up. Bishop, Gardner-Johnson and Stone are an upgrade to Bishop, Poyer and Rapp. 
 

So a couple of positions are down, a couple are up. DJ Moore is the big talent add. But this roster isn’t much better than it was last year. The draft is weak and so is our draft capital. We are banking an awful lot on the defensive scheme change and hoping the shackles come off of Brady. If indeed McDemott was the turd in the punchbowl, we are good. If not, this could end pretty badly. 

Let's assume this read is correct in terms of the roster. It's certainly a plausible interpretation. Suppose you are GM, who do you sign yet in FA and what is your draft strategy? You could probably still bring Shaq and Milano back. If you don't match for Van Demark, maybe you try for DJ Reader. Do you identify one of the small number of round one grades and try and trade up, going after quality even though that means you end up with fewer additions to the roster and fill out the roster with cuts and cheap free agents? Conversely, do you trade down and just increase lottery tickets in a poor draft?

 

Shockingly, the Sabres seem to have more energy right now.

 

Edited March 18 by Dr. Who

[MrEpsYtown]

19 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

Let's assume this read is correct in terms of the roster. It's certainly a plausible interpretation. Suppose you are GM, who do you sign yet in FA and what is your draft strategy? You could probably still bring Shaq and Milano back. If you don't match for Van Demark, maybe you try for DJ Reader. Do you identify one of the small number of round one grades and try and trade up, going after quality even though that means you end up with fewer additions to the roster and fill out the roster with cuts and cheap free agents? Conversely, do you trade down and just increase lottery tickets in a poor draft?

 

Shockingly, the Sabres seem to have more energy right now.

 

I think the best players you can get in free agency right now are probably Juaun Jennings, DJ Reader, Bobby Wagner or Joel Bitonio. Maybe you can afford 1. All would be huge upgrades over what we have here. I think I try to trade some picks for established players if available. Like we need to be in win now mode. The future cap I don’t think really matters right now. I don’t think there is a big fish in this draft that changes this team’s fate. Even the top players have a ton of question marks. In that case, I would probably trade down and just increase my odds of grabbing a lottery ticket. 
 

Beane drafts thinking about whether or not guys will make the team. And that’s dumb. Aside from QB, just draft the best players you can regardless of need and regardless of who else is on your roster. If he has that mentality and just takes shot on the best players he can, then great.

 

I always think it weird when Beane says he doesn’t want to be like the Rams. Like why not? The Rams risked everything, won a Super Bowl, had barely any picks for years and still have a better roster than ours. And they did it again this off season because they are all in on winning. 

Edited March 18 by MrEpsYtown

[foreboding]

On 3/14/2026 at 12:00 AM, jwhit34 said:

Some of this is injury recovery dependent, but so far this is what the roster looks like (for sure starters in bold italics):

Offense:

QB: J. Allen, K. Allen

RB: Cook, Johnson Davis

WR: Moore, Shakir, Coleman, Palmer (start if 11 personnel instead of one of the TEs)

TE: Kincaid, Knox, Hawes

OL: Dawkins, Brown, McGovern, Torrence, VP Granger, Anderson, Grable, Lundt, VanDemark

Total: 21,

Need 2 WR, 1 FB

Maybe: Hardman

PUP: Shavers

 

Defense:

DL & Edge/OLB: Oliver, Sanders, Walker, Rousseau, Chubb, Hoecht (maybe start over Sanders), Jackson, Carter

LB: Bernard, Williams, Andreessen

CB: Benford, Hairston, Alford

S: Bishop, Gardner-Johnson, Stone, Hancock

Total: 19

Need: 2 CB, NT, 1-2 LB

Maybes: Mathis, Dorian Strong, Solomon

 

Special Teams:

Bass, Mitch W., Ferguson, Sam Franklin

Total: 4

 

Summary:

Definite: 44

Needs: 7-8

Maybes: 5

PUP: 1

 

Which leaves 1-2 openings on 53 to BPA or where they think they need more players. Maybe 1 more S or CB.

 

They have 7 draft picks

 

Is only starting position in question LG? Don't be surprised if it's Grable, if they keep VanDemark he's the swing T and that frees up Grable to compete for LG and is T in an emergency.

 

If they keep 5 or 6 draft picks, keep 1-3 of the maybes they need an additional 1-2 plus camp players to round out training camp roster of 90 and have a practice squad pool. 

 

 

Good post and love the effort into your argument.

 

Your current roster rundown is not different from (unsurprising) the status quo strategy = Josh + a team of (c+ to a-) players w/ a couple strong depth areas. Need to finish your "not bolded" names on the roster with (b and a-), some quality depth and 2-3 high ceiling draft picks.

 

Mojo... with aggressive play (hello to our crazy safety) some newness combined w/ upgraded coaching and I like our chances. 

 

Wonder how many bills fans agree?

Edited March 19 by foreboding

[Kirby Jackson]

50 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I think the best players you can get in free agency right now are probably Juaun Jennings, DJ Reader, Bobby Wagner or Joel Bitonio. Maybe you can afford 1. All would be huge upgrades over what we have here. I think I try to trade some picks for established players if available. Like we need to be in win now mode. The future cap I don’t think really matters right now. I don’t think there is a big fish in this draft that changes this team’s fate. Even the top players have a ton of question marks. In that case, I would probably trade down and just increase my odds of grabbing a lottery ticket. 
 

Beane drafts thinking about whether or not guys will make the team. And that’s dumb. Aside from QB, just draft the best players you can regardless of need and regardless of who else is on your roster. If he has that mentality and just takes shot on the best players he can, then great.

 

I always think it weird when Beane says he doesn’t want to be like the Rams. Like why not? The Rams risked everything, won a Super Bowl, had barely any picks for years and still have a better roster than ours. And they did it again this off season because they are all in on winning. 

@Ethan in Cleveland suggested a first and next year’s 2 for MHJ. It’s bold. I kind of love it (but admittedly think MHJ is going to be a superstar still). I’m more bullish on him than I should be. If they did that, you’d be set at WR. Even if he’s the player he’s been, you’d be way better there. If he starts to touch his ceiling your offense is an all-time offense. You’ll be chasing the scoring record.
 

Use all remaining assets on defense (plus an OL). You’re defense will be anywhere from a little below average to a little above average depending on Leonhard. Just come after the QB and jump routes. If you make a few stops you’ll never lose. You’ll give up some big plays but who cares. Teams get off the bus knowing if they don’t score 5 TDs they are in trouble. 

[Dr. Who]

51 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I think the best players you can get in free agency right now are probably Juaun Jennings, DJ Reader, Bobby Wagner or Joel Bitonio. Maybe you can afford 1. All would be huge upgrades over what we have here. I think I try to trade some picks for established players if available. Like we need to be in win now mode. The future cap I don’t think really matters right now. I don’t think there is a big fish in this draft that changes this team’s fate. Even the top players have a ton of question marks. In that case, I would probably trade down and just increase my odds of grabbing a lottery ticket. 
 

Beane drafts thinking about whether or not guys will make the team. And that’s dumb. Aside from QB, just draft the best players you can regardless of need and regardless of who else is on your roster. If he has that mentality and just takes shot on the best players he can, then great.

 

I always think it weird when Beane says he doesn’t want to be like the Rams. Like why not? The Rams risked everything, won a Super Bowl, had barely any picks for years and still have a better roster than ours. And they did it again this off season because they are all in on winning. 

In short, both Beane and McDermott are play it safe kind of fellas. They would take a chance now and again, but it was never comfortable for them. Seems to me Beane was given an opportunity to reinvent himself. I think he's not reading the room if he thinks more of the same as the team enters a new stadium and Josh Allen turns 30 is a recipe for success. 

 

 

[MrEpsYtown]

4 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

In short, both Beane and McDermott are play it safe kind of fellas. They would take a chance now and again, but it was never comfortable for them. Seems to me Beane was given an opportunity to reinvent himself. I think he's not reading the room if he thinks more of the same as the team enters a new stadium and Josh Allen turns 30 is a recipe for success. 

 

 

I agree 100%. Now is the time to go all in

[Kirby Jackson]

16 minutes ago, Dr. Who said:

In short, both Beane and McDermott are play it safe kind of fellas. They would take a chance now and again, but it was never comfortable for them. Seems to me Beane was given an opportunity to reinvent himself. I think he's not reading the room if he thinks more of the same as the team enters a new stadium and Josh Allen turns 30 is a recipe for success. 

 

 

Really well said!! That’s it. I want them going big like they did with Von even though that didn’t work out. The goal isn’t sustained excellence as he often says. That’s almost a given with Allen. Take some chances and if they backfire the floor is still high. 

[HappyDays]

56 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

@Ethan in Cleveland suggested a first and next year’s 2 for MHJ. It’s bold. I kind of love it (but admittedly think MHJ is going to be a superstar still). I’m more bullish on him than I should be. If they did that, you’d be set at WR. Even if he’s the player he’s been, you’d be way better there. If he starts to touch his ceiling your offense is an all-time offense. You’ll be chasing the scoring record.
 

Use all remaining assets on defense (plus an OL). You’re defense will be anywhere from a little below average to a little above average depending on Leonhard. Just come after the QB and jump routes. If you make a few stops you’ll never lose. You’ll give up some big plays but who cares. Teams get off the bus knowing if they don’t score 5 TDs they are in trouble. 

 

This is how I feel but about AJ Brown. I don't care how it affects the team in 2029. If Brown and Moore are your two outside receivers, plus a top 10 RB in Cook, plus hopefully a healthy Kincaid, does the rest of the roster even matter?? Good luck to our opponent, we're pinning our ears back because we both know you're playing catch up from the opening snap.

[MrEpsYtown]

Beane saw this and was like nah, let’s go back to Bernard.

[Kirby Jackson]

46 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

This is how I feel but about AJ Brown. I don't care how it affects the team in 2029. If Brown and Moore are your two outside receivers, plus a top 10 RB in Cook, plus hopefully a healthy Kincaid, does the rest of the roster even matter?? Good luck to our opponent, we're pinning our ears back because we both know you're playing catch up from the opening snap.

That’s where I always go back to with the “finish the offense.” What do you think Mike MacDonald or Sean McVay would rather prepare to play, “MHJ (or Brown) & Dorian Williams” or “Josh Palmer (or Brandin Cooks) & CJ Allen?” Spoiler, they’d much rather play the latter. 

Edited March 19 by Kirby Jackson