MRW's Good Opening Free Agency Weekend: Results

by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 5:01 PM EST Comment 11 comments

Last Thursday, I laid out what a good opening weekend of Free Agency might look like for the Buffalo Bills. It wasn't "throw money at this guy or that guy" but it filled some spots. Here's the main points I made with the results from the first weekend.

Original #1. Sign Matt Birk or Jason Brown to play Center

We didn't sign either of these guys because their contract demands were astounding. Instead we signed a serviceable and unsung Center, Geoff Hangartner. Result: Addressed

2. Get a Vet QB scheduled or in for a visit

I didn't think they would sign anyone for this spot right away but the Bills clearly went hard after their number one choice, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and landed him on the opening day of free agency. Result: Addressed

3. Sign one more position need

The Bills have reportedly offered a contract to Laverneous Coles which would upgrade the #2 WR position. We still have holes to fill at DE and TE, something I didn't expect Free Agency to address, and OLB which I was hoping for. OG Kendall Simmons was at One Bills Drive over the weekend so at least they are talking to people. Result: NOT Addressed

If this "good" weekend had come to pass we would have filled two glaring needs, Center and OG/TE/OLB/DE along with bringing in a backup QB. That would leave us with the remaining three of OG/TE/OLB/DE for the draft and we could address that in rounds 1-3.

Were the Bills successful this weekend? Absolutely. For those of you wanting a bigger splash, root for the Redskins I guess. The team was judicious about their approach to the first weekend.

Moving forward I expect an interior lineman to be signed, starter or reserve. If Kirk Chambers is their guy at OG, they will still need to supplement that with a draft pick as backup and to provide depth. I wouldn't be surprised or disappointed with a Coles signing. It relegates the TE to third-most-pressing draft day need in my opinion. We'll keep an eye on it. No doubt.

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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I’m not going to consider the C position addressed until we see Hang hold his own against 3-4 NTs.

by Ron From NM on Mar 2, 2009 5:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

would you have the same stance if the Bills drafted Mack?

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Mar 2, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point

~K
"I’m Kurupt with Buffalo Rumblings. I am worth hundreds!"

by Kurupt on Mar 2, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

only if Mack was in his 4th year

Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you?

by Joe P. on Mar 2, 2009 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even in the first year a high pick C should be showing signs of being the guy. Think Mangold. He wasn’t completely outclassed his first year and has become a stud.

by Ron From NM on Mar 2, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

As Buffalo well knows high draft picks can be total busts. Mack looks like the real deal…but then so did Mike Williams until he got his contract.

by Ron From NM on Mar 2, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I just don’t want people to think that Mack is the end all when it comes to centers, because he hasn’t proven that he is.

(Not saying that you would feel that way)

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.

by sireric on Mar 2, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Addressed" is different than "problem solved"...

check it off the list, done and done…..

I’m saying they signed a starter-caliber center.

Playing Eternal Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008.

by MattRichWarren on Mar 2, 2009 8:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well

what you need to do is get some tape of him from last season. Clearly he is an upgrade over Fowler/Preston. The question is how much? That’s why I want to see Waters brought in. I’d almost say as tough as it is for me to say this, I’d rather have Waters than Coles. A premium Guard to pair with Jason Peters will give us a formidable left side that we desperately need. I hoipe we sniff around Kevin Jones soon as well

MARVelous

by MARVelous on Mar 2, 2009 5:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If you bring in waters

And if in the second or 3rd the best interior lineman is atop your “big board” then you draft said lineman (Unger, Wood, Mack) whoever it is. I just want to see a good TE, an OLB and a DE. FA or the draft i don’t care. I think there is plenty of time

The Bills CAN win every game

by killascript on Mar 2, 2009 8:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs