Bills Dream Off-Season

Whoa! Awesome link DJ! Never seen this site before.

I think its fantastic that Ochostinko is going to cost the Pats 3 mill in dead money next year!

I also enjoyed this analysis on Steve: http://nyjetscap.com/2012_Articles/steviejohnsonvalue.php

"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Feb 10, 2012 7:23 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

That was good reading Thor. I found the article to be very fairly written. Perhaps the best view. As you can see, he should not be paid over 8.5 so, if stevie wants more then that, he has to go.

I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory, then slowly fade away in the antiquities of time.

by suteck on Feb 10, 2012 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

By the way, Rec'd DJ

"My new cat just farted on my lap. Smells like Bills football." BG.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Feb 10, 2012 8:03 PM EST up reply actions

I'll take a shot

Bills resign: Chandler, Stevie, Bell, all other RFA’s
Bills cut: McGee, McKelvin, Edwards, Davis, Spencer Johnson

FA Signings: V Jax, Routt

Draft:
1st round – Ingram (obv Coples but if I’m already resigning everyone and getting V Jax and Routt this is too much)

2nd round – Alshon Jeffrey (would rather pray Jenkins slips some how but if we are signing Routt I would love if Jeffrey fell somehow)

3rd round – Weeden? or best QB available

Not a very unrealistic on paper dream scenerio. TBH if the Bills resign Stevie I’ll be happy enough

by billsfan_905 on Feb 10, 2012 7:55 PM EST reply actions

I was under the assumption of a cap of 120 mill and a salary floor of 108

If we get a extra 10 million i could do everything in my previous fanpost and add in vjax or bowe

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 9:40 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Do you know that cap number for 2012?

2011 was $121, so I made an assumption of a $9 million jump.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 9:48 PM EST up reply actions

I knew the cap number was 121

But thought it was going down to 120 and had to have a league avg of 98 % spent to the cap per the new cba

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 9:57 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I stand corrected DJ

The cap will be between 121 and 125 with teams being able to borrow 2 million against next years cap

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 10:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Thanks

OP edited to $125 million

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

See I read somewhere (I think that it was on PFT) that the cap would go up, but not by much, so 9M seems about right to ballpark it.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 10:53 PM EST up reply actions

Fair enough

Changed back to $130 million

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:18 PM EST up reply actions

And let`s be honest, 130 gives us more room to be creative with how we spread things around.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

True

But $125 million would’ve been more fun. It would be neat to see how everyone fit in.

I though I had my scenario in at $124 million, but I forgot the dead money of the released players. I could still do it at $125 if I released another player, or didn’t sign either Ross or Meachem.

At $125M, the decisions are harder.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:25 PM EST up reply actions

True, but the only thing that I`d change in my scenario at 125 is letting Chandler walk.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:32 PM EST up reply actions

At least is wouldn’t tear your team apart, and that’s a good thing.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:40 PM EST up reply actions

That's actually the reason why I put Chandler on the Franchise Tag.

The tag for TE’s is only 5.5 this year, which is probably about what he’d get on the open market judging by what other TE’s have gotten in extensions recently.

He can also be an easy casualty if need be, as I also see him as replaceable. Not easily replaceable, but replaceable none the less.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 11, 2012 12:21 AM EST up reply actions

I just don't see

Chandler being worth 5 mil a year on the open market. Kid has had 1 semi-productive year. I could see a long term deal at 3.5 a year…. but 5 a year seems a bit steep for the small sample to go by.

Is this your homework, Larry?

by Schooled You on Feb 11, 2012 12:49 AM EST up reply actions

If this was last season I would agree, but the circumstances surrounding TE's has changed drastically this year and it is already shooting up their salaries.

The Gronk factor is effecting ALL TE’s now, and when compared to other TE’s available this year Chandler is near the top of the pack.

Add to that the extensions that other TE’s have signed extensions for huge amounts of money already (a good example would be the Titans re-signing a blocking TE for 4M+, or Finley and the Packers currently negotiating something around 8M) and you will see TE salaries make a huge jump this year.

The best way to look at it is how teams are looking at the position now. Before TE was viewed as an extension of the O-Line, warranting similar money as RT’s. But with the emergence of TE’s like Gronk, Gates, Hernandez and Graham teams have started to look at TEs as being a skill position closer to WR than it is the O-line. Their salaries are adjusting as a result.

So while Chandler may have only had 1 good season, a 6TD tight end that has caught over 95% of the passes thrown at him will fetch top dollar in free agency. So a 5.5M franchise tag is actually realistically comparable to what he’ll probably get on the open market.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 11, 2012 9:40 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, but Chandler

is not a game changer like Gronk, Hernandez, Gates, Graham, Finley.

He is a good player, but our scheme rarely effectively uses the TE position. Wasting that kind of money for a position not being effectively used, doesn’t seem like the smart choice.

Oh well, he’s a good player, and I hope he comes back.

Is this your homework, Larry?

by Schooled You on Feb 12, 2012 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

are you sure?

looked like it in the beginning of the year.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 12, 2012 12:26 AM EST up reply actions

i mean

you provide the reasoning yourself. The system didn’t use TEs that often. When we DID employ him (in the first 6 weeks) he was highly productive, had equal scoring to Gronk, has similar size to Graham and Gronk, hands similar to all but Gronk, and though he doesn’t have a ton of speed, he is a better blocker than Hernandez, Finley, and maybe Gates. For all we know, he is about to be Jason Witten.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 12, 2012 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

I think a young Jason Witten is the perfect comparison. Which is also why I want us to keep him around.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 12, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

or greg olsen

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 12, 2012 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe he is the next Witten

But after the first 4 games, we stopped using him. I never understood why. He can move the chains, but we rarely used him for that. If you want to pay the guy 5.5M, fine… but you better use him! I don’t want another Brad Smith situation. (Although he did look decent at times as a reciever, when we were getting people from the parking lot to play reciever for us due to injuries)

Is this your homework, Larry?

by Schooled You on Feb 12, 2012 1:02 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe he is the next Witten
But after the first 4 games, we stopped using him. I never understood why.

Maybe because we were trying to avoid this dilemma right now: Do we pay him significant money based of his potential, or do we let him go, get paid by someone else, and have him be another player we can’t rightly cover. I think that it is remiss to believe that he can’t be successful here, or elsewhere, and given the nature of the position, and where it is headed, you better have one to help your QB out, and to have your defense practice against, otherwise you can’t simulate your opponents, ever. Do I think that we CAN’T find someone who is a clear upgrade, or draft an equally good prospect, or that somehow maybe one of the other guys we have couldn’t be just as good? No. of course they could. But we don’t know. and it is either pay the guy we pretty much know is good enough, or don’t. If we don’t it will be because we don’t use them enough, and that we have a “committee” there anyway, and we can just roll with whatever, or it is because he is too expensive for us, and someone will pay him more. Otherwise, he has as much potential to be a good TE as any other option readily available for less money, that isn’t drafted (and then needs years probably to translate if they aren’t taken by the 3rd at latest)

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 12, 2012 1:07 AM EST up reply actions

I hope he comesback too. But I think your wrong on him being a game changer.

Sure he didn’t rack up a huge mount of yards, but I think 2 stats in particular are going to make other teams think that he can be a game changer.

Those two stats are receptions when targeted: he caught over 95% of the passes thrown to him. And TD’s: 6, which could potentially greatly increase if he’s targeted more often.

I think that a team that has an offense that depends on TE’s (like Carolina, Tampa Bay, or even the Dolphins) might give him a big contract.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 12, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

Chandler had an 83% catch rate (I think you were just looking at drops vs. catches), which was still the best in the entire NFL among TEs.

He also averaged 8.5 yards per pass thrown his way, which is just OK for catching such a high percentage of passes. It compares favorably with a lot of the best TEs in the league, but also doesn’t really stand out as any better than other players who had 35-55 passes thrown their way (Chandler received 46 targets).

IMO, if Chandler was more of a game changing athlete and receiver, he would have had more than three games where he caught more than three passes.

"You mean @TWHITNER. It’s how he prefers to be referenced." - Jon Harrington

by kaisertown on Feb 12, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

I also want to point out

How the bills have been managing the cap spending since the early 00’s you look around the league and see teams restructuring contracts to get under the cap and have to continue to do so because of bad cap management in the new cba a lot of superstars are going to be free agents because of it

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 10:00 PM EST via mobile reply actions

And that is my hope

That the Bills will be the ones with the extra cap room that can sign these stars or superstars. I really believe with Nix and Chan that Ralph wants to win a SB before he dies.

I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory, then slowly fade away in the antiquities of time.

by suteck on Feb 10, 2012 10:31 PM EST up reply actions

My dream offseason

Bills resign:
Scott Chandler – 4 years $12 million
Stevie Johnson – 5 years $37 million
Kraig Urbik – 5 years $20 million
Chad Reinhart – 3 years $4 million
Bills don’t resign:Andra Davis, Roscoe Parrish, Demetrius Bell, Dave Rayner, Reggie Corner, Ruvell Martin, Tashard Choice, Derek Hagan, Kirk Morrison
Bills cut: Terrence McGee, Spencer Johnson, Shawne Merriman
Resigning hit: $15.7 million
Cut savings: $10.9 million

Free Agency:
Sign Mario Williams to a 6 year, $85 million contract. To fit under the cap, we can back load it by a few years. ($10, 12, 16, 16, 15) Guarantee about $50 million of it.
Sign a few other bit players to backup contracts (1 CB, 2 LB, 1 DE)
Williams cap hit: $10 million
Others: $2 million

Draft:
1st round: Quentin Coples, DE, UNC. Normally I’d stay away from Coples, but if he dropped to Buffalo and we already had Williams, I think the combination of the two Williamses and Dareus would provide enough leadership to keep him motivated. Plus, imagine that Defensive Line! Best in the NFL.
2nd round: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M. Again, this is a dream offseason here, so I’m going to assume that Tannehill’s foot injury lasts long enough that he can’t fully work out at his pro day, which causes him to drop to Buffalo. If he does, Buffalo gets a potential franchise QB for a bargain price.
3rd round: Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia. Irvin has linebacker size but his top skill is pass rushing by far. He never learned how to cover in school. He’ll be an OLB project with the Bills, and a situational pass rusher early on. He can fall to the 3rd round because of his size and lack of coverage skill.
4th round 1: Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina. Another solid corner for the Bills to pick up in the mid rounds. Has #2 starter upside.
4th round 2: Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma. Broyles was shattering records before his ACL injury. If he recovers from it, he can be one of the best slot receivers in the NFL for years.
5th round 1: Matt McCants, OT, UAB. I haven’t seen much of McCants until recently, but he has good size for the position and showed off excellent athleticism in the Senior Bowl.
5th round 2: Ladarius Green, TE, Louisiana Lafayette. A highly athletic move TE for Pete to mold into a future Antonio Gates.
6th round: Janzen Jackson, FS, McNeese State. Another bit of secondary depth with ball skills to try out in the later rounds.
7th round: Adrian Hamilton, DE, Prairie View A&M. A small school DE with great pass rushing ability. Had 20.5 sacks this past year. Upside lets him be a situational rusher.

"Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin." - stetzwebs

by DanRoc on Feb 10, 2012 10:37 PM EST reply actions

I liked it all

But cutting Merriman….and drafting a qb in the 2nd round. Plus who is going to be our LT?

other than that i like it

by mike$bills on Feb 10, 2012 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't want to cut Merriman

But managing cap space while resigning all the guys I wanted was really difficult. Cutting him let me save $5 million.

LT would be Chris Hairston, the backup would be Matt McCants, and the backup RT would probably be Sam Young or an UDFA.

If I’m Buffalo, this year I’d only draft a QB in two spots: Tannehill in the second (because he has first rounder upside) or Osweiler in the fourth (More upside but more risk). Tannehill is the safer chance for a franchise QB so he’s the one I went with in that mock.

"Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin." - stetzwebs

by DanRoc on Feb 10, 2012 11:09 PM EST up reply actions

Plus if we get Williams and Coples we have no need for Merriman (unless he could be a decent 4-3 OLB)

"Everyone who has conducted an expedition will know how ready the world is to do the great injustice of heaping the whole praise or blame for its success or failure on the shoulders of the leader alone."
-Polar Explorer Fridtjof Nansen

by NordicBillsfan on Feb 12, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

I like it, but I don`t think that that would be enough money to get Williams.

As DJ pointed out, think Haynesworth, not Peppers. In fact that contract would be less than what Peppers got, and I just can`t see Williams getting less than Peppers.

Otherwise from that, I like it.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 10:55 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

Unless williams takes a discount he is looking at a 16 million avg at least

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 11:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I can see him taking Jared Allen money

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

I was thinking more along the lines of 13-14, but a longer deal would be needed as well.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:17 PM EST up reply actions

Depends on the contract

I can see him taking a Jared Allen style contract that hovered around $13 million, but started at $11 millions and went up to $15 million.

I think Williams could sign a deal with a cap hit of $13 million in year one. That would allow Buffalo to afford him until next season, when dead money from Maybin, Evans, and others is off the books.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:07 PM EST up reply actions

Cordy Glenn!!!

by KileyJ on Feb 12, 2012 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

I'm gonna give it my best go and give a full off-season by the numbers. This should get interesting.

Let’s go in order, with the salary cap at 130M, with our current top 51 taking up about 95.35M, and 8M in dead money, meaning we are actually sitting at 103M on the cap, with 27M available for spending. I’m going to go threw the different steps and adjust as I go along. Plus I’ll give an explanation to my rational at the end.

Cuts
Drayton Florence (-4.917 on team salary, +1.333 in dead money)
Dwan Edwards (-4.175M on team salary, no dead money)
Spencer Johnson (-4M on team salary, +0.5M un dead money)
Lionel Dotson (-0.7M on team salary, no dead money)
Jaurron Gilbert (-0.615M on team salary, no dead money)
Mike Caussin (-0.54M on team salary, no dead money)
Feddi Onobun (-0.54M on team salary, no dead money)

New totals: Team Salary= 79.863M, Dead Money= 9.833M, Total Cap= 89.696M, Cap Space= 40.304M

Restructures (not sure how this actually works, but if the Steelers can free up 15M by restructuring 3 contracts then why can’t we?)
Terrance McGee: Bills restructure his contract so his cap hit drops from 6.3M to 1M (vet minimum), freeing 5.3M in cap space.
Chris Kelsay: Same as McGee, lowering the cap hit from 5.75M to 1M, freeing 4.75M in cap space.

New Totals: Team Salary= 69.813M, Dead Money= 9.833M, Total Cap= 79.646M, Cap Space= 50.354M

Re-signing

Stevie Johnson on a 5 year deal worth $45M (7.5M per season) with 20M guaranteed.
Scott Chandler FRANCHISE TAG (5.5M this season for TE’s)
Demetrius Bell on a 2 year $5M deal (2.5M per season), the discount is on account of his injury history.
Bryan Scott on a 3 year $5M deal (1.67M per season)

New Totals: Team Salary= 86.983M, Dead Money = 9.883M, Total Cap= 96.816M, Cap Space= 33.184M

UFA Signings
Mario Williams (making me eat my shoe) 8 year $110M deal (worth 13.75M per season) with 50M guaranteed
Vincent Jackson 5 year deal worth 40M (8M per season) with 18M guaranteed (the Nix/Merriman connection brings him in at a good price)

New Total: Team Salary= 108.733M, Dead Money= 9.833M, Total Cap= 118.566M, Cap Space= 11.434M

The Draft (might as well toss in my first attempt at a mock. Note: Beyond the second round I barely know any of these guys and they’re pretty much random picks from website scouting reports)

Rd 1: CB Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama) – With Williams the need at DE drops, therefore Kirkpatrick becomes a BPA pick.
Rd 2: DE Vinny Curry (Marshall) – The need at DE didn’t drop that much.
Rd 3: OLB Travis Lewis (Oklahoma) – A 4-3 Sam LB
Rd 4: WR Nick Toon (Wisconsin) – There’s a chance he falls to the forth, and this is an idealized scenario after all
Rd 4: TE George Bryan (NC State) – from this guy on it truly is a crapshoot for me
Rd 5: DE Oliver Vernon (Miami)
Rd 5: C Grant Garner (Oklahoma State)
Rd 6: DT Jay Howard (Florida)
Rd 7: ILB Johnathan Bostic (Florida)

Add 11M in Salary and you get…

FINAL TOTALS: Team Salary= 119.733M, Dead Money= 9.833M, Total Cap= 129.566M, Cap Space= 0.434M

The cuts were essentially to free up as much cap room as possible to make big pushes for UFA. I took a look at the top earners of the team and cut who I thought was either over payed, under performed, or simply didn’t fit in a 4-3 scheme (Dwan Edwards). As for Spencer Johnson, I would have loved to keep him around, but not at 4M, so he essentially became the true definition of a cap casualty.

The restructuring of McGee’s and Kelsay’s deals are done in the same mode as the Steelers just did with Woodley, Timmons and Taylor today, reducing this year’s salary to the vet minimum by moving money to later years AND giving them some money up front. Again this is done in the goal of creating a ton of cap space for free agency.

The re-signings wereactually pretty simple. Sign Stevie to the 7.5M his agent said he asked for. Tagging Chandler gave him more money than I would give him, but in this year’s market it would probably be about what he’d get on the open market (also look at the TE tag to make a HUGE jump next year). Bell re-signs on the cheap because of the injury risk and Scott gets a deal that is similar, but a bit less than Wilson’s.

Free agency was easy for me, two guys, $150M in contracts. But be honest, if you could do it, you would. And if Williams numbers seem high, that’s because they are. I’m trying to be realistic in thinking hat it would take that type of deal to get him to be a Bill. As for Jackson, 9M per year is probably more realistic, but you can simply look at it as being a back loaded deal if you want. As for the drat I explained as I went along, so it would just be redundant for me to explain it here.

So when all is said and done, this is what my idealized Bills starting lineup would be:

Offensive style: Run’n’Gun

WR1: Stevie Johnson
TE: Scott Chandler
RT: Erik Pears
RG: Kraig Urbik
C: Eric Wood
LG: Andy Levitre
LT: Demtrius Bell/Chris Hairston
Slot Receiver: David Nelson
WR2: Vincent Jackson
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB: Fred Jackson/CJ Spiller (60-40 slit of the reps)

Defensive style: Attack based 4-3

Weak Side DE: Mario Williams
DT: Marcell Dareus
DT: Kyle Williams
Strong Side DE: Chris Kelsay/Vinny Curry (Kelsay on run downs, Curry in passing situations)

Strong Side OLB: Shawne Merriman
ILB: Kelvin Shepperd
Weak Side OLB: Nate Barnett

CB1: Aaron Williams
Slot CB: Dre Kirkpatrick/Leodis McKelvin/Justin Rogers (Kirkpatrick has the spot until McGee Gets injured, the it goes to the hot hand)
FS: Jairus Byrd
SS: George Wilson
CB2: Terrance McGee/Dre Kirkpatrick (Once McGee inevitable gets injured Kirkpatrick steps in at this position)

K: Ryan Lindell
P: Brian Moorman
LS: Garrison Sanborn
KR: Justin Rogers
PR: CJ Spiller

Personally i think that this would make us a contender for the division, if not more. Definitely a playoff team. What do you think?

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 10:49 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

wow... that`s way longer than I thought it would be.

I think that I may have too much time on my hands.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

The way the steelers and most teams do it

Is turn salary dollars into bonus dollars so it spreads out the length of the contract its a temp fix but its gonna bite them in the butt in the next few years

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 11:07 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

If it allows us to land both Williams and Jackson, I`m all for it.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:23 PM EST up reply actions

Problem is we have no high salary guys

And will cause problems down the road when the hard cap comes in

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 11:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Yes but the cap is also expect to jump much higher when the Hard cap comes in. But I`ll agree it`s a big risk.

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:33 PM EST up reply actions

i like Kirkpatrick, curry, toon

curious what you think we do on the line, if wood can’t play right away, or if an interior lineman is injured. do we assume you keep rinehart? are you keeping Brown/Young? just curious. otherwise I agree that if we landed Williams and Jackson, I don’t see how we could complain at all. I think it is unlikely, but I like it. Gutsy.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 11, 2012 12:01 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah i forgot about the RFA's.

But I would keep Urbik, Rnihart and Young. I could probably be creative in the way I resign them to fit them under the cap too. But honestly since we’re just ballparking everything.

And I’ll fully admit to this being incredibly unlikely. But hey it’s a dream scenario, so it qualifies!

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by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 11, 2012 12:26 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah!

Good job!

Let’s win a /;()$&@@ superbOwl!

So we can be done with this nonsense….

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Feb 12, 2012 11:35 AM EST up reply actions

no need to do one

That would be so amazing. If I win the lottery, I’m gunna buy the bills and make this happen.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Feb 11, 2012 1:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Here's what I would do

Start with ~$104 million (current cap hit plus dead money)

Release (frees up $16.95 million)
Merriman, frees up $5.25 million
Spencer Johnson, frees up $4 million
Florence, frees up $3.5 million
Dwan Edwards, frees up ~$4.2 million

Bills cap number now at $87.05 million

Restructure:
McGee, work to minimum veteran salary, compromise @ $1.3 million, frees up $5 million

Bills cap now at $82.05

Re-sign (total of $10.5 million):
Urbik, roughly $4M per year (similar to Levitre’s contract #)
Rinehart, roughly $1M per year (similar to Levitre’s contract #)
Bell, $2.5 million (based off Wayne Hunter’s new cap number)
Chandler, $3 million (total guess, no one to go off of)

Bills cap now at $92.55

Free Agency (addition of $20.5 million per year):
Mario Williams, DE, 8 years, $100 million, roughly $13 million cap hit per year (based on Jared Allen’s deal)
Aaron Ross, CB, $3.5 million per year (based on Florence’s contract)
Robert Meachem, WR, $4 million per year (guess)

Bills cap now at $113.05

Draft:
1.) Ryan Tannehil, QB, Texas A&M
- Franchise QB of the future

2.) George Iloka, S, Boise State
- Takes Bryan Scott’s role, man corner is safety’s body, can cover tight ends

3.) DeMarrio Davis, OLB, Arkansas State
- Fluid strongside linebacker that hits everything, can cover

4a.) Jake Bequette, DE, Arkansas
- Left end that reminds me of Jared Allen

4b.) DeQuan Menzie, CB Alabama
- Good size, well coached, played against top competition

5.) George Bryan, TE, NC State
- One of the draft’s few blocking tight ends, though he’s not great in the passing game

6a.) Marcel Jones, OT, Nebraska
- Swing tackle prospect

6b.) Mason Cloy, C, Clemson
- Tough pivot that will compete with Colin Brown to back up Eric Wood

7.) Cody Johnson, FB, Texas
- An attempt to get a Brandon Jacobs style back

Bills cap now at $124.05, under the $125 million cap

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 10:59 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Depth chart

QB: Fitzpatrick, Thigpen, Tannehill
RB: Jackson, Spiller, White/Choice
FB: Johnson
TE: Chandler, Smith, Bryan
SE: Meachem, Jones, Easley
FL: Nelson, Smith, Roosevelt
LT: Bell, Hairston
LG: Levitre, Rinehart
C: Wood
RG: Urbik, Jasper
RT: Pears, Young/Jones

LE: Kelsay, Carrington, Bequette
DT: Williams, Heard
DT: Darius, Troup
RE: Williams, Gilbert
SLB: Davis, Batten, Moats
MLB: Sheppard, White
WLB: Barnett
CB: Ross, Williams, Rogers, McKelvin, McGee, Menzie
FS: Byrd
SS: Wilson, Searcy, Iloka

K: Lindell
P: Moorman
LS: Sanborn

Only six linebacker because Iloka can play OLB. Only four DT’s because Carrington can move inside. Moats is carried as an OLB, but really a situational pass rusher.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:05 PM EST up reply actions

Very interesting DJ any reason

On no stevie?

With the first pick in the 2012 draft the Indianapolis Colts select Robert Griffen III

by Gpluehri on Feb 10, 2012 11:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

If Buffalo signs Johnson, they're out of the Mario Williams sweepstakes

An elite DE like Williams is worth way more to the team than Johnson.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

Oh it`s doable, you just have to get creative, like I did :D

Mind you I also forgot the RFA`s, but that could be manageable with a little bit more creativity/cutting either Merriman or letting Chandler walk.

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:21 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, but you were razor close to the cap

With a contract that Johnson won’t accept and a low number on Jackson.

Not saying it isn’t doable, but I think Nix would have to gut some part the team to fit both.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:23 PM EST up reply actions

Hey man you said to male a dream off season, so I did.

And I`ll fully admit that getting everything I did is a dream. It`s plausible, but not overly.

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

*make a dream offseason.

kinda hoping that Joe doesn’t catch that now.

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 10, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

Hey man you said to male a dream off season, so I did.

Off all the words to have a typo in, you chose a bad one.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:39 PM EST up reply actions

Well I do have a university degree in theatre and philosophy….

But yeah that was pretty bad.

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 11, 2012 12:27 AM EST up reply actions

I can't imagine a worse typo.....

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Feb 12, 2012 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

What year...

Are you planning to win a superbowl?

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Feb 12, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

Late change

I’m not sold on Ross, so if Nix signs Routt, then it’s a one-for-one swap, since I see similar contract numbers.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:30 PM EST up reply actions

i want Routt over Ross as well

but I would settle. He is better than what we have seen from Leo, an injured McGee, a slow Florence, a slow Corner, and an unproven Rogers still gets the chance to develop. I hope signing either of these two vets, doesn’t mean we won’t draft one though, which means in my reality- Florence is a victim of the numbers game.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 10, 2012 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

No Stevie?

Not a fan. Add to the fact that you didn’t add any real #1 wide receiver I think would only hurt us. Judging by Ralph’s, Chans, nix, and now qb coach David lees comments it seems like everybody at OBD believes in fitz. Granted this is your own dream offseason the fact that your letting Stevie walk spending your first round pick on a qb and not signing an adequate replacement at WR seems not only highly unlikely but dangerous for the teams progress.

"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes

by panekattack on Feb 11, 2012 2:54 AM EST up reply actions

Dangerous?

Did you check out the starting defense?

And Buffalo has a collection of #2 receivers, with Easley and Nelson having room to develop. Plus, who knows how Meachem develops when he’s not the #4 option.

WR’s aren’t as important as a lot of folks on this board think. A team doesn’t need a start receiver to be good.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 11, 2012 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

I agree that people in general put too much emphasis on a good receiver. However, what I like about Stevie, which is what I think a lot of us like about him, is his chemistry with Fitz. We don’t need star receivers, but we do need team chemistry.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 11, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed

But I wouldn’t be mad at Nix if he didn’t keep him.

If I had specified that we had to keep Johnson, I’d take my current plan, which is $3.65 Million under the cap, and erase Meachem and add Johnson. I had Meachem at $4 Million, so that’d put Buffalo at $7.65 Million to sign Johnson.

With the players that didn’t make the final roster, I’d free up more space:
McIntyre, $1 Million saved with $100K hit
Dotson, $700K saved, no hit
Clowney, $700K saved, no hit
Moore, $600K saved, no hit
Onobun, $500K saved, no hit
Caussin, $500K saved, no hit
Brown, $500K saved, no hit
Prince Miller, $450K saved, no hit
McKillop, $450K saved, no hit
Aiken, $450K saved, no hit
Nesbitt, $450K saved, no hit
Eddins, $400K saved, no hit
Ross, $400K saved, no hit
Vermiglio, $400K saved, no hit
Williams, $400K saved, no hit
Brock, $400K saved, no hit

That’s $8.2 million. Allocate about $2 million for practice squad players. $6.2 million. Wow, that’s more than I thought.

Buffalo could actually keep Johnson for about $9 Million. They’d have $7.65 million, plus the net $6.2 million, for $13.85 Million. Johnson for $9 Million would give Buffalo $4.85 million, and they could then sign Meachem as well, or even keep Edwards.

If they went with Meachem, Roosevelt would lose his spot, Buffalo gains his $500K, and has $1.35 million wiggle room.

If they went with keeping Edwards, they’d get about $400K is cap room from Heard, and have about $1 million in wiggle room.

Either way, glad I did that… guess the team can keep Johnson.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 11, 2012 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Haha, thanks for the re-work, I like the idea of keeping Johnson but maintaining most of the rest of your offseason moves. I like it, a lot, this way. Not sure if I’d rather keep Edwards or acquire Meachem. I think that Meachem would really open up the underneath passing game (assuming Fitz gives them a reason to appreciate the deeper pass, ha ha).

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 11, 2012 6:11 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure if I’d rather keep Edwards or acquire Meachem.

No brainer: Meachem all the way. We have the excess at DT, and we have young guys similar enough… and we desperately need a #1/2 and though both Steve and Meachem are more like #2’s in some’s eyes: in chans system, all 3 WR (Meachem, Stevie, Nelson) would then be “equals” to some degree, and since that is the design of the system, coverage would need to respect all three. I think that is part of why we struggled- with Stevie, Nelson, and often Chandler all on the right side, and Jones/Smith singled up- they simply shaded coverage to the strong side, and then said “go ahead and beat us with Jones/Smith” and we really didn’t have the best match ups, and Fitz would end up forcing it into coverage. The more we can keep them “honest” and play us straight up, the better. Man coverage is less the concern, as them playing zone, about 4-6 of the LOS where we are looking to get to, and be open. They were literally sitting there just waiting, in zone, for him to have to get picked, or at least throw into a tough spot. I think ANY upgrade at WR will make us WAY more competitive on offense.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 11, 2012 9:28 PM EST up reply actions

That was a lot of words to convey the idea that we need better receivers. I believe we need better receivers. I am just not convinced that it’s more important to get another receiver, even one that could be our #1, is more important than maintaining what minimal depth we have.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 11, 2012 9:41 PM EST up reply actions

tommy like wingy….

me likeeeey new receiver pleeze

That better? hahaha

Sorry, I don’t do “simpleton” well. I am no dullard. lol

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 11, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

that isn't a shot

or derogatory inference. I am just saying, sorry… not my M.O.

You GOTTA know that by now. ;)

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 11, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

Haha, no worries, I know your posts well by now. And yes, that was much better, thanks ;) Us simpletons can understand much better.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 12, 2012 12:12 AM EST up reply actions

i mean, you understood. You got the point. Probably pretty quickly. I just prefer to be clear, and provide some perspective, lest be taken out of context, or wrong, these days. I think it is easier to be thorough, and not get into an argument due to some inference or assumption that is left to be made. If I need to be concise, for others to not be !$#&# then that is how I will roll.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 12, 2012 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

Definitely a fair point. As I’m sure many have noticed, my brief and often sarcastic comments tend to get me into arguments with people rather easily. Yours is probably a smarter way to do it, honestly.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Feb 12, 2012 12:34 AM EST up reply actions

i certainly get into my share of arguments, that sometimes falls under more of the arguments approach, than any sort of legit content. That happens because it is an arena of bias, opinion, and emotions. All that said, I think the fundamental component necessary is respect, and with some people, that requires earning. I am quick to accept another’s perspective, and sometimes they assume I am arguing their opinion, when really, I am simply sharing my own. It certainly may differ, or even contradict, but what you won’t hear often from me is “You’re wrong.” Not only are definitive remarks ones that I prefer to avoid entirely, but they are rarely true. I find it in my best interest not to blatantly lie, when my user is “ThaRealTruth”. That seems like just asking for it, and some people take it that way. Full disclosure: I chose this name, to remind myself to be honest, and if others don’t agree, to consider that truths are found through experimentation and discussion, and that maybe if I am wrong, then I will learn the truth. If someone else hadn’t considered something, then maybe they gain perspective. It is a truly socratic approach, but people easily are offended when questioned, because they infer this as a second guessing, sometimes of intelligence. I assure you, that is never the case. Most Bills’ fans are some of the MOST knowledgeable fans of this sport I know. I thoroughly enjoy learning more, because I don’t think ANYBODY knows EVERYTHING about football, or at least, couldn’t learn more.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 12, 2012 1:02 AM EST up reply actions

The number one reason......

we are better than two years ago, is that we built an O-line, a TE, and some useful wrs. out of waiver-wire or undrafted pick-ups.

I don’t think waiving all the low paid guys is the way to go…..

Maybe the opposite way.

Granted, building the team is a hard thing to do……takes too much time to not be paid.

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Feb 12, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

They don't make my final roster anyway

So it’s not like I’m gutting the team.

The lower tier guys that make the Bills the past few seasons won’t, regardless of who’s plan it is, as Buffalo improves.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 12, 2012 1:31 PM EST up reply actions

Disagree

Ask the jaguars, Vikings, and browns (just to name a few) how important having at least 1 good starting number 1 receiver. I’m not putting any extra emphasis or importance on the position but to ignore it completely is dangerous. Your offense becomes predictable and struggles mightily. As far as the receivers you mentioned Nelson is best in the slot, Easley has yet to play a down in the regular season or show he is capable of doing anything against starting caliber players, and meachem has been a career underachiever in new Orleans which is why he is expendable to them. Hard to have a lot of faith in that group or believe it will actually happen with all the endorsements of fitz by the bills brass. It sounds like they want to ADD more weapons around him, not take them away and watch him struggle.

"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes

by panekattack on Feb 11, 2012 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

It’s not their off-season, it’s mine.

You pointed out the teams that didn’t do well without a true number one receiver.

How about Pittsburgh? Ward is hardly a #2 anymore, and Wallace and Brown were unproven until recently. Pittsburgh took that trio to a Super Bowl.

All I’m saying is that Meachem and Easley, to different degrees, are unproven but full of potential. Easley had the look of a #2 receiver in training camp. Who knows what going from #4 option to a #2 option will do for Meachem. Maybe one of both break out into a #1. Sometimes it takes time, and opportunity for a receiver to develop. The receiving corps I created would be OK. Not great, but OK. I don’t think it needs to be more than that right now. It would also be big with two deep threats. That would open up Nelson and Chandler underneath, and take pressure off the run game.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 11, 2012 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

Well...

Wallace did prove he had something th year before but brown did come out of nowhere I’ll give you that but at the very least they knew they had a #1 in Wallace.

And as far as it being your own dream I understand that but you also said you want it to be realistic too. I would say us letting Stevie walk, not drafting a WR within the first 3 rounds or signing an adequate replacement is about as likely as the bills getting Peyton manning (which you yourself said is extremely unlikely).

"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes

by panekattack on Feb 11, 2012 5:50 PM EST up reply actions

I think I f'd up some math

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:15 PM EST up reply actions

I did

I forgot to factor in the $2.3 million in dead cap from Florence, Johnson and Merriman.

But we went back to the $130 million cap, so my new cap figure is $126.35 million, so it fits.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 10, 2012 11:17 PM EST up reply actions

ooooh... i like George Iloka

I think Bequette is a steal in the 4th. I don’t think he is there. I like that you address TE, and still keep Chandler. NO steve? really? no WR drafted? REALLY?!?! how surprising. ; ) i won’t get into why i don’t agree. LOVE LOVE LOVE the Mason Cloy pick. But i am biased as a Clemson fan. I have only been following college a couple years, and still only lightly, but I like what Clemson has been the past few years. I think we can land him later, like you do… and he can still ball. I like most of this. Question: Fullback? what the heck for? you already have 4 Rbs (as I do) and if he is a “Brandon Jacobs” is he really a FB? in our system, do we carry him as a FB, use him as h-back style TE/FB/Large body RB? i would be interested in further elaboration. Marcel jones reminds me of hairston some. I like a LOT of this draft. Also: you bash meachem, for being overrated, and then replace Stevie with him? Curious.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 10, 2012 11:57 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks

I think Iloka is a big cornerback that plays safety. He’s worth the value in the second round. Him, plus Davis in the third, and Buffalo’s well positioned to complete with the Pats TE offense.

Johnson: he can start his career at FB, but eventually moves to RB. I don’t see Jackson with the Bills after the season, so it’d be a Spiller-Johnson combo.

I don’t remember bashing Meachem.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 11, 2012 12:58 PM EST up reply actions

re:meachem

i believe you made some kind of reference to him being a former first rounder and an afterthought in their offense, that would command a high salary.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 11, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

I think that's true

That’s a bit different than being overrated.

I think Meachem was the 4th option in the Saints’ offense. Colston, Graham, and Moore were each targeted way more than Meachem. It could ever be argued that Henderson played a bigger role than Meachem.

Meachem in Buffalo’s offense, playing on the outside, would get a lot more looks than in New Orleans.

Re-starting the official Buffalo "Draft a quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on Feb 11, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

if you re-read it, it was more in the context of the convo-

though, i suppose i could have been misreading it.

Idk if i agree Henderson had a bigger role, i think they were similarly used, just with Henderson on the outside and Meachem was often the left slot (4th, but still the first read then, in their system) and so, i can see what you mean. I would probably say Brees is my favorite QB (as I have said, SD fan, and I like both he and Rivers) and so i pay pretty close attention.

I agree, as i post above. He would be instantly the left wide out, and he would make us a FAR better team. Pretty much the same thing that I want outta Floyd. I think that single add, makes this system, correct. Otherwise, it is all on Easley or Aiken or Jones (ugh) and i think all of them are solid (awesome) 4th WR options. If i had my way, we would have Demaryius Thomas, and be done with it. If we could pull that off, ANYWAY…. I would be ecstatic. I would care less if we had Johnson at that point. But for now, I think we need Steve, and another solid outside WR, and we can use the rest only on Defense again.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 11, 2012 9:41 PM EST up reply actions

i am sorry… but i have my own MULTI page post that i have been working on, and i don’t want it to make this thread unbearable. It will come in multiple installments (offense/defense) and will address ALL of my hopes/wants/dreams. I don’t want to delve into two separate processes at once, so i will do that, hopefully by the end of the night, and then maybe try to tackle this separate challenge. :) i enjoy this idea, and seeing how other’s think/feel to though. cool post.

ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE

by ThaRealTruth on Feb 10, 2012 11:48 PM EST reply actions

how do teams have the players they do?

And we give Kelsey all our money.

The eagles must be tight on cap right now.

"The Buffalo Bills have just exploded all over the Cincinnati Bangles"
-Steve Tasker-

by billsoferie on Feb 11, 2012 1:06 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Freddy

Should we all basically assume Freddy is going to get a new contract? Not sure how much more he’ll be getting than previously, but I would assume that number would be 2-3 million more per year.

by tarvismonroe on Feb 11, 2012 10:01 AM EST reply actions

Not going to get nearly as in depth as others

Re-sign: Stevie, Urbik , Rinehart , and Chandler
Sign: Robert Meachem and Manny Lawson
Cut: Merriman and Dwan Edwards

I’d like to trade Fred Jackson. I know I may get slammed for this, but there is no point in having Spiller as a back-up after what we saw this past season.

Draft:
Round 1: Quinten Coples, DE, UNC. Sure he was character and work ethic concerns, but the kid id an animal. One can fix those issues with the right coaching, plus he’s a top 5 talent.

Round 2:(I want to say Tannehill, but I doubt he’ll be available) Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State. A big, strong LT. With losing Bell replacing him is a need that must be addressed in the first 3 rounds.

Round 3: Nick Foles, QB,, Arizona. I would take Foles in the late 1st round. But I’m trying to be realistic and I doubt Nix would take him before here. Foles had one of the worst supporting casts I’ve ever seen, which is why he goes so low. But Foles is a suburb talent, put him on USC and he’ll have been a top 10 lock. With the right work I really think Foles could become a stud.

Round 4(A): Keenam Robinson, LB, Texas. Support to the worst LB core in the NFL.

Round 4(B): Audie Cole, LB, NCST. See above

Kenny Powers is back!

by atlantalove on Feb 11, 2012 11:36 AM EST reply actions

I’d be down with Adams in the second, he had a great game at the senior bowl. I’m still not big on Coples, but he is slowly growing on me. I think I’ll reserve total judgement on him until after the combine.

Buffalo Rumblings
Where shoes are haute cuisine.

by CanadianBillsFan on Feb 11, 2012 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

I have the same feelings on Coples. I’m starting to think, with his upside he’s worth the risk if he falls to #10. Barnett, Williams, Dareus and Merriman (if he’s still around) should be able to give him some oversight and a watchful eye to keep him from slacking off.

"Everyone who has conducted an expedition will know how ready the world is to do the great injustice of heaping the whole praise or blame for its success or failure on the shoulders of the leader alone."
-Polar Explorer Fridtjof Nansen

by NordicBillsfan on Feb 12, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

Very basic but just a quick idea.

Resign Stevie. We need to sign a guy like Avril, Spencer or Williams (LDE). Then, I would like to us draft Hightower to play SLB and in the nickel play RDE (in for Kelsay/Carrington) to pass rush. Then draft Osweiler in the 2nd. and a WR in the 3rd, a CB and OT with the 2 4ths. 5a. DE 5b TE 6 TE 7 FS (yes two tight ends don’t know whats going to happen with Chandler). Picking up a CB like Routt would be great too.

I’m not going to break down the cap numbers now maybe later. But there are cuts that can be made to possibly sign both stevie and Williams, or just pick up Anthony Spencer instead.

With the 10th Pick in the 2012 NFL Draft the Buffalo Bills select Dont'a Hightower LB Alabama.

by tomcs on Feb 11, 2012 2:38 PM EST reply actions

Some generalities.....

Nobody likes a critic but……

Spencer Johnson got a raw deal by the Bills last year, if you move him back to tackle, he is our third best tackle and the only proven one, beyond Dareus and Williams. Granted his cap hit is up there, but I think about right for a 3rd tackle.

The bills proved last year that the offense needs a better option at number two wr. Not a set-back at the position.

And the most important one. The Bills set there QB plan for this up already. Unless the drop Fitzy in the next couple of weeks, the top 3 are set. The only way the Bills get a young QB is to stache a very low rounder on the practice squad.
The goal of the franchise is to win a superbowl and they cannot afford to use anymore money there and certainly not an extremely valuable high draft pick. You never go two ways when you suck, like we do. We have to get better now, and then, maybe, look to the future.
Like it or not, the Bills have tied their fortune to Fitzy, thiggy and brad for 2012. And they are right, at least, in that, you have to fully commit to plan.

And lastly, I don’t know what Bell is getting, but it will be a hell of a lot more than 2.5 mill.

Thanks for writing and let me apologize in advance, for not writing my own and letting you guys critique.

Go Bills!

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Feb 12, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions