1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,200 Alright, welcome back to the Buffalo Bread Podcast. 2 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:12,480 JJ here with me as always is Dan and it has been another busy news week. 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:19,680 Probably up to the merit of the early offseason Black Wednesday when the Buffalo Bills lost 4 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:20,680 several captains. 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:23,120 Well, another one is walking out the door. 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:30,600 Stefan Diggs traded to the Houston Texans, the Bills get back a 2, a second round pick, 7 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:41,160 they send a 5 and a 6, one in this year and one in next year, and they have to eat 31 8 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:47,520 million dollars in deadcap in 2024, then cap relief shows up in about 27 million next year 9 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:52,200 that they would have otherwise been on the books for with Stefan Diggs if he had stayed. 10 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,360 Where are you at with this, my friend? 11 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:02,040 I have a lot of complex feelings at this particular moment right now, JJ. 12 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,960 And again, glad we are not a reaction pod that we will be dropping this pod a day earlier 13 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:08,600 than we normally do. 14 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:13,240 Like hopefully hitting that sweet step up between when all the immediate reaction is done and 15 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:17,920 then get into more of the processing and irrational way that some of our listeners are looking 16 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:19,280 for. 17 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:25,440 All that being said, though, my thought when it first happened was the bills. 18 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:26,940 And this is the scary part. 19 00:01:26,940 --> 00:01:29,960 The bills don't think they're good enough to compete in 2024. 20 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:36,040 You tolerate a guy like Stefan Diggs, who I listen will go down in this era as one of 21 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,760 my favorite bills, maybe one of my favorite bills of all time for what he did for the 22 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:43,760 turnaround of this franchise, right? 23 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:49,840 But you tolerate a guy that communicates like digs for only so long and only in a certain 24 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:51,080 situation. 25 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:56,360 And that situation is usually a winning situation because winning is the best deodorant. 26 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,880 The bills moving on and eating the level of dead cap money that they are eating from 27 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:06,160 this particular deal tells me that they did not believe they would have a sustainable 28 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,200 winning roster heading into 2024. 29 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:16,320 And it made digs and it made the necessity to take this dead cap medicine now an imperative 30 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:17,520 for them. 31 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:22,640 So that was where my head first went was, oh, being isn't throwing up the white flag, 32 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:27,240 but he is signaling to everybody, this is like a roster reset akin to what we experienced 33 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,400 in 2018. 34 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:34,560 And that as a result of going through that reset, a guy like digs didn't help the process. 35 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:36,160 That was my immediate reaction. 36 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:40,240 And then JJ will dig into more and more of kind of like what I think the cap mechanics 37 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,320 behind this mean, what I think the long term roster build means. 38 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,840 And even the clues that I think this tells us about the type of offense that the bills 39 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,760 are going to run moving forward here, because I think we're not just in a roster transition 40 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:53,760 point. 41 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:58,120 We are in a scheme and philosophical transition point for Buffalo Bill's football and what 42 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:00,080 it means specifically for the offense to. 43 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:01,760 So all of that stuff and more. 44 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:06,320 Yeah, absolutely, and I think that, you know, if this if there was a book that was written 45 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:12,160 about this offseason, the subtitle would be younger and cheaper, right? 46 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:18,120 Like it younger and cheaper at the expense of almost anything, because interesting JJ, 47 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,280 because that is an admission statement on my resume when I go out competing for younger 48 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:23,280 and cheaper. 49 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:24,720 I'm younger and cheaper. 50 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,440 Yeah, so I don't feel younger anymore. 51 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:34,960 But I'm definitely cheap, but regardless of all that, we're so in our feelings. 52 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:36,440 I know, it's not a reaction pod. 53 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:37,440 Get it together. 54 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,120 No, be professional. 55 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:46,160 But the digs move to me, it clearly I mean, everybody's in the immediate aftermath, people 56 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,880 were like, what, you got worse, you had a huge amount of dead cap, you had to give away 57 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:55,760 picks to get a second, you know, kind of all of these things that and I agree, I think 58 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:02,760 I was even going back and forth with with Greg Thompson on Twitter, or X, and I respect 59 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,760 most everything that Greg Thompson does. 60 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:10,760 But he was super hard in his feelings about this being an absolutely dog shit business 61 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:15,760 move and like a really bad and not trusting Brandon Bean anymore and all this. 62 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,400 And like the point I was trying to make it I've been trying to make this with a number 63 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:25,240 of people that I've been engaging with online is that my immediate response to this was that 64 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:30,640 there is something that we do not know about the mechanism for this trade. 65 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:36,240 We have Joe Nixon coming out talking about digs, talking to the Houston Texans for weeks 66 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,240 about coming being traded down there. 67 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:44,320 We have Brandon Bean in his press conference, refusing to directly answer the question if 68 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,480 Stefan Diggs demanded a trade. 69 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:50,840 We have the fact that Josh Allen and Stefan Diggs have cooled off in the past two off 70 00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:54,320 seasons, they don't see each other in the off season, they don't seem to do the things 71 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:58,360 that friends do in the off season like they did the first two seasons that that digs was 72 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,120 with the bills. 73 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,360 And then on top of it we have the chirping of Diggs brother, the fact that he's not 74 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:09,240 outwardly crushing that the fact that he sends all these coy tweets, and you know, talks 75 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:14,880 shit a little bit passively about Josh Allen's success being all his you know doing. 76 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:21,480 And so it's a matter of the thing I got into was, yes, it's a it seems on the face value 77 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:27,160 of terrible trade the dead cap is massive, the return on investment is minimal. 78 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:34,920 But the way I see it is if digs force their hand, and Brandon Bean was sort of in a ultimatum 79 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,420 situation. 80 00:05:36,420 --> 00:05:42,320 This was probably it's sort of a magnificent return if his choice was dig sits or you trade 81 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:44,240 him to get anything. 82 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:48,720 You know, because I mean we think about players like a Murray Cooper went for a fifth and 83 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:52,560 a sixth in his prime younger than digs with better production. 84 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,000 Keenan Allen just went for a fourth right. 85 00:05:55,000 --> 00:06:00,280 And that's what I'm saying is they basically they bought high for a first round pick and 86 00:06:00,280 --> 00:06:04,560 like I you cannot hold it against the trade that that pick became Justin Jefferson because 87 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:09,920 nobody knew just one Jefferson Justin Jefferson would drop to 22 in that draft or raised 88 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,360 to 22 his draft stock was not as a top 10 pick. 89 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:17,520 And to nobody knew that Justin Jefferson would become you know the alpha dog wide receiver 90 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:18,520 in the league. 91 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:22,400 So you can't really you know you can't look at that thing with hindsight and claim that 92 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,520 oh well the bill should have just picked Justin Jefferson there was no guarantee of that there 93 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:31,200 was a guarantee of Stefan digs being a rising talent in his mid 20s. 94 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:35,200 The bills traded a first overall or first round pick in the later part of the first 95 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:43,300 round to get four years of incredible top three wide receiver production and a veteran 96 00:06:43,300 --> 00:06:48,520 in the room to help Josh Allen a young QB develop into a captain and leader in this on 97 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:49,960 the team. 98 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:55,840 And then they traded that asset again they paid a boatload of money and I think that 99 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:00,400 the extension was poorly timed and they were really kind of eating shit because of it. 100 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:05,440 But then they trade that asset away for a second uphicks so they essentially drop they 101 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,240 just traded a one for a two and then got four years of wide receiver production had to pay 102 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:10,400 a bunch of money. 103 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,800 And I don't think I think that everybody you know bills fans like oh they paid all this 104 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:18,040 money what do you care like I don't care how much Pagula pays anybody like I don't actually 105 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:22,880 care like because I mean I get that using those resources for another player is more 106 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:25,360 valuable than having them dead on the cap. 107 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:30,640 I understand that but it's not my money right like not directly I'm not a season ticket 108 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,120 holder and I know some of you are and you might be like well they're mismanaging my 109 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:39,280 money there's a lot more money in the league you know the team yields 500 million dollars 110 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:44,160 plus per year it's not ticket revenue it's TV money mostly. 111 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:45,280 Yeah. 112 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:52,780 Taking in totality right or taking individually rather the trade at face value given everything 113 00:07:52,780 --> 00:07:59,040 around it in the context is as about of a good of a return as you will get for a wide 114 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:04,440 receiver entering their age 31 season after one of their worst years of production of 115 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:10,000 their career right and we can debate we can go back and forth about why that production 116 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,200 drop off for digs happened a lot of pods have chosen to focus on that it's kind of 117 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:18,600 like the reason why they're they're stowing some of their their pessimism because well 118 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:23,640 digs was on the decline anyway that listen that may very well be true he could also have 119 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,280 been injured it could also have been about Brady's scheme it could have been any number 120 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:28,760 of things right. 121 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:35,880 So I think on at face value you look at the trade the dead cap sucks right for this year 122 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:41,720 because this year it even further limits your ability to put around a competitive team around 123 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:46,200 your young QB who will not be so young in a couple of years Josh Allen is going to be 124 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,400 what 28 heading into the season right. 125 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:53,160 I think he turns 28 in May I don't I know this is blasphemy I don't know when Josh Allen's 126 00:08:53,160 --> 00:09:00,040 birthday is I should I like I should know that more than I know my kids birthday right 127 00:09:00,040 --> 00:09:06,800 but yeah JJ Google machine that for me but anyway Allen is also approaching his age 30 128 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:11,480 year by the time this current contract is up he'll be age 31 so I understand the frustration 129 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:17,200 of a lot of bills fans were saying it is now harder for us to field a competitive team with 130 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:23,760 a QB who plays an exceptionally physical style of football who is still situated in his prime 131 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:28,280 now I don't think 2024 is a throwaway year but it is hard to see how the bills are Super 132 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:35,080 Bowl contenders with the roster as it is currently constructed and now they have hamstrung their 133 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:40,880 ability to put out a competitive a more competitive roster given the dead cat hit dead cat hit 134 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:45,760 that they're facing this year get all that anger right all that being said though the 135 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,480 trade at face value was probably the best they could have done for digs at this current 136 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:57,800 moment now when taken in totality no one was putting a gun in 2022 to Brandon beans had 137 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:03,200 to extend digs for the amount of money that he did and agreed to these dead cap terms 138 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:07,440 in the way that he did either this was an unforced error by being and a lot of us had 139 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:12,680 questions about it when it happened right like it kind of made sense that you want to 140 00:10:12,680 --> 00:10:18,120 further your commitment to your productive somewhat volatile water seever one in that 141 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:23,960 way at the time him and Alan had a great relationship so at face value it seemed to check a lot 142 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:30,400 of boxes other than the future other than the future financial implications that that 143 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:35,760 deal would have he didn't need to do that right he didn't need to extend digs at that 144 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:43,240 particular moment but chose to so my summation of this trade is that being did an average 145 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:49,000 job getting out of a situation that was of his own doing right he really kind of created 146 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:54,480 this situation and he did the best that he could with no leverage to get out of it so 147 00:10:54,480 --> 00:11:01,160 being comes out to me to this okay but like not a mastermind by any stretch of the imagination 148 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:05,800 he's undoing as we see JJ as he continues to do a lot of his own mistakes a lot of his 149 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:10,120 unforced errors right this is what he does kicks the can down the road on a lot of these 150 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:14,840 positions the roster reset we're going through this year should have started in early phases 151 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:20,440 last year at some of these position groups being done being has not shown the ability 152 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:25,440 to think with that kind of foresight no and I think that that criticism is accurate I 153 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:31,280 think to somebody I was communicating with on Facebook summarized it who's actually a 154 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:37,040 dolphins fan who lives in Buffalo New York but he he had a very a poignant you know he 155 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:42,760 made a good point it was awfully measured for a dolphins fan who a lot of them are stomping 156 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:47,360 on the bills right now for all this but it was that you know we don't organize with terror 157 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:51,640 or we don't we don't negotiate negotiate with terrorists and I think that might have been 158 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:57,960 the position that being found him in immediately following an all pro season for Stefan Diggs 159 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:02,920 to go ahead and pay kind of a ridiculous amount of money on an extension when the deal still 160 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:09,760 had years left and reward an exceptionally productive year for Stefan Diggs to try to 161 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:15,620 keep a toxic player healthy I think that you know Stefan Diggs has been largely lauded 162 00:12:15,620 --> 00:12:19,640 by guys in the locker room as a good leader a hard worker I think that's all true I think 163 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:24,760 he gets along with the players that he is on the team with pretty well I think the problem 164 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:30,120 is when anything goes on you know anything comes undone with Stefan Diggs he immediately 165 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,840 goes into toddler tantrum mode I mean we've seen him blow up at people on the sidelines 166 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:39,520 you've seen him take plays off after you know if he thinks things are going poorly and 167 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:44,680 then of course you know he's got his brother chirping on X he's not squashing that he's 168 00:12:44,680 --> 00:12:48,200 again making those passive aggressive tweets and different things like that I think a lot 169 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:53,120 of it was media overblown but I think a better communicator and a better team player would 170 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:59,220 have squashed more of it and I also think that Josh Allen went out of his way to praise 171 00:12:59,220 --> 00:13:03,560 Stefan Diggs for his work ethic and his his place on the team and what a good team he 172 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:08,400 was I barely ever heard that from Stefan Diggs Stefan Diggs would talk about retiring a 173 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:13,560 Buffalo Bill but he was the last person in the world to praise any other player unprompted 174 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:19,400 yeah and I think that's a good segue JJ to really kind of dig into the why behind this 175 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:25,560 trade I think there are a varied amount of reasons why this particular trade happened 176 00:13:25,560 --> 00:13:33,320 when it did and I think the off-field drama probably plays a role but I don't think it 177 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:39,320 plays the role that a lot of people think it plays right I think there's a lot more at 178 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:45,440 play here this might have been the the final straw this might have been the the instigation 179 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:50,640 or the impetus for the trade but I don't think it informed the trade itself overall because 180 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:57,240 the bills had I think we can we can glean the bills had been fielding offers from teams 181 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:02,240 they weren't necessarily calling teams about it if the reporting is accurate the Texans 182 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,480 reached out on their own to the bills and then this thing happened in about a 24 hour 183 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:13,120 period so teams were reaching out to the bills about about Diggs availability and being as 184 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:18,280 a general manager with multiple roster holes to fill was doing his due diligence and taking 185 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:25,120 those calls I think JJ this has to do for me more and more with the overall roster 186 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:31,840 philosophy that the bills are taking on moving forward and I think it's hard to unwed Diggs 187 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:39,680 drop in production or let's say drop in priority in the offensive scheming from when Dorsey 188 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:46,840 was was removed and Brady was inserted there is not a lot that we can we can take from 189 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:53,120 Brady's time as OC in Carolina because it was such a short small sample but there are 190 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:58,520 a couple of things that have borne out and his limited stint there and his limited stint 191 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:03,920 and Buffalo is commonalities and one of those things is that he rarely ever schemes for 192 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:10,640 a feature wide receiver when you go back and look at his one full year is OC in Carolina 193 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:16,600 DJ Moore who was considered largely their top threat along with Curtis Samuels a solid 194 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:21,240 number two was like their third most productive wide receiver when it came to total yardage 195 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:26,240 that was Curtis Samuels best year but he never schemed for a thousand yard wide receiver 196 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:31,160 he used these guys a very situationally he used Samuel a lot in the backfield and these 197 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:36,400 funky these funky personnel packages and DJ Moore was primarily their take the top 198 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:41,160 off deep threat when teams would condense to the short area yardage areas that he was 199 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:48,720 trying to exploit enter Joe Brady into Buffalo and Stefan Diggs who had been on fire is the 200 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:53,680 number three overall wide receiver in terms of yardage when before Dorsey was was removed 201 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:59,040 from the position sees a drop in production sees a drop in usage sees a limited drop in 202 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:04,000 targets but those targets as we have noted were coming in shorter areas of the field 203 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:11,120 and then JJ add that to the fact that the deep ball and vertical vertical threat piece 204 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:16,760 of digs game had all but subsided in 2020 when you take a look at Allen's deep ball 205 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:22,440 efficiency that was you could see an ascendance and the connection with him and digs in that 206 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:29,160 regard Allen was completed close to 45% of his passes that year over 1100 yards 12 TDs 207 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:35,600 on deep balls of 20 or more yards flash forward all the way to 2023 JJ that completion percentage 208 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:44,520 drops to 35% under 1000 yards at 960 and 8 TDs to 9 INTs now some of that also has to 209 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:49,760 do with the fact that Gabe Davis was a monstrosity of an inconsistent deep threat for this team 210 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:57,000 as well but it also has to do with the fact that either by choice or as a result of where 211 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:01,760 where this team felt like digs was in the progression is his career digs was not the 212 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:05,480 deep threat that he was when he first came to Buffalo either he wasn't winning with a 213 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:10,000 lot of separation downfield while his short area quickness and ability to separate was 214 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:16,360 still there opposing DB's were locking him down the further he went down the field and 215 00:17:16,360 --> 00:17:20,200 we've seen tweets to the surcard luxurious need tweeted about this about things digs 216 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,000 complaining he was getting doubled and Steve was like dude we all got a double you anymore 217 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:30,880 right so I think whether it was by choice or what the bills were seeing they knew that 218 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:36,840 they needed a larger deep threat to be a feature of this offense right and they didn't have 219 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:42,080 it on the roster so were you going to settle for more of the same with digs a wide receiver 220 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:47,320 who could also be a decline right and then you couple that with with Brady's overall 221 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:51,680 philosophy where he wants to use these guys more situationally and you could see where 222 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:58,480 digs was no longer a fit for what this team wants to do I think offensively to me that 223 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:02,680 seems like the number one reason right digs was no longer a fit for what the scheme is 224 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:03,680 going to look like. 225 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:09,160 I think that's absolutely true and I think too that you when you have a player who I 226 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:15,640 don't think digs is going to handle his decline in production very well anywhere he goes I 227 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,960 don't know if he's going to be an Antonio Brown because I don't think that the severe 228 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:25,040 mental health issues are there but I do think that he is likely to have a rocky decline in 229 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:30,160 the latter part of his career because he has proven and this is the thing that I keep coming 230 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:33,600 back to is people are like well why the bills do this why this why that stuff on digs has 231 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:39,800 been nothing but great he has a track record of becoming a problem in the locker room for 232 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:44,880 teams when he is unhappy like that is proven like this is now what it was Kirk Cousins fault 233 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:50,520 now it's Josh Allen's fault like no the common factor is Stefan digs working his way out 234 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:57,840 of favor with teams and so I feel like in in Houston he may have a big spark of productivity 235 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,720 but I can tell you it's probably going to be from the slot and it's probably going 236 00:19:00,720 --> 00:19:06,400 to be because the the primary coverage of every opponent and coming against Houston is going 237 00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:11,080 to be trying to shut down Nico Collins and Tank Dell and probably just leaving Stefan 238 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:17,240 Diggs and one-on-one if they're in man coverage or leaving his zone without extra defenders 239 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:21,840 angled towards it he might have a spike in production this this coming year and this 240 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,760 is a one-year rental so the bills have basically traded him away for a second and he's only 241 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:33,120 on contract for one year with Houston I think that's a good return and so you know with 242 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:39,920 all that said I agree I think that you saw the lat he didn't top 100 yards he hasn't 243 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:47,160 caught a touchdown in the playoffs since like 2020 and so I don't see the big loss here 244 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:53,200 I you have to replace 100 catches right but I think that Joe Brady scheme is not about 245 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:58,920 having one one massive receiver take the lion share of the catches he's going to try to be 246 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:02,960 distributive he's going to try to target you know the weak spot of the defense and for 247 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:09,240 that reason I've even cooled a little bit on the trade up for a top tier top four receiver 248 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:14,960 in this draft I'm sort of in this world of can we get two receivers in the top 100 can 249 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:21,860 we find a way to get you know three receivers with only one in the top 100 but then two more 250 00:20:21,860 --> 00:20:28,800 between 100 and 200 and sure hit through the darts right yeah absolutely absolutely so 251 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:34,320 it'll be interesting the draft is going to tell us a lot about what Brady's offensive 252 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:39,040 philosophy is going to look like depending on how the bills handle that first round I 253 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:43,960 think a lot of bills fans are clamoring for them to move up in the draft especially if 254 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:48,120 a guy like neighbors or a dunes a falls I think neighbors is more likely to fall than a dunes 255 00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:54,080 a is but I don't I don't know that they're with all the holes they have created on this 256 00:20:54,080 --> 00:21:00,560 roster and the clear mentality they have set to to get as you said younger and cheaper 257 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:05,120 I don't know that they give up significant in future draft capital to go get a guy like 258 00:21:05,120 --> 00:21:11,480 Marvin Harrison Jr. or a dunes a or neighbors I think they're going to be more content than 259 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:16,640 we think to see who falls to them to 28 and if no one falls to them at 28 I think we could 260 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:21,320 see a second round double dip if Carolina comes Colin with that 33rd overall pick because 261 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:26,560 they see an OT that they want to take it 28 I think the bills absolutely make that trade 262 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:31,440 right and then we have said there's likely to be a run on wide receivers in the second 263 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,800 round there could be 11 or even 12 of these wide receivers that come off the board before 264 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:40,000 the bills hit 60 if you're sitting there in the catbird seat of 23 you're going to get 265 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:45,680 your pick of that second tier be it a Xavier worthy be an AD Mitchell a Troy Franklin Xavier 266 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:51,840 Leggett you know we'll wait and see but April is going to tell us a lot not just about how 267 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,880 the bills are going to approach this future roster rebuild but offensively the type of 268 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,120 personnel they're looking for and the clues that it gives us to what Brady's full fledged 269 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:06,120 scheme is going to look like and JJ that brings me to my next point about why I think this 270 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:11,320 this trade happened now it's the schematic overhaul and the philosophical overhaul and 271 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:16,800 offense but it is also too about the financial overhaul that this team needs to undertake 272 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:22,640 and this is Ben an offseason in beans own words about 2025 cap management they're not giving 273 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:28,600 up on 2024 though I think we could all agree that it is hard to see a Super Bowl roster 274 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:33,360 in the making right now for 2024 but bean has been adamant about not kicking future 275 00:22:33,360 --> 00:22:39,800 money down the road to 2025 because as Alan's cap number continues to balloon they want 276 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:45,920 to have the freedom to spend and the freedom to resign what they hope are going to be lucrative 277 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:53,200 2024 and lucrative 2025 draft classes so they've valued that future financial freedom and this 278 00:22:53,200 --> 00:23:00,360 digs trade for as much as this dead money cap hit sucks right now in 2024 it takes $27 279 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:07,320 million completely off the books for 2025 and Stefan digs money so this is it digs is only 280 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:15,120 now on this team's roster financially this season 2025 and beyond Stefan digs money comes 281 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:20,560 completely off the books had they designated this as a post June 1 move they could have 282 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:25,760 only limited the dead cap hit here to $9 million and given themselves more flexibility this 283 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:32,240 season but then they kick 22 million down the road to 2025 JJ and I just don't think that 284 00:23:32,240 --> 00:23:37,520 is something that was enticing for bean and again it gives me the clue that they don't 285 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:42,360 think this roster is Super Bowl caliber in 2024 but they are looking to make some future 286 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:48,920 moves in 2025 so they can maximize the tail end of this Josh Allen Prime window here so 287 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:55,840 to me it was all about 2025 cap management take your medicine now JJ so that next season 288 00:23:55,840 --> 00:24:01,760 with Josh Allen presumably still in his athletic and player performance prime you can start 289 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:06,320 to spend some money again next off season well and I think you're absolutely right and 290 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:11,120 it's the kind of thing it's it's sort of that soft rebuild because I I do believe this is 291 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:14,560 going to be a competitive team I do believe they have a great opportunity to take the 292 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:21,160 AFC East I think you know maybe that's the cap going into this early season unless we 293 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:25,240 have an absolutely outstanding draft class which I think everyone in bills mafia is hoping 294 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:31,240 for right like okay you've stuff on digs is walked do we now have a distributive method 295 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:37,560 of you know four players having 50 to 60 catches five players having 60 to 70 catches right 296 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:42,720 like Josh Allen having an outstanding year of just you know a lot of you know sharing 297 00:24:42,720 --> 00:24:47,680 the wealth because he's not worried and Joe Brady's not worried about scheming digs open 298 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:53,600 while digs athleticism and deep speed is on a sharp decline because that's what we saw 299 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:58,880 I mean anybody can you know point to a couple of the long balls that Josh Allen was pushed 300 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:04,120 off his spot and he under through a little bit but the reality was a lot of those situations 301 00:25:04,120 --> 00:25:09,480 digs coverage was way closer than it had been in years prior a lot of those balls even if 302 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:14,560 they might not have been perfectly on the mark they were under thrown but digs was in 303 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,120 tight coverage or they were overthrown because digs didn't have the wheels he had had the 304 00:25:19,120 --> 00:25:25,320 years prior and so I think it's going to be interesting to see what kind of happens post 305 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:30,040 draft and I think that's the biggest thing if I can I'm trying to be very zen about 306 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:36,120 this I was I was in my like guys bills chat with with a bunch of fellow bills fans and 307 00:25:36,120 --> 00:25:40,920 really the it was the sky is falling chat of a shrug it's gonna suck everything sucks 308 00:25:40,920 --> 00:25:45,160 the bills are gonna just be terrible again we're bad you know and then people being like 309 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:49,520 baring and beans and 88 why would he do this he didn't get enough back they got fleeced 310 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:54,600 and I just tried to like kind of slow everybody everyone's role to be like okay like even 311 00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:59,160 if this is a reset this is a front office in an organization that has one they have 312 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:04,240 seized four years in a row that has always been in the mix that has done things the right 313 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:11,460 way that has invested in their own young talent when they needed to and don't see the departures 314 00:26:11,460 --> 00:26:15,720 of Davis or digs as a problem I think it was time to reset a couple of positions on 315 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,560 this team and it might hurt it might they might not be as competitive this year but 316 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:24,480 I think you're absolutely right going into next year with upwards of $60 million under 317 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:30,800 the cap and then an additional opportunity to clear up another $30 million there could 318 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:36,080 be like a pretty major contributor and we haven't been in that world since you know the von 319 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:40,680 Miller signing where where it's like oh my gosh that guy is on the bills team and so 320 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:44,640 there's an opportunity there and you always overpaying for agency but in some in some 321 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:49,680 ways it's worth it right and so I'm really interested to see what that looks like and 322 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:54,680 I do think that this move makes it more likely the bills take more draft picks and try to 323 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:59,680 keep more of those guys on the roster this year because you can also point to this time 324 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:04,640 in the offseason versus last year in the offseason I think their roster only has 60 or 70 players 325 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:11,000 on it last year I think they were closer to 80 and so they are probably trying to plan 326 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:15,240 for more of those 11 picks you know even if they come out of the draft with nine having 327 00:27:15,240 --> 00:27:19,600 all nine of those players remain on the roster going into the season if not you know the 328 00:27:19,600 --> 00:27:24,760 roster plus practice squad yeah and that's a that's a great segue JJ into talking about 329 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:30,640 like next steps and how we begin to rebuild this wide receiver room or reconstruct this 330 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:37,720 wide receiver room and I think free agency and draft are markedly different and what 331 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:42,560 they offer I think the way to go for the bills is the draft I think there's some cheap veterans 332 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:48,760 out there I've seen I've seen some bills fans float trades trade 21 for Brandon I you right 333 00:27:48,760 --> 00:27:55,640 trade 21 trade 28 for for T Higgins problem with that is you've got to pay those guys 334 00:27:55,640 --> 00:28:03,840 almost immediately and even with the relief and cap that the bills are are going to have 335 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:09,080 at their at their disposal in 2025 you're not an inability where you could afford even 336 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:14,560 maybe the draft capital trade for one of those guys because I'll bet you that regardless 337 00:28:14,560 --> 00:28:18,720 of how the wide receiver market has been shaking out I'll bet you it's going to take a one 338 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:24,640 this year and a potentially a future two or a handful of future twos to prior rate prior 339 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:29,680 way either one of those guys from their respective franchises and I just don't think from a draft 340 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:35,920 capital standpoint it's where the bills want to be I don't think they want to defer future 341 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:42,040 benefit for young cost controlled talent to bring on someone who can yes absolutely help 342 00:28:42,040 --> 00:28:46,280 immediately I think Brandon I you cause a star right every time I look at that guy on 343 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:53,400 film dude is open he's just open all the time he gets great separation and I like T Higgins 344 00:28:53,400 --> 00:29:00,240 a lot too but you can't afford to pay contract up front or the draft equity it's going to 345 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:05,400 take to get either one of those guys when you're in the roster situation and cap situation 346 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:09,520 the bills are in and then other free agent moves they can make like Tyler Boyd's out 347 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:14,840 there OBJ is out there but I see those guys more if they're still on the market is maybe 348 00:29:14,840 --> 00:29:20,520 a post draft post June type of signing right especially when the compensatory pick formula 349 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:25,280 goes away I could see maybe one of those guys coming in to firm out the room but they are 350 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:32,440 not to me needle movers at this particular point the bills JJ need to do what they haven't 351 00:29:32,440 --> 00:29:38,920 done since the 20 set since the the 2018 draft which is they've got to hit a home run and 352 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:44,080 we've talked about this the bills have been great at fighting those fifth sixth and seventh 353 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:49,880 round floor razors right and I would argue that Taryn Johnson and Matt Milano are probably 354 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:56,080 stars that they have found in the latter rounds but JJ other than Alan they have not hit on 355 00:29:56,080 --> 00:30:02,000 a premium pick and they have not found those ceiling razors in the draft as of yet it is 356 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:07,320 imperative that they do so this year and next year if they want to keep this window with 357 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:13,120 Josh Allen open in his physical and athletic prime so to me JJ free agency is not even 358 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:18,560 on the table for for addressing this need it's got to be the draft yeah and I'm glad 359 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:22,840 you brought up OBJ Tyler Boyd I think that those those would be players that I think 360 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:29,000 would come in as insurance policies and and nothing more right like that's it's an insurance 361 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:36,480 box it's just to like maybe cover a need so the Buffalo bills have not drafted a single 362 00:30:36,480 --> 00:30:45,320 wide receiver higher than the fourth round in their entire brand being era and so I think 363 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:51,440 that this is a real test it's going to be a real question of whether or not well I guess 364 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:58,160 it not the being era but in Sean McDermott's time he he got Zay Jones in the second who's 365 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:03,920 a wide receiver that has stayed in the league as like a wide receiver three but that's not 366 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:08,680 really you know not speaking about too much and that was not a great year for wide receivers 367 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:14,320 so Sean McDermott got one in the second Gabe Davis was a fourth round pick Marquez Stevenson 368 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:19,360 was a sixth Khalil Shakir was a five and he he seems like he might be something special 369 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:24,400 there's a whole group of Justin shorter stands out there claiming that he's going to be our 370 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:28,840 wide receiver one with Stefan Diggs leading leaving and I'm to them I just say like why 371 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:33,600 why didn't he make the field wall you know when Gabe Davis was making no catches for 372 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:39,640 no yards and Stefan Diggs was getting four for 37 why didn't they elevate Justin shorter 373 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:44,160 if he was doing everything he needed to do in practice I'm guessing he was just not producing 374 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:49,920 to a level where he could get on the field so until he does I don't see it and so you 375 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:56,560 know it'll be very interesting to me if the bills invest top 100 picks on the position 376 00:31:56,560 --> 00:32:03,040 because it's not it's not happened to this juncture in the Brandon being era and it's 377 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:07,600 it's something that they absolutely have to get right I think that you know I feel pretty 378 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:15,560 confident about turning you know turning out some quality picks considering they had two 379 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:20,480 full-time starters and Dalton concave no Cyrus Torrance last year in the draft the prior 380 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:25,760 year James Cook and Terrell Bernard and Khalil Shakir and the second third and fifth round 381 00:32:25,760 --> 00:32:31,360 all seem like studs as does Christian Benford who's at least a starting CB in the league 382 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:36,560 if he can stay healthy he's a you know that's an incredibly high value for that position 383 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:40,360 and so I definitely think they've hit you know the year prior Greg Russo and Spencer Brown 384 00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:46,680 both strong starters DeMar Hamlin decent depth player and really that's what you want you 385 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:52,360 want to get about 50% of your picks to be able to contribute they need to have another 386 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:58,160 excellent draft especially in that first second and those three fourth round picks they really 387 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:03,560 need to hit on all of them yeah man and listen no I think we're a little bit revisionist 388 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:08,520 when it comes to Brandon Bean's draft history we were literally revisionist like we went 389 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:13,640 through this whole exercise where we redrafted what we call the lean being years right from 390 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:21,320 like 20 what 2019 to 2021 or something like that and it was a great exercise to go through 391 00:33:21,320 --> 00:33:27,280 I don't think anyone who looks seriously at beans draft history will say he has failed 392 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:34,440 to find late round starting caliber players right you bring up Christian Benford though 393 00:33:34,440 --> 00:33:41,480 he's not Patrick Sertan right like he's just not you bring up DeMar Hamlin he's not Minko 394 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:48,200 Fitzpatrick you know like and that is the the gear to me that Bean needs to find we 395 00:33:48,200 --> 00:33:54,520 always talk in terms JJ about floor and ceiling when it comes to this roster construction 396 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:59,960 and if we were talking in carpentry terms or general contracting terms Brandon Bean 397 00:33:59,960 --> 00:34:04,960 is maybe the best floor builder I don't know what the technical term for a floor builder 398 00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:13,760 is but he is like the best hardwood floor guy in the New York State general area I 399 00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:19,480 should take this one from you actually right yeah so I'm going yeah no no I'll take let 400 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:25,640 me do the construction analogy so for this one I think that he's your best framing guy 401 00:34:25,640 --> 00:34:32,560 he he builds a foundation right he's an excellent framing guy he is not the finished specialist 402 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:36,400 he's not the guy you want to come in and hand carve the flourish on the banisters going 403 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:41,760 up the stairs the things that make it shiny bright sparkly raise the the sale value of 404 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:48,120 the house like he he can build you the sturdiest 200 year house that'll stay standing but it's 405 00:34:48,120 --> 00:34:51,720 not going to be the showstopper on the on the block if you know what I'm saying well in 406 00:34:51,720 --> 00:34:57,920 that house needs to have a ceiling and a roof and this is the piece that Bean always seems 407 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:04,840 to forget right he's so focused on shining those floors and framing out the foundation 408 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:09,280 of the house that he forgets that it needs a freaking roof to and hitting the roof on 409 00:35:09,280 --> 00:35:14,760 a lot of these draft picks hitting the ceiling with some soup actual superstar caliber players 410 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:20,880 is not something that Bean has done you could argue since drafting Josh Allen but that's 411 00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:24,880 what other squads have done the chiefs have found their Trent McDuffie the chiefs have 412 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:30,040 found their Creed Humphrey right when you look at the Baltimore Ravens they've got their 413 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:37,080 Zay flowers they've got their Mark Andrews they have found these superstars right in the 414 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:42,760 comparison point to me JJ that a lot of people are making between the chiefs moving on from 415 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:47,880 Tyree kill on the bills moving on from Stefan Diggs is a false equivalent because the chiefs 416 00:35:47,880 --> 00:35:54,440 got immediate help in the draft that season when they traded Tyree kill that they used 417 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:59,880 to turn into Trent McDuffie and future superstars the bills don't have that benefit here they've 418 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:04,120 got to take the ammo that they have and they've really got to find some game changers not 419 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:08,960 just in this year's draft JJ but in next year's draft as well and that is something we have 420 00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:14,400 yet and I think it's fair to say we have that is something we have yet to see Bean do is 421 00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:19,040 hit consistent home runs in the draft he said a lot of singles he said a lot of doubles I'm 422 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:23,120 gonna gonna change the baseball analogies because that's my thing right he said a lot 423 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:27,920 of singles he said a lot of doubles but other than Allen find me the home run because I 424 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:34,520 don't think there has been one I think the jury is out for the time being but I think 425 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:40,440 James Cook is probably a home run if we look back at his career in three years and potentially 426 00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:46,360 Dalton Cain those those may be home runs maybe but it's too early right way too early to 427 00:36:46,360 --> 00:36:52,320 know right so beans got to elevate his game yeah in the upcoming draft yeah absolutely 428 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:57,280 and I think that you know I think the lean bean years as you as you mentioned the 1920 429 00:36:57,280 --> 00:37:05,240 21 draft it's you know it's like at Oliver end of discussion right like that's that but 430 00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:10,080 that's such a good one right yeah and he's not a superstar no he's absolutely not a superstar 431 00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:16,200 he's not you know he's not a Mark Andrews he is literally what you consider an above average 432 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:23,640 top 15 level starter but he is not Aaron Donald right like and he was picked ninth overall 433 00:37:23,640 --> 00:37:28,120 so I think you're absolutely right it's it's tough to pick in the later round of drafts 434 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:33,680 but there are other good teams who have been able to turn those picks into top tier talent 435 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:39,080 and we've seen good talent and we've seen we've got some young exciting talent but I 436 00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:43,400 don't know that we have you know that elite superstar level and so this is it right like 437 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:47,480 we have 11 picks in the draft do what you got to do bean get us some superstar talent 438 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:52,000 right fine fine hit a couple of home runs and then consistently hit those singles and 439 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:58,400 doubles that we know that you do like it wouldn't shock me if out of 11 picks they end up making 440 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:02,080 nine drafts because I really do think they're going to package a couple of fours to get 441 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:07,320 up back into the third round especially if they find a player there that they like but 442 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:12,560 let's say they make nine picks if they hit on five of those and they get one absolute 443 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:17,320 superstar or immediate contributor out of that on the offensive side of the ball I'm thinking 444 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:22,440 wide receiver right then it's a good draft but he needs to stack some of these up and 445 00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:27,400 he just hasn't right he just hasn't so JJ to kind of wrap this thing up here we have 446 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:34,840 talked ad nauseam right about trade targets for the but or not trade targets draft targets 447 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:40,520 for the Buffalo Bills coming up here this month at the end of April we've talked about 448 00:38:40,520 --> 00:38:47,680 the ad Mitchells we've talked about the Brian Thomas juniors Troy Franklin Xavier Leguette's 449 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:53,400 we've talked about all of the Jalen pokes right we've gone through all of them does the trade 450 00:38:53,400 --> 00:39:00,120 to you of Stefan Diggs at all alter the way you think they will approach this year's draft 451 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:06,960 will they package future capital to move up into the top 10 or even the top 12 if say 452 00:39:06,960 --> 00:39:13,080 a Malik neighbors or Roma dunes a falls or is it more likely that they stay pad at 28 453 00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:17,720 and move forward with the wide receiver board as it falls to them what do you think happens 454 00:39:17,720 --> 00:39:25,840 so as we talk about these always context matters I think that only if Malik neighbors Roma 455 00:39:25,840 --> 00:39:32,680 dunes a or Marvin Harrison drops uns you know unsuspectingly to the like eight or beyond 456 00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:38,800 level will they even consider any kind of move I don't believe that Brandon Bean will 457 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:43,040 move up for anybody else other than those three I just don't I don't see that I think 458 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:48,160 that maybe a slight move to the like low 20s for Brian Thomas juniors possible but I think 459 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:54,280 you've said and I've agreed with the fact that I don't see the bills having anyone 460 00:39:54,280 --> 00:40:01,040 else other than Brian Thomas junior in those top three as you know graded round one wide 461 00:40:01,040 --> 00:40:06,520 receiver can't miss prospects and so I wonder you know and and we don't know like there's 462 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:11,200 always the opportunity that they have Xavier Leggett as number four or number three you 463 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:16,840 know and so we'll see but if that's the case and all of the draft nicks are right about 464 00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:22,320 it he'll be there at 28 for the bills and they could just snap snap them up so I think 465 00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:28,360 that you know we see it we see aggressive if the board falls I don't think we see what 466 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:32,920 would be the equivalent of a pre draft trade for the bills to try to get into the top 10 467 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:37,720 like they did for Josh Allen right like they moved all of the things they needed to to get 468 00:40:37,720 --> 00:40:42,640 up closer to they got to 12 right and then they moved into 10 on draft day within the 469 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:47,840 top 10 on draft day to seven so I don't see the bills making any sort of preemptive move 470 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:53,080 to get halfway up with the anticipation of needing to get into the top 10 I think it's 471 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:58,800 more likely that if somebody if something falls it might be an emergency kind of move 472 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:04,720 and then if nothing falls it's likely they stay put read their board as it comes to them 473 00:41:04,720 --> 00:41:10,840 and and I'll say this I think it's just as likely that they take an ed rush or at 28 474 00:41:10,840 --> 00:41:15,240 if all four of those guys are gone plus like a D Mitchell and Xavier worthy or something 475 00:41:15,240 --> 00:41:21,120 we are we're weeping we're weeping is I know is Bill's fans but yeah I mean if they stick 476 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:26,320 to their philosophy of BPA with all of these holes on the roster that to me is a signal 477 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:33,040 more than anything the 2024 isn't just a reset it's a rebuild year for them if they end up 478 00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:38,680 standing Pat and going edge or going offensive lineman or something like that that to me 479 00:41:38,680 --> 00:41:43,480 says they're building for the future and the 2024 while while they will you're always going 480 00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:47,680 to be competitive when you've got Josh Allen and you've got Sean McDermott calling the 481 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:51,400 defense which I think now is more likely than ever given the pressure the steam will be 482 00:41:51,400 --> 00:41:58,000 facing you're always going to be competitive with those two things are are in the cards 483 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:03,280 but if they stand Pat and they go edge round one that tells you the 2024 to them is probably 484 00:42:03,280 --> 00:42:08,760 a bit of a lost season right well a lost season and a season where they are acknowledging 485 00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:12,480 the fact that they have a brand new offensive coordinator in his first full year brand new 486 00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:20,320 defensive coordinator in his first full year both young coaches and they've just let 1300 487 00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:24,520 yards and 100 plus receptions walk out the door so or they've just sent it away like 488 00:42:24,520 --> 00:42:29,720 they sent digs away I think that's the biggest thing is like you let digs go no he probably 489 00:42:29,720 --> 00:42:34,840 wanted to go and you pushed him that way like you sent him away they were happy to accommodate 490 00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:42,320 yes yeah happy to accommodate so yeah so JJ more to come right but anything between now 491 00:42:42,320 --> 00:42:47,600 and draft day is just going to be speculation what we do know now is that the bills are 492 00:42:47,600 --> 00:42:54,440 full blown in roster reset mode and maybe a shade away from all out rebuild heading into 493 00:42:54,440 --> 00:43:00,800 this kid season in 2025 JJ one final thought because it's never too early to make reckless 494 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:06,560 preseason predictions last season we had the bills when floor at nine and when ceiling 495 00:43:06,560 --> 00:43:12,520 at 11 we came in right at the ceiling because we're we both study this team with a passionate 496 00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:18,120 obsession that few do as it currently constructed right now and assuming they make some moves 497 00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:23,880 in the draft where do you see their when floor being and where do you see their when ceiling 498 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:29,640 being for 2024 yeah I'm not that I'm not that down on them again Josh Allen factor matters 499 00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:38,080 so much QB in this league matters the most and so I'm in the seven to 10 win range because 500 00:43:38,080 --> 00:43:43,320 I think that that's likely I and you can't you can also discount the fact that they're 501 00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:48,200 getting Matt Milano back they're presumably having a healthy to Quan Jones the defense 502 00:43:48,200 --> 00:43:53,400 looks like it's going to Bernard in in year two as a starter I think the defense looks 503 00:43:53,400 --> 00:43:57,840 like it could be taking a step forward I really like the upgrade of Mike Edwards at one of 504 00:43:57,840 --> 00:44:02,120 the safety spots Taylor wrap is sort of a question mark to me as to whether or not he can what 505 00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:07,640 he'll do with more opportunity but I do see you know I think Benford and Douglas at the 506 00:44:07,640 --> 00:44:13,280 end of the season were the preferred two starters anyway and so I see the defense being solid 507 00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:18,920 the offensive line is a slight downgrade in depth but and for in terms of starting talent 508 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:24,840 I think it's probably about about the same level and so and then of course James Cook 509 00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:30,920 and Ty Johnson you know Shakir I really like Curtis Samuel as a signing I don't know that 510 00:44:30,920 --> 00:44:36,400 they've gotten markedly or substantially worse on offense I think they've gotten slightly 511 00:44:36,400 --> 00:44:41,800 worse and I think their defense will be slightly better so so I'm I'm still in the seven to 512 00:44:41,800 --> 00:44:47,520 ten range now you I think that's I think that's valid I am in the eight to ten range so floor 513 00:44:47,520 --> 00:44:53,160 to me feels like eight which would be a losing season right and then the ceiling to me feels 514 00:44:53,160 --> 00:44:59,080 like ten but I think ten and the AFC East is muddled as it is right now with the exception 515 00:44:59,080 --> 00:45:03,640 of New England to who knows what the Patriots are doing we got to ask Brandon what the hell 516 00:45:03,640 --> 00:45:07,560 are you guys doing this offseason with all that cap space they still got 40 million in 517 00:45:07,560 --> 00:45:12,520 cap space blows my mind don't they have to don't have to there's a cash limit they have 518 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:16,800 to pay a certain amount they've got to hit a cash floor absolutely and they'll get there 519 00:45:16,800 --> 00:45:21,640 after they sign their rookie class and maybe bring in OBJ or something like that depending 520 00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:26,000 on what their QB situation looks like but I don't want to get too much into them because 521 00:45:26,000 --> 00:45:30,800 you know we don't want to spoil the Patriots takes for a good friend Brandon right but 522 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:38,480 um but uh it feels like ten with all the gambles the Jets have taken in the short term injury 523 00:45:38,480 --> 00:45:43,000 riddled aging veteran signings and where the Pats at where the Dolphins are at with their 524 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:48,320 own mini reset and not not knowing if Tua is their long term guy ten could probably still 525 00:45:48,320 --> 00:45:52,600 get the AFC East but to me that feels like ceiling especially when you're integrating 526 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:57,760 a lot of unknown young parts so yes yeah so that's our reckless prediction for the month 527 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:02,560 of April um you know we'll make more reckless predictions as we get closer to the season 528 00:46:02,560 --> 00:46:06,560 in August and September long way to go we have we have a lot more reckless predictions 529 00:46:06,560 --> 00:46:12,280 to make yes point but hopefully bills mafia you found this podcast enlightening somewhat 530 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:17,320 cathartic um and at the very least informative for where we're all at now with our stuff on 531 00:46:17,320 --> 00:46:23,480 digs feelings uh heading into the season so for all of you uh that are mourning at home 532 00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:27,760 like share and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts google apple spotify and as always 533 00:46:27,760 --> 00:46:47,880 go bills go bills 534 00:46:47,880 --> 00:46:59,680 go bills go bills go bills off 535 00:46:59,680 --> 00:47:00,560 public 536 00:47:00,560 --> 00:47:01,560 deaths 537 00:47:01,560 --> 00:47:02,720 bills 538 00:47:02,720 --> 00:47:03,800 of