X-Era
03-04-2008, 04:09 PM
So, the more I think about it, the more I think we just might be close to done in FA. I could see a signing of a lesser name here or there but I think we are may only sign one more starter in FA and more likely we are done.
What is the impact of that move? Well, Im not convinced its huge. But, theres many facets to this question. How many more starters do we need? How many players must come from free agency? How many must come from the draft?
How many more starters do we need? I could argue that we only need two more. T feel we need a number two wide receiver and a starting tight end.
We let Peerless go, and neither Josh Reed nor Roscoe Parrish is the answer as the number two wide receiver. Josh Reed had his chance a few years back to be the number two wide receiver and didnt do anything worthy of note. Josh has been a Bill since 2002 when he was drafted in the second round, has had more than ample time to develop and hasnt earned the second wide receiver position. Roscoe Parrish on the other hand, may have big play ability but doesnt have the size that the Bills are currently looking for. Hes a playmaker who is a roll type wide receiver best suited for the slot position. So, we now have a gaping hole at the number two wide receiver position. It is a starting position and is devoid of a player who can fill within. Thats a position that requires a starter.
We have Robert Royal who has made a few plays here and there, but is not considered by any means a solid blocking tight end. Its widely thought that tight ends can be grouped into either blockers or receiving threats. Rarely does one do both well. Robert, was brought in to be a receiving threat and just has not turned out to be much of one for the Bills so far. To make matter worse, the Bills lost a young prospect in Kevin Everrett with a career ending injury to the neck and/or spine. The Bills do have other players such as Tim Massaquoi, Derek Schouman, and the recently aquired Teyo Johnson. Both Schouman and Massaquoi are backup type players who have a huge uphill battle to crack a starting role. Teyo Johnson is a journeyman player who just hasnt caught on anywhere and hence is also has hurdles to overcome to become a starter. The Bills are in need of a receiving threat at the tight end position, as well as a solid number two. Similarly to Keith Ellison who was recently demoted as a starting linebacker to Kawika Mitchell, Robert Royal hasnt met our needs and may be replaced with a new player. Unlike the linebacker situation, the Bills may sometimes use a two tight end set which requires two tight ends with starter ability. I think the path is clear, and that path points to an upgrade at the tight end position.
In my opinion, those two positions are the only positions where we clearly need a new starter. Some may argue that we need a new center, or possibly cornerback. Some may also argue we need even more defensive line additions. However, the cornerback position has a recent player on the rise in Jabari Greer who was able to go head to head against players like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens and fair pretty well. We have no reason to believe that his progress wont continue. On the other side, Terrence McGee has been a starter and at has at least been solid. I think the Bills feel these players are solid enough to continue to start. I think the Bills may feel that if we could land a player who is an upgrade we would always try to do that, but that this is not considered a position where we need an upgrade or a bonafide starter. At center, Melvin Fowler has manned the position since coming here in 2006 and has started in every game. The Bills have been active in the past year signing many players on the offensive line to improve the overall play. Our rookie quarterback, Trent Edwards managed to have a very sack total behind this line even as a pocket type quarterback. It stands to follow that the Bills will feel they are at least solid at the center position. As always, the Bills would consider any player who could significantly upgrade any position. But I think its likely that they are not currently targeting the center position as a positon where we need a starter immediately. On the defensive line, one could argue that you can never have enough quality, rotational, defensive linemen. I agree that is true. However, the Bills have made significant investments in both starting defensive ends, traded up into the first round for one of our starting defensive tackles John McCargo, and just traded for a three time pro-bowl defensive tackle in Marcus Stroud. They have also used Kyle Williams as a starter multiple times and just signed a utility type pass rushing defensive tackle in Spencer Johnson. If they were able to get another star or player with star potential, they made think about making that move. However, the have addressed the position and have a solid starting group.
Now, if we buy into the notion that we only need to add two more starters at this point, a wide receiver and a tight end, who fits the Bill?
Well, in free agency, there hasnt been a clear cut wide receiver who is a sure fire number two. Bryant Johnson, Ernest Wilford, and D.J. Hackett all garner consideration. But none have been a solid, multi-year starter at the number two position to earn the four to six million dollar per year salary that seems to be the likely cost. A player like Javon Walker is more like a feature wide receiver than a nukber two in talent, and comes with the baggage or perceived baggage of being a me-first complainer. That type of player tends to cost a great deal of money to obtain, and does not fit the high character, team player type that the Bills look for. Considering that the draft is fairly deep in wide receivers who have size and decent speed, I think its likely that the Bills will look to that route instead. At the very least they could draft a player with the size they need and do not currently have, and add a prospect to a group which does not have a player with number two potential. It is possible that the Bills go ahead and sign a player like Bryant Johnson, but considering the bloated cost, and suppressed upside, the draft seems a more likely route.
As with the wide receiver position, the tight end position boasts little, if any, bonafide upgrades in free agency. Alge Crumpler, albeit with questionable health, was the only true tight end upgrade. After him, players Like Ben Troupe, and Eric Johnson are more the type of player that hasnt shown that they are solid starters. Each may have had a good year here and there, buyt neither has been a reliable threat. However, the draft again shows depth at the tight end position. Although there are no clear cut high first round prospects such as Vernon Davis, there are several players who could make an early impact as a receiver. Martellus Bennett, Jermichael Finley, and Dustin Keller all fit that role to name a few. One could argue that the draft boasts as much potential as the free agent market at this point. I think the Bills will opt to address the position through the draft. However, they may find a free agent who has not been utilized in a system with a classic pocket quarterback as they would here in Buffalo.
Finally, we must consider the recent history of the Bills when discussing what they may do in this years offseason. The Bills have been lucky enough to draft several starters in each of the past few years. Whether trading up into the late first or early second round, they have managed to net early starters out of their first two picks at least. I think this means that they have convinced themselves that they can fill two starting positions at least with the first few rounds of the draft. Furthermore, that may make it even more unlikely that they go ahead and sign anymore free agents to become day one starters at their need positions.
All in all, I think its likely that we have now reached the end of the major signings in free agency. We may continue to sign aplayer here or there but only as a player with upside, and special team ability at a reduced cost. Furthermore, I look for the Bills to draft a wide receiver, tight end, and possibly a cornerback early in this upcoming draft.
What is the impact of that move? Well, Im not convinced its huge. But, theres many facets to this question. How many more starters do we need? How many players must come from free agency? How many must come from the draft?
How many more starters do we need? I could argue that we only need two more. T feel we need a number two wide receiver and a starting tight end.
We let Peerless go, and neither Josh Reed nor Roscoe Parrish is the answer as the number two wide receiver. Josh Reed had his chance a few years back to be the number two wide receiver and didnt do anything worthy of note. Josh has been a Bill since 2002 when he was drafted in the second round, has had more than ample time to develop and hasnt earned the second wide receiver position. Roscoe Parrish on the other hand, may have big play ability but doesnt have the size that the Bills are currently looking for. Hes a playmaker who is a roll type wide receiver best suited for the slot position. So, we now have a gaping hole at the number two wide receiver position. It is a starting position and is devoid of a player who can fill within. Thats a position that requires a starter.
We have Robert Royal who has made a few plays here and there, but is not considered by any means a solid blocking tight end. Its widely thought that tight ends can be grouped into either blockers or receiving threats. Rarely does one do both well. Robert, was brought in to be a receiving threat and just has not turned out to be much of one for the Bills so far. To make matter worse, the Bills lost a young prospect in Kevin Everrett with a career ending injury to the neck and/or spine. The Bills do have other players such as Tim Massaquoi, Derek Schouman, and the recently aquired Teyo Johnson. Both Schouman and Massaquoi are backup type players who have a huge uphill battle to crack a starting role. Teyo Johnson is a journeyman player who just hasnt caught on anywhere and hence is also has hurdles to overcome to become a starter. The Bills are in need of a receiving threat at the tight end position, as well as a solid number two. Similarly to Keith Ellison who was recently demoted as a starting linebacker to Kawika Mitchell, Robert Royal hasnt met our needs and may be replaced with a new player. Unlike the linebacker situation, the Bills may sometimes use a two tight end set which requires two tight ends with starter ability. I think the path is clear, and that path points to an upgrade at the tight end position.
In my opinion, those two positions are the only positions where we clearly need a new starter. Some may argue that we need a new center, or possibly cornerback. Some may also argue we need even more defensive line additions. However, the cornerback position has a recent player on the rise in Jabari Greer who was able to go head to head against players like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens and fair pretty well. We have no reason to believe that his progress wont continue. On the other side, Terrence McGee has been a starter and at has at least been solid. I think the Bills feel these players are solid enough to continue to start. I think the Bills may feel that if we could land a player who is an upgrade we would always try to do that, but that this is not considered a position where we need an upgrade or a bonafide starter. At center, Melvin Fowler has manned the position since coming here in 2006 and has started in every game. The Bills have been active in the past year signing many players on the offensive line to improve the overall play. Our rookie quarterback, Trent Edwards managed to have a very sack total behind this line even as a pocket type quarterback. It stands to follow that the Bills will feel they are at least solid at the center position. As always, the Bills would consider any player who could significantly upgrade any position. But I think its likely that they are not currently targeting the center position as a positon where we need a starter immediately. On the defensive line, one could argue that you can never have enough quality, rotational, defensive linemen. I agree that is true. However, the Bills have made significant investments in both starting defensive ends, traded up into the first round for one of our starting defensive tackles John McCargo, and just traded for a three time pro-bowl defensive tackle in Marcus Stroud. They have also used Kyle Williams as a starter multiple times and just signed a utility type pass rushing defensive tackle in Spencer Johnson. If they were able to get another star or player with star potential, they made think about making that move. However, the have addressed the position and have a solid starting group.
Now, if we buy into the notion that we only need to add two more starters at this point, a wide receiver and a tight end, who fits the Bill?
Well, in free agency, there hasnt been a clear cut wide receiver who is a sure fire number two. Bryant Johnson, Ernest Wilford, and D.J. Hackett all garner consideration. But none have been a solid, multi-year starter at the number two position to earn the four to six million dollar per year salary that seems to be the likely cost. A player like Javon Walker is more like a feature wide receiver than a nukber two in talent, and comes with the baggage or perceived baggage of being a me-first complainer. That type of player tends to cost a great deal of money to obtain, and does not fit the high character, team player type that the Bills look for. Considering that the draft is fairly deep in wide receivers who have size and decent speed, I think its likely that the Bills will look to that route instead. At the very least they could draft a player with the size they need and do not currently have, and add a prospect to a group which does not have a player with number two potential. It is possible that the Bills go ahead and sign a player like Bryant Johnson, but considering the bloated cost, and suppressed upside, the draft seems a more likely route.
As with the wide receiver position, the tight end position boasts little, if any, bonafide upgrades in free agency. Alge Crumpler, albeit with questionable health, was the only true tight end upgrade. After him, players Like Ben Troupe, and Eric Johnson are more the type of player that hasnt shown that they are solid starters. Each may have had a good year here and there, buyt neither has been a reliable threat. However, the draft again shows depth at the tight end position. Although there are no clear cut high first round prospects such as Vernon Davis, there are several players who could make an early impact as a receiver. Martellus Bennett, Jermichael Finley, and Dustin Keller all fit that role to name a few. One could argue that the draft boasts as much potential as the free agent market at this point. I think the Bills will opt to address the position through the draft. However, they may find a free agent who has not been utilized in a system with a classic pocket quarterback as they would here in Buffalo.
Finally, we must consider the recent history of the Bills when discussing what they may do in this years offseason. The Bills have been lucky enough to draft several starters in each of the past few years. Whether trading up into the late first or early second round, they have managed to net early starters out of their first two picks at least. I think this means that they have convinced themselves that they can fill two starting positions at least with the first few rounds of the draft. Furthermore, that may make it even more unlikely that they go ahead and sign anymore free agents to become day one starters at their need positions.
All in all, I think its likely that we have now reached the end of the major signings in free agency. We may continue to sign aplayer here or there but only as a player with upside, and special team ability at a reduced cost. Furthermore, I look for the Bills to draft a wide receiver, tight end, and possibly a cornerback early in this upcoming draft.