Rumor: Bills interested in OLB Paul Kruger?

[Slim]

http://www.profootballcentral.com/2013/03/02/bills-to-make-a-run-at-paul-kruger/

We did put in a waiver claim for Jason Babin late in the year, so sinking more money into rushing the QB may be evident. However, I do have a hard time imagining the Bills paying Kruger what I think he will get in FA.

[Slim]

For the record, PFF does have a bit of a spotty past when it comes to "sources" if I remember correctly.

[X-Era]

For the record, PFF does have a bit of a spotty past when it comes to "sources" if I remember correctly.
I'm going to toss "Rumor" on the title.

[clumping platelets]

Ravens will likely tag him....they will find the cap sapce

[gonzo1105]

Ravens will likely tag him....they will find the cap sapce

I would think that Ellerbe is next in line for the franchise tag since they just lost Lewis and can't lose Ellerbe or they'd be in real trouble.

[Slim]

Ravens will likely tag him....they will find the cap sapce

The tag deadline is Monday I believe.

- - - Updated - - -


I'm going to toss "Rumor" on the title.

Thanks, I should have done it in the first place.

[YardRat]

Would love to see it, but don't think they can afford him.

[clumping platelets]

Browns want Kruger and will likely grossly overpay to steal away a Raven UFA

[better days]

Would love to see it, but don't think they can afford him.

No the Bills with almost $30 Million in cap space can't afford Kruger. But the Ravens who are OVER the cap can.

[Mr. Miyagi]

How is this news? If the Bills aren't interested they'd be complete morons. Getting him is another story.

[Jane Austen]

Good breakdown of Kruger vs. Ellerbe from PFF.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/02/20/free-agent-duel-kruger-or-ellerbe/

[YardRat]

No the Bills with almost $30 Million in cap space can't afford Kruger. But the Ravens who are OVER the cap can.

1-Bills don't have $30mil in cap space atm.
2-You are assuming the Ravens can, and will, re-sign him.

[better days]

1-Bills don't have $30mil in cap space atm.
2-You are assuming the Ravens can, and will, re-sign him.

OK you tell us how much you think the Bills have since you think they have so little.
If a team wants a player they can find a way to get him under the cap. Restructure, cut a different player.

The Cowboys have just restructured a number of players to get under the cap.

[clumping platelets]

Bills have about $21-22 million after Byrd tag

[YardRat]

OK you tell us how much you think the Bills have since you think they have so little.
If a team wants a player they can find a way to get him under the cap. Restructure, cut a different player.

The Cowboys have just restructured a number of players to get under the cap.

I think the figure in X's cap thread, somewhere between 19 and 22, is pretty accurate.
Yes, they can go that route, and probably should fairly quickly if they want to be a player for somebody like Kruger. Brad Smith, Rian Lindell cut...Fitz cut or re-structured come to mind immediately. If they can get back up around the 26 to 28 range it might be possible.

[better days]

Bills have about $21-22 million after Byrd tag

Yeah, I forgot about that. I wonder how much yard would have said. $22 Million is still a lot of money to spent under the cap. And if the Bills can work out a deal with Byrd the amount will go back up a few million.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Subtract the $5.5M to sign picks... Remaining $13-15M.

[coastal]

Can't set the edge?

arent we already good at that?

[tampabay25690]

Sign Kruger then draft a Jordan or Jarvis Jones and are Olb just improved huge

[YardRat]

Yeah, I forgot about that. I wonder how much yard would have said. $22 Million is still a lot of money to spent under the cap. And if the Bills can work out a deal with Byrd the amount will go back up a few million.

I did, in the post previous to yours...

I think the figure in X's cap thread, somewhere between 19 and 22, is pretty accurate.

[YardRat]

Subtract the $5.5M to sign picks... Remaining $13-15M.

Subtract another 5 for in-season waiver pick-ups and extensions, at least.

That leaves 8-10 to fill out a roster that currently stands at...


<tbody>
Quarterbacks

-- Aaron Corp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Corp)
14 Ryan Fitzpatrick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Fitzpatrick)
7 Tarvaris Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarvaris_Jackson)

Running Backs


35 Zach Brown (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zach_Brown_%28running_back%29&action=edit&redlink=1)
22 Fred Jackson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Jackson_%28American_football%29)
28 C. J. Spiller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._J._Spiller)

Wide Receivers


81 Marcus Easley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Easley)
18 Kevin Elliott (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Elliott)
11 T. J. Graham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._J._Graham)
15 Chris Hogan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hogan_%28American_football%29)
13 Steve Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Johnson_%28American_football%29)
16 Brad Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Smith_%28American_football%29)

Tight Ends


80 Mike Caussin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Caussin)
84 Scott Chandler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Chandler_%28American_football%29)
49 Joe Sawyer (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joe_Sawyer_%28American_football%29&action=edit&redlink=1)
85 Lee Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Smith_%28American_football%29)



Offensive Linemen

74 Colin Brown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Brown_%28American_football%29) G/T
-- Hutch Eckerson (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hutch_Eckerson&action=edit&redlink=1) T
77 Cordy Glenn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordy_Glenn) T
62 Adam Grant (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Adam_Grant&action=edit&redlink=1) T
75 Chris Hairston (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hairston) T
79 Erik Pears (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Pears) T
72 Zebrie Sanders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebrie_Sanders) T
73 Chris Scott (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Scott_%28American_football%29) T
61 David Snow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Snow_%28American_football%29) G/C
60 Kraig Urbik (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraig_Urbik) G
66 Thomas Welch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Welch_%28American_football%29) T
68 Keith Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Williams_%28offensive_lineman%29) G
70 Eric Wood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Wood) C
71 Sam Young (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Young_%28American_football%29) T

Defensive Linemen


93 Mark Anderson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Anderson_%28American_football%29) DE
97 Corbin Bryant (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Corbin_Bryant&action=edit&redlink=1) DT
92 Alex Carrington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Carrington) DT
99 Marcell Dareus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcell_Dareus) DT
96 Jarron Gilbert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarron_Gilbert) DE
69 Jay Ross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Ross_%28American_football%29) DT
98 Torell Troup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torell_Troup) DT
95 Kyle Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Williams_%28defensive_tackle%29) DT
94 Mario Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Williams) DE



Linebackers

53 Nigel Bradham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Bradham) OLB
59 Greg Lloyd, Jr. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Lloyd,_Jr.) MLB
52 Arthur Moats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Moats) OLB
55 Kelvin Sheppard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvin_Sheppard) MLB
57 Brian Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brian_Smith_%28linebacker,_born_1989%29&action=edit&redlink=1) OLB
51 Chris White (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_White_%28linebacker%29) OLB

Defensive Backs


33 Ron Brooks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Brooks) CB
29 Crezdon Butler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crezdon_Butler) CB
45 Dominique Ellis (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dominique_Ellis&action=edit&redlink=1) FS
27 Stephon Gilmore (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephon_Gilmore) CB
44 T. J. Heath (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._J._Heath) CB
26 Justin Rogers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Rogers_%28cornerback%29) CB
25 Da'Norris Searcy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da%27Norris_Searcy) SS
30 Mana Silva (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mana_Silva) FS
23 Aaron Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Williams_%28American_football%29) CB

Special Teams


9 Rian Lindell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rian_Lindell) K
6 Shawn Powell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Powell_%28American_football%29) P
65 Garrison Sanborn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrison_Sanborn) LS




</tbody>
Plus Byrd at FS.

So, unless we're planning on filling out the depth with guys like Elliot, Hogan, Eckerson, Bryant, Lloyd Jr, Brian Smith, Butler, Ellis, etc etc we've got a lot of work to do getting to a legit 53, let alone seriously upgrading any starting positions through FA.

[YardRat]

If we don't get a decent LBer in FA, we almost absolutely have to get one at 8 in April.

[TrEd FTW]

If we don't get a decent LBer in FA, we almost absolutely have to get one at 8 in April.

One? They need an entirely new LB corps.

[bigbub2352]

would take him and landry....change the attitude of this d overnight!

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Subtract another 5 for in-season waiver pick-ups and extensions, at least.

That leaves 8-10 to fill out a roster that currently stands at...

So, unless we're planning on filling out the depth with guys like Elliot, Hogan, Eckerson, Bryant, Lloyd Jr, Brian Smith, Butler, Ellis, etc etc we've got a lot of work to do getting to a legit 53, let alone seriously upgrading any starting positions through FA.

When someone brings up an upgrade at FA, you get concerned that we won't have enough cap to fill out the roster. Who exactly should we be getting to upgrade all these positions? Who do you think we can afford? The roster you posted lists 57 players under contract, and that's before we use a single one of our 6 draft picks (3 of which in the top 75).

And then you are worried that we'll be filling out the roster with guys like Crezdon Butler and Chris Hogan. Well, yeah, what kind of players do you think fill out the #6 WR and DB slots? For reference, here were the DBs at the bottom of the depth chart for the Baltimore Ravens: Asa Jackson (5th rounder) and Chris Johnson (7th round street free agent). And at wideout: David Reed (5th rounder) and Deonte Thompson (UDFA). The back end of the roster is going to be filled out with longshot developmental players or dirt-cheap veterans because that's how you have to do it in a salary cap league.

[mrbojanglezs]

1-Bills don't have $30mil in cap space atm.
2-You are assuming the Ravens can, and will, re-sign him.

pretty sure the Bills do have 30 million (not including byrd) with the retirement of kelsay and the NFL increase in the cap

[YardRat]

pretty sure the Bills do have 30 million (not including byrd) with the retirement of kelsay and the NFL increase in the cap

Check out X-Era's cap thread...again, I think that's pretty accurate. Also, "30 million (not including byrd)" is, well, not 30 million.

[YardRat]

When someone brings up an upgrade at FA, you get concerned that we won't have enough cap to fill out the roster. Who exactly should we be getting to upgrade all these positions? Who do you think we can afford? The roster you posted lists 57 players under contract, and that's before we use a single one of our 6 draft picks (3 of which in the top 75).

And then you are worried that we'll be filling out the roster with guys like Crezdon Butler and Chris Hogan. Well, yeah, what kind of players do you think fill out the #6 WR and DB slots? For reference, here were the DBs at the bottom of the depth chart for the Baltimore Ravens: Asa Jackson (5th rounder) and Chris Johnson (7th round street free agent). And at wideout: David Reed (5th rounder) and Deonte Thompson (UDFA). The back end of the roster is going to be filled out with longshot developmental players or dirt-cheap veterans because that's how you have to do it in a salary cap league.

I'm not worried about the fifth and sixth WR/CB...look at the players currently under contract again.

WR-Johnson, Graham, Easley, Smith, Elliot and Hogan. Hell we don't even have a #2 or #3 yet.
CB-Gilmore, Williams, Brooks, Rogers, Butler and Heath. Again, one solid player (we think) one with 'potential' (Brooks), two that have taken turns getting roasted on the field and on the boards, and two nobody's.

We don't need to spend money on the bubble guys, but unless you don't want a talent upgrade on guys that will see the field we're going to have to spend some money there.

LBer is so pathetic there really isn't even a point listing them.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I'm not worried about the fifth and sixth WR/CB...look at the players currently under contract again.

WR-Johnson, Graham, Easley, Smith, Elliot and Hogan. Hell we don't even have a #2 or #3 yet.
CB-Gilmore, Williams, Brooks, Rogers, Butler and Heath. Again, one solid player (we think) one with 'potential' (Brooks), two that have taken turns getting roasted on the field and on the boards, and two nobody's.

We don't need to spend money on the bubble guys, but unless you don't want a talent upgrade on guys that will see the field we're going to have to spend some money there.

LBer is so pathetic there really isn't even a point listing them.

Of course we have to spend money, but when it's actually suggested you keep saying we can't afford anyone. Yes we absolutely can. Your roster has 57 players under contract before we've used a single draft pick or spent a dollar in free agency. It's March 3, FFS.

What sort of team did you expect to field in year one of a rebuild? We aren't going to fix our linebackers, wideouts, defensive backfield AND find a franchise QB in one year. So I say, cut the deadweight, focus on two of those units (My choice would be QB and wideouts) and do what you can until the dead money clears.

[YardRat]

Of course we have to spend money, but when it's actually suggested you keep saying we can't afford anyone. Yes we absolutely can. Your roster has 57 players under contract before we've used a single draft pick or spent a dollar in free agency. It's March 3, FFS.

What sort of team did you expect to field in year one of a rebuild? We aren't going to fix our linebackers, wideouts, defensive backfield AND find a franchise QB in one year. So I say, cut the deadweight, focus on two of those units (My choice would be QB and wideouts) and do what you can until the dead money clears.

Out of those 57 players, maybe 30 belong on the final roster, IMO.

I could obviously be wrong, but I don't consider this another first season of a rebuild. IMO, it's year four and the first three were wasted by coaching, not necessarily talent acquisition. Yes, we have to take a couple of steps back to accommodate new philosophies of the new coaching staff, but gutting the roster isn't necessarily a must. We've got some nice, young talent that just needs to be better utilized.

I agree, however, that we still have many holes to fill and we won't be able to fix everything in one season...nobody has a stacked roster anymore, but we should keep the holes to a minimum, especially if we have carry-overs that could be signed relatively cheaply (Johnson, Moore,etc.) I'm not opposed to cutting more dead weight (like Fitz, B.Smith, maybe Lindell etc) but I also don't think it's wise to attempt to replace those holes, and then create more (unless, as in the possibility with Levitre the contract demands far outweigh the value). Hell, I'd like to re-sign McKelvin and Moore, but if somebody else is going to offer them #2 CB or #2 DE money, than sorry and sayonara.

[Bert102176]

I want nothing to do with that guy he can't stop the run

[The Jokeman]

I'm not worried about the fifth and sixth WR/CB...look at the players currently under contract again.

WR-Johnson, Graham, Easley, Smith, Elliot and Hogan. Hell we don't even have a #2 or #3 yet.
CB-Gilmore, Williams, Brooks, Rogers, Butler and Heath. Again, one solid player (we think) one with 'potential' (Brooks), two that have taken turns getting roasted on the field and on the boards, and two nobody's.

We don't need to spend money on the bubble guys, but unless you don't want a talent upgrade on guys that will see the field we're going to have to spend some money there.

LBer is so pathetic there really isn't even a point listing them.

Graham and/or Brad Smith have to be counted on as a #3 WR for this team plain and simple. In terms of the #2 guy my initial thought is to sign a veteran Brandon Gibson, who to me is an upgrade to Donald Jones and a guy who will fit well in Marrone's WCO approach. I'm also in favor of drafting a guy like Corradelle Patterson high as think he could immediately step in as a replacement for Leodis McKelvin as our primary return man and a guy we develop to eventually replace Stevie as our #1 WR in the next few years. As I've mentioned before the guy reminds me of a bigger Percy Harvin.

I think it be a great thing if we could sign at least one starting LB if not two. I've brought up DeAndre Levy's name a few times as he's another low cost UFA that could at least contribute at WLB or maybe even MLB depending on what we do at the position.

CB is a spot I think we need another guy at but at what cost? An UFA would be nice but it have to be a low cost guy as think outside of Byrd we might only be in the market to get 3 or maybe 4 UFAs. I mocked us taking one in the 6th Round but could see us taking one anywhere between Rounds 4 - 6. As to me it seems almost a given that in Rounds 1 -3 we're going to end up with a WR, QB and LB (my order of preference).

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I could obviously be wrong, but I don't consider this another first season of a rebuild.

The semantics are irrelevant, the fact remains that we have to completely overhaul our linebacking corps, greatly bolster our WR and DB units, and find a franchise quarterback. We are in the early stages of a rebuild, not the end of one.


Out of those 57 players, maybe 30 belong on the final roster, IMO.
...
IMO, it's year four and the first three were wasted by coaching, not necessarily talent acquisition. Yes, we have to take a couple of steps back to accommodate new philosophies of the new coaching staff, but gutting the roster isn't necessarily a must. We've got some nice, young talent that just needs to be better utilized.

There seems to be a contradiction there. You think nearly half of the players under contract don't belong on the final roster, but think we just need better coaching? What constitutes gutting a roster then?

Realistically, the vast majority of those players are going to appear on our roster in some capacity, even if on the practice squad or the inactive 8. Including our draft picks, we are probably bringing in 10-15 new faces at most with a legit chance to join the game day squad.