Grade the Bills Free Agency period (thus far)

[The King]

The Bills have gone out and done exactly what they said they would do. Addressed their needs without making a huge splash in Free Agency, although I do think the made a nice little ripple.

How do you grade the Bills after one week of Free Agency?
Here are Buffalo's moves thus far.

Cut:
QB - Kevin Kolb
LB - Willie Jefferson

Resigned:
K - Dan Carpenter
WR - Chris Hogan
FB - Frank Summers
TE - Scott Chandler
G - Antoine McClain
TE - Mike Caussin

Signed:
CB - Corey Graham
LB - Keith Rivers
LB - Brandon Spikes
RB - Anthony Dixon
G - Chris Williams

Unsigned:
DE - Alex Carrington
S - Jim Leonard
LB - Arthur Moats
T - Thomas Welch

Lost:
S - Jairus Byrd (New Orleans)

[Mr. Miyagi]

Let's get Jimmy Leonard resigned.

[YardRat]

You left out extending A.Williams.

[Meathead]

leonhard was avail in the middle of last season for a reason. he will be lucky to play anywhere, no need to use a camp spot on him

[jimmifli]

Grade F.

What happened to Askew? He's a vital part of our offseason plans!

[SquishDaFish]

B

[JoeMama]

thiz is wuss bwandon smashin teh competishun

thiz is mi after we cut stuupid jaiwuz burd

and finelly thiz is mi celebwating how guud we are att fwee ajency in generel

A+++_+-+++

[DesertFox24]

I gave the grade a B.

We lost a great safety in Bryd, but I think we got better at the LB corps.

Also liked the depth Graham brings.

Althought Chris Williams is an athlete I am not sure about him, that being said the Bills can easily cut him next year if he sucks with little to no cap ramfications.

Losing Bryd hurts but every team loses guys fans dont want to lose every year.

As long as we can keep guys like Gilmore, Glenn, Dareus, and Kiko then I am ok

[Skooby]

C, had they retained Byrd or gotten value back for him & then it's an A.

[Meathead]

What happened to Askew? He's a vital part of our offseason plans!

for some strange reason hes never signed before apr 1st

[Novacane]

B They have signed players at positions we all wanted them to. Not sure Williams and Rivers are all that great but I'm willing to wait and see. If they end up contributing as starters it will be an A. I don't think Byrd is a huge loss. I know he's one of the best safeties but that's a position I just don't value as much as others.

[DraftBoy]

C, not sure they got any better or much worse at this point.

Some odd moves, mixed with some solid ones.

[Skooby]

C, not sure they got any better or much worse at this point.

Some odd moves, mixed with some solid ones.

Not getting value for Byrd = odd move.

[GvilleBills]

Incomplete, but loving it so far.

[YardRat]

They've done pretty well addressing some of their needs, whether that parlays into play on the field remains to be seen.

I'm excited about Spikes and Graham. I hope Rivers and especially C.Williams turn out to be more than a lateral move. Dixon will depend on how and how much they use him.

Free agency aside, it's nice to know that this front office is willing to make moves beyond this period and the draft if they feel they can upgrade the roster (Lewis and Hughes trades) and it will be interesting to see if they pull something like that off again this season.

[Meathead]

in terms of the add and if you include their own fas that they resigned (you should) then its clearly an A. they got their top want in Spikes, added three other starters, and got perhaps the best cb3 available which is a starter on most passing downs

you do have to count losing byrd but im not sure they could have done anything different at all. the only thing you could say is that they should have locked him up two years ago. but perhaps they did and he declined. hes been pretty single-minded about being the top paid safety so i believe he didnt give them any other option

so the final grade depends on how you grade the loss of byrd. if you think its a fail bc they didnt get anything for him then overall is prolly a C at best. if like me you think they did all they could but byrd made it impossible then itll be closer to the A for just the adds

and personally i do indeed think they got better. williams/searcy will be at least 80% of the best tandem involving byrd the bills could field, and they more than made up for that max 20% loss with their other adds. very nice fa period so far and theres still time for several more team improving moves

ten wins

[better days]

Not getting value for Byrd = odd move.

I would agree, but Whaley said there were a lot of moving parts to try to get a trade done, such as finding a team willing to trade for him.

I think the Saints were the only team willing to pay the big money to Byrd & were not willing to both trade for him & pay that money.

[Skooby]

I would agree, but Whaley said there were a lot of moving parts to try to get a trade done,

= I was too lazy & complacent knowing that I can't be held accountable for any failures this team has on the field. A comfortable front office = 14 straight years without making the playoffs.

[clumping platelets]

Incomplete......offseason not done yet

[Don't Panic]

I'd still love to bring back Moats. I think a return to ST excellence could be the difference between us making the playoffs and not.