Here’s that latest from the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Guard Richie Incognito‘s sudden retirement could theoretically force the Bills to wrestle with using their draft picks on finding a franchise quarterback, or instead deploying the selections to restock their roster as a whole, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes. Buffalo owns nine picks and possesses the third-most overall draft capital in the league, but would likely need to sacrifice several early selections — including both its 2018 first-rounders — in order to trade up for a signal-caller. However, the Bills are now fielding arguably the NFL’s worst offensive line after trading tackle Cordy Glenn and seeing Incognito and center Eric Wood retire, and needs at receiver and linebacker should be addressed via the draft. After surprising earning a postseason berth a season ago, Buffalo now must decide whether to finds it quarterback of the future or revamp its depth.
- The Dolphins have their sights set on a defensive player with pick No. 11, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that club is hoping to select Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, or Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea in the first round. Defensive backs Derwin James (Florida State), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama), and Denzel Ward (Ohio State) could also be in consideration, per Jackson, while the Dolphins also like South Dakota State tight end Dallas Goedert, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (although Miami almost surely wouldn’t use a top-15 pick on a tight end). The Dolphins would prefer to select a quarterback at No. 11, but don’t expect any of the draft’s top four QB prospects to be available.
- Defensive end Kony Ealy‘s one-year deal with the Cowboys is worth up to $2MM, tweets Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Ealy, 26, will collect an $800K base salary and a $200K signing bonus, while he can also earn as much as $250K in per-game roster bonuses. In order for Ealy to max out his contract, he’ll need to post at least 12 sacks and play in 75% of Dallas’ defensive snaps next season, both of which seem like lofty goals. Because Ealy didn’t reach either of those thresholds with the Jets in 2018, both incentives will be considered “not-likely-to-be-earned,” meaning they won’t appear on the Cowboys’ salary cap immediately.
I wonder if Buffalo would consider trading down for more picks…
More picks that they will end up letting get away to other teams. The Patriots especially are making good use of players that the Bills have given up on too early.
Any examples?Its true they have signed Bills players who hit free agency but they weren’t players the bills gave up on, just decided to not over pay them or couldnt match the offer given relative cap space. Gilmore is the second highest paid player in NE! Gillislee is the 21st highest paid NE player and doesn’t even dress for games. Hogan is a useful player but is the 12th highest paid patriot.. None of them were given up on by buffalo but were stolen in free agency with bloated contracts.
If you develop a player and he gets better then you have to expect that his value is going to increase accordingly. Bills deserve a high grade for developing some of their young talent but when it comes time to accept the market value is going to cost them more to retain the player, they balk. Other teams end up cashing in on your hard work and it become especially detrimental if you are providing regular upgrades for division rivals.
Bills should stay right where they are. If one of the top QBs falls to 12 you take him. If not you draft the best available and keep stacking up on talent. Why not let AJ show what he can do for a year before drafting another QB? Or why not take a shot with Rudolph whose passing numbers and style of play in college is similar to that of a Case Keenum? Don’t trade up. Please don’t trade up.