水果派AV

1. What was your favorite move of the Bills鈥� free agency?

Jay: I鈥檒l take the most recognizable name and choose the addition of Joey Bosa, but perhaps not for the reason you think. The deal for Bosa only covers one season (although the cap hit will be spread over two seasons). That minimizes the risk for general manager Brandon Beane, and it guarantees that Bosa will be motivated to put together a solid season in hopes of landing a multi-year contract in 2026. Bosa will be 30 when training camp begins. He has a lot to prove when it comes to staying healthy, but if he can do so, he should be an upgrade from Von Miller. Bosa should push A.J. Epenesa down to the team鈥檚 No. 3 pass rusher, which is a role he is better suited for. Bosa鈥檚 prime years are probably behind him, but he should still be an upgrade 鈥� if he can stay healthy.

Mark: I鈥檒l pick someone other than Joey Bosa, which is the most important move of the offseason, if he stays healthy and performs at his peak. I鈥檒l go with signing defensive end Michael Hoecht, even though he鈥檚 suspended for the first six weeks. I鈥檝e been rhapsodizing for years about the brilliance of Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and the way he generates heat on the quarterback with simulated pressures (tricking the offensive line into thinking a blitz is coming but rushing only four men) and getting free rushers on the quarterback. Everybody runs simulated pressures. Spags does it the best. Can鈥檛 the Bills be a little more like Spags? (One way is to get better at man coverage, but let鈥檚 stick to the topic at hand.) Hoecht was a fun chess piece for the Los Angeles Rams鈥� defense, keeping the offense guessing at who was rushing and who wasn鈥檛. He had only three sacks last season and six in 2023. He will be rushing the passer more than in L.A. The Bills are signing him to get more than three sacks, that鈥檚 for sure. This is an optimistic view, but maybe Hoecht helps the Bills get more free rushers on the QB.

Ryan: There is stuff to like about receiver Joshua Palmer 鈥� chiefly, that he can get open on the perimeter. The Bills rationalized Amari Cooper鈥檚 lack of production last year by saying he opened things up for teammates. Well, Palmer will do that and catch some downfield passes.

Katherine: I鈥檒l go with a retention move. I like that the Bills were able to keep Ty Johnson, who would have hit the free agent market, by re-signing him on a two-year contract just ahead of the NFL new year. I think Johnson brings an important layer to Buffalo鈥檚 offense, and his abilities allow offensive coordinator Joe Brady to stay creative. Johnson should be able to build on his strong end to last season.

2. Where do you see the biggest hole on the roster, as it stands?

Jay: It鈥檚 an answer that probably will be shared by my co-workers, but No. 2 cornerback is by far the biggest hole in the projected starting lineup. There are starting-caliber cornerbacks still on the market, including Rasul Douglas, who was with the Bills last season, but until one of them is signed, this is the most glaring need.

Mark: It鈥檚 obvious. It鈥檚 similar to last year. when receiver was the obvious top pick and they selected Keon Coleman. The Bills do not have to take a cornerback in the first round. But if they don鈥檛, they must take one in the second round. They probably need to take two corners in the draft, in fact.

Ryan: Even if Larry Ogunjobi wasn鈥檛 going to be suspended six games to start the regular season, I would have said defensive tackle must still be the Bills鈥� first-round pick. Now, it definitely should be. I鈥檝e been on the bandwagon of Michigan鈥檚 Kenneth Grant since the combine, and I鈥檓 not hopping off yet.

Katherine: At the risk of being redundant, it is indeed obvious, and it is indeed cornerback. General manager Brandon Beane was firm in his emphasis that the season doesn鈥檛 start until September, but the Bills certainly have work to do at corner at this point.

3. What free agent(s) still out there should the Bills take a swing at?

Jay: The six-game suspensions of Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht mean the Bills still need to address the defensive line. Even though he turns 39 in the beginning of September, defensive lineman Calais Campbell is coming off a strong season for the Miami Dolphins. The Bills have looked at Campbell before in free agency, even hosting him on a visit. He would fit in perfectly in the locker room and provide valuable depth and experience early in the season while Hoecht and Ogunjobi are out.

Mark: My answer is nobody of any significance. I don鈥檛 want any more veterans to take training camp snaps away from key players the Bills will draft in the first two rounds. The Bills already have signed 鈥渋nsurance veterans鈥� at cornerback (Dane Jackson), slot receiver (Laviska Shenault), guard (Kendrick Green) and safety (Darrick Forrest). I鈥檇 have nothing against signing another cornerback, like Chidobe Awuzie or Shaq Griffin. But they may not be minimum-salary guys, and may not want to go to a team that is likely to pick a starting CB candidate in the first two rounds.

Ryan: Clearly, free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas doesn鈥檛 have a market, so if his camp approaches the Bills about returning for a one-year contract, it would solve a depth issue and give the coaching staff the option of starting him to begin the year, instead of a rookie.

Katherine: I鈥檒l echo Ryan. Bring Douglas back and let his veteran presence give the Bills time to bring along a rookie at cornerback. Address corner in the draft, but don鈥檛 rush a rookie to start. His rapport with fellow corner Christian Benford is excellent, and that gives the Bills a boost.

4. What team around the league most impressed you this free agency?

Jay: We鈥檒l stay in the AFC East. The New England Patriots entered the offseason with the most money to spend under the salary cap, with more than $100 million in space. Because of that, it鈥檚 not a surprise that they鈥檝e been active. The additions of Milton Williams, who starred in the Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles, Harold Landry III and K鈥橪avon Chiasson should improve the defensive line. Cornerback Carlton Davis will be a starter. Linebacker Robert Spillane is a strong run defender. Oh, yeah, the Patriots also stole Mack Hollins away from the Bills. Again, the Patriots had to spend money, but they did so in a logical manner, including the addition of old friend Stefon Diggs on Tuesday. Diggs might not be a No. 1 receiver at this stage of his career as he comes back from a torn ACL, but he鈥檒l walk into the door in New England as the Patriots鈥� best receiver. That should help quarterback Drake Maye.

Mark: Minnesota and Chicago helped themselves in the rugged NFC North. The Vikings were smart to let Sam Darnold walk. I鈥檓 presuming they鈥檙e going to avoid Aaron Rodgers (who would be a big mistake) and let J.J. McCarthy take over at quarterback. Meanwhile, they bolstered their offensive line with free agents Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. They made a big move on defense with the addition of defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

You have to like the way the Bears are building in front of quarterback Caleb Williams. Win in the trenches. Chicago traded for Chiefs All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and then signed Jonah Jackson and the top center available, Drew Dalman. Now the Bears can add at tackle with the 10th overall pick, and Williams鈥� protection will be secured.

Ryan: I鈥檒l zag here and look at the trade market and point to Washington as being improved. The Commanders, benefiting from quarterback Jayden Daniels being on a rookie (inexpensive) contract, traded for San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel and Houston left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Katherine: I like what the Los Angeles Rams are doing. I think moving on from Cooper Kupp and bringing in Davante Adams is a move that鈥檚 going to hold up. I鈥檓 also still high on Poona Ford, who I believe was wildly underused during his time in Buffalo. On the re-signing front, they were able to bring back left tackle Alaric Jackson, thanks, in part, to an adjusted contract for Matthew Stafford, who also is back. Stafford had two seasons left on a 2022 extension, but he had been given permission to talk to other teams. That could have had a wild domino effect, but instead, Stafford is staying, and the Rams got him a new weapon in their offensive revamp.