Ding dong the Bills are dead, the wicked Bills are dead!. Actually, NO. OK, the Bills traded a very talented WR away to the Houston Texans. While Stefon Diggs had a productive season last year for the Bills, his 2nd half performance was way down from the first half. In the first 9 games last season, Diggs had 70 receptions for 870 yards and 3 TD’s, including five 100 yard performances. In the next 9, which includes the playoff game against the Steelers, Diggs didn’t manage one 100 yard receiving game, and had only 1 TD reception.The Bills have 10 total picks in the 2024 draft, one 1st RD (#28), one 2nd RD (#60), one compensatory 4th RD pick (#133), three 5th RD picks (#144, #160 and #163), two 6th RD picks (#200 and #204) and finally one 7th RD pick (#248). They’re not going to find a WR in this draft that is capable of playing to the level of Diggs immediately, but they can still find an impact WR that can help this team, without carrying the selfish, negative impact on the locker room. Plus, as I always stress, the Bills still have QB Josh Allen, who is a relentless warrior and certainly has the Dolphins number.
Back to our Dolphins. I was listening to WQAM this morning, as I try to do as often as I can to the Joe Rose Show. Omar Kelly was co-hosting with Joe Rose, and they briefly discussed the draft, and in particular, Chris Grier’s mindset on the draft. I’ll paraphrase and summarize for you, Omar Kelly insinuated that Chris Grier will draft the best player available (BPA) period. No position will hold any favor, whomever they have graded the highest, that’s who he’s taking. I’ll go ahead and call bullshit on that. Is it possible? Of course. Is it logical? Of course not. You don’t make a trade for a WR (Tyreek Hill)who is the highest salary on the roster ($31M cap hit 2024), and then say we’re building the roster responsibly for the future. If we’re building, you don’t let 2 of your best players on their respective lines (DT/DE Christian Wilkins) and (RG Robert Hunt) leave in free agency. Next season, Tyreek Hill’s cap hit is $34M. There’s nothing responsible building for the future about that. It’s irresponsible, unless you’re going for it all in a small window. With huge question marks on the D-line, and even on the O-line, considering the injury track records of LT Terron Armstead and LG Isaiah Wynn who never play a whole season. We have a lot of depth on the O-line, but how much quality remains to be seen. On the D-line, we don’t have a replacement for Christian Wilkins no matter what defense we’re running. You can’t put Sieler and 2 guys who don’t play a lot of snaps and don’t make the slightest threat of getting to the QB on that line and expect it to work. In other words, if Grier takes a WR in RD1, I’m going to flip.
Another issue we have with this artificial win now mode is we have players coming up for contracts. S Jevon Holland is in the final year of his rookie contract. The knee injuries suffered last season hurt us, because Holland has been an impact player for us. If he’s healthy, and has a good season, we’re going to need to pay him. OLB Jaelan Phillips will be on his 4th year contract, and if he plays well this season, don’t expect him to want to play on his 5th year option. Most of the offensive linemen are on one year contracts. Next year, Armstead is retiring. Isaiah Wynn is a 1YR contract. OC Aaron Brewer and RT Austin Jackson are the only starting O-line guys on multiple year contracts. We’re going to have to bring in a whole bunch of guys for the O-line next season. Same goes for the D-line. Only Zach Sieler is under contract beyond this season. Benito Jones and Da’Shawn Hand are both one year contracts. While some of you are oohing and aahing at all these signings, it’s a band aid. Not even real Johnson & Johnson Band Aids, they’re just cheap adhesive bandages. Again, we take a WR with our first pick I’m gonna lose it! We need quality players on the D-line and O-line for this year and beyond. You want to pay $25M per season for a guy like Robert Hunt next season? $30M per season for a guy like Christian Wilkins next year? The salaries just keep going higher my friends, this season was nothing new, nothing different.
So, less than 3 weeks away, Chris Grier better be looking real hard at fixing those trenches, both sides. As you know, my feeling is the D-line is the priority, but it’s razor thin over the O-line, or an OLB/Pass rusher. As I stressed a moment ago, it’s not just this season, but next season a lot of the players on both the O-line and D-line disappear next season. In the 2025 draft, we have our regular picks in rounds 1 through 4, we have two 5th RD picks, no 6th RD pick, and two 7th RD picks. In addition, we should get a 3rd RD compensatory pick for Christian Wilkins and maybe a 5th RD compensatory pick or better for Robert Hunt. The other issue on the docket is QB. We have yet to give QB Tua Tagovailoa the huge contract that is supposed to be happening. If we don’t get that done, then we’re either paying him after the season, or looking for a new QB. A lot of dominoes have to fall, but right now, we need to start building those trenches, and do it wisely, through the draft.
Finsmob Unleashed 
Despite not receiving a contract extension yet, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he will not hold out for a contract and will attend organized team activities this spring
per Pro Football Network’s Adam Beasley.
Class
Tim – QB’s get W/L records. Pitchers in MLB also get win loss records. Not sure what you have a problem with. Is it a flawless system? Of course not, but it does give a basis of comparison
I kind of find Dark Mike and Light Rock kind of amusing …
Me too
LOL REFER TO MY AVI!! I AM NOT LIGHT ROCK!
Big game, big situation. Anyone actually taking Tua to be their QB?
Nope. Keep looking until you have one you want in the big moments. I don’t think Mike E is saying he sucks, because he doesn’t. He’s hasn’t proven to be the QB you have to spend all your money on. Don’t cripple the finances until you have to with the one you want to have the ball and have the balls in those big time moments.
Mike E,
Strictly talking about wins and loses attributed to pitchers… we’ve both seen pitchers over the years with incredible ERAs and strikeouts who had double-digit losses in a season. Why is that? You know.
Perhaps pitchers should not have wins and losses attributed to them… and I certainly don’t believe wins and losses for QBs should become a thing, either.
Just a thought from over the right field fence, bud. 😉
M – it’s because for the most part, they have the biggest impact on the game. There’s so many factors, most importantly the team you play on. Pitchers touch the ball every play on defense and QB’s touch the ball on every play on offense. Besides having class, Tua wants to stay here in Miami with a Head Coach that created the perfect offense for him and cares about him
YES!
We’re going to be alright, my guy!
Like you, Mike E, I’m a little more concerned with our Defense with the players we lost, coupled with the loss of DC Vic Fangio.
Personally, I think we’re a lock to remain a top-5 Offense with Coach McDaniel/Tua (we were #1 last year, baby!!!).
Mike E/Mob/FMU,
When shall we plan to do our yearly LIVE mock draft here? It’s something I look forward to every year! Obviously, we should do it when the most people are available to vote.
Next Wednesday or Thurday in the PM works great for me. 7:00 PM EST would be perfect.
Heck, even next Friday works for me, so long as we don’t wait until LATE to start.
LATE = after 9:00 PM EST
I guess we’ll see when most can participate
MOB/FMU LIVE DRAFT
The annual MOB/FMU live draft is going down once again! In order to maximize the participation, let us know when you are available. Y’all know the drill: copy and paste with your availability to participate…
M13: Wed-Fri (April 17-19, EST PM)
honestly Friday is probably best for me
I have NO idea why Crossman still has a job as ST coordinator…wtf?
https://www.thephinsider.com/2024/4/11/24127939/danny-crossman-was-key-in-siran-neals-decision-to-sign-with-miami-dolphins
Rob-E, to be clear. I am not “Being a dick” I just am one. 🤣
Thanks for clearing that up
Just a quick comment on the Tua situation and then I won’t further discuss it in today’s upcoming article. It would be cool if all of you could admit you were pretty damn sure that Tua getting the contract was imminent, before NFL Free Agency began. So I ask, why doesn’t he have a contract? It’s no slam dunk, I’ll tell you that. Leading the NFL in passing yards isn’t as good as winning a playoff game or throwing for 45 TD’s and 15 INT’s. He still has an injury history, the hip injury, the multiple concussions. Clearly, the plan wasn’t to give Tua a big contract to clear cap space, they found other avenues. It still might happen though, but they are being as careful as they can, probably trying to protect themselves from injury and have an OUT if they need one. I’m not a reporter, have no NFL contacts, but it’s obvious they’re struggling to get the contract that both sides feel comfortable with.
I still hope they do a contract similar to the one Josh Allen got. Put a bunch in roster bonuses with an out clause after 3 years. Roster bonus money will go away and not be dead money if we move on.
I think that would be best for the team. Tua also has representation that are trying to get him the best deal they can.
I agree with this except I don’t consider Josh Allen elite. Maybe on the cusp with a seemingly lack of elites in today’s NFL. I would also add Jared Goff to that second batch. He also left off A-Rod. lol
@OmarKelly
Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow are clearly the NFL’s elites.
Then we have Jalen Hurts, Brock Purdy, CJ Stroud, Justin Herbert, Matt Stafford, Trevor Lawrence, Dak Prescott, and Kirk Cousins. Tua is somewhere in that second batch.
Where you rank him depends on your taste
I hope he’s right about this bc if so Fautanu has a real shot at falling to 21
BBMike – I’d put Allen in the elite category because he’s a winner. He’s played his best football on the big stage. I know you all think I’m crazy, but he played KC in the AFC Championship game and tore up the KC defense, 27-37 for 329 yards and 4 TD’s. He also added 68 yards on the ground on 11 carries. He put the team on his back and said “I got you”. Not his fault his defense allowed Mahomes to score the winning TD, maybe it’s not even the BUF defense’s fault, Mahomes is otherworldly. My definition of elite is different than a lot of other peoples. If there’s a game that you need to win, who do you want in there, and I put Allen near the top, definitely top 5.
Didn’t realize that is what he did vs KC. Impressive.
Even in the loss to KC this season in the Divisional round, Allen was 26-39 for 186 yards 1 TD, 0 INT’s and had 2 rushing TD’s, along with 72 yards rushing on 12 carries. Kept his team in the game, was competitive. Unfortunately, on the big stage, Tua has none of those on his resume. Yet . . . Hopefully, this is the year he changes that.
you can see how he might excel as part of a rotation
he 6-5 240
so he’s gonna have to bulk up eventually – but this guy looks like a really solid pass rusher
he doesn’t really have too much experience – so he’s pretty raw
my guess is he would probably get run over a lot against a physical team that runs a lot (like the ravens)
but he’s pretty tenacious as a pass rusher and might be really solid depth and a huge addition to our pass rush – maybe he can fill the van ginkle role
picked up a 3rd
but none of the pass rushers I wanted lasted to the 3rd
NEW BLOG UP!!!!