Podcast Summary: Buffalo Plus – "Bills BIGGEST NEEDS, doing a DIGGS DEAL and the house JOSH ALLEN BUILT"

Date: March 30, 2022

Hosts: Mike Catalana (A), Jenna Cottrell (B), Dan Fetes (C)

Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team dives into the Buffalo Bills’ three hottest topics as April and the NFL Draft approach:

• What is the team’s biggest need heading into the draft, and should they address cornerback with a high pick or rely on a veteran?
• How does the booming wide receiver market impact the future of Stefon Diggs and his contract?
• With the new stadium deal announced, what does this mean for the Bills, their fans, and the future of the franchise?

Throughout the episode, hosts Mike, Jenna, and Dan bring a mix of analysis, insider perspective, and classic Buffalo banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assessing the Bills’ Biggest Need Before the Draft

[00:28–12:33]

The Great Cornerback Conundrum

• Consensus: Cornerback #2 is widely named the biggest roster hole, especially with Tre'Davious White returning from an ACL and the departure of Levi Wallace.
• Mike: Stresses that it’s a real need and expects a high pick invested at corner. ([01:05])

  “They have Dane Jackson, who did not beat out Levi. Can he be really good? I guess, right? ... But they need corners. They have to invest. ... I personally think it’s going to be a high draft pick.”

• Dan: Pushes back, suggesting the Bills may value Dane Jackson more than outsiders think, and sees wide receiver as the bigger need.

  “I don’t think the Gabriel Davis, Stefon Diggs one-two punch is as explosive as the Bills need to give Josh Allen more pieces.” ([02:00])

• Jenna: Finds herself in the middle, citing the team’s abundant talent, trusting GM Brandon Beane to go “best available,” and noting the uncertainty around Tre White’s recovery.

  “With Dane Jackson ... now this year, they're not going to have Levi. ... I would want them to sign a veteran ... but I also expect an early corner pick.” ([03:20])

Draft Strategy: Best Available vs. Need

• Hosts agree Beane will not reach based on need but may prioritize cornerback and receiver in the top two rounds.
• Mike and Jenna emphasize not overreaching for the position, but underlining the need with both starters and depth in question.

Secondary Effects of the Von Miller Signing

• Pass rush improvements are seen as a way to help the secondary:

  “Part of the Von Miller move is to help Dane Jackson, Siran Neal, Taron Johnson, and Trey when he comes back.” (Dan, [06:25])

Conclusion

• There’s consensus: Cornerback is the defensive need, but wide receiver depth is tempting, and options at positions like running back and O-line may also appear in middle rounds.

2. The Diggs Deal & The Wild Wide Receiver Market

[12:54–24:26]

The NFL’s Wide Receiver Boom

• Recent blockbuster WR deals for Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams have reset the market, and Diggs is due for an extension.
• Diggs’ eye-emoji tweets, his brother’s public musings about playing together, and the noisy NFL off-season have fueled trade rumors.

What Should Buffalo Do?

• Dan: Makes the case for paying Diggs early.

  “If I’m Stefon Diggs, at some point I’m calling [Beane] up saying ... I took this offense, I came in and our offense became a top five offense. I’m a big reason for this team’s success. ... Right now, he’s not making anywhere near top-of-the-line wide receiver money.” ([13:24])

• Mike: Notes Diggs has two years left and the Bills “don’t have to do it,” but argues that early action on contracts is almost always better.

  “He should get, in terms of this crazy world of the NFL, he should be higher paid. ... If I was the Bills, I would be looking to redo that deal and extend it.” ([15:59])

• Jenna: Reminds that locker rooms pay close attention to who gets paid and thinks managing it before it becomes a distraction is best.

  “I wouldn’t want the distraction ... inside the locker room. ... I’m curious how Brandon Bean will handle this.” ([17:42])

Risk of Waiting

• Dan and Mike highlight that waiting could make the deal much more expensive, given the ever-rising salary cap and escalating wide receiver salaries.

  “The cap always goes up. ... If another wide receiver gets signed ... Diggs just got more expensive because he’s going to say, ‘I want that money.’” (Dan, [19:40])

The Modern NFL: No Certainties

• Even star QBs (Mahomes, Rodgers) have lost their best WRs; the panel notes that nothing is guaranteed.

  “The NFL moves on from guys ... cuts guys beforehand. ... That’s not the NFL. ... Diggs deserves [to get paid]. I think the Bills should do it.” (Mike, [20:33–21:39])

• Team and Diggs need to be flexible on timing, but everyone expects both sides want an extension to happen.

3. The Bills’ New Stadium: Orchard Park and the “House That Josh Allen Built”

[25:13–36:51]

Major Details

• $1.4 billion total cost: $850 million public funding ($600M NYS, $250M Erie County).
• Location confirmed as Orchard Park (not downtown): open-air, not domed.
• Lease to keep the Bills in Buffalo for at least 30 years—a major point of relief for fans.

Mike "Scoops" Catalana’s I-told-You-So Moment

• Clip replayed of Mike breaking nearly all the core details months before the official announcement.

  “They are focused on staying in Orchard Park ... it would be an open air stadium, not a dome. ... They’re going to build, it’s going to be outdoors, it’s going to be Orchard Park, it’s going to be private-public funding.” ([25:58])

Initial Reactions & Big Takeaways

• Jenna: Surprised the stadium isn’t downtown but thinks fans love the tailgating and character of Orchard Park.

  “I honestly thought they were going to put it downtown ... but I think fans are really happy [with Orchard Park].” ([30:14])

• Mike: No plans for “ancillary developments” (like retail or hotels) yet, but expects that could change. ([31:16])
• Dan: Points to natural grass as unusual for a Northeast open-air stadium in the modern NFL. ([32:01])

Capacity & Design

• Expected seating: 60,000–62,000. Hosts note this is the trend in modern stadiums—smaller, but more premium seating.

  “Five more thousand seats there ... isn’t a big benefit to the teams. ... They can bring in a lot of money in other ways.” (Mike, [33:46])

Security for the Franchise

• Mike reassures fans:

  “They don’t have any reason to go anywhere ... The deal is going to get done and they’re not going anywhere for a long time, if ever.” ([34:37])

"The House That Josh Allen Built"

• The hosts agree the new era and stadium are thanks largely to Josh Allen’s emergence.

  “The house that Josh Allen built!” (Dan, [35:14])

• Speculate on who else will be “guaranteed” to still be a Bill when the new stadium opens—Allen, Rousseau, possibly Dawkins.

4. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Mike on the overload of draftable WRs:

  “Last time I checked Mel Kiper’s board, there are 845 wide receivers who could be drafted in the first two rounds this year.” ([08:32])

• Dan on contracts changing quickly:

  “The league has completely changed in the last 18 months with contracts and trades ... everything crazy.” ([22:21])

• On whether Buffalo will host a Super Bowl:

  “They’re not getting a Super Bowl. Even ... with a dome, just the infrastructure ... isn’t there.” (Mike, [37:03])

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Topic/Quote | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------|--------------| | Cornerback vs. Wide Receiver Need Debate | 00:28–09:18 | | Diggs’ Contract Discussion | 12:54–24:26 | | Stadium Announcement, Details & Reactions | 25:13–36:51 | | “The House That Josh Allen Built” Discussion | 35:14–36:51 | | Super Bowl Before Stadium Opens? | 37:00–38:14 |

Tone & Closing Thoughts

The discussion is passionate, locally-rooted, and analytical, with frequent playful ribbing and authentic worry-born-of-experience from a trio that’s seen the Bills’ highs and lows. They balance optimism (about Allen, team building, stability) with realism (draft unpredictability, NFL business, public funding skepticism).

Final Memorable Moment:
Jenna, ever the peacemaker in a room of hot takes:

“You don’t have to be so extreme. ... Both things can be true. Let’s meet in the middle, folks. There’s usually the truth in there somewhere.” ([11:02])

For More:

Listen to the full episode at Buffalo Plus on YouTube or read more at BuffaloPlus.com.