Buffalo Plus Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: DIGGS new deal and scalding HOT TAKES on what's next for Bills
Date: April 7, 2022
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

Overview

This episode dives deep into the Buffalo Bills’ four-year, $104M contract extension for star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, analyzing why the move happened now and its ripple effects on the roster, the salary cap, and team-building strategy. The team also debates how this deal impacts the Bills’ approach to the upcoming draft, discusses Tremaine Edmunds’ uncertain future, and shares their “scalding hot takes” on what may come next for the Bills before the season kicks off.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Stefon Diggs Extension: Why Now, and What It Means

• Mandatory Move:

  • Mike: “They had to do this, right? They had to get it done… Diggs had hinted enough he wanted a deal, but it was a smart deal also for Bean.” [00:55]
  • Comparison to Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill shows how volatile WR situations have become.

• A Win for All Sides:

  • Jenna: “This is what a responsible GM does. A guy who outplayed his contract, who deserves that type of money, who bought into Buffalo, who's a team captain… you pay that guy, and that's what he did.” [04:13]
  • Lowered cap hit for 2022 and 2023, making it mutually beneficial.

• Locker Room Impact:

  • Dan: “It sends a message... if you play well you are going to get paid if you want to stay in Buffalo.” [04:13]
  • Paying core players before issues arise maintains locker room stability.

• Bills Culture Shift:

  • Dan: “This is what good teams do… The Bills are now a well run organization, a well run franchise, and this is how it gets done.” [03:44]

2. Changing NFL Landscape: Guaranteed Money & Player Empowerment

• Modern NFL Realities:

  • Dan: “That is almost like five years ago NFL… the player empowerment is different than it's ever been.” [07:11]
  • Front offices now must act proactively to retain stars amid increased player movement.

• Salary Cap – Real or Excuse?

  • Mike: “If you want a guy, you make it work. If you don’t, you move on.” [10:09]
  • Salary cap is often used as a convenient explanation for otherwise tough decisions.

• Not All Core Players Will Stay:

  • Discussion around Tremaine Edmunds’ lack of a new deal signals his potential departure.
  • Jenna: “Doesn’t this just scream that Tremaine’s not coming back?” [12:10]

3. Tremaine Edmunds: Odd Man Out?

• Contract Patterns:

  • Dan: “You’re seeing Dion [Dawkins] got paid, Trey White got paid, Taryn Johnson got paid, Steph got paid, Josh got paid… and you’re sitting there like, so what are we doing here?” [12:26]
  • Other foundational players ink deals before deadlines, but not Edmunds.

• Performance vs. Expectation:

  • Mike: Draws analogy to Ben Simmons: “He’s a very talented guy who does some things really well but just hasn’t advanced in other parts…you’re frustrated.” [13:35]
  • Position value plays a role: Off-ball linebackers (like Edmunds) are less likely to get second mega-deals.

4. Draft Strategy: Move Up, Move Back, or Stay Put?

• Possibility of Moving Up:

  • Mike: “I do think there’s a scenario that they move up… the chances of moving up are better than moving back.” [21:05]
  • Not moving up for a QB lessens trade cost.

• Target Positions:

  • Dan: “I’ve been team wide receiver since I was up at the combine.” [22:20]
  • Positions of interest: WR, CB, possibly safety (later addressed).

• Receiver Room Depth:

  • Dan: “They don’t have a ton of wide receivers under contract for future years… these guys are placeholders.” [23:01]

• Draft Depth:

  • Jenna: “I don’t see a scenario where they move back… if they were to move up, it would have to be a corner or receiver.” [24:47]

5. Scalding Hot Takes

Mike’s Hot Take: Bills Move Up for Safety Kyle Hamilton

• Surprise Name:
  • Mike: “Kyle Hamilton of Notre Dame… I think he’s got Buffalo Bills written all over him… if he starts to slide, I think he’s the type of player Brandon Bean would make a move up and go get.” [27:44; 29:41]
  • Emphasizes Bills’ aging safety tandem and the need to plan ahead.
  • Dan: “If he slides, my head would explode. My head would explode. Because you’re so right.” [29:40]

Dan’s Hot Take: Bills Draft an Impact Running Back

• Fresh Competition:

  • Dan: “The Bills will draft a running back that will take snaps away from Devin Singletary.” [39:41]
  • Points to past interest in Travis Etienne and the desire for more dynamic backfield playmaking.

• On Playmakers:

  • Dan: “If I call them a playmaker and they just line up in the backfield, that’s good. I can twist my mind into being like… he just happens to get a lot of carries.” [39:58]

Jenna’s Hot Take(s)

• Gabe Davis Breakout:
  • Jenna: “I had him as a thousand yard receiver… I think he’s going to be taking that step up.” [37:12]
• Edmunds' Final Year:
  • Jenna: “This is the final year that Tremaine Edmonds is on the Bills roster.” [37:38]

Other Takes & Quick Hits

• Dan: “Bills fans will miss Brian Dable more than they want to realize.” [37:44]

  • Cites influence on Allen’s development vs. new OC Ken Dorsey.

• Dan: On corners: “There’s a bigger drop off than what other people are saying… If they move up, if they want to get Sauce Gardner… that would be a move that I could see.” [33:54]

Notable Quotes

On the Diggs Deal and Roster Building

• Mike: “It needed to get done. It should have gotten done. It fits a lot of what they want. And it is a relief... that it gets done now.” [00:55]
• Jenna: “You resign players that have earned it, that fit your culture, and that makes sense. And Diggs checks all those boxes.” [03:56]
• Dan: “This deal doesn't scream all-in to me. This deal screams... this is what a team needs to do to be successful.” [03:28]

On the Modern NFL

• Dan: “We've never seen quarterbacks get moved around like this before. We've never seen guaranteed money like we've ever seen before. Like, this is changing.” [07:11]
• Mike: “If you want a guy, you make it work. If you don’t, you move on.” [10:09]

On Tremaine Edmunds’ Place

• Dan: “It just really seems like if you're Tremaine Edmonds, you're seeing Dion got paid, Trey White got paid, Taryn Johnson got paid, Steph got paid, Josh got paid. And you're sitting there like, so what? What are we doing here, guys?” [12:26]
• Mike: “He is a very talented guy who does some things really well but just hasn’t advanced in other parts. And you’re frustrated because you see the physical ability.” [13:35]

Draft Hot Takes

• Mike: “Kyle Hamilton… if he starts to slide, I think he’s the type of player Brandon Bean would make a move up and go get.” [29:41]
• Dan: “Bills will draft a running back that will take snaps away from Devin Singletary.” [39:41]
• Jenna: “I had him as a thousand yard receiver… I think he’s going to be taking that step up.” [37:12]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Diggs Contract Done/Immediate Reaction: [00:01 – 05:20]
• Locker Room & Culture Impact: [05:21 – 06:45]
• Changing NFL Landscape / Cap Management: [06:45 – 10:53]
• Paying (or Not Paying) Core Players / Edmunds Discussion: [11:25 – 19:45]
• Draft Trade Up/Down Talk: [20:36 – 24:47]
• Wide Receiver & Depth Chart Talk: [23:01 – 24:47]
• Scalding Hot Takes Section Start: [27:18]
  • Mike’s Hamilton Take: [27:23 – 32:13]
  • Dan’s RB Hot Take: [39:41]
  • Jenna’s Davis/Edmunds Take: [37:12 – 37:38]
• Brian Dable & OC Transition: [37:44 – 39:10]
• RB Room, Playmakers & Draft Philosophy: [39:41 – 42:29]

Memorable Moments

• On Social Media and Bills Fans’ Relief:
  Dan: “Is it nice not to see Stefan Diggs being there [in WR trade rumors]?... Bills fans are extremely happy, as they should be.” [02:31]

• On Salary Cap Magic:
  Mike: “It's like everybody might, you know, you got a little money socked away somewhere and you just don't tell anybody… it's like Brandon Bean, like you said Dan, Brandon being went out and said, I'll take a Von Miller. Like well where'd that come from?” [10:09]

• Host Banter:
  Ongoing inside jokes about previous “hot takes,” banter over comments, and a running joke about “fake plants” behind Jenna on the YouTube set. [36:43]

• On Bills’ National Stage:
  The hosts agree Bills will likely open the NFL season in LA vs. Rams because of Von Miller and the playoff narrative. [35:16]

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• The hosts are optimistic but realistic, blending experienced beat analysis with relatable fan-centric banter.
• Brandon Bean’s proactive, drama-free handling of core contracts is praised as a sign of a mature and “well-run” organization.
• There’s clear awareness that NFL roster management is changing rapidly, with GMs needing to anticipate player demands and market changes.
• Scalding hot takes bring both fun and serious debate about draft strategy, signaling that more roster evolution is expected as the Bills gear for a Super Bowl run.

For more detailed analysis, subscribe to Buffalo Plus on YouTube and stay tuned for further coverage as the draft and offseason unfold.