The BILLS make a SPLASH signing BRADLEY CHUBB + Jenna joins from FLORIDA to discuss WHAT'S NEXT!

Summary

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Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bradley Chubb Signing & Free Agency Reactions

Episode Title: The BILLS make a SPLASH signing BRADLEY CHUBB + Jenna joins from FLORIDA to discuss WHAT'S NEXT!
Date: March 11, 2026
Panel: Mike Catalana, Dan Fetes, Jenna Cottrell
Main Theme:
An in-depth discussion analyzing the Buffalo Bills’ headline-grabbing signing of edge rusher Bradley Chubb, the broader state of free agency, and what’s still missing for the Bills going forward. Jenna calls in from Florida to add her insights despite being on vacation. The tone is lively, occasionally irreverent, and highly knowledgeable.

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the Bills’ “splash” move signing Bradley Chubb after an otherwise slow free agency start, evaluates GM Brandon Beane’s actions, and debates what the Bills’ next priorities should be. The team also explores the overall free agent landscape, address rumors of blockbuster trades, and reflect on compensation strategies and the real meaning of “cap space” in the NFL.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Bradley Chubb Signing

• Announcement and Initial Reactions

  • The Bills sign Bradley Chubb to a three-year, $43.5M deal (up to $52.5M, $23M guaranteed) following his release by the Miami Dolphins.
    • “Reports are that it is a three-year deal worth $43.5 million...$23 million guaranteed. That, again, is...we are listening to a whole bunch of agents speak these days.” – Dan [02:34]
  • The move doesn’t impact the compensatory pick formula since Chubb was released, not an expiring free agent (point made by Mike [02:02]).

• Why Chubb? Fit and Value

  • The panel notes Chubb fills a dire need for a physical edge rusher who can both set the edge and stop the run—traits the Bills defense lacked.
  • Compared to past signings (Von Miller), Chubb may not be in his peak prime but offers key run-stopping ability.
    • “He is way better against the run than Joey Bosa is.” – Dan [09:25]
    • “I think he’s still better as a run-stopper than he is a pass rusher at this point in his career, but he can still put up eight and a half sacks.” – Dan [10:35]

• Strategic Aspects

  • No draft capital given up vs. a trade for comparable players (Granard, etc.).
    • “This is a move where I go, this is worth a swing because it didn’t cost you any draft picks.” – Dan [15:48]
  • Acknowledgment that Chubb has had some injury history but, at this price/value and with positional need, it makes sense.

• Market Competition

  • There were other teams interested in Chubb. The Bills capitalized on fitting him into new DC Jim Leonhard’s scheme.
    • “He’s not Von Miller…but it’s a position of absolute need and obviously they’re not signing him if Jim Leonard doesn’t believe he fits.” – Mike [06:12]

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2. Bills’ Overall Free Agency Approach and Missing Pieces

• Initial Frustrations with the Quiet Period
  • Jenna, from Florida, describes checking her phone for news, expecting more aggression, and being surprised at Bills’ dormancy.
    • “I kind of was checking my phone, trying to be on vacation, but also monitoring the situation… and I felt like throughout the days, you know, you’re looking, you’re seeing. Okay, they made a new deal with Josh Allen… with the kind of limited draft picks, I figured they would be pretty aggressive.” – Jenna [03:18]
• Retained and Re-structured Players
  • Key moves: restructuring Josh Allen and Tyler Bass, keeping Connor McGovern at center, DJ Moore trade.
  • Still lacking additions at linebacker and depth at key positions such as CB, S, and LB.
    • “There’s so many holes on this roster…I was expecting Bean to be a little more aggressive.” – Jenna [03:18]
    • “There are still some of those holes. But I do like the Bradley Chubb signing for the most part.” – Dan [06:47]
• Comparison to Potential (and Missed) Targets
  • Other anticipated signings (with Jim Leonhard connections: Leo Chanel, PJ Locke, etc.) have gone elsewhere.
  • Some hope for Dre Greenlaw, DJ Reader, Andre Cisco as future veteran additions, possibly post-draft.
    • “There are a couple of signings that I could see down the road…DJ Reader [and] Andre Cisco...” – Dan [30:59]
• Wide Receiver Move
  • The acquisition of DJ Moore is framed as costly but directly addresses another top need.

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3. Market Context: Other Edge Rushers, Trades, and Ravens Controversy

• Trey Hendrickson, Max Crosby, and the Ravens “Scumbag” Move

  • The crew discusses the now-infamous Ravens/Max Crosby deal collapse—the Ravens reportedly backed out with injury concerns, but the group suggests this was a “side chick” move to pivot to Trey Hendrickson.
    • “You can’t tell me otherwise that Trey wasn’t the side chick.” – Dan [24:49]
    • “He would say it’s a BS move by the Ravens for what they did.” – Mike [23:35]
  • The fallout: Raiders miss their window to trade Crosby, driving his value down.

• General Free Agency Churn and “Cap Not Real”

  • The hosts reiterate their long-held belief that “the cap is not real”—teams can almost always make cap space for moves they want.
    • “You can manipulate the cap...the cap is not real.” – Mike [18:56]
    • “There has never been a player in the history of the NFL that a team has cut because of the salary cap. They find ways to keep good players.” – Dan [19:28]
  • Owners’ willingness to convert salary into bonuses (and thus cash) is the hidden variable.

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4. Outlook: Next Moves and Remaining Opportunities

• Depth Signings & Safety Market
  • The safety free agent market is described as “drying up,” but optimism remains about post-draft veteran cuts becoming available (May, June).
    • “When teams draft safeties early…somebody becomes available.” – Mike [30:30]
• Names Floated for Future Moves
  • Dre Greenlaw (but health concerns)
  • DJ Reader (DT, strong run presence)
  • Andre Cisco (S, depth option)
• The panel expects more moves, even if the “splashiest” signings are over.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Chubb’s Run Defense:
  “He is way better against the run than Joey Bosa is.” – Dan [09:25]
• On Expectations for Free Agency:
  “You’re not mad, you’re disappointed.” – Jenna [05:07]
• On Wide Receiver Trade:
  “He addressed [WR] with a veteran…So in terms of spending money, they have spent a good amount.” – Mike [06:19]
• On Jim Leonhard’s Star Power:
  “I guess my assumption was the league was so excited for Jim Leonard to become a DC that I thought players would come running to Buffalo to be a part of it…It isn’t the positive you might have thought.” – Dan & Mike [11:27–11:35]
• On Salary Cap Flexibility:
  “The cap is not real because you can manipulate the cap. Of course it’s real and exists, but…it is highly manipulable.” – Mike [18:56]
• On the Ravens Trade Fiasco:
  “It’s a scumbag move. It’s a bad look for the Ravens.” – Dan [26:06]
• On Deadline Deals:
  “There are good moves made by teams in May, June…Free agency is just beginning.” – Mike [30:30, 31:52]
• On the Chubb Signing’s Magnitude:
  “It’s a mid-range splash…It’s a good splash. It’s not massive.” – Mike [14:30]

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Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp | |---|---|---| | Opening | Team banter, Jenna joins from Florida | 00:00–01:25 | | Chubb Signing Announced | Initial reactions and deal details | 01:25–04:21 | | Free Agency Frustration | Lack of early Bills action, holes remaining | 03:18–05:07 | | Chubb’s Fit & Value | Physicality, scheme fit, injury risk, comparison with peers | 06:19–11:06 | | Leaguewide Edge Market | Hendrickson, Crosby, Ravens controversy | 17:27–28:08 | | Cap Manipulation | How teams create space, myths explained | 18:04–20:21 | | Remaining Team Needs | Linebacker/safety names floated, possible summer signings | 30:00–31:52 | | Outlook | Trades, market, Bills’ patience applauded | 31:52–32:46 | | Listener Call to Action | Closing encouragement for comments/engagement | 33:06–33:22 |

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Tone & Interaction

The episode is a brisk, insightful mix of inside-the-locker-room reporting and friendly sarcasm. The hosts tease one another and openly debate hot topics, but always circle back to concrete team needs and honest appraisals of the Bills’ direction. Jenna’s remote appearance added levity and an on-the-ground fan perspective.

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Summary

This episode marks a positive turn in the mood of the Buffalo Plus podcast team. After anxiety over the lack of early free agency moves, the signing of Bradley Chubb is received as a needed, if not blockbuster, addition to the Bills’ defense—a “mid-range splash.” The team highlights the strategic value of signing Chubb without giving up picks, his fit with the new scheme, and the continuing need to reinforce linebacker and safety. The broader discussion of NFL wheeling-and-dealing, especially the Ravens’ abrupt trade-backflip involving Max Crosby, adds context to how the Bills are navigating a volatile market. The team closes optimistic but hungry for more action and encourages fan engagement as the offseason continues.

Transcript

[A]

That was a joke inside the group text. We're now airing that stuff out.

[B]

Why not Michael putting the group chat on.

[C]

Oh, please.

[B]

Right now, please.

[C]

Of all the things in the group chat, that's the one you're worried about?

[A]

Sometimes I have jokes in the group chat that I don't expect to make the podcast.

[C]

Well, let me tell you something, me that wouldn't make the top 20.

[A]

No. Now, from the Connors and Ferris podcast studio video, this is the Buffalo plus podcast. Hey everyone, and welcome back to the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel. Joined alongside Mike Catalana, I'm Dan Fates and in sunny Florida, Wow. Is the one and only Jenna Cottrell. Well done.

[B]

Please be sure to like comment, subscribe and share. See, hosting is tougher than it looks. But hold on guys. It's pretty sunny down here, so let me just throw these on.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

So that way I can be properly ready.

[C]

Just so you know, it was 60 here today. Of course, it poured like crazy.

[B]

Just so you know, it was 85 here today.

[C]

Weasel.

[A]

Yeah, we are here in the Connors and Ferris podcast studio. Jenna's in Florida getting some vacation, but we wanted to make sure that she wanted to be a part of this free agent move. We had some technical difficulties, but maybe that worked because we do have plenty to talk about. The. Well, we were going to start about the lack of moves that.

[C]

Let's just start. Janet, what do you think? Bradley Chubb?

[B]

Yeah, I mean, I think that this is something right. Like we were getting nervous. Head was like, all right. They obviously have already talked about the DJ Moore trade and what that looked like. But I think the assumption was they were going to go after a pass rusher or someone on the defensive side of the ball. And I feel like, you know, we're getting this at around 4:30 that the bill's signing Bradley Chubb. I think he's been productive in his career. I'm curious what he will look like this season, but I think Brandon be tried to get anything going and at the deadline something happens.

[C]

Yeah, I think the, the thing you had to look at most is that Bradley Chubb was officially released by the Dolphins. So when the Bills make this move, it doesn't count against the comp formula. It is a different signing and you know, they did lose a player. Obviously they lost Edwards in the, in the free agency mode. So if you are thinking about getting a pick back, it makes a difference. He wasn't a free agent. He was still under contract and then the team released him. So when the Bills sign him, it does not count because they gave him a lot of money, Dan.

[A]

Yeah, they did. The, the reports are that it is a three year deal worth 43 and a half million dollars. It can be worth up to 52 and a half million dollars, 23 million guaranteed. That, again, is. We are listening to a whole bunch of agents speak these days, so that's something to factor in. But we were talking, Jenna, throughout the last few days that the Bills have been kind of quiet. Bean's been a little dormant. Like, what has your reaction been? I know when we can get more into Bradley Chubb the player and stuff like that in a little bit. I know your time is valuable, but what is your reaction, Ben, of the lack of moves that the Bills have made so far at free agency?

[B]

Yeah, I kind of was, you know, checking my phone, trying to be on vacation, but also monitoring the situation. And I'm seeing all these signings and I'm seeing, you know, this guy go here, another guy go to the Patriots, and I'm like, I'm refreshing my phone because I'm like, I must be missing something. You know, when you're like, you're like, there's got to be something else. I mustn't just not be seeing it. And I felt like throughout the days, you know, you're looking, you're seeing. Okay, they find they made a new deal with, you know, Josh Allen, they restructured his contract. Tyler Bass, they did a new thing to work to make sure that he, you know, got less money. But I guess overall, with the, you know, kind of limited draft picks, I figured they would be pretty aggressive throughout what they were doing. I, I still think they need help at linebacker. I mean, I feel like they, I, I just for this team, there's so many holes on this roster. And so I was expecting Bean to be a little bit more aggressive, especially when we saw earlier in the day that, that like 15 minute window, and it's like the bills cleared $40 million of cab space. Dan, you must have been in heaven.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, that was, There was a moment, yeah, that, that I thought I was having one. I thought I was having a moment. I, I really did. We'll get to that too, in. But I, I agree with you, Jenna, that I didn't want the Bills to necessarily get into some bidding war and I didn't expect them to be making tons of deals. But there were a lot of players that I think we thought would fit in Jim Leonard's scheme that he would bring from the Broncos or would have connections with the Wisconsin that, you know, the Leo Chanel, the P, the PJ Lock, some of these guys that we all thought that little by little were signing elsewhere. And again, I'm not saying, I'm not sitting here, Jenna, like, dis not mad. I guess I'm just like, oh yeah, like there wasn't a ton to do.

[B]

And again, you're not, you're not mad, you're disappointed.

[A]

Maybe that's it.

[C]

I, I, I will say this. I got to give Beam credit for this. I like the Chub move. I think he's good. I think he's a player that would have been valuable around the league. I know I had heard that other teams were very interested in him. It is not, he's not Von Miller, when the Bills signed Von Miller, but it's from a position of absolute need and obviously they're not signing him. If Jim Leonard doesn't believe he fits in their scheme, you can argue with the players. But he did address wide receiver and we all believe he gave up a lot of draft capital and gave up a lot of money, but he addressed it with a veteran and he brought back the center. So in terms of spending money, they have spent a good amount of money. And I know the other moves happened, you know, before all of the rest of the stuff around the league, but I feel a lot better, at least in terms of defensive moves, by getting what's tough to find, as we've seen around this league, is a guy who can rush the quarterback and I do think he will help them.

[B]

How much better do you think and this question for you as well, Dan, how much better do you think the Bills got before free agency to now? How, how do you assess that when you look at where they're at?

[A]

I think they had more holes to fill now than when they did at the start. Just. And again, these holes are not necessarily starters, but you're going to have to fill what Taron Johnson is and what do you think of D. Alford is, is part of that equation.

[C]

Right.

[A]

But Cam Lewis is another guy that, you know, was, you know what I'm saying? Like, those were some pieces that I thought they had roles that you are now going to need to fill elsewhere. And you know, I think we all thought there would be some type of linebacker adjustment and there really hasn't been. So I think there are still some of those holes. But I do like the Bradley Chubb signing for the most part. My thought on him, because Mike's looking over my shoulder today, Jenna, and I'm going, he's like, what are you doing? I'm going, I'm trying to look at somebody. And I literally said, there's not really many guys out there that excite me at this point that are still left, but outside of a first round pick. But Bradley Chubb was one of the guys.

[B]

Yeah. And that's a move to me though, to. You got better with that, like from where they've at. And I was seeing some reports about like possibly bringing back Joey Bosa and I'm like, oh, my gosh. I was like, I just don't want to see this team do that and dip into that well again. So the Bradley Chubb move, I like that. I think that is like you said, Mike, that is a position of need for this team. They did address wide receiver as well. These are spots that they have been weak at in the past and that is hurt. Hurt them so much. So to have someone like Bradley Chubb coming in and to have DJ Moore coming in, I think being maybe not in the way we expected, but addressed the spots on this roster and is there more work to be done? Yes, we know that. But at least those, those moves that I would consider more of a top end ad, it's like, okay, I see him trying to work and make this team better.

[C]

Yeah. I mean, the losses they've had, it's kind of funny. The losses they've had, obviously, outside of David Edwards, you know, losing him, have been those guys that have been really good for this team.

[A]

Correct.

[C]

You know, and, you know, and again, I can, you know, you talk about guys like Cam Lewis, we have no idea yet. In the other guys, it should tell you a little bit of something about the Bills roster that they have not had guys that the rest of the league is going. We can't wait to get you. They are guys on the periphery.

[A]

Correct.

[C]

Signed.

[A]

It's the Epanesses, it's the Bosas.

[C]

There's Trey Whites, Matt Milanos. Like those guys have not.

[A]

Which again, is a testament to how they held the defense together as well as they did. My thought on Joey or on Joey Bosa. It's funny on Bradley Chubb is. It's a little bit, in my impression, it's a little bit like a Bosa signing. He has put up numbers. He has at times been injured. And the one thing I will say that I love about Bradley Chubb, from just my 20 minutes of research of looking into is he is way better against the run than Joey Boses.

[C]

I did not.

[B]

It would be hard to be worse.

[A]

Yeah, agreed. It is a low bar to clear. But for everybody, that said I was negative on DJ Moore and Dan doesn't want to compliment DJ Moore and I see all those comments and I appreciate them for the sake of liking commenting and subscribing. But I did want to come in here and I said I had Jonathan Granard and Bradley Chubb were the two guys that I had written down on my card. Coming in here, I would have liked Granard more, but you're having to trade for him and then you're taking on his salary, which is 19 million per year. So this is, again, I think, being a good job of Chubkins at the edge. We know. Hey, Mike, Greg Rousseau sets the edge.

[C]

Damn right he does.

[A]

And I think this. We. We talked about what you wanted or what we need or wanted to see in Jim Leonard's defense, and it was a physical style of play, and I think Bradley Chubb can do that. So I like the signing in that sense. I think he's more. I think he's better, honestly. I think he's still better as a run stopper than he is a pass rusher at this point in his career. We'll see how that translates. He still can put up eight and a half sacks. I think he'll still give Greg Russo a run for his money. Mike to lead the team in sacks. But I do see this as a Joey Bosa esque signing where the guy's not in his prime anymore. But I still think there's some gas left in the tank and I like what he can do against the run where the Bills struggled.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, no, that's fair. I could definitely see that. I guess I thought it would be a little bit splashier. You know, I was hoping that Trey Hendrickson, you know, the Max Crosby thing doesn't work out. I wasn't expecting that, but I was

[C]

kind of like expected was expecting to. Dan's point at the beginning was more of the Jim Leonard connection. Jim Leonard. And there are still guys out there, but, man, you said it the other day, do these guys not like Jim Leonard?

[A]

That was a joke inside the group text. We're now airing that stuff out.

[C]

Why not? None of them have signed with the Bills.

[A]

I guess my assumption was the league was so excited for Jim Leonard to become a DC that I guess I thought players would come running to Buffalo to be a part of it.

[C]

And it's not a negative against Jim Leonard, but it isn't the positive that you might have thought correct.

[B]

Michael, putting the group chat on.

[C]

Oh, please.

[B]

Right now, please.

[C]

Of all the things in the group chat, that's the one you're worried about? Oh, please.

[B]

That's a fair.

[A]

Sometimes I have jokes, and sometimes I have jokes in the group chat that I don't expect to make the podcast.

[C]

Well, let me tell you something. Believe me, that wouldn't make the top 20.

[A]

No,

[B]

gentlemen, I will let you pontificate even longer. Are we going to go on a boat ride? So I gotta wrap up, but I know. No, all. All jokes aside, real quick, just wanted to say thank you, you guys. My parents are down here, so that's why we decided to come down. And. And I know the timing is not ideal with it being free agency.

[A]

Don't worry.

[C]

Go ahead, princess.

[A]

Is there free agency going on, by the way? It was vacation time.

[C]

I'm assuming you're not driving the boat because you don't. No, no one wants that, Ben.

[B]

Dri. I've not driven at all.

[C]

Zach

[B]

might. We'll see.

[C]

Alpha male thing going on here. Zach, want to take over the boat?

[B]

No.

[A]

Also, shout out Alyssa. I know she's behind the camera or the. The computer not far away. So shout out Alyssa.

[B]

She was over. I had to leave because I could see her hawking, trying to. We'll have to get her on the pod at some point. Yes, we'll see how.

[A]

All right, go enjoy your day.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Love you guys. Thank you. Bye.

[A]

A few moments later. So, again, appreciate Jenna taking some time out of vacation.

[C]

Oh, man. She had bad fomo. She was like, I.

[A]

Well, we had technical difficulties. And she's like, I'm going on this boat trip. I gotta get all this stuff in. But I. I do want to be on it. She's like, do you want me to record something?

[C]

We're like, no, she wanted to be, but, I mean, we're putting out a lot of content this week. You know, we're holding down the fort while she's doing our best on her little vacation, so. So good for her.

[A]

Obviously, it was great that we did it when we did because of the fact that the Bradley Chubb signing goes down again, kind of like we reiterated. I like the signing because we were originally going to start the podcast and go, how do. How does everybody feel about how quiet the bills have been?

[C]

So it's interesting when you look at the bills, you say, my areas of concern coming into this off season are wide receiver. They addressed it. I. We've talked about the compensation. Don't like the compensation. Like the player. So in terms of the player, they got a Wide receiver, a veteran who has been productive in this league. He's a starter. He's their number one receiver. They kept who I think was the most valuable offensive lineman. They could have lost this off season between the two of them. I like McGovern.

[A]

Yep.

[C]

To stay. They kept him and now they brought in a pass rusher. And again, we. It's a little, you know, swing away and hope.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

On an older player.

[A]

Would you call it. Would you call it a splash?

[C]

It's a. It's a mid range splash.

[A]

That's what I think.

[C]

It's a good splash. It's not massive.

[A]

Correct.

[C]

It's not what we saw. The craziness with the Ravens.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And the Max Crosby stuff and where that will. Will sort itself out.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And Trey Hendrickson. And I think they would have been in on it. Yeah. But in this case. And maybe they were.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, there's a lot of reports that they were in on Hendrickson.

[A]

And here's the other thing, too, and I want to make this clear because I was kind of talking myself into what could Jonathan Granard do in the defense. But again, you would have to trade for him. So we've talked about compensation and giving things up. And he's getting 19 million per year.

[C]

So get signed.

[A]

No, he's still on the Vikings. But the Vikings are saying they're trading him. Right.

[C]

They would trade the contract.

[A]

They would trade the contract. So I don't think there's big guaranteed money, but you're getting two years left on the deal for Jonathan Grinard, whoever takes him. That could be the Eagles, that could be the Cowboys. A bunch of teams are interested and obviously with what the Vikings are doing. So to me, to get a guy around 15, 10, you know, 13, 15. We don't know the exact numbers yet of the contract. I like that. Because you didn't have to give up a draft pick.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

To get in Bradley Chubb. So for everybody, again, I, I have the commenters in my head about Dan hating DJ Moore, that I hate wide receivers, and that's just not the case. I just wanted to look at it and I say, this is a move where I go, this is worth a swing because it didn't cost you any draft picks.

[C]

Sometimes you just have to say, what is it worth? And then about it. So you can like the player. Like, let's use an example of Max Crosby. I thought even. Not even to get to what happened.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I thought, I think Max Crosby's really good. Love to have him on your team. I Thought two number ones was a lot for him. Right. But they decided that's what they were going to do, and then they backed out. What if I said to you, you could get Max Crosby, he's not even to use him. Garrett from the Browns? What if I said, you can get Garrett from the Browns, it's going to cost you five number ones?

[A]

That is correct.

[C]

Well, you would say, I love the player, I hate the compensation. Now, I'm taking it to extremes.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

To say that I'm with you on this. Number one, you got him just for money. And number two, again, I'm maybe stressing this a little more because I think this is how you build up roster depth. They are still in line for a comp pick because they're not using that and they had an offensive lineman. Bills don't have that many guys that leave for big deals other places. So you can. You can spend this money and it's different. Hey, it's what the Weasel in Philly does. Howie Roseman, he knows how to get comp picks.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I say the Weasel say it affectionately.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

That's what he does.

[A]

And Jenna touched on it earlier in the podcast, but I did want to reiterate it. This morning was just bananas. Like this. We joke around like this league. This was just an incredible day of NFL free agency. I'm trying to go to the gym and I just can't leave my computer because everything that's coming out, obviously, last night we find out that the deal for Max Crosby and. And the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens back out of the trade.

[C]

And how about Raiders? How about the Raiders tweeting it.

[A]

Amazing that they pettiness.

[C]

And then they circled the word Vegas. Las Vegas Raiders at the bottom, which is kind of funny.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So we had that happening. Then we have Josh Allen and Field Yates, who has been on the pod before. Shout out. Field Yates tweets out that the Josh Allen contract has been restructured, freeing up $50 million in cap space.

[C]

40, was it?

[A]

$40 million.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And holy cow.

[C]

Oh, man. Well, first of all, cap's still not real. It's not real to our friend Brian, who says to me, we should explain it, because sometimes we say it. He goes, you guys talk about it all the time. It's very simple. The cap, we say it's not real because you can manipulate the cap. Of course it's real and exists, and there are numbers you have to hit. But when you need cap space, the good teams, the smart teams, the teams that will spend money, know how to Kick it down the road, especially with their good players. You figure out your ways around the cap. It is highly manipulable.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

If that is a word, yes, you can do it. And the Bills have done it and Bean has done it. Other GMs do.

[A]

Correct. Bean is pretty good at it.

[C]

And when they decide to do it,

[A]

and what's like what I always factor in two is the fact of when you're converting those contracts, when you're restructuring them and you're converting base salary into guaranteed money and all those things, that money goes directly into that player's bank account. That is the owner hitting a button and it goes right in. So if you don't have an owner that is liquidable. Liquid.

[C]

Liquid is fine.

[A]

Liquid is fine.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You can't do that. There are some teams, not all owners. Everybody thinks every owner is a gajillionaire and they have all this money. Not all owners are created equal. So some owners are more willing to. To swipe the pen and say, yeah, we'll restructure that to free up cap space. Brandon Bean, we have talked. He's talked to me about it. I've talked to him about it. He has said it to my face that I'm an idiot, and it's the dumbest thing he's ever heard. But the fact of the matter is, is that he's. He's pretty good at manipulating the salary cap to free up things. But there has never been a player in the history of the NFL that a team has cut because of the salary cap. They find ways to keep good players. My argument always is, is that teams use it as an excuse why they don't sign somebody. And that, to me, is where I think it's team and league propaganda of the salary cap is this hard thing that you can't move.

[C]

Edwards is a good example. All things being equal, with no cap, you would say. But we know with no cap, you would say, we're going to keep Edwards if you want to spend the money. The reality is teams are only going to spend so much money because even without a cap, they have a budget. No, no, I'm making the point. Yes, there is a good player that they would normally keep, but even without a cap, teams are going to say, we're going to put a young player in that spot. We can't pay everybody. We're not going to have a $400 million salary.

[A]

And the GM's job is still to evaluate talent.

[C]

Right.

[A]

And put price tags on players. So everybody goes, well, then just pay Everybody, that's not what the GM's job is doing. And that's not our argument of it. So that's where it goes into. So obviously the Josh contract goes through. They can still restructure. They've restructured Ed. They can restructure Dion's. They got Dawson Knox's number. We're still waiting for those numbers to officially come out. Yeah, but obviously there's the assumption that you're lessing the cap hit this year. DJ Moore's contract As we're recording this at 454 on Wednesday, all of those things can be restructured to free up cap space this year and kick the can down the road, which if you win, nobody cares about what is down the road. You win now and you are forever immortal. So that is that the other one we have heard and this gets us right into it. Cam Wolf of NFL Network was saying that obviously with the chaos of Max Crosby and Trey Hendrickson, the Bills were interested in both. They take that for what it is. Bean has been in like a good GM has been in on a lot of players. Obviously did not work out.

[C]

But what do you think happens with Max Crosby now?

[A]

See, the Raiders get screwed more than anything out of this because now the value is so different for Crosby.

[C]

Yeah. The league has told everybody that he is. There's an injury concern, but that's not even it.

[A]

It's the time of. They talk about like striking when the iron is hot and when there is a demand.

[C]

Oh, right.

[A]

And before free agency, there's a massive demand. And you get teams into bidding wars and that's how you end up getting two first round picks. And now teams have allocated their money, teams have set what they're going to do at that position. And now the Raiders are going. Well, now who wants him? Because he doesn't really want to be here. Yeah. That's where it is. I wrote shady in a scumbag move by the Ravens because there's no way that they did not know that Max has had some knee injury.

[C]

Well, of course. And you're not trying to clear him to play tomorrow.

[A]

Correct.

[C]

And there they can say there is long term concern of what is the. Is. Okay. I would bet a lot of players have that.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And the idea. I've seen people say he was on crutches and this and the other. He had surgery.

[A]

He had surgery in January.

[C]

Yeah. Josh Allen walked in with crutches on. Are you telling me you're gonna fail his physical?

[A]

Exactly.

[C]

And yeah, I think that's. I Call BS on the. And, and here's the thing about the Ravens. Everybody in the league who knows, if we got Brandon Bean on the patio this summer and got him to talk to us off the record, he would say it's a BS move by the Ravens for what they did. Now I'm, I'm saying this because do

[A]

you know how many other this opens Pandora's box? And I know, like I said, I was talking about J.D. mcKissick.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Who the Bills had agreed during one of those first few days of legal tampering to a contract and then he ends up signing back with Washington. And Bean was pissed about that.

[C]

And then he got James Cook. They did get James Cook as a pass catcher.

[A]

Hey, ball don't lie.

[C]

Remember that. Yes, they got him as a pass catcher.

[A]

But I'm saying is that this can happen where you agree in principle to a deal and you're supposed to be trading and negotiating in good faith and then whatever. The Ravens, I think they're having a press conference at 5:30. They kept one eye open at what the edge rushing market was and they were going, huh, Trace still out there. I wonder what. I wonder what. I wonder what this could be. And you can't tell me otherwise that they didn't. That Trey wasn't the side chick.

[C]

I was just gonna say to you. Not even that. Here's the way I looked at it. I remember this happened in high school where a guy asked a girl. Back then it was. Maybe it was different. He asked this girl to the prom. She was great.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Then this other girl was out there. She had broken up with her boyfriend. He made the move, stopped the one. It's terrible. All. Everybody, even the guys were like, dude, that was bad.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

But he, he saw his opportunity and he made the move.

[A]

Right. So don't tell me it's a failed physical like.

[C]

But there is enough evidence to say you can use what the doctors said.

[A]

But that's not in good faith.

[C]

No. Because in. If they would have only given up one round pick for him, they would have had the deal go through. Agreed. Yes. They just. I'm surprised they didn't go back to him and say, listen, when I looked at it, we were. We're paying you too much. How about we make it a 1 and a 3? But instead Trey was there. And believe me, they were negotiating that before they told the Ravens and the

[A]

flag bearers and the. The shield protectors, they were saying, well, the Ravens were telling Trey that they were going to play, he was going to Play with Max. And I go, sure, you were going

[C]

to sign both of them.

[A]

You're so. So what you're telling me is that the. The Ravens weren't telling Trey Hendrickson, oh, we're going to. We're going to fail Max. Just. Just wait. Just so you know, he's not really going to be on the team, so I think it's just total B.S. it's a scumbag move. It's a bad look for the Ravens, and I'm not saying that nobody's ever going to deal with them again because there's business to be made. But it is a bad look. And to me, it is just screams of. You're. You're agreeing to something and then you see something else better, like you said, and you're like, oh, I wouldn't have. It's the same thing with the dj. More like you can see the backlash for two picks. Oh, my goodness. And then they. They. They sleep on it and they're like, that may have been. That may have been too much.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Just kidding, guys. I think that's just a BS move.

[C]

Yeah. So we'll see if it impacts Da Costa and the Ravens when they're making deals with other teams. I will say, I do think there's a little bit of, like, can we trust these guys? And. And people act like, even deals now. Right. You know, you make a trade now, today, you trade for Granard, you can kill the deal. Yep. If he fails his physical, like, that doesn't go away because now we're in the legal year. That's always been part of it. We've seen it happen. I think because of the nature of the way the. The. The legal tampering is and everything gets out and then you wait for it to be finalized. I think it adds something to the idea of all these other moves were made in the interim. Now we'll see what happens with Crosby. You know, they'll say he's back working out at 6 o' clock this morning in Vegas, everything that's going on. And that may be the case. I still would take Max Crosby on my team 100%. Yeah. I think.

[A]

I think.

[C]

I think even ahead of Hendrickson, I gotta say, I like the way he plays around. Trey Hendrickson doesn't play the run. He's not.

[A]

Cannot play the run.

[C]

Cannot play the straight out.

[A]

For as much as I was talking up, oh, I really like Trey Hendrickson was trying to, you know, talk that into existence. The more I looked into, like, he's really. He is below Average against the run. And they talk about having to hide him at times.

[C]

He hits a lot of homers, but he don't play the field and he doesn't get a lot of singles. Yeah, like that guy swings for defense. Swarber, come on.

[A]

You can't say he's warmer. It's on base a lot.

[C]

Team usa. Hey, dude, you. You turn. Your manager's got to know he's got one job. Yeah. Know if we're supposed to win or

[A]

not anyhow, but yeah. So those are the big things again, I want to reiterate, I like Bradley Chubb. We'll find out more about the numbers. Obviously. Three years, 42 and a half million, I think we said. But once we get real numbers coming out, price spot track will have them. But again, I like the deal. I like the player, the physicality that he can be as a stand up outside linebacker. I think it really fits in well. So I'm excited. I. I'm excited about that. I'm excited they made a move. You're on the phone.

[C]

No, I'm looking.

[A]

What do you got?

[C]

No, it's Javon Hargrave. A two year deal with the Packers. Again, he was released. Yeah, and I know that doesn't sound like much, but he was released. It's just a different way. You sign him. Hargrave's a good player. He's two years 23. Well, okay, so just so you know, when Ian Rapaport tweets these things, he says, deal done by Drew Rosenhaus. What that means in English is Drew Rosenhaus texted me to tell me this is the deal, and he gave me the number. Two years, 23 million. I'm going to take a wild guess and say Javon Hargrave's not making $23 million over two years. Yes, but they're, they're doing it in NFL agent speak.

[A]

Are there any other players you have your eye on you think could fit? The safety market is drying up very quickly for the Bills. It is a very good safety draft class, but there were some veterans I thought they could add alongside Cole that have signed elsewhere. Are there any other names that, that stick out to you?

[C]

I think there's always deals, there's always trades. There's a lot of safeties in this draft.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

When teams draft safeties early, in many cases, somebody becomes available. So I know nobody wants to hear it, but there are good moves made by teams in May, June, like, so.

[A]

That was my point. I had tweeted that I was interested in Dre Greenlaw Right now, he's the guy that has been very injured. I can see him going back to rejoining Masala.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

In Tennessee.

[C]

Right.

[A]

That could be a summer signing. Like, this is a guy that. Here's a guy that has been injured, but is a nasty dude.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And almost like a Shaq Thompson signing. When the bill signed Shaq, it kind of flew under the radar. You're like, all right, guys, been injured quite a bit, but when he's on the field, he's impactful. So there are a couple of signings that I could see down the road. DJ Reader is a defensive tackle. I think that could work as well as. The only other safety that is on my mind is Andre Cisco. So he's a Syracuse guy, has bounced around Jacksonville. The jets has kind of bounced around. Could be another fit. So those are just names that. Because there have been so many, obviously, we talked about Leo Chanel. We talked about some of those guys that we thought would be fits. And then even people will say, okay, today here. Here are the players I'm looking at. And then by 3 o', clock, they're already signed with so many other teams. So those are just options that I have out there.

[C]

Yeah. Free agency is just beginning. There's still players out there and there still be trades. Now that the league year is here, everything is more, I guess it's wide open now. All of those things have now taken place, so we'll see. But I will say I'm happy they made a move. I'm. I'm. I'm happy they made a move today.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Because I got to say, Bean was getting roasted, and we were ready to drop them on the grill here for a little bit. Is that roasted? That's grilled, not roasted. Roasted.

[A]

You can roast. Yeah, yeah. Put in the oven.

[C]

You can't roast on the grill, can you? There's no setting for row, but I. It's grilled, but.

[A]

I know. But a lot of times I wrap the vegetables in aluminum foil and then put them on the grill.

[C]

So we're going to call that roasting.

[A]

I think it's kind of. I think that'd be roasting.

[C]

Well, we were going to put him on the grill. Yeah, he's been on the patio. We're going to put him on the grill.

[A]

But again, so quickly. A good draft, a couple signings. Bradley Chubb is now coming to Buffalo. So that is. That is something. Weigh in with what you think about the Bradley chubb signing. The DJ Moore move is now official. The Connor McGovern I know you did a video on that yesterday. Plenty of content continuing and weigh in

[C]

on what you think of Jenna dropping in, putting on her shades and leaving to go on a boat while we got to do the hard work. Somebody's got to do it, Princess.

[A]

Yeah, Bradley, chub all those things. Comment in. Appreciate the support as always for Jenna, who's on a boat.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

From Mike Catalana. I'm Dan Fates. Please be sure to like, comment and subscribe. We will catch you here next time in the Connors and Ferris Podcast studio. Thank you for listening and watching to Buffalo plus Buffalo plus.