With free agency in full swing it’s time to fire up another Fan Friday. You can send your questions to me at AskChris@bills.nfl.net. Here we go.
1. Hey Chris,
I was just wondering, how are the contract talks going with Peters? Although it took him a couple of games to get into game shape, he is the Bills best lineman, shouldn’t they have locked him up already?
Thanks, Ryan
CB: As I understand the Bills told him they would address his contract after the season was over. With the salaries of Derrick Dockery and Robert Royal now off the books (minus the $5.3M acceleration on Dockery) they have more money to re-invest in Peters, which I anticipate will happen eventually.
However, I don’t see a deal being consummated quickly. This is one that will take some time I believe. But it’s a good sign and hopefully Peters is more motivated to play his best and participate in all offseason activities moving forward.
2. Chris- Just curious on the draft status of Pittsburgh Panther Derek Kinder number 81. Is he draft elgible and what round would he go in? He’s a local product out of Albion NY, he’s the guy who blocked two guys on a special teams play that sprung Derelle Revis for a touchdown.
Thanks Travis
CB: I thought Kinder did a nice job coming back from a torn ACL, which forced him to miss his entire junior season. I think his size and speed (4.54) is good enough to get him into a training camp, but I fear he will go undrafted, unless he has a monster pro day at Pitt on March 17. I’ll keep my eye out to see how he fares.
3. Hey Chris,
Just wondering your thoughts on this. Do you think it could come to a situation on Draft day that sees the Eagles want to move up so badly that they would give away the 2 first rounders they have, to get into the Bills spot, which is ahead of their division rival in Washington?
Could the Bills get away with a great DE and a TE and spot 21 and 28?
Do you think C Mack is still available at #42?
Thanks for your time and insight.
Randy
NL, CAN
CB: I think the only way the Eagles do that is if there’s an early run on the OTs and they want one of the top four (J. Smith, Monroe, Oher, A. Smith). If not I see them sitting where they’re at and hoping one of the top 2 backs falls to them (Moreno, Wells) and then scoop up a value player at 28. That’s usually the way they operate. They covet quantity of picks and trading up to 11 would cost them.
4. Chris,
I do understand the Bills need for a top pass rusher, but watching TE Brandon Pettigrew from OSU, I don’t see how anyone could pass him up if he’s still there at # 11. He’s a beast. Not only can he catch anything thrown at him, but he’s a great blocking TE. I’m no expert but the guy looks like he can come right in and start as a rookie. And the Bills defense showed they are good enough to win. It was the offense that needed help. Have you followed Pettigrew? What do think?
Jerry (Bills fan in FL)
CB: With the release of Royal (not that he was a long term answer anyway), the thin free agent crop and the desperate need to add a playmaker to the offense, Pettigrew is the only option in the draft where you could start him next to Langston Walker and feel somewhat comfortable. Due to that fact I think he’s a possibility at 11.
I’d still prefer a pass rusher, believing you have to get your big people early, but Pettigrew who I saw and spoke to at the combine is very impressive. Comes across well and is athletic enough to make a difference. I just maintain that unless you know he’s going to be a Tony Gonzalez type player you don’t take a tight end that high.
5. Chris,
I understand that there has been a lot of talk on whether or not we should try to re-sign Greer or not. First I was wondering who you think is the better cover corner Greer or McGee? In some of the games I saw this year, although they were limited since I live in Cincinnati, Greer seemed to be the better cover corner. I know Greer is one year younger than McGee and he doesn’t get the recognition that McGee does because McGee is such a good return man. Given all that do you think it would be smarter to re-sign Greer, give Corner and McKelvin one more year to develop and then let Parrish, McKelvin and Jackson handle the return game? I think that Greer will be cheaper this year than McGee will be next. Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Brendan
CB: Your question is a very good one. For the Bills I truly believe that it is an either-or proposition. They either still try to get Greer signed and let McGee go after next season, or let Greer go now and get McGee extended before next season is over.
I think based on how things played out leading up to free agency this week, they’ve chosen the latter. Still your point that the market will likely be higher when they get around to doing McGee is a valid one. Salaries usually go nowhere but up.
I like both of them, but I think McGee is a bit better than Greer. I think he’s a stronger tackler, has comparable footwork and plays hurt. It’s my belief that the team values McGee a bit more, and not because of the return ability, but his ability as a corner, which has gone overlooked for a while in this league.
Greer is looking for between $7-9M. It’s likely that McGee will be looking for the same in less than a year. We’ll have to just see where the market goes to see if one was the better play financially than the other.
