Can Schobel still contribute in '09? (buffalobills.com)

The "State of the Bills Roster" series trucks on! If you're new around these parts within the past nine months or so, this series is an off-season progression of posts in which we'll break down Buffalo's roster in-depth. From these discussions, we'll put together a "Community Needs List" in priority order, then begin researching potential free agent and draft acquisitions that will satisfy all of the Bills' needs as we perceive them.

Hey - at least this way, we're doing the job right. Right? Unlike a certain front office we're forced to support.

And now, we continue our foray into heavy-duty off-season work at Buffalo Rumblings. It's our "State of the Roster" series, off-season mode, and we'll continue the discussions by breaking down the Bills' situation at defensive end - arguably the team's biggest weakness. This discussion should be fun....
   Previous installments: QB :: RB :: TE :: WR :: OT :: G/C
   New: Prioritized Offensive Needs List

Opening statement
When was the last time the Buffalo Bills had a consistent, aggressive, athletically gifted pass rush? You'd have to go back to the mid-to-late 1990s, when Hall of Fame nominee Bruce Smith and linebacker Bryce Paup were wreaking havoc on opposing backfields. Since then, Buffalo has statistically had some good pass rushers - Aaron Schobel chief among them - but the lack of a difference-maker at this position is painfully apparent. This, folks, is the weakest point not just of Buffalo's defense, but perhaps of its entire team.

#94 Aaron Schobel (starter)
  6'4", 243 pounds
  Age: 32 in September 2009
  Contract status: 4 years remaining (UFA after 2012); owed $37.525M in base salaries, $9.525M of which is guaranteed.
- Schobel missed three-quarters of Buffalo's 2008 campaign with a Lisfranc foot injury that couldn't heal in time for the season's stretch run. At age 32, Schobel - once a double-digit sack machine despite being a dominant pass rushing force - is thought to be slowing down significantly. He's still a guy who gives maximum effort on every play and can pick up sacks with that approach, and he's improved tremendously against the run during his career. However, he was never, in reality, a guy to build a defense around, and he's definitely not that player now. My take: Schobel can still contribute - and he'd better, considering the money he's owed - but the talent around him needs a complete face lift.

#90 Chris Kelsay (starter)
  6'4", 261 pounds
  Age: 30 in October 2009
  Contract status: 2 years remaining (UFA after 2010); owed $6.7M in base salaries.
- Ah, yes. Everyone's favorite whipping boy. Kelsay is what he is - an effort defensive end and a solid locker room guy that's limited athletically. He'll never be a difference-maker for a defense, particularly now that he's entering the stretch run of his career. His contract is no longer an issue; he only has two years remaining on the deal at relatively modest salaries. If the Bills want to cut a defensive end in order to bring in some talent at the position, Kelsay should - and likely will be - at the top of their list.

#92 Ryan Denney
  6'7", 264 pounds
  Age: 32 in June 2009
  Contract status: 1 year remaining (UFA after 2009); owed $2.4M in base salaries.
- Denney has long been lumped into the Chris Kelsay Category in terms of defensive ends amongst the Bills fan base; that should no longer be the case after Denney's solid 2008 season. Filling in for an injured Schobel, Denney became one of Buffalo's best run defenders, consistently stopping rushers in the backfield, and also tied for the team lead in sacks with four. Clearly, Denney isn't a starter in this league, but as a rotational guy, he has a lot of value. With only one year left on his deal, it's perfectly acceptable to make him a part of the team's plans at the position, particularly because his size gives the team some scheme flexibility as well.

#96 Copeland Bryan
  6'4", 240 pounds
  Age: 26 in July 2009
  Contract status: Undisclosed.
- Bryan was one of just a few surprise additions to Buffalo's opening day roster last fall, and we could have done worse than him, believe me. Still, he's a fringe player with only near-sufficient athleticism, and he's certainly not the pass rush threat we need. He'll stay with the team for training camp competition; if he's counted on for more than that, we're in serious trouble.

#93 Chris Ellis
  6'5", 267 pounds
  Age: 24 in February 2009
  Contract status: 3 years remaining (UFA after 2011); owed $1.41M in base salaries, with another $695K achievable through incentives.
- Ellis was arguably Buffalo's most disappointing rookie in 2008. Buffalo's need at defensive end was dire last off-season too (just ask Kurupt), and Ellis, by default, was the response to that need. He was inactive for much of the season, ineffective when he got onto the field, and ended the season on IR. His work ethic and motivation have been openly questioned as far back as his rookie training camp. One season is far too early to give up on any rookie, but counting on Ellis as a contributor in 2009 is incredibly risky business.

The Breakdown
Keepers: Schobel, Denney, Ellis. Schobel's contract dictates he'll be back; hopefully, he can still contribute. Denney is a solid reserve, and Ellis still has potential, though there are enough question marks to outweigh that potential at this point.

Extendables: Yeah, definitely none here.

Expendables: Kelsay, Bryan. I highly doubt I'm going to get much heat for putting these two guys here.

Questionables: None.

Goners: None.

What we need: I think this one's pretty obvious - we need a pass rusher. Also, less apparently but just as critical, we need <em>youth</em> here.  Schobel, Kelsay and Denney will all be at least 30 next season.I like effort defensive ends and hustle guys just as much as Dick Jauron, but now is the time for the Bills to add an actual athlete - or, better yet, two actual athletes - to the mix at this position. Unless the Bills can find a consistent pass rush, we've essentially reached our potential defensively - middle of the pack statistically with few big plays. Everything revolves around the pass rush. Help is swiftly needed here.

That's it. I'm done with the easy stuff. Now it's on you, folks. Should the Bills look to add multiple athletes at this position? Can we count on a rookie to solve our pass rush woes? Have any names of potential additions you'd like to throw into the ring? Have fun with this, and let's get brainstorming.

The Buffalo Bills should induct the Buffalo Rumblings community into Ralph Wilson's vaunted "inner circle" straight away.  Seriously, as we've broken down the Bills roster and started putting together our prioritized needs list, I've been astounded at the level of participation and the quality of discussions that we've had.  There have been disagreements, but each and every one of us has the team's best interests at heart - can the same be said for the inner circle?

We have now broken down every offensive player and position, and with some heated debates and community polls tossed in, we're ready to unveil our Offensive Community Needs List.  You may not agree with all of it and I may not agree with all of it, but the inner circle likely agrees with none of it.

What follows is our prioritized needs list - and feel free to continue to debate it if you wish; by all means, this thing isn't set in stone - and the players that we have split up categorically.  There were a few surprises, which I'm certain we'll discuss as well.  The results!

Buffalo Rumblings Community Needs List - Offense
1.  Receiving Tight End: Honestly thought I'd be overruled on this one, but at time of press, this community is voting 60-40 in favor of tight end being Buffalo's top priority offensively.  The polls are by no means closed, however, so if you disagree, go vote and leave your opinions!

2.  Center: Buffalo has a gaping hole on the interior of their offensive line, and Duke Preston clearly can't fill it.  New blood is needed, and whether it's in the form of veteran or rookie, that blood needs to start ASAP.

3.  Veteran Wide Receiver: Our receiver production is lacking despite the fact that there is some talent at the position.  The consensus (barely) amongst Rumblers is that a veteran that can push for the starting job - with Bryant "Panda" Johnson as the favorite - would be a welcome addition to this offense.

4.  Veteran Backup Quarterback: Good news!  J.P. Losman has played his last game in Buffalo!  Better news!  We're going to have a better backup quarterback in 2009!  But we still need to do the getting, and the consensus is that signing a veteran is the best approach in doing so.

5.  Reserve Center/Guard: The majority of this community voted to re-sign Duke Preston - I was surprised too - so we've only got one reserve interior lineman on the menu here.  This particular position seems likely to change depending on how the need at center is handled.

6.  Blocking Fullback: If Buffalo plans on featuring the power running offense that they should be featuring in 2009, they're going to need a guy that can remove linebackers from holes - but only after the holes are created.  Therefore, this should be a priority, but a low one.  Bigger fish to fry.

7.  Viable Third Running Back: I'm fairly certain that I'm the only person that isn't comfortable with Xavier Omon here, but nobody seemed upset with the notion of having a running back on the list, so it stays for now.  I still maintain that finding a third back that contribute could be an underrated benefit to this offense, and I'm not certain Omon can be that guy.

Again, this list remains fluid, so if you're still feeling the need to try to get a position moved up or down on the list, have at it.  Keep in mind that it's a community arrangement, however, so your arguments will have to be persuasive!

Player Categorization
Extendables: Players that the community have deemed worthy of contract extensions.
- QB Gibran Hamdan (RFA), RB Fred Jackson (ERFA), OT Jason Peters (potential holdout), OT Kirk Chambers (UFA), G/C Duke Preston (UFA)

Expendables: Players that the community have deemed expendable, whether on the merits of terrible play or contract status.
- QB J.P. Losman (UFA), FB Corey McIntyre, TE Robert Royal (cut?), OG Jason Whittle (UFA), C Melvin Fowler (UFA)

Apathetics: Players that the community, by and large, doesn't give a rip about, because they're bubble players and spot contributors at best.
- QB Matt Baker, RB Bruce Hall, WR Justin Jenkins, WR Felton Huggins, WR C.J. Hawthorne, TE Jonathan Stupar, OT Jonathan Scott, OT Chris Denman, OG Brandon Rodd

Keepers: Players that the community believes will stay in Buffalo, whether it be on their own merit, on the merits of common knowledge, or on the merits of exorbitant contracts.
- QB Trent Edwards, RB Marshawn Lynch, RB Xavier Omon, WR Lee Evans, WR Josh Reed, WR Roscoe Parrish, WR Steve Johnson, WR James Hardy, TE Derek Fine, TE Derek Schouman, OT Langston Walker, OT Demetrius Bell, OG Derrick Dockery, OG Brad Butler

Schouman, tight ends can't cut it (buffalobills.com)

In building our Buffalo Rumblings Community Needs List - in which we prioritize all of the Buffalo Bills' biggest positional needs heading into the off-season - one of the more interesting debates to be held, at least offensively, is whether the Bills should make acquiring a tight end more of a priority than acquiring a new center. Good arguments can be made in both camps. So, in the spirit of sparking some debate this morning, I'd like to make formal my belief that acquiring a game-changing tight end would be the best move for Buffalo's offense this off-season.

I'm going to try my best to sway some opinions here at Rumblings this morning, but first, let me clarify something before you all get up in arms here: the Bills need to add player(s) at both of these positions. This is not what I'm debating. I'm simply stating my opinions on which position should receive priority this off-season.

Once I've stated my case, you are, of course, encouraged to state (or re-state) yours. We'll put it to a vote, and the community will decide which position will top our offensive needs list before we start breaking down the defense.

Teams go as QBs go
Again, let me re-iterate: the Bills should add a center and a tight end this off-season. Don't get me wrong; Buffalo should feature the running game as the centerpiece of their offense, and a road-grading center alone could allow the Bills to become dominant in that area.

But I view it like this: if an offense were a human body, the running game would be the heart. That makes the quarterback the brain. The body can't live without the heart, but it can't function without the brain. That's why NFL teams generally get as far as their quarterbacks can take them.

If the Bills want to make a playoff push in 2009, then providing weapons to speed up the development of QB Trent Edwards has to be the Bills' top priority this off-season. 2008 proved that the Bills can't get far even with a pretty solid running game (Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson did rush for 1,607 yards and 11 touchdowns, after all). The team went as far as Edwards went - when he was hot, the Bills were hot; when he was cold, the Bills found ways to lose.

I'm not saying that a center wouldn't help Edwards; clearly, improved pass protection is a must. I'm just saying a receiving tight end helps Edwards develop faster than a center.

Tight ends and power running
Take a look at some of today's best NFL tight ends. Names like Crumpler, Heap, Winslow, Witten, Clark, Gonzalez, Gates and Cooley are most often associated with good tight end play these days. Of that group, the majority of those players are (or have been) featured receivers for teams who featured power rushing attacks offensively. If a rushing attack is a young quarterback's best friend, then a difference-making tight end makes that best friend much more attractive.

Right now, Buffalo's trio of mediocrity - Robert Royal, Derek Fine and Derek Schouman - clearly aren't getting the job done at the position. The three tight ends combined for just 58 receptions and 3 scores last season, and none of them are guys that can take attention away from Buffalo's more explosive offensive weapons. We've already identified Royal as a possible expendable player, while we've labeled Fine and Schouman as guys that can contribute, but not as featured players.

A good tight end is more beneficial to an offense that features the power running game than a center. How? A receiving threat at the position makes the play-action passing game deadly. One of Buffalo's favorite plays this past season was a play-action rollout to the tight end, particularly at the end of games. It got them in serious trouble in the Meadowlands, but that's beside the point. A factor tight end makes that play work far more often than Schouman does.

Centers vs Tight Ends in March and April
Receiving tight ends are difficult to find. Solid athletes at the position are so rare that tight ends often go far higher than they probably should in the draft; it's the reason that guys like Winslow and Vernon Davis were Top-10 picks. Finding a center is a far easier task than finding an impact tight end, and there's very little to debate on that fact.

This off-season, that trend continues. There are several veteran centers - headlined by Minnesota's Matt Birk and Indy's Jeff Saturday - that could potentially hit the market as unrestricted free agents. The 2009 Draft also features one of the deepest center classes in recent memory, headed up by everyone's favorite draft prospect, Cal's Alex Mack. Options are far more limited at tight end, with Houston's Owen Daniels not likely to hit free agency and only two to three tight ends considered legitimate first-year receiving threats in this year's draft.

Defining "Priority"
When I claim - correctly, in my view - that the Bills should make finding a tight end a higher priority than finding a center, it's with two asterisks next to the claim. First of all, I'm not claiming it's going to be easy. Just take a look at my last point - elite tight ends don't turn up often. Fortunately for Buffalo, there are one or two names available this year that, if the chips fall correctly, could land Buffalo their first impact player there since Pete Metzelaars.

Obviously, since finding a center will be far easier than finding a tight end, the Bills could - and probably will - end up filling their need at center first. This is the second asterisk. That's fine, and ultimately, that's probably the preferred route. One of these two spots should be filled with a veteran; the team can't repeat their 2008 off-season move of "filling their need at wide receiver" with rookie James Hardy.

When I say "receive priority", I simply mean that the Bills should focus more time, attention and cap dollars on finding a tight end. The center position is clearly important, and I'm not advocating ignoring it by any stretch of the imagination. I'm simply saying that there is an opportunity to land a tight end that can help Edwards mature and diversify Buffalo's offense this off-season, and if landing one means filling the need at center with a mid-priced veteran and a mid-round draft pick to groom, the Bills should absolutely pull the trigger. Good centers are stumbled upon far more often than good tight ends.

I'm sure some of you are seething and ready to rip my argument to shreds. Have at it. Just don't expect my viewpoint to change! Don't forget to vote in the poll on this topic, and once a winner is decided, we'll re-prioritize our complete offensive needs list and finalize it before moving on to defensive reviews. Oh, and OU's Jermaine Gresham is awesome. (I almost went the whole post without mentioning his name!)

Butler still can't stay healthy (buffalobills.com)

The "State of the Bills Roster" series trucks on! If you're new around these parts within the past nine months or so, this series is an off-season progression of posts in which we'll break down Buffalo's roster in-depth. From these discussions, we'll put together a "Community Needs List" in priority order, then begin researching potential free agent and draft acquisitions that will satisfy all of the Bills' needs as we perceive them.

Hey - at least this way, we're doing the job right. Right? Unlike a certain front office we're forced to support.

And now, we continue our foray into heavy-duty off-season work at Buffalo Rumblings. It's our "State of the Roster" series, off-season mode, and we'll continue the discussions by breaking down the Bills' situation on their interior offensive line - the much-maligned centers and their wingmen.

  Previous installments: QB :: RB :: TE :: WR :: OT

Opening statement
There isn't a lot to be said here that hasn't already been thoroughly discussed throughout the season. Buffalo's center play has been lackluster for a number of years now, and though the guard play has been better, it hasn't been great. There is little depth to speak of here. This is clearly the problem area on Buffalo's underachieving offensive line. With three of the five non-practice squad players unrestricted free agents, the time for change is ripe.

#75 Duke Preston (starter, center)
  6'5", 326 pounds
  Age: 27 in June 2009
  Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
- The best that can be said about Preston's 2008 efforts is that he beat out veteran Melvin Fowler for the starting center job during the season, and that he played with some passion while he was in the lineup. Clearly, his actual blocking is lacking however. At this point, Preston's best shot at returning to the Bills in 2009 is as a backup at all three interior spots - and that's not a given.

#66 Derrick Dockery (starter, left guard)
  6'6", 330 pounds
  Age: 29 in September 2009
  Contract status: 5 years remaining (UFA after 2013); owed $26.25M in base salaries.
- When Buffalo's line was struggling to run block and pass protect in the middle of the '08 season, Buffalo's coaches called out Dockery as the man not playing up to snuff. They were right - Dockery, Buffalo's highest-paid lineman, stunk during the critical mid-season stretch. He responded by playing better in the run department late in the season, but when former fifth-round pick Brad Butler is out-playing him, there are issues. Dockery has another season or two to prove that he'll be worth the exorbitant dollars he's scheduled to make as his contract expires; if he doesn't do any proving, he'll likely be released.

#60 Brad Butler (starter, right guard)
  6'7", 315 pounds
  Age: 26 in September 2009
  Contract status: 4 years remaining (UFA after 2012); owed $5.65 million in base salaries.
- Butler once again had a strong season, proving that the modest contract extension that he signed prior to the start of the '08 season was a smart move by the Bills. Butler still missed a stretch of games due to injury, however, also proving that the Bills can't rely on his health for a full slate of games. He's a keeper, but his injury history is one of the main reasons the Bills need to bolster their depth on the interior.

#65 Jason Whittle
  6'4", 279 pounds
  Age: 34 in March 2009
  Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
- He has spent two seasons on Buffalo's roster and has not made an impact in any capacity. He's dealt with injuries as well. Re-signing Whittle would be pretty easy, but if the Bills want to upgrade their depth on the interior - and they certainly should - Whittle's spot is the one that will be upgraded.

#67 Melvin Fowler
  6'3", 310 pounds
  Age: 30 in March 2009
  Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
- Fowler struggled as the starting center in both 2006 and 2007, and was eventually replaced by Preston as the starter this year after Preston got an opportunity thanks to a Fowler injury. With an upgrade at center looming and Preston a more versatile depth option, Fowler is almost certainly a goner.

Other guards/centers on the roster: Brandon Rodd (practice squad)

The Breakdown
Keepers: Dockery, Butler. Their contracts dictate they'll be back. Butler's injury history is a concern, as is Dockery's lethargy and underachieving. Depth is sorely needed here, and it wouldn't hurt for that depth to be a young guy they can develop.

Extendables: Preston I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea, either, but you can do worse than Preston as a reserve. He should not, and likely won't, be re-signed as a starter.

Expendables: None.

Questionables: None.

Goners: Whittle, Fowler. Both are going to be at least 30 next season, and both are rather average, run-of-the-mill players. They'd be cheap to re-sign, but why bother?

What we need: Obviously, we need a starter at center. We need at least one reserve guard as well to replace Whittle and possibly develop to replace Dockery and/or Butler. We'll put Preston's future up to a vote. If you, the Rumblings community, votes down re-signing Preston as a reserve, we'll add a second swing guard to the list. So yes - we could possibly be looking at needing three players at this position, depending on the Preston vote.

That's it. I'm done with the easy stuff. Now it's on you, folks. Who wants to gush some more about Cal center Alex Mack? Or should the Bills try to fill their need at center with a veteran? Have any names of potential additions you'd like to throw into the ring? Have fun with this, and let's get brainstorming.

Over the past week or so, we here at Buffalo Rumblings have begun the grueling off-season process of figuring out exactly where and how the Buffalo Bills need to improve to make a playoff push in 2009. This effort, currently in its initial phase dubbed our State of the Roster series, will eventually culminate in the assembly of a prioritized Community Needs List, where every single need the Bills carry into the 2009 off-season will be made known to those who run the franchise. (At least, that would be awesome.)

I'm the kind of guy that is obsessed with organization and being on the same page as everybody else. So unlike last year, when we ripped through our State of the Roster series and threw our Needs List together once those reviews were finished, this year we're going to keep our Needs List a work in progress as we work through the positional reviews. Thus, we'll begin prioritizing the work we've already done right now.

What follows are the needs we've already identified, the players we've identified as contract extension-worthy, and the players we'd like to see take a hike. If you don't agree with the names or positions on this list, don't feel bad (unless you aren't part of these discussions) - this is a majority opinion. We'll vote on the positions to get as many opinions in as possible, but the prioritization of extensions and expulsions will remain a discussion rather than a vote. So if you're of the mind that extending Fred Jackson is more critical to this team's success than extending Jason Peters, vote in the poll and click on past the jump to read, digest and leave your thoughts on players themselves.

Continue reading this post »

Will Peters get his big extension? (buffalobills.com)

The "State of the Bills Roster" series trucks on! If you're new around these parts within the past nine months or so, this series is an off-season progression of posts in which we'll break down Buffalo's roster in-depth. From these discussions, we'll put together a "Community Needs List" in priority order, then begin researching potential free agent and draft acquisitions that will satisfy all of the Bills' needs as we perceive them.

Hey - at least this way, we're doing the job right. Right? Unlike a certain front office we're forced to support.

And now, we continue our foray into heavy-duty off-season work at Buffalo Rumblings. It's our "State of the Roster" series, off-season mode, and we'll continue the discussions by breaking down the situation at Buffalo's offensive tackles.

  Previous installments: QB :: RB :: TE :: WR

Opening statement
Buffalo's offensive line regressed slightly in 2008 after a strong 2007 performance. Chalk it up to the lack of continuity on the interior - a position we'll get to soon - and the holdout of left tackle Jason Peters. The holdout, the change at center and the injuries on the inside were the biggest reasons that Buffalo's offensive line was shuffling and underperforming for much of the season.

#71 Jason Peters (starter)
  6'4", 340 pounds
  Age: 27 in January 2009
  Contract status: 2 years remaining (UFA after 2010); owed $6.35M in base salaries
- About to participate in his first Pro Bowl - he's been selected two straight years now - Peters' contract squabble will be the talk of the off-season (personnel-wise) until a resolution is reached. Peters is looking for a deal that will make him one of the top paid players at his position. I've gone on record saying that the Bills would be smart to oblige. It'd be nice if Peters could eliminate some of the errors that cropped up this season, but even with those errors, he's clearly one of the most talented players at his position.

#68 Langston Walker (starter)
  6'8", 366 pounds
  Age: 30 in September 2009
  Contract status: 3 years remaining (UFA after 2011); owed $9 million in base salaries
- Walker proved his value to the team this past off-season when he proved adequate playing in Peters' stead at left tackle. He'll always be a guy that struggles with speed rushers, but all players have weaknesses. Walker is a steady veteran presence that doesn't make mistakes often and isn't paid an exorbitant salary. Very solid player.

#73 Kirk Chambers
  6'7", 315 pounds
  Age: 30 in March 2009
  Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
- The retention of Chambers on the team's final roster had been a criticized move for the past couple of seasons, but Chambers acquitted himself remarkably this past season. The Bills may have inadvertently stumbled upon the "swing" tackle the team coveted, as Chambers proved that he can play well at both tackle positions as well as inside at guard. An unrestricted free agent, the Bills would be wise to re-sign Chambers and the versatility he brings.

#77 Demetrius Bell
  6'7", 307 pounds
  Age: 25 in May 2009
  Contract status: 3 years remaining (UFA after 2011); owed $1.41M in base salaries.
- Buffalo's coaching staff is really high on this kid, but they didn't want to put him on the field in 2008 because they wanted to keep him in their weight program. They think he'll be ready to contribute as a reserve in 2009, and he has the capability to start beyond that point.

#79 Jonathan Scott
  6'6", 318 pounds
  Age: 26 in January 2009
  Contract status: Undisclosed.
- Signed at season's end to fill out the roster when Peters got hurt. Was not active. A talented athlete, Scott hasn't cut it at the NFL level. He probably won't be around for training camp next season, though I wouldn't mind if he was there for competition purposes.

Other tackles on the roster: Chris Denman (practice squad)

The Breakdown
Keepers: Walker, Bell. Walker is just a good player, and he'll be better if he has a good tight end next to him. Bell is an outstanding developmental project that could start producing for Buffalo as soon as next year.

Extendables: Peters, Chambers.. He wants the contract, he needs the contract, he deserves the contract. Give him what he wants - he'll work harder when he gets it. Chambers' versatility is far too valuable to let him walk this off-season, and it'll give the team more time with Bell.

Expendables: Scott, Denman. Neither is really worthy of an NFL roster spot.

Questionables: None.

Goners: None.

What we need: Honestly, I don't think the Bills need to do much work here. Obviously, getting Peters his new deal and re-signing Chambers should be priorities. The Bills won't be keeping more than four tackles next year, and the quartet of Peters, Walker, Chambers and Bell is more than acceptable - it's actually quite good. For the first time this off-season, we've got a position that's pretty much set. Just get those extensions taken care of, Misters Inner Circle.

That's it. I'm done with the easy stuff. Now it's on you, folks. Got any more tough love for Jason Peters to spew? Want to talk more about what a pleasant surprise Chambers has been? Have any names of potential additions you'd like to throw into the ring? Have fun with this, and let's get brainstorming.