I suspect that 12 positions are truly up for grabs.

[Ring 6]

because if Brown is coming, I don't think they will extend, resign, or franchise Boutte.

That really makes no sense. Why add in order to subtract? Boutte for 1 year even if he doesn’t stay is better than not having him at all, and he is cheap.

 

[Ring 6]

Hollins has been released just once in his career and that was in 2019.

“I chose wherever I went, outside of getting released in Philly and picked up by Miami,” Hollins added. “Every choice after that, I got to pick. I always was able to pick where I saw value and they saw value in me."

Former Bills WR Explains Surprising Reason He Left for Patriots

After a productive season with the Buffalo Bills in 2024, many were surprised when Mack Hollins tested the free agent market before he ended up signing with the

www.si.com

Hey we know he's a nut.

Josh Allen on Mack Hollins leaving Buffalo:

Bills quarterback Josh Allen angry that former Buffalo wide receiver joined AFC East rival | Sporting News

The Buffalo Bills lost a fan-favorite wide receiver to the hated New England Patriots, and Josh Allen is angry about it

www.sportingnews.com

The better question is how has a marginal receiver remained relevant in the NFL at age 33.

You're looking at stats, and missing his value.

Think about this. His value was a 1 year contract and the value he provided in that one year led to his team not locking him up.

I’m not “looking at stats” I am looking at the job of a WR. A WR who struggles to get open regularly is an issue.
How does a marginal receiver stay employed? By going to a team with weak WRs. That has been his history, and each team found someone better the next year, and we have as well.

 

[Wozzy]

I am looking for it. I read it last week and was shocked. It the average of rounds 5-7 and there was not much difference between the 3 rounds. I will do my best to find the citation.

This has gotten more stark with college players getting paid. The latter rounds of the draft are not so different from UDFA, the money is even getting closer to the same.

People put too much stock on draft status, if Wes Welker is a great punt returner, slot WR and the guy you drafted isn't... the fact Wes went undrafted won't mean a thing.

 

[imahobgoblin]

The average salary for NFL players selected in rounds 5-7 of the draft on four-year contracts total values ranging approximately between $4.35 million and $4.78 million.

UDFAs in typically sign three-year contracts starting at the league minimum salary, which is approximately $885,000 to over 1 million in 2026. Top UDFAs can secure $100,000-$200,000 in guaranteed money and signing bonuses, though many receive far less.

So 1 year $1,087,500 avg (drafted in 5-7) vs $885,000 UDFA avg. A difference of $202,500 + signing bonus.

 

[DaBruinz]

Think about this. His value was a 1 year contract and the value he provided in that one year led to his team not locking him up.

I’m not “looking at stats” I am looking at the job of a WR. A WR who struggles to get open regularly is an issue.
How does a marginal receiver stay employed? By going to a team with weak WRs. That has been his history, and each team found someone better the next year, and we have as well.

How about this. Try watching the actual games so you have an idea what you're talking about.

Hollins doesn't struggle to get open. Hollins is a 3rd/4th WR who excels at Special Teams and blocking in the run game. We get that you don't understand why that makes him valuable, Andy.

Buffalo didn't find someone better than Hollins at WR. They tried Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore. Both did WORSE than Hollins.
Palmer saw 393 offensive snaps.
Moore saw 186 offensive snaps.

Neither Palmer nor Moore helped on special teams or the run game.
You ever stop to think that Hollins decided to leave Buffalo because of McDaniels?

 

[Family]

How does a marginal receiver stay employed? By going to a team with weak WRs. That has been his history, and each team found someone better the next year, and we have as well.

I can't speak to what happened with each move, but I know Buffalo didn't improve by losing him last year.

 

[Wozzy]

The average salary for NFL players selected in rounds 5-7 of the draft on four-year contracts total values ranging approximately between $4.35 million and $4.78 million.

UDFAs in typically sign three-year contracts starting at the league minimum salary, which is approximately $885,000 to over 1 million in 2026. Top UDFAs can secure $100,000-$200,000 in guaranteed money and signing bonuses, though many receive far less.

So 1 year $1,087,500 avg (drafted in 5-7) vs $885,000 UDFA avg. A difference of $202,500 + signing bonus.

Bradyn Swinson was a 5th round pick, he got 440,796 guaranteed... which is really all that matters.

UDFA's Kyle Dixon's contract comes with $252,000 in guarantees, CJ Dippre ($264k) and Efton Chism ($259k) received more cash as UDFAs than Dixon.

Borregalas got $256,484 guaranteed, so it's reasonable to say the higher paid UDFA's get paid roughly what a 6th rounder does... and the Patriots had no issue cutting 5th rounder Swinson and keeping UDFA Ponder.

Football coaches and executives don't put as much value on draft status as fans... their jobs depend on playing the best players.

 

[Ring 6]

How about this. Try watching the actual games so you have an idea what you're talking about.

Hollins doesn't struggle to get open. Hollins is a 3rd/4th WR who excels at Special Teams and blocking in the run game. We get that you don't understand why that makes him valuable, Andy.

Buffalo didn't find someone better than Hollins at WR. They tried Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore. Both did WORSE than Hollins.
Palmer saw 393 offensive snaps.
Moore saw 186 offensive snaps.

Neither Palmer nor Moore helped on special teams or the run game.
You ever stop to think that Hollins decided to leave Buffalo because of McDaniels?

I haven’t missed a play of a Patriot game in over 30 years.
Of course he struggles to get open.
He excels at special teams? Really? He played a total of 45 snaps on special teams last year. His blocking was not “excellent”.

Buffalo moved on from him. Thats a fact.

McDaniels also moved on from him. One and done.

 

[Ring 6]

I can't speak to what happened with each move, but I know Buffalo didn't improve by losing him last year.

Whether they did or not they certainly felt they would.

 

[mgteich]

because if Brown is coming, I don't think they will extend, resign, or franchise Boutte.

No, they will simply let him be one of our 5 WR's for 2026.

Why should we make our WR group weaker by keeping Douglas, Chism, or Dixon instead of Boutte?

 

[Wozzy]

No, they will simply let him be one of our 5 WR's for 2026.

Why should we make our WR group weaker by keeping Douglas, Chism, or Dixon instead of Boutte?

The Eagles may want Boutte in return.

Also not for nothing, but Boutte was a starter last season, he is entering this season without a contract for next year.

Do you think Boutte is going to want to give up snaps to Brown in a contract year?

He might ask for a trade, get disgruntled or make a stink.

 

[TheRainMaker]

How about this. Try watching the actual games so you have an idea what you're talking about.

Comments like this are what drags down the message board. Accusing a poster (who's been here since 2004) of not watching the games is just flat out bush league.

Hollins doesn't struggle to get open. Hollins is a 3rd/4th WR who excels at Special Teams and blocking in the run game. We get that you don't understand why that makes him valuable, Andy.

Buffalo didn't find someone better than Hollins at WR. They tried Josh Palmer and Elijah Moore. Both did WORSE than Hollins.
Palmer saw 393 offensive snaps.
Moore saw 186 offensive snaps.

Neither Palmer nor Moore helped on special teams or the run game.

This rebuttal is so embarrassing and an oxymoron. If you're bright enough, you'll figure how your dumb your comment was. It's mind boggling how you continue to defend the honor of these fringe players and end up being wrong in the process. If Hollins didn't struggle to get open, he wouldn't be on his 6th team going on his 9th year playing in the NFL. Not that hard to figure out. Yet you continue to flex with the geek stats trying to make yourself look smarter than you clearly are. Going any further debating Mack Hollins as a WR is just a waste of the board's time.

You ever stop to think that Hollins decided to leave Buffalo because of McDaniels?

Lol. Sure, because he was in such high demand for his services. And McDaniels had no problem letting Hollins walk after the 2022 season.

But keep trying to put others down while looking like a fool. It's a slow time of the year, so we need the entertainment somewhere.