Tag: Carlos Basham

Report: Bills could get teams calling them about pass rushers at trade deadline

Report: #Bills could get teams calling them about pass rushers at the upcoming trade deadline:

The NFL is slowly inching toward the trade deadline. While the Buffalo Bills have started the 2021 season at 4-1 and are currently on fire, could they actually be sellers at the deadline instead?

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there’s a chance that might hold true.

On Tuesday, Fowler reported on current trade buzz with the deadline on the horizon. One specific position group that was mentioned for the Bills was edge defender.

Following an offseason where the Bills added multiple pieces to their pass rush in an effort to improve it, the report calls the area a “surplus” for Buffalo. Because of that, teams might come calling and a few veterans were mentioned as potential trade pieces.

Here’s Fowler’s buzz on the Bills:

The Bills are expected to get calls on their deep defensive line. The team has used draft capital on promising edge players Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa and Boogie Basham in recent years, which could make their veterans attractive at the deadline.

Jerry Hughes is an interesting case because of his salary ($6.1 million), age (33) and production (0.5 sacks). Those aren’t very enticing numbers. But he has been solid, and Buffalo plays him a lot (54 snaps in the Week 5 win over Kansas City). Perhaps the Bills hold on to the experienced rusher for the late-season stretch.

Mario Addison, meanwhile, is owed $4.075 million this year. He has one sack and two quarterback hits through the season’s first month. Efe Obada is a cheaper rotational guy at $1 million.

If the Bills do end up being a seller, of sorts, at the deadline, the defensive line is a position to watch. It’s also an unsurprising one.

In the past, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has took a similar approach to improving the team’s offensive line. Add numerous pieces and may the best man win.

In such cases, those who lose in positions battles have been traded. In terms of O-linemen that were dealt, think Wyatt Teller and Russell Bodine.

Looking at Buffalo’s current defensive line and the report, Hughes seems like a very unlikely player that would be moved. Hughes is a team leader and still drums up QB pressures with the best of them.

If the Bills are truly looking toward the Super Bowl, why trade Hughes?

Addison could be a more likely option. In recent weeks, his snap totals have started to drop and against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5, he played the fewest snaps amongst all defensive ends.

Even Basham, who previously was inactive on game days to start the season, played more than Addison against KC.

The latest report does not mention that the Bills could be interested in trading defensive tackles. However, that’s another area to consider.

In recent weeks including against the Chiefs, Harrison Phillips and Vernon Butler were healthy scratches.

Finally in the report, there is an update on Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz. It says if he’s traded, he probably won’t take a pay cut, and there is a brief mention:

As for where Ertz could go, league execs have long pegged Buffalo and Indianapolis as potential landing spots.

Considering the way Dawson Knox has played so far in 2021, this seems like a bit of a recycled take.

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What Greg Rousseau, Sean McDermott said about first sack in preseason win

What Greg Rousseau, Sean McDermott said about first sack in #Bills preseason win vs. the #Lions:

The Buffalo Bills beat the Detroit Lions 16-15 in a late-game comeback Friday in the Motor City.

One of the big stories of the game was the pocket pressure that came by way of Buffalo’s defensive end group throughout the contest.

The team made headlines this year using their first and second-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft to select players at the same position, defensive ends Gregory Rousseau and Boogie Basham.

This, only a year after using their highest selection in the 2020 draft to take edge rusher A.J. Epenesa.

These young players on the Bills defense are looking to impact games for a chance at more time in their position group rotation in the regular season.

And on Friday’s first live game competition, they did just that.

The 30th overall pick in 2021, Rousseau had 11 pass rushes, including three pressures, and a sack. That sack came early in the first quarter against none other than the seventh overall pick from the same draft class, Penei Sewell, who Rousseau powered his way around to push Lions QB Jared Goff to the ground.

After the game, the rookie who sat out last season at Miami was asked about the play.

“I just got off the ball, made sure I worked my hands, I think I did like a little stutter bull, and I saw Jared Goff and I tried to reach out and get him,” Rousseau said while addressing the media. “It was really great to be back out there, it was a lot of fun, the D-line we’re really tight, we live for things like that, the whole team does.”

The pressure created by Rousseau and Epenesa on the corners in closing and collapsing the pocket could be a preview of things to come, and the rookie knows it took the whole defense to get to the QB.

“It was a great feeling to get my first sack, and to be able to get back there,” Rousseau added. “But really it’s a testament to the whole defense, the secondary holding up in coverage, the other three D-lineman rushing their butts off, so really even though if I got the sack or whoever got the sack, it’s really a team effort and I’m glad we got him done.”

Rousseau wasn’t the only one happy with the results of his first game as a Bill, as head coach Sean McDermott shared his thoughts on the play.

“That’s what we want to see,” said McDermott during his media session. “We want to improve our pass rush, we were very intentional about that this offseason, so it’s good to see in particular against a guy that was picked high like Penei.”

The Bills defensive contributions didn’t stop there, 61st overall pick, Basham had a productive day as well.

While outsized at times, he was unrelenting in pressuring Detroit’s offense. It paid off in the third quarter when he combined with DE Darryl Johnson for a sack.

Free-agent addition Efe Obada joined him in making their presence felt. He played the inside and outside, and broke up a running play in the middle on fourth down.

While both players were each called during the game for roughing the passer penalties, they were part of the consistent effort that gave the Lions’ offense headaches.

The two lined up inside during the final minutes of the game with Epenesa and Rousseau on the edges, hinting at packages opposing offenses might see this season with their added versatility, size, and strength.

If this first preseason gameplay is any indication, early returns on the Bills’ DE group appear favorable. 

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Brant Boyer: ‘I’m pretty damn lucky’ to be on third Jets coaching staff

The Jets special teams coordinator is on his third head coach after outlasting Todd Bowles and Adam Gase in New York.

When special teams coordinator Brant Boyer heard the Jets hired Robert Saleh to replace Adam Gase, he immediately flew home in the middle of a fishing trip in Nevada to meet the new boss and sell himself.

Boyer had already survived Todd Bowles’ firing in 2018 when Adam Gase retained him. But it wasn’t clear if Saleh would keep Boyer for his sixth season in New York.

“I think I’m pretty damn lucky,” Boyer said Friday. “The coaching staff’s been awesome. Saleh is full of energy. He’s smart as heck and he’s really detailed. I’ve really, really enjoyed all these guys so far.”

Boyer’s special teams units remained solid through the tumultuous eras of Bowles and Gase. New York ranked first and fourth in special teams DVOA in 2018 and 2019, respectively, per Football Outsiders. The Jets ranked 30th in special teams in 2020 – but every position group on the Jets played horrifically in Gase’s final season.

This season will be a little different for Boyer because of the personnel changes. He lost special teams stalwarts like Mattias Farley and Carlos Basham but added veterans Justin Hardee and Sharrod Neasman. Plus he has a plethora of athletic rookies with special teams experience. Boyer was especially excited when the Jets signed Hardee as their go-to gunner.

“It’s certainly a change with the personnel and things like,” Boyer said, “but that’s part of, you know, being a coach and learning different personalities as far as the players and molding them into what you want.”

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Carlos Basham Jr. to make biggest’ Year 1 impact says The Athletic

The Athletic projects Carlos Basham Jr. as Buffalo Bills’ biggest 2021 NFL draft Year 1 impact maker.

Considering the Bills made a couple of big dips into the “boom-or-bust” pool at the 2021 NFL draft, The Athletic’s selection for the team’s prospect that is poised to make the biggest impact in Year 1 comes as little surprise.

The selection is Carlos Basham Jr., the Bills’ second-round pick. Here’s The Athletic’s breakdown on the defensive end:

While first-round pick Greg Rousseau has more long-term potential, the Bills might get more out of second-round pick Carlos Basham Jr. as a rookie. Rousseau only has one full year of college football on his résumé and opted out of the 2020 season. Basham Jr., meanwhile, had 35.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks in 45 college games at Wake Forest.

He may not be an every-down defensive end right away, but Basham Jr.’s ability to slide inside to three-technique defensive tackle could help him find early production. The Bills drafted with an eye toward the future, but Basham Jr. is ready to see the field now.

In addition to their overall college experience, age factors in here a bit, too. Basham, at 23, has bit more of a grown man’s build to him than the 21-year-old Rousseau, who has to add to his frame in the pros, along with fine tuning his technique.

Despite their draft status with Rousseau being the higher pick, such a situation where a later pick is more of an immediate factor is not something the Bills aren’t used to. Just look to 2020.

Last year’s top pick was defensive end AJ Epenesa in Round 2, but a couple of later picks made their marks as rookies more. Those include running back Zack Moss (Round 3), wide receiver Gabriel Davis (Round 4), and kicker Tyler Bass (Round 6).

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2021 NFL draft: Carlos Basham Jr. called ‘steal’ for Bills in Round 2

Buffalo Bills’ 2021 NFL draft selection of Carlos Basham Jr. called steal pick.

With the dusted settled on the 2021 NFL draft, the Bills are already said to have gotten a “steal” with one of their picks.

According to Luke Easterling at Draft Wire, that designation belongs to Carlos Basham Jr. While a curious selection in the moment, the Bills got some value Basham.

Buffalo used their second-round pick at No. 61 on Basham. Prior to the draft, there were some that felt that Basham could go to the Bills… but in Round 1. Instead, that dream seemed gone once Buffalo selected Greg Rousseau.

Then Brandon Beane said not so fast and selected “Boogie.”

In doing so, Beane simply said he decided to take the “best player on the draft board” at that time, even if it meant selecting back-to-back defensive ends. It appears that Draft Wire would agree with that concept.

Heck, even Pro Football Focus did, too.

When the Bills selected Basham, the football analytics outlet was there to point out that it felt like Basham was a much better prospect than that. PFF had him slated at No. 42 on their big board:

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Bills GM Brandon Beane explains drafting back-to-back pass rushers

What Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said about Carolos Basham Jr., Greg Rousseau and 2021 NFL draft.

It’s commonplace for the question of “why?” to occur after a day at the NFL draft.

The Bills took that to a whole new level on Friday.

On Day 2 of the 2021 NFL draft, the Bills selected Wake Forest defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. A touted pass rusher.

That sentence alone makes sense.

Putting it in context: The Bills drafted the same position with another pick, too. Their first rounder in Miami’s Greg Rousseau.

So… why?

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane is never one to get too insightful. He tells it like it is, or at least he does more than head coach Sean McDermott.

On why that decision? The answer was almost, “why not?”

“Prior to the draft, we just try to set us up to take the best player available on out board and that’s what we’ve done. Obviously we took Rousseau last night not anticipating taking another pass rusher, but Carlos was the best player on our board,” Beane said via video conference. “And again, you can never have enough pass rushers. We thought the value was too good to pass up.”

In light of Beane’s thoughts, it really makes you believe he thinks actions speak louder than words.

Rousseau comes to Buffalo having his last season in 2019. That year he put up 19.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in 13 games. Basham did play last season, but he missed time due to COVID-19. He still had five sacks in six games, but in 2019, he appeared in 13 games and wracked up 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.

Can’t have enough pass rushers indeed, Brandon.

Already on the surface, it’s clear the Bills bring these two rookies into a room that’s in-flux now. Having your top-two picks as the same position will do that, let alone factoring in AJ Epenesa, the team’s top pick last year, Efe Obada, a free-agent signee this offseason, and we still have returning veterans Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Darryl Johnson.

Finding playing time at that position is going to be a challenge for anyone. Basham already said he’s looking forward to that.

“I love competing, so with those guys right there, there’s definitely going to be a lot of competition,” Basham said, referencing Rousseau and Epensea.

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Prospect for the Pack: Wake Forest edge rusher Carlos Basham Jr.

Draft profile of Wake Forest edge rusher Carlos Basham, a potential pick for the Packers in the 2021 NFL draft.

The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2021 NFL draft hoping to find a few more valuable pieces to add to an otherwise talented roster after winning 26 regular-season games and making the NFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons under coach Matt LaFleur.

Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect capable of landing in Green Bay later this month.

Up next is Wake Forest edge rusher Carlos Basham Jr.:

What he can do

– Great motor combined with elite physical skills created consistent production. Tallied 35.5 tackles for losses, 20.5 sacks, eight pass breakups and four forced fumbles over 33 career starts. Almost 150 total pressures over final three seasons

– Freaky athlete. Landed at No. 2 on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks list.” Big, explosive and strong. RAS of 9.39.

– Experience standing up and rushing, and can slide inside and rush from the interior. Will be versatile in rush alignments

– Has quick feet and a bigger catalog of finesse moves than you’d expect from a rusher his size. Za’Darius Smith-like

– Swim move can be devastating

– Players with his combination of effort, power and athleticism don’t usually bust. High floor prospect

– Strength shows up when setting the edge. Not easy to move

– Can scrape down the line and make run stops. Had an impressive tackle while working across the formation on A.J. Dillon in 2019

– Tons of second-effort rushes after being initially stopped. Offensive tackles never get a break

– Good at finding the ball and disrupting the quick passing game. Shows awareness here

– Lacks bend and probably won’t be a corner-turner as a pure speed rusher at the next level, but he can find quick ways to the quarterback. Will win early in reps with variety of inside moves

How he fits

Basham looks like a prototypical Packers edge rusher. Big and athletic. In fact, one of his best athletic comparisons is Rashan Gary. Basham cut weight and aced all the pre-draft testing. The Packers have Gary, Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith returning as the top three edge rushers in 2021, but Preston Smith isn’t likely to be on the roster in 2022, creating future need at a premium position. Giving Basham to outside linebackers coach Mike Smith could help him unlock his full potential as a rusher. His scheme versatility and ability to rush from the inside make him an ideal fit in Green Bay.

NFL comp

Shaq Lawson or Rashan Gary. Basham’s effort level and physical traits compare favorably to both. Lawson and Gary were first-round picks, and both players started their NFL careers slowly but have emerged as quality edge rushers. When fully developed, Basham’s usage could be Michael Bennett-like.

Where Packers could get him

Most likely late in the first round. There isn’t much of a consensus on Basham as a prospect, with a wide range of potential outcomes. The second round is possible, but big, super-athletic pass-rushers with his history of production don’t usually last too long. Basham is an option for the Packers at No. 29.

Highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlCfx41AF4w

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Browns 2021 draft: A pass rusher for every round

Here is a pass rushing prospect for the Browns draft spot (before trades) for each of the draft’s seven rounds

One of the biggest remaining holes on the Cleveland Browns roster after the first couple of weeks of free agency is the starting DE/EDGE spot opposite Myles Garrett. The team signed Takk McKinley and Malik Jackson as veteran additions, but neither should prevent GM Andrew Berry and the Browns from finding a more permanent solution to replace Olivier Vernon in the starting defensive lineup.

The 2021 NFL draft offers scores of different options. It’s not a top-heavy class, but with the Browns not picking anywhere near the top of the draft, that’s just fine.

Here is a pass rushing prospect for the Browns draft spot (before trades) for each of the draft’s seven rounds, with an eye for fit in Cleveland and how we expect Joe Woods’ defense to operate.

2020 NFL Draft: Jags acquire help at LT, TE with Trevor Lawrence in 3-round mock

After acquiring Trevor Lawrence, the Jags still need to spend some draft picks on offense and acquiring a LT could be on the table.

Fans of the Jacksonville Jaguars will have a hard time finding a recent mock draft that doesn’t have Trevor Lawrence going to their team first overall. However, a lot of those same mock drafts have the Jags addressing safety, defensive tackle, or offensive tackle with the No. 25 overall pick, but that was not the case for Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network this week.

In his most recent mock, Cummings had the Jags going with Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with pick No. 25 after getting Lawrence first overall. While the Jags already have a notable linebacker duo between Myles Jack and Joe Schobert, Cummings stated that Owusu-Koramoah is more of a hybrid player who could be moved all over the defense.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame

Much like the Jets, the Jaguars’ early selection gives them the flexibility to use their later first-round pick on the best player available. With plenty of needs and no more pressure to find the franchise guy, the Jaguars can simply add talent from this point out. And with the No. 25 pick in this 3-round 2021 NFL Mock Draft, Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is an excellent addition.

Owusu-Koramoah rests near the boundary of linebackers and safeties when it comes to size and usage, and that’s opened up a debate regarding what his role will be at the next level. To me, his versatility is what makes him such an exciting prospect.

Cummings added that Owusu-Koramoah is a player the Jags don’t have to find a concrete role for, but instead, he’s someone they could draft and figure out a way to maximize his athleticism and explosiveness.

For the fans unfamiliar with the 6-foot-1, 215-pound standout from Notre Dame, he’s similar to Isaiah Simmons when he was coming out of Clemson, who played a mix of nickel back, linebacker, and safety. With a need for speed in today’s pass-happy league, Simmons ended up going eighth overall in 2020.

Per Pro Football Focus, Owusu-Koramoah has been used in a somewhat similar fashion, taking 195 snaps on the defensive line, 433 in the box, and 680 in the slot. However, with the Jags needing help within their secondary it seems he could help them a lot there while moving around.

33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas

With Cam Robinson likely leaving through free agency, it’s imperative that the Jaguars don’t wait too long to address the tackle position. With Trevor Lawrence now rostered, this position takes on added importance.

Samuel Cosmi can develop into an effective blindside blocker opposite Jawaan Taylor. He’s 6-foot-7, weighs over 300 pounds, and has the necessary length/athleticism combination to be a high-level starter with some development.

In Round 2, the Jags took Texas offensive tackle Sam Cosmi, who would be their left tackle of the future. Cosmi, who is 6-foot-7, 300 pounds, has great movement skills, but will need to add more muscle to his frame and become a bit more technical. If he achieves those goals, Cosmi could be a fine NFL tackle. Something else worth noting is that Cosmi brings versatility to the table, playing both right and left tackle in college.

The selection of Cosmi would make a lot of sense as the Jags have a decision to make on Cam Robinson, whose contract expired in 2020. He’s not quite where a team would want a left tackle to be in terms of pass protection, but he could get there in one more season. That said, the Jags may look for an upgrade or tag him. If the franchise tag is used on Robinson, adding Cosmi could be a smart plan to give Robinson some competition, or an eventual successor.

With the 45th overall pick, the Jags were given Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth, who would address another big need. Freiermuth is a player the Jags could view as a top target of the draft with his former positional coach, Tyler Bowen on the staff.

The tight end position has long been an issue for the Jags. It was an area former general manager Dave Caldwell could never find an answer at. Taking a swing at Freiermuth would give Lawrence a massive 6-foot-5, 250 pound, target who flourishes in snagging contested balls and picking up yards after the catch. However, he’s often been off the board by pick No. 45, so if the Jags could snag him here, it would be a steal.

Lastly, in the third round, the Jags were slotted defensive end Carlos Basham Jr. from Wake Forest. He’s a player who impressed at the Senior Bowl after being the Demon Deacons’ main source of a pass rush the last two seasons. At 6-foot-3, 281 pounds, Basham offers good size on the edge and made a name for himself by utilizing a mix of power, technique, and effort.

With new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen coming in from Baltimore, the Jags could look to have a heavy front seven rotation. A player like Basham would give them that though some analysts believe he could go sooner as a late first-round pick or as a second-round selection.