Archives for April 2016

'“We would have taken him at 19, and lucky for us we found a trade partner in Chicago,” Whaley said. “We got two guys that we would have taken at 19.”'

'“We had some holes, we had to make it over,” Whaley said of the defense. “We’re very excited with how we filled those holes, better than we thought we might.”'

'So, good job Buffalo. This is a pick most of us can get on board with. I say most because there are always going to be detractors, and I saw several on various message boards Thursday night and Friday morning. Tuning out the lunatic fringe, the Bills took a very good player who can come in and start immediately. Now, if he turns out to be Aaron Maybin, then all the naysayers can come back at me as hard as they want, and I know they will, but this looks like a sound decision to me. And, I actually nailed the pick.'

'Whaley maintained, “We think we’ve added some pieces that should help get us where we need to go. On paper we think (our defense) has improved tremendously but paper doesn’t win you games, you’ve got to got out on the field and show it.”'

'The Bills had to give up pick No. 117 in the 2016 NFL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.'

'Barring a trade, the Bills' next pick won't be until the No. 139 overall pick in the fourth round. They traded their other fourth round pick as part of a trade to move up and select Ragland in round two.'

'"It was laid back getting to know coach and having him get to understand me and the type of person I am," Ragland said moments after the Bills drafted him No. 41 overall. "It was an awesome time being around coach Ryan. He's a laid back guy, but I know once we hit the field it will be all business. I'm used to that with coach (Nick) Saban. Off the field, laid back. On the field, it's a grind."'

'Washington pleaded guilty and completed "John School," which teaches men arrested for prostitution about the mistreatment of the women involved as well as the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. Upon completing the program, Washington's charges were dropped.'

'The Bills project Ragland as a weak-side inside linebacker who will play alongside Brown in base sets. Ragland certainly has the upside to be a three-down linebacker and could eventually overtake Brown for the Bills' job of MIKE linebacker.'

'As a player, Washington is a work in progress. During his career at Ohio State, Washington showed off the dominant physical traits that made him a five-star recruit coming out of high school. However, Washington tends to be a streaky player. When he's motivated and playing focused, Washington is tough to block. The Bills are hoping to get that version of Washington more often than the Buckeyes did.'

'"He walks in, day one, starter opposite Jerry Hughes," Whaley said. "So he can set the edge from the outside, he can rush with speed and power and that gives us two nice rushers off the edge. And then you got the push in the middle with our defensive tackles, so I think this is, again, a guy that has the versatility like you said too. Also, when we go nickel or sub, he can go inside and use his quickness on those interior offensive linemen. So I know coach is ecstatic about it just because of what he brings. First day, coming in off the bus, he's starting and (Rex's) mind's going crazy on different ways he can use him."'

'Of the team’s 40 draft selections since 2011 — the first full draft cycle for Whaley, after the Bills hired him as assistant GM in February 2010 — 35 played college ball in a traditional Southeast or Southwest state:'

'"He's a garbage man in the run game," Dane Brugler, an NFL Draft analyst for CBSSports.com, told AL.com. "He does a lot of dirty work, has quick eyes, can diagnose and can attack. (His) recognition skills are already at an NFL level. He has outstanding timing over the middle as a striker. There's a lot to like about Reggie Ragland as a middle linebacker."'

'"It was a little stressful," Ragland said. "But my family kept me calm. Most of all I kept my dad calm. It was a humbling experience. You think you're going to go somewhere but God has another plan for you. I'm a firm believer of that. That's why I'm going to the Bills."'

'If it’s possible for an Ohio State player eligible for the NFL Draft to slide under the radar, let alone one who started for three years, that’s the space Adolphus Washington is occupying.'