‘As usual, Belichick is the draft master. He turned the No. 43 he got for Jimmy Garoppolo into some extra juice that allowed him to move up and get Dawson, a No. 4 and a No. 2 in 2019. The Pats also added a No. 3 in 2019. Drafting Brady’s successor will have to wait ’till next year.’
Archives for April 30, 2018
Draft grades: Bills get only A from Mel Kiper; others less optimistic
‘Here’s a look at what some of the big national outlets think about the Bills’ draft…’.
Bucky Gleason: Allen could help Bills’ fans forget about Rosen … or remember Manuel
‘Nobody truly knows how a player will perform in the NFL until he actually gets on the field. People who claim to know are lying or kidding themselves. NFL history is littered with consensus first-round picks who were all-time busts and late-round choices who became all-time greats.’
Two 2019 mock drafts (seriously) have Bills landing No. 1 pick
‘Some adventurous members of the national media published 2019 first-round mock drafts Sunday. Like with any mock draft, those projections should be for entertainment-purposes only.’
Love the scenery: Thurman Thomas, area youngsters announce Bills picks from Niagara Falls
‘“It’s always great to come up here and see the Falls,” said Thomas, who was also in the city Friday to announce the installation of free public Wi-Fi in the downtown area. Thomas’ 34 Group is the vendor for the project. “The buildup here in the Niagara Falls area in recent years has really been fantastic.”’
Buffalo Bills getting a phenomenal leader in Josh Allen, says Wyoming WR Austin Conway
‘”Off the field, a genuine great man. Football is his life, but beyond football he’s a person you want in your life. All of the offerings he brings to the table, you’d want no one else running your team. He will make you better, he will lead you to be better and he expects the best out of you because he’s giving you nothing less. Bills fans are getting more than they actually know.”‘
2018 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills receive draft’s highest grade from Mel Kiper Jr.
‘That the Bills were targeting a quarterback tends to make you forget this was a playoff team, so the first round was an interesting mix, as they added both high-upside potential at the game’s most important position, and also immediate help at a spot where rookies can often be found contributing. They gave up some notable draft value in second-round picks to maneuver, but I’m not sure any team added this kind of high-upside talent. Key word: upside.’
Sporting News gives Buffalo Bills ‘D’ grade because Josh Allen is ‘likely to be a big-armed bust’
‘Edmunds and Phillips were the standout picks for Sean McDermott’s front seven in his first draft with Brandon Beane. But this grade is based on the fact that Allen is likely to be a big-armed bust. The QB wasn’t worth the trade, especially at the cost of two second-rounders. The Bills drafted like a team set to return to the playoffs; their glaring weaknesses on the offensive line and at wide receiver should have been addressed earlier. QB desperation is never a good way to draft, and it led to a chain reaction that gave Allen and AJ McCarron little support.’
Football: Dallas grad Zapoticky invited to Bills camp
‘“I was watching the draft on Saturday, and there was no news going into Saturday night,” Zapoticky said. “Sunday morning I got a call from my agent, and I got a call from Buffalo. They told me they were inviting me to rookie mini camp. They told me what I do from there will indicate whether or not I will make the team, and we will just go from there. It is going to depend what I do up there.”’
Bills GM: ‘If (Allen) somehow wins the job, he wins it’
‘”We’re not going to rush him, but you know if he somehow wins the job, he wins it,” Beane said, via NewYorkUpstate.com. “There’s other players out there. There will be 52 other players out there and if they see that he’s clearly the best, I don’t think we could do that. We wouldn’t do that at any other position, so we’ll let it go. But he’s got a lot of catching up to do, that’s the thing.”‘
Bills need WR but Bryant may not fit bill
‘”We’ll look at everything,” Beane said. “We have looked at Dez on tape, but I wouldn’t take it any further and I don’t know where that would go.”‘
Bills GM Brandon Beane doesn’t sound like he’s thinking about signing Dez Bryant
‘And while Bryant will eventually sign somewhere, it’s hard to imagine any team paying him as one of the league’s top wideouts. Instead, Bryant, who is more possession receiver than deep threat, will be looking for a contract similar to the three-year, $21 million deal the Ravens gave Michael Crabtree last month.’
Capaccio: For 2nd year in a row, versatility defines Bills’ draft class
‘“It just fell that way,” Beane said about the versatility of the draft class. “We really, I mean, truly, we’re looking for good football players that fit what we do. Our DNA is really what we were targeting. It just, sometimes it falls where they’re more one-hole players but you like versatility when it happens.”’
Bills fans rally around Pancho Billa after NFL Draft appearance
‘Castro’s appearance at the draft quickly went viral on Facebook and Twitter, with even fans of other teams calling it the “moment of the draft.” Local shirt company 26 Shirts is using the sudden notoriety for a good cause. It’s re-releasing its “Pancho Power” t-shirt. For each shirt sold, 26 Shirts will donate $8 to Castro.’
True QB competition at Bills camp
‘If you are betting at the moment, put your money on AJ McCarron to be the starter week number 1. While Brandon Beane says top pick Josh Allen will get a chance to compete for the starting job, I think he would have to dominate in camp and in the preseason for Sean McDermott to put the season in his hands from the beginning. McCarron comes to this team knowing that this is his shot to prove he can be a starter. Even if he can keep Allen on the bench for a good portion of 2018, he has a chance to prove to the rest of the NFL that he is a viable option. (think Case Keenum).’