Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘We’re not going to know for quite a while whether the Bills chose wisely, but here’s the thing: While it’s completely unfair to relative Buffalo newbies Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott, there’s some bad draft history that hangs over this franchise, particularly at quarterback, and this pick has a chance to crank it up a little higher on the old misery meter.’

‘Fair or not, that is the pressure that now sits squarely on Allen’s shoulders.’

‘The Bills have picked only three other quarterbacks in the first round in their 58-year history. They were Jim Kelly at No. 14 overall in the famous 1983 draft when a record six quarterbacks were taken in the first round. They picked J.P. Losman at No. 22 in the 2004 draft, and EJ Manual No. 16 overall in 2014.’

‘He did not receive any scholarship offers out of his small-town northern California high school, so he began his college at Reedley Community College and in his lone season there in 2014, he threw for 26 TDs and 285 yards per game. That’s where Wyoming coach Craig Bohl saw him, and offered him a scholarship. Bohl is the same coach who recruited and developed Carson Wentz at North Dakota State.’

‘“I give them a lot of credit for being patient, not going to No. 2 and giving away all that draft capital,’’ NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. “They got their guy.’’’

‘While the trade up to draft Allen was met with much vitriol, at least on Twitter, from Bills fans, the pick of Edmunds was lauded because Edmunds will fill an immediate need at linebacker, either inside or outside.’

‘Edmunds will not turn 20 years old until May 2 which makes him one of the youngest players in this draft. He’s also one of the biggest linebackers in the draft at 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds, yet he ran an impressive 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.’

‘ Will Buffalo be part of history again and take part in 2018’s quarterback-centric first round?’

‘The Bills are desperate to add a downfield threat at wide receiver, and if they don’t trade away their second-round picks in a deal to move up for a quarterback, and Chark slips to them at either No. 53 or 56, Beane should pick him without giving it a second of thought.’

‘So, for this purpose of this exercise, let’s assume the Bills don’t make the QB deal and stay put at 12. If none of their preferred QB options are available and they go in a different direction, linebacker should be the pick, and two players who could walk in and be day one starters are Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds and Georgia’s Roquan Smith.’

‘Beyond quarterback, the Bills are desperate at linebacker as only one of the three starting positions is currently in good hands – we think – with second-year player Matt Milano. With Lorenzo Alexander soon to be 35 years old, and Preston Brown gone to Cincinnati, the Bills must find two starters.’

‘The league released the full 2018 schedule Thursday night, and before any flex-scheduling possibilities come into play, the Bills are slated to play 15 of their 16 games at 1 p.m. Fifteen! You would have thought the Bills finished 2-14 last season with a schedule like this.’

‘Jackson’s athleticism is off the charts, and he made plays that left fans shaking their heads in disbelief on his way to passing for 69 touchdowns and rushing for 50 more in three seasons. Some of his scrambles were even more impressive than Tyrod Taylor’s many escapes for the Buffalo Bills the past three years. Say what you want about Taylor, but to make that comparison is saying something.’

‘He signed with the Bills because he knows he’s going to get a real opportunity — unlike in Cincinnati — to win the starting job. So even if one of these young studs walks across the stage next Thursday night in Dallas and slips a Bills jersey over their head, McCarron’s focus will remain fixated on being Buffalo’s starter on opening day.’

‘“Moving from 21 to 12, the natural assumption, I get it, they’re moving up to get a quarterback,” Beane said. “We improved our draft position, that was a second-round value jump (on the Jimmy Johnson draft points chart) going from 21 to 12. We’re excited about where that moves us on our draft board and to what players will be available there.”’