Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘Sure, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane admitted last week that waiting to pick No. 25 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night will test their patience – just as it did picking 30th last year – and they’ll cringe every time a rival team takes a quality player in front of them.’

‘“It just proves that the government rules,” he said. “We had no say because the people in government, politicians — they’re going to do whatever is best for them. … We should at least have a say.”’

‘Edmunds has been a good player, often very good, but there are many observers who believe he has never lived up to his status as the No. 16 overall pick in 2018, that he has reached his ceiling and further investment would not be prudent.’

‘They will go into 2022 with a strong 1-2 combination of Dawson Knox and O.J. Howard, and you can certainly do worse than Tommy Sweeney and Reggie Gilliam behind them.’

‘Also, Poyer can become a free agent after 2022 and now that he’s hired Drew Rosenhaus’ powerful agency to represent him, you can assume his asking price on a contract extension has soared in recent discussions with Brandon Beane, perhaps out of Buffalo’s range.’

‘He also said that it would not surprise him if the Bills — depending on how their board plays out — decided to bolster already strong position groups such as wide receiver or edge rusher, even though they have superstars Stefon Diggs and Von Miller locked up for several years.’

‘And White’s recovery from knee surgery could hold him back early in the year, so another starter might be needed. If the Bills don’t sign a second-tier veteran free agent, is Lewis really that guy? Or Siran Neal, Nick McCloud, Olaijah Griffin or Tim Harris. I think not.’

‘“We’ve completely turned our focus towards this next season and trying to figure out how do we take that next step? How do we win that Super Bowl?” Allen said. “I’d be lying if I said that’s not what drives me, it’s to win a Super Bowl and get it done. That’s why you see so many guys here right now putting in that work to accomplish the goal that we want to accomplish.”’

‘However, with Oliver, Jones and Settle locked up contractually for just two more years and Phillips one, this might be a good time for the Bills to think about the future and pick an interior lineman who they can develop.’

‘General manager Brandon Beane signed 12-year veteran Rodger Saffold who will be plugged in at left guard, and the Bills matched the offer sheet Bates received from the Bears, meaning Bates will likely be the starter at right guard. Those two players flanking center Mitch Morse, who the Bills smartly signed to a two-year contract extension, gives Buffalo a solid starting interior in front of Josh Allen.’

‘Allen is a single-digit handicap who most recently played in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in northern California earlier this year. His PGA Tour pro was Keith Mitchell and their group shot a best-ball of 15-under-par, but failed to make the cut for the fourth and final round.’

‘With Daboll off to become head coach of the New York Giants, Ken Dorsey is calling the plays, Aaron Kromer — a renowned run-bocking expert — is coaching the offensive line, and the Bills may rely a little more on the run game in 2022.’

‘This is a strong roster which really doesn’t have a glaring weakness, but there are some depth issues at certain positions and wide receiver is one of them.’

‘In a public letter to the New York governor Tuesday, Nader argued the new stadium, slated to be built in Orchard Park for $1.4 billion, could be named the “Taxpayer Stadium.”’

‘“When I first got traded to Buffalo, besides the Mafia and the people who are fans of Buffalo, not too many people thought it was gonna work out,” Diggs said Thursday, shortly after he officially signed a four-year contract extension that is reportedly worth $96 million in new money. “A lot of people were like, ‘Well, the Bills, da da da da da.’ And two years from now, I can smile and say, ‘God works in mysterious ways.’ I’m with my family, I’m with the right people, and I’ve got the right support system.”’