auburnbillsbacker

We had a top 10 defense and a top 5 running game and we stunk.

Teams like the Ravens and Steelers continuously get Pro Bowl level talent at positions Like LB, interior line, and Safety in round one because other teams won't draft those players with their first round pick. I would rather have a Star LB than a mediocre DT or LT.

I liked what the Patriots did during the off season before their first super bowl win under Tom Brady. They picked up 19 free agents, most of whom were older players who were cheap, but played at a high level throughout most of their career. Bryan Cox and Antoine Smith were two of their pickups, but there were many others. Those type of guys won't be on your roster for long, but why pay for youth when the vets are much cheaper.

I wonder how many of these teams are leaking false information hoping that Bridgewater will fall to them later in the first. Similar to Buddy leaking that Glenn could only play guard. Edit: After reading other post I realize that others made a similar comment.

I feel I need to do a little more research before compeleting my list. I do however, feel strongly that if one QB played in 4 consecutive super bowls he would be #1. I'm not sure it has ever happened though.

Brees and Kapernic were nearly first round picks. In addition, your odds of hitting on a QB are a lot better in the first round and early second than later in the draft. While it would be nice to get a franchise QB after round #1, it is not likely to happen.

Houston wasn't willing to trade but Jacksonville was. The asking price was never reported, but was apparently very high.

Losman was rated the 4th or 5th best QB. Eli, Rivers, and Big Ben were clearly rated higher. Schuab had a similar draft grade. Donahoe knew that Big Ben would be a good QB and attempted to trade up with the Jaguars to get him. The Jaguars asked for the moon because the Browns gave up an early 2nd to move up from 7 to 6 so going from 13 to 9 must be worth a lot, so Donahoe backed off. The Jaguars pick was a bust and the bills did not secure a franchise QB. Common sense could have helped both franchises out. It stinks that the one year the bills were better than the Steelers it cost us a good QB. Luck definitely plays a role in how teams do. The colts for example were really bad the year before Manning and Luck entered the draft. I'm sure any Bills GM would have selected those guys. No they would not have taken Leaf over Manning.

He did a good job a assembling a talented roster through free agency and the draft but missed on getting a franchise QB and his coaching hires did not work out. Since coaching and QB play go a long ways in the NFL the Bills missed the playoffs while he was the GM.

The Bills are playing the Chiefs this year because both teams finished in last place in 2012. So much for getting rewarded for finishing in last.

At the time I would have taken a 3rd round pick. Considering our track record with 4th and 5th round picks I would have rather kept him and taken the risk of him screwing up again. During the off season I listened to a Peter Carroll interview on Sirius NFL radio. He basically said that the Bills kept on turning down their offer of a 4th and 5th round pick week after week, but Seattle's GM never gave up and kept calling until we caved. Very depressing.

I agree.

I agree with the creator of the thread, the bills would be 5-0 with an elite QB. All of the bills losses were very competitive games. That is why we have to hope that EJ eventually becomes elite. Don't worry though, if the bills are ever in a position to draft a great QB prospect you will see half of this board suggest we take an offensive lineman instead.

Yep, so Byrd has next to no trade value right now. The bills should keep him, then apply the franchise tag on him again. That would give them a couple of months to trade him during the off season. They can't trade another Pro Bowler away for a late round pick like they did with Lynch. I realize that the Lynch situation was a little different, but the bills can't be bullied around by a player or agent. They need to be stubborn and show players that they can't force their way off of the team when they have a valid contract.

Usually teams that dump players dump veterans, not young players with cheap contracts.

I think Fitz converted on 4th and 1 almost every time he attempted a sneak. If he can do it, EJ can do it. The Bills need to use it more.

I think Chan did a good job as offensive coordinator. Maybe we can bring him back.

If he can keep it up the Bills will have 2 good CBs, him and Gilmore under contract for the next several seasons. That is a good feeling.

You would think so, but Jason Peters held out longer and played awful, but still secured a contract that at the time was one of the most lucrative contracts for a tackle in the history of the league.

Pat Kirwain on Sirius NFL has talked about the way the Panthers simplified things for Newton his rookie year on several occasions. Keeping it simple at the start might not be a bad thing.

I still remember his debut. Billy came out before the the kickoff to open the season and beat up the Titans' mascot. We beat the Titans that and it looked like Wade would lead the Bills to their 3rd consecutive playoff appearance. I agree, it is Billy's fault.

The defensive rookie of the year is often a middle linebacker because the accumulate a lot of tackles. The offensive rookie of the year is a RB more often than not. Since there were no RBs selected in round and the bills will have a rookie starting at ILB it is not impossible for a bills to win rookie of the year. EJ would need to start early obviously.

I agree. It really is that simple. The teams with good QBs win, the teams without good QBs lose. Look at the colts the year they did not have Manning or Luck. Also, think of all of the resources you can devote to other positions when you are not chasing a QB every couple of years.

Former NFL GM and current Sirius NFL host believes that a rookie head coaches shouldn't waste the "honey moon" period on a vet. A rookie head coach is not going to get fired after year one, so they might as well get their rookie QB experience if they have one on the roster. Let EJ get some experience on the field. Practice is great, but it doesn't make up for real playing time.

I think the Bills need to be willing to draft a QB two years in a row. If the QB they draft plays like Wilson, RGIII, or Luck then they are all set. If the QB they draft shows promise but it is not obvious that they will be a "franchise QB" then the bills can't pass on a blue chip QB prospect if one if available to them in next year's draft. If both QBs turn into great QBs they can simply trade one of them. If the one fails, at least the other might succeed. The Bills have passed on several good QBs in the past because they thought they had one on the roster with potential. Like when they passed on Cutler because they had Lossman and when they passed on Flacco because they had Edwards. They can't make that mistake again.