OldTimer1960

Whether we want to divert our attention from the WR group or not, it is likely that the Bills also have to replenish at DT and DE in the draft. Even if the team can re-sign one of their FA at both positions (or brings in outside FA), they will still need to draft a couple of young guys. Let’s discuss those prospects here.

That is the exact description (high ceiling low floor) that I would avoid this year. They really can’t afford a whif because they can’t cover it up with a vet FA.

I haven’t watched any of Chop Robinson’s game tape yet, but I was certainly impressed by his athletic performance last night at the Combine. It’s not just his 40 time, he looked smooth and athletic in most every event and the guy is really built - he isn’t just an undersized fast guy. It IS troubling that his sack production in college wasn’t higher, though. I don’t know if I would take him because of his lesser production, but I think he will be picked in the first round - perhaps before the Bills pick anyway.

I hope things change in FA before the draft, but at present the DL depth chart is: DT: Ed Oliver, Eli Ankou DE: Greg Rousseau, Von Miller (who showed nothing last season) and Kingsley Jonathan Again, right now, that would be the worst DL in the league. At DT, I would not even want Ankou starting while a rookie learns. DE is not much better - Rousseau is good when healthy, Miller will be 36 and is really just a hope that he can regain some decent form and I know Tasker says they like Jonathan, but he is really unproven. I am not arguing not to take a WR in the 1st, but it seems possible to still get a decent X receiver in the 2nd, where DT and DE look less deep.

If they don’t retain or sign a few DL before the draft, they may be forced to go that way.

It is extremely difficult to evaluate college players. So many variables - level of competition, do they have a lot or very little talent around them, do they have room to grow or are they maxed out physically, what is their work ethic, are they football smart, can any observed deficiencies be “coached up”, do they have any injuries that could hinder them, how much do they really want to play, do they fit the drafting team’s system, are they drafted into a stable system or will coaching changes cause them to not fit new system… Even the best evaluators miss on players, including the scouts employed by NFL teams. Every draft shows that talent evaluation is not an exact science. It’s great fun to discuss all of this and have our favorites for whom the Bills should draft, but let’s remember that we can be wrong on some of these guys - recent example is Terrel Bernard.

Achilles is pretty devastating to any athlete. They don’t heal quickly because there is limited blood flow to the Achilles and it likely inhibits flexibility after healing. Imagine a CB coming out his backpedal transitioning to running forward to drive on a ball - a lot of stress on the Achilles there.

I hope they can re-sign Daquan Jones and one of Tim Settle or Poona Ford. I would like if they can also keep Epenesa, but I see him as a rotational DE rather than full-time starter, so would not pay starter money for him.

If they release Douglas, seems like they will need to re-sign Dane Jackson. They can *hope* that Elam shows massive improvement, but they should not count on that. If they let Douglas and Jackson walk, they’ll need a CB sooner than later in the draft.

I don’t dislike Mitchell, but be aware that he benefited from defenses having to deal with him, X. Worthy and their TE Ja’tavian Sanders who will likely be a 2nd round pick. They also had probably the top RB in the draft in Brooks. That’s a lot of stress on a defense and likely stretched them too thin. I agree. He does have good size and great speed, but is really raw as a route runner and I’m not sure his hands are the greatest.

I think Walker will be available at 60. He didn’t do himself any favors Senior bowl week.

With the roster as it is right now, Hamlin would only have to beat out converted CB Cam Jordan to be starting. I think we all love his story and what a good guy he is, but I think it’s a problem if he is starting.

You may be right, I don’t know.

Let’s see how fast he really is. I’m not sure great hands applies to him - I’m not implying he has bad hands, but I haven’t seen anyone saying he has great hands, either. Didn’t he catch a lot of screens just to get the ball into his hands? I am not saying that Corley is no good, but rather I don’t see him as savior of the Bills’ passing offense and a deep threat. Of course, I could be wrong.

Again, I don’t think it is good business to run your draft worrying about what KC might do. The flip-side of what you said is that KC won with an aging Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice and some nobodies at receiver because they have Mahomes and a very strong defense. If not for their defense carrying them during the season, KC might have missed the playoffs after Mahomes missed time.

Isn’t that always the case?

I think this is over played here. Andy Reid and the Chiefs are not plotting how to beat the Bills exclusively - especially not right now when the Bills don’t have enough defensive players under contract to even field a team. Spending a 2nd or 3rd to move up to block a possible KC move up further deprives the Bills of picks to find defensive players who likely will have to play a lot this season.

From the limited amount I’ve seen of him (Corley) so far, a fair bit of his RAC is due to power/running through tackles instead of elusiveness and speed. I don’t know if that will translate to the NFL level.

Would be nice, but I’m not crazy about Worthy (drops, very thin) and not many beyond Thomas Jr and Franklin fit that bill around pick 28. Tez Walker likely available at 60, but is he skilled enough to fit that bill? Other fast guys likely will struggle out wide (Wilson, Worthy, a few others). Legette is certainly a possibility if he shows he is fast and quick enough.

Possible, for sure. I think having some pass rush is more important than getting the very best outside deep threat. The Bills are paying Josh Allen major $ to elevate those around him and he has done that effectively. They DO need a WR to replace Davis - ideally a great one, but a great WR with no pass rush on D is still a big problem. Question is, will there be a good DE or DT prospect that is as good as the WR prospects that could be there. Even though they are really in bad with the cap, they can probably re-sign Shaq Lawson, so rookie needs to have better upside than him.

You could be right on all counts. I agree that Shakir is still a question mark, but one with a promising finish to last season. I’d say he is penciled in as the slot guy, but could be replaced with a top level prospect. I’m not sure Wilson is yet a big step up in terms of freeing up from man, but I understand he showed better at that than expected at Sr Bowl. I think there are enough good slot guys that they can find one later to pair with Shakir. My min concern (for whatever that’s worth) is finding someone with size, hands and enough route running ability to take Davis’ spot. Again, Davis was OK, but hopefully they can do better. Downfield ability is important, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a 4.3 guy to be effective.

I think the larger guy that can offer downfield availability is important. If they miss out on big and fast, they might be able to still find guys who can be active and make downfield plays on the many occasions that Josh holds the ball and scrambles around. I think Rice is somewhat limited in speed and fluidity, but he stays active on those kind of plays - think Legette and Coleman and Mitchell could all fit that bill with coaching. We need to remember that we (many of us) think Gabe Davis is pretty limited and the offense functioned pretty well with him. They should be able to find someone who can (with experience) do what Gabe did - maybe better or more consistently - somewhere in the first 3 rounds. There are some mainly slot guys with some intriguing ability, but before you take them, you have to ask how much of an upgrade are they from Shakir (no sure thing, but finished very strong) and if the combo of new slot guy and Shakir can somehow file the outside receiver spot adequately. For example, Roman Wilson has speed enough to be a deep threat, but is mostly a slot guy - same for Xavier Worthy - would you really want to line up with Diggs, Shakir and Wilson/Worthy most of the time?

Hmm, hadn’t seen that. Thanks!

Interesting data for sure. I wonder if the fact that Legette wasn’t a WR in high school delayed his emergence and if that mitigates concern over late bloomer label.

We have a lot of late picks that are not worth much in trade. We only have 3 picks in top 100. IF they have more than Ed Oliver, Greg Rousseau, Eli Ankou and Kingsley Jonathan under contract at DL before the draft, OK trade away 99 if they must, but I think more likely they trade back from 28 and trade up in maybe 4th or 5th round. They need young, cheap, players who can play some snaps early. It’s the cap that is driving that.