OldTimer1960

I like Stewart, but how many small edge rushers is it wise to have? If they ran a 3-4, Stewart could be interesting as on OLB, but in their 4-3 I would think they could keep either Stewart or Javon Solomon but probably not both. The defense as a whole is pretty light with Oliver a small DT, Bernard and Milano smaller LBs and they play nickel most of the time with small but tough Taron Johnson on the field. I am not saying that Stwart can’t play in the NFL, but I think having too many players that are small for their positions would be a problem.

It isn’t that I think speed is the be-all end-all for WR, but if a guy is touted as blazing fast, but he really isn’t then that’s a concern.

I’m not as sure about Royals as you are. I like the thickness of his build and he shows some smoothness and cutting ability, but I’m not sure he is as fast as some think he is. We will see how fast he is this week - if I were a betting man I might bet he will run closer to 4.5 than 4.3. I admit it is hard to tell from game film, but I did not think he showed dominant speed against the lower level competition he faced. If he runs low 4.4s, I’ll be happily proven wrong. i do like Golden, but not sure I would pass on the defensive needs for him - maybe.

I am not saying that, but it’s possible I suppose. I think Coleman was a bit skittish after getting lit up and injured. I don’t know if he can overcome that, but I think many players get that welcome to the NFL moment and then recover. I don’t know for sure what McDermott is alluding to regarding how Coleman came back - could be what I said or could be he didn’t do a great job staying in shape or studying while he was out with the injury. Could also be that his wrist really was still bothering him when he returned. I was not a fan of the Coleman pick at all, but he was showing flashes before the injury. I suspect that he may never be the X receiver they drafted him to be, but it’s possible that he still can be a decent starter - maybe at Z. I don’t want to count on him coming through next year, but I haven’t given up hope that he can be decent. Problem is that it’s a poor WR draft class (there are some slot guys, but they already have that in Shakir). I know that there may be some decent receivers who come out of this draft, but unless they grab Golden or Egbuka in round 1, I’d be inclined to lean into the strong class of DT, DE, possibly S and maybe even RB and not take wild shots in this weak WR group. Just my longtime fan opinion, doesn’t mean I’m necessarily right.

I think that the Poyer hit really messed with Coleman’s mind. As you said, he seemed tentative after his return from injury.

Savion Williams might do very well at the combine. What little I have seen of him so far looks interesting, but I fear comes with considerable bust potential. You can see the athletic ability, but all the different ways they got him the ball worry me that he isn’t really that good at actually being a WR. For a guy that big, does he have the lateral agility and quickness to get open? What do you all think of Williams?

Given the strength of the draft at RB, I don’t think there will be much of a trade market for Cook or any RB.

I think if the injury checks out favorably that Revel will be gone before pick 30. Still don't know what to make of Emmanwori. He is a physical outlier (size) for S. While he might be a really nice presence in the run game, does he have the change of direction/quickness to be effective in coverage. Height as a DB isn't always an advantage. I'm not saying I definitely don't want Emmanwori, but (maybe without good reason) he feels a bit boom or bust.

I could live with either of Nolan or Harmon as they still have some stoutness vs the run - especially Harmon. There are reports that some teams really like Nolan and others really see him as a 2nd or 3rd rounder. I forget who posted a good link to that speculation.

Big question for these positions is health status of Benjaman Morrison, Shavon Revel TE Arroyo.

I understand your concern, but I think Grant has the athletic ability to be more than a run-down space-eater. He probably isn't going to be another Aaron Donald (who is?), but I think the Bills would be very fortunate to have a shot at Grant at pick 30. I suspect he will be long-gone by then. They do need someone next to Ed Oliver who has some heft and power to hold the line. With Daquan Jones recovering from injury/aging, the Bills are very vulnerable up front with the undersized Oliver, playing only 2 LBs both of whom are undersized and playing a small (but good tackling) nickel in Taron Johnson.

Ah, got it, thank you. I'm not big into the trade for Garrett, but if they could get it done for what is listed here I could get on board. One concern I would have is where will they find the cap space to include Garrett and field decent players at other positions. I would think unless they extend Garrett's contract they would have no cap space for any FA signings this year. I like the selection of a DT in round 2 and I haven't really yet watched Jordan Phillips, even late 2nd feels a little high for him based on what I've read. I acknowledge that once past the first, ratings jump all over and each team's rankings of players can vary considerably from those of other teams.

Thanks for posting. How did he write a Bills’ combine preview with barely mentioning defense at all? Heck, I would love for them to nab a good WR with ability to get open with his route running and with speed to threaten deep, but with no viable CB opposite Benford (unless they resign Douglas), a glaring need for pass rush help and a huge need for a 1T DT it is hard for me to see how they will address WR early.

I really like TJ Sanders, but I think he will be picked in the early/mid-2nd and I’m not sure you could play Sanders with Oliver on anything except obvious passing downs. With Sanders and Oliver together (both undersized) and two small LBs behind them in Bernard and Milano and playing a smaller nickel corner, I think they would get pounded into submission in the run game.

I think this would be a welcome addition. I really like the idea of not being absolutely forced into a CB early. I think they would still consider CB in round one or two, but not as disastrous if the board doesn’t fall their way for CB early.

Add in that as college players become upperclassmen there can be 22-23 year olds playing vs 18-19 year olds. In the NFL, everyone is a grown man. Also, as you said most of the opposing players aren’t NFL-caliber and, if your on a strong team the weaker opponents may have you and several teammates that are NFL-ready spreading the opponents attention.

I just watched Nolan vs Florida and I see why you rate him so highly. He is quick and powerful and moves pretty well for a DT. He seemed to be able to hold the line of scrimmage effectively - sometimes even against double teams, but more importantly he had several disruptive plays in that game.

I understand the pick under those circumstances, but I hope it doesn't come down to this. Yet, I would go further than Buscaglia's comment that "They also didn’t have a true starter at Z-receiver in 2024" and would argue that they have only 1 true starting caliber WR - Khalil Shakir (assuming Cooper leaves in FA). I am looking at Keon Coleman as anything that they get from him will be a bonus - he showed some flashes by mid-year, but he was a ghost after his injury vs. Miami.

Thank you for this great post. The way you described Barron with some questions and then listed him as the top player you would select for the Bills surprised me. Maybe I read too much into the questions in the write up. Is he listed first mainly because the Bills have a huge need at corner or do you really rank him above the others as a pure player? I think I could be happy with any of those picks, but I fear taking Golden (or any WR) will leave Bills in position that they won’t be able to address all of their glaring defensive needs at DT, DE and CB. I understand they probably can get a decent DT at 56, but then 62 can only be 1 or the other DE or CB. Looong wait after that to 107 in round 4.

That isn’t without risk. They lost Rashee Rice to off-field criminal activity and had problems with Kareem Hunt, too.

To be fair to the DTs, the team plays a 4-2-5 defense with both linebackers being on the small side and the extra DB is tough but small as well. They also play Safeties deep. That doesn't excuse the DTs per se, but they have limitations on the second level to cover up in addition to their own responsibilities.

I think Sawyer as a consolation prize in the later rounds 2nd is OK. I am no scout, but in the games I watched, I preferred JT Tuimoloau. To my eyes Tuimoloau looks smoother, more flexible and just as powerful. Again, no expert here.

Agree - he may not be there by 56. Rankings are all over the place and likely to settle in some more as the draftniks get to hear from the NFL teams at the combine. I haven’t studied too much on Collin’s, but what I’ve seen looks to fit as a 1T. Besides being available at 56, what do you see that makes him risky? Late 2nd is when I think it would be nice to get Collins - which is where the Bills’ 2 2nd round picks are.

My proposed alternative might be Alfred Collin’s - hoping to nab him at 56.

That would be a nice haul to get Grant, Hairston and Watts.