OldTimer1960

I could, of course be wrong, but I hope they don’t draft: - Quentin Johnston - concerned about hands - Bijon Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs - RB too dependent on OL and won’t commit to running enough to justify. - Brian Branch - most his experience is at sot corner, might be great S, but lesser priority position.

I know Hamlin said he intends to play, but I don’t think they should count on that. If Rapp pans out, that could give them a a potential heir apparent to Poyer or Hyde, both of whom are nearing the end and Hyde is a FA after this year. Unless they are moving Benford (or Tre White) to S, they need another young S candidate. Doesn’t HAVE to be this year, but relying on a rookie to take over next year carries some risk.

You can see athleticism in every move Simpson makes, that’s for sure. Do you think he could fit well in Bills’ scheme?

Agree, I think Davis is better than what we saw last year. Still, Ideally they will bring in legitimate competition for him.

I completely agree that separation ability (and great hands) are the most important traits for WR - quickness and route running skills/know how trump pure speed and size (IMHO). Flowers,Addison and Downs all are there, to me, but size does matter - particularly on the outside. It doesn’t matter for good sized receivers, but the fields are crowned some where sidelines are lower than middle of the field. A shorter WR out there is harder to hit on outs (granted, not as important on deep shots down sideline). Lighter WR will more likely struggle with physical play from DBs, too. Short/light isn’t a disqualifying factor, but it is a consideration and concern. Have to weigh everything when evaluating these guys.

Dante Whitner.

Do you see him as a T or G or both?

They might be able to play outside occasionally, but at 5’9” 182 (Flowers) and 5’11” 173 (Addison) they are very small for outside. I do love their route running, but either will struggle against press coverage and they won’t see that as much in the slot. I’m not saying those smaller guys can’t help this offense, but I think drafting either with the intention of playing them primarily outside would be a mistake. The average size for NFL WR is just over 6’ and 200lbs according to this article below. Flowers and Addison are significantly below that mark.

They will be lucky to get a good contributor in round 1. Expectation of 1 marquee contributor in a good draft at pick 27 is already a stretch, finding 2 in a weak draft is unlikely.

Agree. He is one of only a few WR with good size. Many of the best ones in the class are really small in both height and weight. That doesn’t mean that the smaller guys like Addison, Flowers and Downs can’t help this team, but their size/stature pretty much limits the role they can play to the slot. Mingo could be seen as competition to Gabe Davis and/or replacement for him if they can’t agree on contract for Davis after this season.

Big and fast are good, but route running and ability to catch when open and make contested catches are important as well and it is no given that those skills can be learned enough to play in the NFL. Late 4th round the gamble is probably worth it, especially in this draft, but every year there are size-speed freaks at the combine who didn’t produce a lot in college and most of them never do anything in the NFL, either. Of course, there are some exceptions.

I’m not sure there is much room for him to put on much more mass. At the combine, he didn’t look rail thin at 183lbs, but he is pretty small.

Good call on Curry. I remember thinking he was the safest, highest-floor player in that draft. I’m not sure what happened with him - I don’t think he had off-field issues or injury that derailed him. I think teams just badly misjudged his talent. Has anyone mentioned Tony Mandarich? He was supposed to be a super-dominant OL, but turned out he was a roided up guy who wasn’t very good at football.

I like Downs very much and I think that he would provide a nice target in the short to intermediate area - sort of a bit faster Cole Beasley. If that comparison is accurate, it would certainly help the offense, but can you not find reliable slot receivers in other ways and use the pick to help an area that isn’t as easy to address?

Excellent point on Robinson - against Alabama and TCU his avg per carry was sub 3. Nobody (except maybe Barry Sanders) is effective when there is no place to run.

Need the cheap labor - can’t afford to take on expensive veteran contracts.

There are very few Pro-Bowler rookies in any year. By “can’t miss”, do you mean will be great or will become a good starter?

I’m with you on Kincaid. He is a receiving weapon and may be better than the WRs that will be available. Good chance Kincaid is gone before 27, though.

I agree that Kincaid would be a nice option. I’m not sure that I’m as sold on Mayer, but he is probably worthy of consideration. Mayer’s blocking would be helpful to free up Knox for passes and Mayer is a reliable short-intermediate option. You’d have to hope that Allen would not ignore Mayer in the short areas for riskier downfield shots. He did show he would do that when he had Cole Beasley before his decline.

I think that the majority here agree that, if equally good prospects are available on offense and defense, then they should lean towards the offense this year. But, that’s the rub - will there be good prospects available on offense when they pick? In a weak draft like this, I think job 1 has to be to find a good player at most any position in round 1. If that means having to take defense because the remaining offensive players aren’t as good, then so be it (in my opinion). It doesn’t do any good to force a pick on offense because that’s what they need/want most. I am hoping that there will be a few good offensive players available at 27, but if a run on OTs happens and JSN and Addison are gone, do you reach for another player on offense or do you look at potentially better prospects on D? I think you have to avoid a reach, especially in this draft.

I voted for Benton because of positional need. I don’t know that Tillman is different enough from or that much better than Davis in terms of size, speed and, importantly, route running. He does appear to have better hands - and, of course that matters.

I don’t think Avila will be there at pick 59. All the WRs are compromises. I could see Flowers or Downs helping in the slot, love they’re quick, but so small. I would understand if they took Hyatt, but he is slightly built and is he a one-trick pony? JSN will be a very good slot receiver- if he stays healthy and I would not touch Quentin Johnston- his hands and not-so-great contested catch ability are a big red flag for me. None of the above are what people think of as great value for round 1 in most years. I can’t find any player who’s likely to be available at pick 27 that they “gotta have”.

I don’t think he’ll be there late in round 2 where Bills pick. Think they would need to trade up for him in round 2, but I think they would have to pass on prospects at more important positions if they took him in round 1.

Offensive playmakers are in short supply in round 1 of this draft. FWIW, Pat Kirwan thinks only 2WRs will go in round 1. I’m hoping for a good OT who can slide to G in the case that Spencer Brown improves. I could be on board for Dalton Kincaid as the playmaker. Not crazy about Bijon Robinson in round 1, but I could at least understand if the went that way.

I’m not sure that he was drafted to be Edmunds’ replacement. I think he was drafted to play a role similar to Milano’s. If they really did draft him to be Edmunds’ replacement, it is an even bigger head-scratcher than it already appeared to be.