BigBuff423

First, name-calling is a lot like some Kindergarten playground garbage, don't go there....be better. Second, the fact that you mention Cam Lewis as quality depth begs the question if you're grasping for straws. The point being that Tre being active isn't the point, the fact that as soon as our best CB was inactive and the next man up, who isn't nearly as good went down, it was time for a WR to play out of position. If that *doesn't* make you think that added depth / talent isn't worth a 2nd to 4th Round pick, then I don't think you have your priorities straight when considering the totality of this roster. CB is not a "need", but when all of the team "needs" are finished via FA, I would think, a person would start to say, where is the second layer of talent that can be improved? IMHO (ninny or not) is in CB when this Defense relies so heavily on zone coverage in order to generate their game plan on Defense. Wallace is good, don't know if he'll grow into great, but he's good right now. Tre is well....Tre and T. Johnson is a solid Nickel CB in the right package. But RB behind Motor and CB, IMO, are two areas that should be addressed in their first three picks this year now that they've used a 1st on a true WR1. Edge, if BPA fits, would be another and of course in this Draft, you don't leave without a good WR. RB and WR should be a no brainer based on the depth of those positions and that the Bills can select both of those positions anywhere from 2nd to 4th Rounds and get very good players. The question becomes, where does CB / Edge fit in the Draft and that's a debate for a different thread.

I realize I'm probably in the minority here, but I'm not one to really like the Prime Time games for the Bills. In years past it was because they didn't do well in Prime Time games, unless you go back to the Jim Kelly / Levy era. But recently it is simply because I really like watching the Bills game in the 1:00 slot. Now, Sunday night is good, but Monday Night and Thursday just sucks monkey ****. So, I'll be tepid about this idea until we can actually see the schedule. Now, that's the selfish part of me that likes to watch the games in my own way. On the note of national interest and some due respect, that's great to hear and see. But can and will the Bills live up to it? I do think they'll be even better this year, but they have to prove it before anyone is going to give them more than just the nod for modest changes last year. Go Bills!

To your first point, I'm not saying Chinn and Duggar aren't good players, but they just handed Poyer a lucrative extension for a Safety and Hyde still under contract while they have two good but wrong-side-of-30 year old WRs and remember when a WR had to play CB last year? Gaines is no guarantee to make it past Pre-Season and I do think Norman will rebound a bit, but T. Johnson and Siran Neal did well in the big Nickel role - and Wallace is good, but good players at CB aren't easy to find and if you can Draft one in the early mid-rounds (2nd / 3rd), for where this team is in terms of roster development, you do it (IMO). Everything else seems like we agree, but I just don't see the value in adding a Safety in the 2nd or 3rd Round when this isn't a good year for Safety while you can grab a WR in the early to mid rounds that is likely to be a real contributor to the Offense for years to come. Chase Claypool, Aiyuk, Bryan Edwards, etc. would all be very good WRs for the Bills and provide much needed play-making depth this year and probably good starters in the years to follow. Not dipping into the WR pool that is arguably the best it's been in a very long time would be foolish, IMHO.

This is why I don't believe the Bills have any true interest in Drafting more than a few players, just no room for them. The roster is in a condition that can cast off players that are just mediocre to players that are good to great to elite. Filling three or four spots via mid-high picks is more valuable to the Bills at this point than in years past when we all hoped they'd hit the lottery in Rounds 5-7 because they NEEDED good players from those rounds just to be able to fill a serviceable team. Now, we want a couple 2nds or 2nd, 3rd, and two 4ths in order to feel they've actually upgraded the team with quality depth players, not guys we're wishing on a rainbow will be just good enough to make the roster and not embarrass the team next year. My oh my what a good GM / Front Office and competent HC can do for a team. Bring...it....on. True - but really you don't spend vital, valuable Draft capital on players you believe will need to be cut down before the season - those spots are for UDFAs or FAs with low money numbers attached. You spend Draft picks on guys you truly believe will be long-term contributors and with the depth and quality they have at nearly every position, you take quality over quantity. In this year's Draft, that's three maybe four picks in Rounds 2 to 4....RB / WR / Edge / CB....that's it. And maybe not CB depending on how that room is perceived by the FO and HC.

I agree....but when you look at the other positions, they have layers of good to great players. CB is a Norman downturn and a Gaines injury away from needing to put in a WR as a CB, like last year. This year is when you can take a WR and allow their talent to churn with their NFL development, especially given the age of Brown and Beasley. So my point is simply between the lack of consistent, healthy depth at CB and the absolutely boon of elite talent at WR and the need to think ahead, those two come to mind right after RB. Edge is there merely due to age of the aforementioned players and that Trent is no guarantee to be on the roster come opening weekend. JMO

I'd say they don't....with the current contracts tied up in Safety positions plus Neal and J. Johnson, their Draft status is too high to get them into One Bills Drive. The team has real depth issues at RB / WR / CB and Edge that need that attention. Are they good players? Yes, and most likely will do well at the NFL level, but the timing just isn't right for either of them to be on the team (barring a trade of Hyde).

I didn't see his Combine profile posted anywhere and this seems a good a place as any: http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/isaiah-mckenzie?id=2558129 What stands out is that while is he fast, posted a Combine 4.42, he is actually SLOWER than RB Jonathon Taylor from Wisconsin who posted a 4.39. That is not an indictment against McKenzie, but rather a startling eye-opening fact about Taylor. Imagine a larger, stronger, faster McKeznie who has quick cuts and solid frame. By comparison, Tyreek Hill's Pro Day produced a 4.29 for the 40 while being about the same size as McKenzie, but a little heavier. That's just a way of saying that while I think McKenzie "could" offer something electric to the Offense, it needs to be specifically schemed for him which makes his use within the system a bit more cumbersome, IMO. (Interesting note: in Hill's Combine profile it mentions his conviction for assaulting his girlfriend....history, does indeed repeat itself).

Anything can happen and nobody knows what the Bills will do, but I would be a little surprised if Edwards-Helaire was Drafted by the Bills. To me, they want versatility in their RB room and I don't see that when looking at Motor and E.H. In the poll I selected "Aikens", although I believe the OP meant Akers because IMHO, Akers in the 3rd is about the right spot for both him to be Drafted and the Bills to take a RB as well as in my mind he does complement Motor better than many of the other RBs. I love Taylor, but he's going in the 1st round or top 2nd to somebody and I'm not as big a fan of Swift as many are. Akers in this poll is a good balance for the Bills Offense and probably around the right value.

McFarland might be short, but at 208 he is solid and has a low center of gravity and as for breaking tackles, I routinely saw guys get an arm on his leg or grab his foot and be able to keep his balance and fight through it to keep running and in some cases, make big gains after the fact. He's not Brandon Jacobs or Marshawn Lynch obviously, but he's also young and has room to put some more strength in his frame, not bulk mind you. When you watch him run, he runs with this single cut, authority despite his stature and shows good burst which is what Motor is missing, IMO. All that said, while I don't think he'd be there at #54, if Taylor were to be there, it's a no-brainer b/c IMHO, he's the best all around back coming out. All due respect to Swift - which almost the exact same size as McFarland (same height, but 4 lbs heavier but also very slightly slower). In later rounds, Eno Benjamin is a VIOLENT runner - reminds me of a smaller Marshawn Lynch. This Draft is loaded at RB, and I can understand why Beane feels very comfortable going into the Draft looking for a RB, b/c no matter where in the Draft they decide to take one - there will be a flat-out, player available. Love this Draft for RB / WR.

I'm not as much a fan of the Dobbins pick for the Bills, mainly because I don't see a drastic difference between Motor and Dobbins and what the Bills truly need to complement Motor is speed. Now, if the Bills were to take Edge in 2nd and wait until the 3rd (maybe 4th), I could see McFarland as a really good second piece to Motor who had one of the faster 40 times at the Combine and it shows on video. Additionally, he does a nice job with shaking single arms tackles, shooting the hole with some authority, and a nice plant-and-go running style that would provide some balance. I didn't see a ton of receiving reps from him, but what I did see, showed signs of promise with practice and good coaching. I love Taylor the way most everyone does, but I think he goes in the 1st top 2nd and McFarland is a really nice option for the Bills, IMHO.

Personally, I don't worry about bringing in a RB via the Draft who might push Singletary to be better. In fact, from what Beane and McD have done over the last few years, it seems they covet the competition at every position group so it would actually make sense for them to want to put competition in place for Motor. Additionally, and basically everyone else has said it, but we want / need elite talent in every position group and since Beane has done a marvelous job thus far brining in good players for depth, finding the elite talent at ANY position should be the focus. Eventually, that pick pays dividends and let's not forget, one of Kelly's best receivers was Thomas for all those years. Give Josh and the Offense more weapons, let the OC / McD figure out how to use them all. You could see a 5 wide set with two RBs or 4 wide set with two RBs and one in the backfield. Either way, get the elite / great talent on the field whatever the position is, and the team will get better.

Here’s what I know: while I (like every other breathing Bills fan) agree RB is a must somewhere over the next 4 weeks, I LOVE the fact that Beane has done such a good job that there are very good options all over the place. I remember so many times in years past that the Bills were painted into a corner in FA or the Draft or both, and they just swung at anything that came their way and it showed. Again I say it, this....is so damn refreshing.

Somewhat due to the depth of the WR position in this Draft and somewhat based on the relative age of two of Buffalo's top 3 WRs, I could see the Bills Drafting two WRs in the Draft: one in the 3rd and one in the 5th, given the rest of the roster. I could also see the Bills goin back to back for WR in subsequent rounds in 4 and 5.....either way, I think this crop of WRs is just too good to pass up on getting a very good one somewhere between 2 and 4. JMO....

If you read what I wrote carefully, my advocacy for Draft picks was for RB / CB / Edge but that if Beane believes a TE is worth any pick at any point, IMHO, he and his team have done enough to warrant my trust, despite my personal doubts or objections. Having said that, TE is arguably one of the *current* weakest positions largely due to the unknown in Knox / Sweeney and that the Bills have a marvelous job of building depth in nearly every other position group. The other group that is screaming for quality depth? Running Back...Corner could be an issue if Norman doesn't rise to the occasion and Edge merely because of age, hence why I said those three before TE and the fact that Knox / Sweeney do seem promising, but when you an opportunity to elevate the play of a position group by Drafting well - you take it.

The issue is that TEs historically take 2-3 years to develop to the point of being good & true contributors. Gronk & Kelce are recent outliers but Gates, Graham, Witten, etc. we’re Drafted in Rounds 3-4, and took a couple years to be worth the pick. Knox had a very Rookie year last year, Sweeney showed flashes of what a decent 2nd TE could be in the future and a 3rd TE at this point is more for what Smith does, blocking. Now, IMO - I’m not opposed to a TE being Drafted but given the need for a second RB, more CB depth and a young Edge to develop, a TE takes a 4th Round priority. That said, if Beane sees an Ertz or Kelce in the 2nd Round, then I trust Beane to know that and I support it.

IMHO, he has to show which player he truly is: the one whose reputation outpaced his productivity or the one who showed up in the second half of last season.

And you understand there is a reason why some players just aren’t a good fit in certain schemes on certain teams? His catch % is solid, he can catch and rush the ball, has good speed, and can be a change of pace to Singletary. Look at Brown who came in last year and re-defined himself, and Beasley had his best year or when CBs come into the Bills D and have a strong rebound year b/c of the way McD / Frazier use them in their scheme. I’m merely suggesting that a Drafted back like Dillon, Motor and Prosise would provide a full spectrum of the RB position, IMO.

CJ Prosise is another option that would be a complement to the style and ability of Singletary and a presumed Rookie Drafted RB.

I disagree that OL was a big or consistent issue. What I saw was a remarkable difference between Josh’s first year when it seemed he couldn’t even set his feet before he was being mauled or forced to move and this year there seemed to consistently be 2-3 seconds for him to make the read and throw. More than that is asking a lot and much less is where we were the year before. RT was an issue but I believe Ty made that side look much better and he’s back this year along with Ford being given time to get better and I have to believe that since Beane traded up to get him and was excited to get him, they have confidence in his ability to hold his position. Long story - short, I trust this FO.

I chose Hyde merely due to how I would think a second Vet RB would be used, presuming Yeldon stays on team and the Bills Draft another Rookie RB.

My "crush" for the Draft will mirror life: will depend on my need and what's available.

I thought this could be added in this thread, here's Spotrac's continuing list of Free Agents and their signings and contracts: https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/ Edit: there are some terrific players still left in FA, one that intrigues me would be Eric Ebron, only 26 (or 27 depending on where you look) and has shown better productivity than I gave him credit for after looking at his last few years. Yes, it was much improved when in Indy with Luck, but tell me a receiver that doesn't get better with a good to great QB.

The thing about Gordon IMO is that it would cost true spending cash in a Draft where there are legit Day 1 starters (not that the Bills need a workhorse back) in the first 2-3 Rounds. If the Bills really think a dynamic back and a CB are a need, then using the remaining Cap spending on a CB makes more sense given the depth at RB in the Draft. This would be one of those few decisions I don't agree with Beane and his team on, but as I've said before - this is the first time in over 20 years I can say I fully trust the Front Office to do their job well. If McBeane et. al. think this is a good way to spend the money, I'm all in.

To me, any additions at this point is either, 1. a huge upgrade and cost at a premier position or 2. strictly for second / third level depth. In other words, I don't think they're signing anybody at this point who is a "starter" on the 22 that is just a "solid" player, ala Klein or Jefferson. I would prefer to see a guy like Chris Harris to play in their Nickel coverage, b/c with him, Norman and White along with Wallace and T. Johnson, that's as good a CB group as you can find in the NFL. But, given the Draft and other areas of depth, I don't know if Harris is a possibility given where the team is in terms of Cap Space.

Beane signed him and Cover 1 loves him, so I trust he'll be a good strategic piece in this Defense.