Astrobot

I would be happy to take Jonathan Martin. Can he pass rush?

Violent hands. Only DE on the "hands team" for onside kicks. He'll be fine.

The #16 pick last year(#2 DE on DraftTek), JJ Watt, had 56 tackles and 5.5 sacks, then led the team with 12 tackles, 3 TFL and 2.5 sacks in Houston's 20-13 loss to Baltimore in the playoffs. I'd be happy with that kind of production from a rookie DE and a playoff game next year.

I listened to TBD and locked out Michael Floyd, the pick in DraftTek's CMD Mock last week. I set our positional needs to choose BPA between DE43 and OLB43. Here's who was there when the computer picked: Whitney Mercilus DE43 Illinois Courtney Upshaw DE43 Alabama Mike Adams ROT Ohio State Jonathan Martin LOT Stanford Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama Luke Kuechly SILB Boston College Melvin Ingram OLB34 South Carolina The Big Board has Mercilus ranked over Upshaw because DraftTek thinks Upshaw would be a better 3-4 OLB. In fact, they have eliminated his Position2 classification completely. The DRAFTSIM computer assigned us the BPA, Mercilus. I'm suggesting that in the next draft, the Bills should put a GRAB in on Melvin Ingram. Ingram is more scheme-flexible (DE43, DE34, OLB43). Looks like I have some sites that agree. Hers is an interesting video on Riskiest Draft Picks in the Top 10 by Matt Miller. Kirkpatrick is one of them. What do you think? -Astro

RD1--Ingram DE. We were 30th in the NFL in sacks. Even if we bring in a FA rusher, Ingram is the explosive guy with power and closing speed--and character. He's less of a risk than Coples who is still raw and immature (but who I see as having the highest upside, almost Peppers-like, best case scenario). Upshaw at #10 would be the sure thing, the safe pick, but less top end talent than Ingram or Coples. Upshaw's short arms don't bother me because he has incredible hand use--but you can throw over him. Upshaw's scheme versatile (4-3 or 3-4), so he's a match for our hybrid D. Most drafts have Coples gone by #10. RD2--Juron Criner WR. Nix wants the big WR. Nix said he's particularly looking for a tall player -- Nix used Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson as a comparison -- who is capable of out-jumping and out-muscling defenders. This I take to mean a different WR in each round. Criner is "it" in RD2 (I don't think they'll go WR in RD1) because he has a muscular build and he's 6'4". It's not Stephen Hill because he doesn't have the meat on his legs to hold up, although Gailey's a Georgia Tech man. Alshon Jeffery will be gone by our RD2 pick. If Channix waits, he can still get his Calvin Johnson body type later. I like Tommy Streeter (maybe RD3), Jarrett Boykin (RD3), Jeff Fuller (RD3-4), and Tuinei (RD7). I also think they'll look at RD2 for CB if Minnefield or Dennard is there and if they don't get Routt in FA. Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener will be seriously looked at at TE as well. RD3--Boykin CB. Right now DraftTek has Vinny Curry going here, but after his senior bowl I'd see him in RD2. RD3 is where the last of the CB's that'll see action next year can be drafted, so that'll be a factor. Josh Norman, Boykin and Coryell Judie can be good CB depth. By going WR in RD2, you're going to be reaching for your OLB here. RD4--Foles QB. Foles is the next RD4 pick on DraftTek's current CMD draft and if he's there, would fit the #2 role well. He's smart, a team guy, throws the throws we need him to make, and has poise. He'd be better than Thigpen in every way except one--he won't know Gailey's system. So he'll carry the clipboard as our #3 QB for a while. RD4--Egnew or Linthicum TE. Let's get another TE, shall we? RD5--Chris Rainey WR. He's the water bug that Nix craves, with a little more meat on the hoof than Parrish. Has his speed, though. The Bills will take a FA big WR that Nix has said he wants here. RD5--Quinton Saulsberry OC. I also like getting a true backup OC here in Quinton Saulsberry. David Molk I like, too, but he's big like Saulsberry. Molk has feet--maybe convert him to TE. RD6--Lennon Creer, RB Louisiana Tech RD7--Cordarro Law DE43/OLB34

Excellent! I eagerly await your North of the Mason Dixon Line draft! Chris White and Johnny White?

Ingram's first on Chavous' board for LB's quick off snap, Upshaw's scheme-versatile; he can wade through linemen crap, Coples, one-year wonder, is said to be a Peppers, Kirkpatrick's smoking reefer (just take him, give him uppers), Reiff's a solid pick at tackle (he's not that pick from Texas) Mercilus' first name is Whitney, so you don't know what his sex is, Devon Still is pass-rush manna, comes from Sandusky College, Michael Floyd has off-field issues (3 liquor, to my knowledge), We all love Alshon Jeffrey, but we'll see him at RD2 (Unless he snows the combine, but then we'd take Sanu). Kendall Wright is Parrish II (why draft what didn't work?), Blackmon's too good, Zach Brown's too small, and Burfict is a jerk. With Chan and Buddy at the helm, it could be a different pick, So don't blame your television when we draft Jared Crick!

I posted about a month ago that Avril's evaluation by PFF was superior to Mario's. So was Calais Campbell's. I like the idea of getting the hungry guy coming into his own.

Agree, it's a good draft. Nix is going to love Martin's wingspan. You took a DE and OLB both who can rush. Tell me we took a FA pass rusher and I'll buy my seasons tomorrow.

Call Ingram "scheme-versatile". Nix gets a chub when you say "scheme-versatile".

I am getting a lot of mail from DraftTek readers saying that the 5th is a done deal. It's still being discussed. Love the flexibility that a 10-pick draft would offer us, in addition to some of the FA names being bandied about. Ideally, V-Jax or Bowe coming to Buffalo, along with a FA pass rusher (Cliff Avril, Calais Campbell, Mario Williams or Robert Mathis), would let us pick BPA all the way through the 10 picks, maybe like this: RD1-Courtney Upshaw Bama OLB RD2-Andre Branch Clemson DE RD3-Orson Charles Georgia TE RD4-Shaun Prater Iowa CB RD4-Quinton Saulsberry Mississippi St. OC RD5-Nicolas Jean-Baptiste Baylor NT RD5-George Iloka Boise St. S RD6-Matt Reynolds BYU OT RD7-Brian Quick App State WR RD7-DeAngelo Tyson Georgia DT

Best corners in RD4 and 5 (my order, pre-combine) Shaun Prater Iowa - my favorite late round CB, hamstring dropped him to here Cliff Harris Oregon Leonard Johnson Iowa State - decent job against Blackmon in Iowa State upset win Donnie Fletcher Boston College Omar Bolden Arizona State Josh Norman Coastal Carolina Josh Robinson Central Florida Shaun Prater INT:

And your username is Triple Threat???

Watch our picks this week at DraftTek. I'm almost assuming the pass rusher comes from FA.

and an Applebee's gift card.

I think Isaiah Pead is getting a bad rap from what I've read. I see his blitz pickup as excellent and some draftniks are criticizing his blocking. And his running ain't bad--prolly best in the Big East.

It's only potential so far. According to PFF Premium, Carrington had 5 positive games (Weeks 1 and 3 the only green ones of those 5, if you know PFF's score system)and 11 negative ones. Only one positive game in his last nine, so he needs coaching up. Inge and Giff Smith, the D-Line coaches, have their work cut out for Carrington. Give them a DE to work with (Upshaw, Coples, Still, Ingram) in RD#1 and another in RD#2 (Crick, Andre Branch). How about a D-Line of (from blind side LDE): Coples-Dareus-K Williams-Branch?

I say the Bills would do well to add Upshaw. As I said last week on DraftTek when the computer picked Upshaw as BPA, "Well-rounded" seemed to be a derogatory label in high school, but it's what the Bills need at OLB/DE. Upshaw's Senior Bowl practices and game play highlighted his value, not only as a pass-rusher but also for setting the edge against the run. Sure, both Coples and Upshaw had 3 tackles, 2 for a loss, and 1 sack each in the Senior Bowl, but given the choice for the playoff-starved Bills, I'd opt for Upshaw's competitive blaze over Coples' flash and sizzle, particularly after Coples' underwhelming year. Upshaw is the sure thing if you're looking for 3-down aggression and 10 sacks per year. During Senior Bowl week, we saw Upshaw secure the edge well against this year's best, and all year we've seen the variety of pass rush moves (arm-over, arm-under, fake outside-go inside, swim, club, and good hand-fighting technique) that ice Upshaw's position in the Top 10. One Scout at the Senior Bowl said it best: "You play sic ’em defense, he’ll sic ’em.” In Round 2 (after taking Upshaw in the first to secure the edge and play next to his Tide teammate Dareus), I'm hoping for a sideline to sideline OLB with speed and clout. My three are: Vinny Curry---if he's still there, and we're projecting he will be, but this is pre-combine Ronnell Lewis---hits like a ton of bricks. Oklahoma DE would be a OLB43 Travis Lewis

I see Coples to the Fins as well. Want a tackle at #10?

1 10 Whitney Mercilus DE43 Illinois 2 42 Ronnell Lewis OLB43 Oklahoma 3 74 Kendall Reyes DT43 Connecticut 4 105 Billy Winn DE43 Boise State 4 124 Jaye Howard DT43 Florida 5 137 Nicolas Jean-Baptiste DT34 Baylor 5 160 Kevin Koger TE Michigan 6 169 Ryan Steed CB Furman 7 200 Russell Wilson QB Wisconsin Do it the Giants' way--waves of defensive linemen and pass rushers! Marsha won't know what hit him. Yes, I haven't given up coffee. Astro

Giants put up “Giants Win Super Bowl” 36 hours early! http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/giants-ahead-themselves-super-bowl-champions-home-page-030550983.html Webslingers! Remember The Programming Motto: "Always Go Through The Back End!" Have a Super Day! Astro

Nine picks? Super Bowl! Re-sign Chandler, Jackson, Johnson 1 Whitney Mercilus DE43 Illinois 2 Ronnell Lewis OLB43 Oklahoma 3 Lavonte David OLB43 Nebraska 4 Leonard Johnson CB Iowa State 4 Mike Daniels DT43 Iowa 5 Landon Walker OT Clemson 5 Isaiah Pead RBF Cincinnati 6 Russell Wilson QB Wisconsin 7 Brian Quick WRP Appalachian State

I think Hightower will be gone at the 18th pick and Curry, Lavonte David, Ronnell Lewis, and Travis Lewis would all be there at our pick in RD2. That's my pre-combine crystal ball. NFP thinks Curry will be there in RD3. I don't think so.

You got that right. Chandler should be brought back, and I don't think Fendi Onobun and Kevin Brock will strike fear over the middle...

Trumaine Johnson's on my list. He's 6'2", a PR and KR with good yardage, and a character guy. He's not a hidden gem anymore, though. He's going RD3#90 near the end of the round, to the Saints right now. He'd become value to us at our RD4#105.