EmotionallyUnstable

The Y is usually reserved to reference a TE. If you’re looking at a move piece for a WR, you’re looking at the Z (Cooper/Hollins) out of 21 or the H (Shakir/Samuel). The labels aren’t as important as the skill set the the players possess. For example you could see Samuel as the H, Z or A….because he can be versatile in formation and usage. But all of these positions have one thing in common: they are move positions. You can get a free release out of these looks. The X needs to be able to win at the LOS. And Coleman had a lot of trouble doing this. So I think your evaluation of the roster is a bit upside down (unless Coleman improves): we have a few guys who can play the off-the-ball move receiver, but no one who can really dominate on the outside without needing motion or formation to help.

No I didn’t say that. I said I think he took who he perceived to be the best remaining pass catcher, because the whole world knew we needed help at WR. Now you’re stuck with a TE who despite being praised as being a great pass catcher, isn’t a boundary WR player. He tried to fit a square peg into a round hole. What he should have done, is not allow the need for pass catcher to overshadow the fact that there could have been better talent available at other positions, instead of feeling pressured to address it.

If you want to dismiss DeJean as an example that’s your own business but the larger point is that need is driving those choices. Again look at 2023 when the Bills took Kincaid as it clear we needed WR help. Immediately before our pick a WR run of JSN, Q Johnston, Flowers, Addison led Beane to picking the next best thing which was Kincaid as a pass catcher who as you’ve heard Beane try to do, pass him off as a semi-WR with his 11.5 personnel suggestion. I won’t even sit and say “he should have instead taken…” as that’s an unfair revisionist perspective. What you can state however is that he forced the issue likely overdrafting a player who he tried to peg into a need that didn’t fit. We see this again with Coleman in 2024 IMO as well.

Respectfully disagree. Revisionist history indeed, yet this is the problem: You cannot allow your current roster status to steer you into making or not making selections of players who are thought to be elite, especially at premier positions. Looking at a roster, you might think “what do I need this player for” is keeping you from bringing in high quality talent at cost controlled prices. You think it’s silly to imagine why would they have done this, but why wouldn’t they have done this? Look how it all shook out: Injury concerns at safety, Benford knocked out of AFCCG, Douglas in a contract year, Elam a known bust, and it would have been an excellent chess piece to harness. We’d be sitting here today with one less question mark at a position. Yes instead we have people thinking we need WR, DB and DL help…which is ironically the exact same top three picks that were made positionally last year. DeJean in the fold would have at least given us one answer. My major concession here is as you stated , he went #40!!! Beane is not the only GM victim to error and woulda coulda shouldas

Beane’s biggest error in building this roster in terms of drafting in the early rounds, is that he allows positional need to steer him too often toward less talented players, rather than taking the most elite player regardless of position. It’s what lead to the trade up for Elam after losing out of McDuffie, the trade up for Kincaid after watching 4 WRs fly off the board immediately before, and the settling for Coleman (WR8) after having all day to mull it over. In each of these circumstances, positional need lead to selecting players that aren’t the most talented player. Drafting blue chip players at 25-30th overall is challenging. This is revisionists history. It is easy to sit here and say “should have taken DeJean at 33.” Beane doesn’t have the luxury. Fans do. I like a lot about what Beane has done, although my concerns about this team since 2020 has been the same: Is our top end talent elite enough to get it done when it matters? The answer has been no, at many positions for many years…which is why I am hoping they go get Garrett and leave no doubt.

I think at #30 in this edge class you’re more likely to get a lunch pail thumper who wins with power…there are a few of them often mocked end of round 1 or RD2 that I am not too keen on

Thanks Gonzo. As someone who is continually looking to get into more predraft player assessment, could you touch up the following? What criteria do you use to assess players? Does is change per position? What kind of film analysis do you do? Do you have a rating scale (0-100) or just assign a round grade/projection? Do you ever get into play comparisons? just curious as I continue to look at my own process just for fun.

The more I think it over, the more I believe we’ll take a DT at 30. I just think there will be one too good to pass up. I don’t see Graham or Grant making it to 30 but I think one of Harmon or Nolen will be available, and I think both would be instant starters.

Gunner, do you have a first round grade on Scourton? Seems to be an early down player imo who is strong and forceful but stiff and lacks the necessary ability to bend the edge and win with speed in a 4-3. Do you see him bumping inside at all? I wondered if he’s a scheme fit more for a 5T in a 3-4 than a traditional 4-3 DE and the lions have been fluid in what they’ve done upfront with past injuries. This edge class is frustrating me. It seems like some of the best options are either: 1) out of reach (Carter, Green) 2) not scheme fits (Pearce, Williams, Stewart, Scourton) 3) somewhat one dimensional (JT, Princely U, Sawyer) The more I think about it, the more I feel they’re going to try and move #30 in a similar fashion to last season (baring someone like Grant falling)

Based on how I believe Beane values specific positions on the team, I’d guess: 1. Groot 2. Benford 3. Shakir 4. Cook 5. Bernard This is based on the amount of assets we’ve put into these positions which indicates to be how they perceive the worth or necessity of having talent there. Now the level of talent and price all factor into this, but in terms of positional value, there is no doubt that DE and CB would out weigh the players at the other positions.

Honestly pretty amazing someone made this connection and it’s spot on. Also blows my mind they’re all in the AFC

I had such high hopes. Nope.

Not the worst Bill but my most recent unlikable Bill was Siran Neal

I do think Beane has too often opted to take BPA at a position of need early in round 1 and 2 while not taking purely BPA because of positional fit and current roster. This is evidenced by passing on Cooper DeJean just this last year. He was constantly being mocked to the Bills, and by many accounts, exactly the kind of player the bills would covet. Sitting on pick 33 all day Friday resulted in taking the 5/6th best WR because we knew we needed help on the boundary. I would be shocked if Coleman was truly ranked higher on their big board than DeJean. This has resulted in have a solid roster with good players but not enough elite and high level talent across the board. I wonder if they’d have flipped picks in rounds 1 and 2, instead taking the better DB (DeJean) at 33 and the best WR left in the second, how different things would be?

That’s why I’m in on Garrett. Enough rolling the dice, spend some picks and money and get the real deal (if it isn’t a ridiculous ask)