BarleyNY

Personal emotions about the writer aside, the article is just a list of the safer prospects universally expected to be first round picks under the heading of players he expects to be good. No kidding, so does everyone else. There's no new information or actual work there. He doesn't even go out on a limb and project what a player will be, only a possible ceiling. I could've written that article in under an hour. It's just a rah-rah fluff piece.

I used to have to go to Valdosta for work. Here's a few things I remember: - Really nice people. - Office people kept asking me to tell the Darden Restaurant people to put an Olive Garden there. Always nice to have aspirations. - Two gates at the airport there. - Post 9/11 when the National Guard was briefly posted in all of the US airports I saw the lone, on-duty Guardsman at the Valdosta Airport fishing in the retention pond by the airport parking lot.

Wow. No kidding. I don't think I've ever seen a more upright runner. I'm sure it'll be fine in the NFL though.

Lombardi is a back-stabbing, self-aggrandizing tool. He has had horrific results when he's been in charge of drafts and personnel. He has made countless enemies by lying to and screwing over people. Don't read too much into this article. He's just parroting information that's generally available - and acting like he figured it all out himself. Please don't buy into his schtick.

That is a fantastic post. The point about TT opening up space for the RBs is a great one - and I sure hadn't noticed the degree of impact that it had.

Totally agree.

There are only 1st, 2nd and original round tenders. MG was a 5th round pick so there was no option for a 3rd or 4th round tender. I can't really argue with your first 3 selections. All would be quality picks, if available. My only "complaint" about those selections is that there is a good chance that none of them will be available at the picks you have them going to the Bills. Certainly any could be though and I'd be happy if they were.

To be fair, no one has actually done it. It'd take a huge deal to get Cleveland off of Garrett so I don't see it happening.

Little birdie told me that not one, but two teams have called the Browns about trading up to 1 for a QB. No word on seriousness of conversations, but I do know that neither was the Bills. The Bills and Browns have talked, but the Browns initiated the conversation. Most likely that was about 12 to 10, but that's speculation as I didn't get info on content of that conversation. That's all I know.

I agree that it's way too early to know what we have in McD. But concerns over signs of inflexibility are reasonable. Still, we don't know what's driving his scheme or his changes. Is it the only way he knows how to scheme defense? Is he trying to maximize mismatched talent on the roster and move the roster to a more coherent and cost effective group? Is he reacting to the current NFL offensive systems and rules? Rex was the worst possible combination. He was totally stupidly inflexible and totally committed to a system that no longer worked in the NFL. McD certainly has run better systems for today's league. IIRC I read that his systems have been more Cover 3 and Cover 2 focused at different times. That's a good sign that there's at least some flexibility with him. While it is never good to see a young, highly productive player leave, I do understand the Bills letting Gilmore walk. They can get what they need out of their CBs for a lot less than what a player of his age and skill set demands. My head will be up, but I'll give McD the benefit of doubt on this for now.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?position=RB&type=position There's the list of drafted RBs. Other than Jay Ajayi I really don't see any that fit your criteria. Care to point out all the others?

Davis would be a quality choice at 10. Ditto OJ Howard if we could expand to include TEs.

He'd have been 25th at the 2nd round tender amount - and lower than that after the rookies sign. And NE certainly seems happy to pay him (a little) more than that. If a team is going to be as run focused on offense as the Bills have been, then they must have a quality backup. Without MG they don't. But they could've for an extra $900k.

Agree with Bandit on this. That's one reason why the 2nd round tender would've been the right move. The other is with an eye toward keeping MG long term. Shady will be 29 before this season begins. That would've given the Bills this season to determine if MG was worth moving forward with as McCoy hit 30.

Yeah, you'd think they were rooting for the NFL team with the longest playoff drought or something.

It's raining. Also there are a bunch of frustrated Bills fans. It would've cost an extra $900k this season to have given Gillislee a second round tender instead of original round (5th). Now the Bills have to decide between paying him even more or losing him and gaining a 5th round pick. It's not the end of the world, but it was a mistake (which I pointed out at the time of tender) and I'm frustrated with watching Whaley repeatedly make such mistakes.

Whaley should've gone out the door with Rex. He's had some good moves, but overall he's been below average. One common problem many young GMs have is acquiescing to their coaches too often. That was the one piece of advice Phil Savage said he'd give new GMs. He was sure guilty of that. It sure seems like Whaley was too. Here's hoping he turns it around.

It certainly appears that all of the QB needy teams are trying to move back in the 1st round of the draft. If true (and it sure seems like it is) then that tells you everything you need to know about this QB class.

That's a hell of a qualification to have to continually make. It makes sense to talk about the Sammy Watkins we have, not the Sammy Watkins we wish we had.

That makes sense. No need to rush it and pick up his option until just prior to the deadline. Nothing to be gained and waiting hedges against the slim possibility of something going horribly wrong medically. Can you imagine the backlash if Whaley picked up his option a month early and then Watkins came down with a career threatening staph infection? Waiting until the last minute to pick up the option a non-story.

In no particular order: Jonathan Allen Corey Davis OJ Howard Haasan Reddick I had to pull Trubisky off my list. I just can't do it. No QB in this draft is worth the 10th pick. I'll add Derek Barnett in his place. Not a need pick, but he'd likely be BPA and plays a premium position.

Those are nice

While I agree that Whaley should have done more on the QB front, Dak isn't nearly what he was last season on any other team. Dallas has the best OL in the game right now and they gave him loads of time. Zeke flourished behind that line too which took pressure off of him. And then there's the skill players like Dez and Witten.

The Bills desperately need to address WR. They need to do that even with Watkins as he's pretty much all they have right now. It's difficult to say they have to do it at 10 because a) we don't know who will be available at 10 and b) the defensive backfield is just as needy.

Also be aware that Yolo's a spooner.