GunnerBill

I want to add a couple to my list above - guys I've really got round to breaking down quite late in the process. Blake Watson, Running Back, Memphis 5th round grade Watson is another older prospect and has had an interesting journey. He originally went to Old Dominion as a wide receiver before a position change in 2021, since when across two years at OD and a year with Memphis in 2023 he has amassed 3,182 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns. He first came to my attention at the Shrine Bowl and was one of the standouts in my review of that game (here). There he shone as a receiving back and my thinking was he was a very late day 3 / priority UDFA who might carve out a niche as a pass catching back in the NFL. But when I finally got around to his film - this guy can run. He is a bit upright in his style and he would definitely be best suited to an outside zone scheme but he is better between the tackles than I expected. If he lands in the right spot would not shock me if he ended up splitting time in a rotation for a team that doesn't have a single bell cow back. Jordan Magee, Linebacker, Temple 4th round grade I confess I was put on to him by the PFF guys but when I watched some of his games he is my kind of linebacker. Fast, instinctive, good in coverage, always seems to be around the ball. I saw a LOT of Matt Milano on his tape. Magee is the sort of modern coverage linebacker who will be a bit scheme specific for some - when an OL gets through to him and gets hands on him early in a down he gets washed. But teams who play a lot of nickel defense and want to get speedy coverage guys on the field at the second level will love him. He may end up a sub package player early in his NFL career but I think this is a future starter. I have an early 4 on him but in a weak linebacker class I would not be stunned if he snuck into day two. Equally he could later into day 3, because the number of teams who will value his skillset is going to be smaller.

It could be any other way because they assessed the roster and decided the #1 they had was no longer worth what came along with him. Joe Brady either wanted to be the OC that works with Josh Allen or he didn't. If he did he had to accept that they were trading Diggs, didn't have the ability to acquire a proven #1 in FA or a trade because of their cap and therefore their only shot at that type of guy is hitting it out of the park with a rookie. What Beane said was not - we don't need a number 1 (and McDermott's presser basically said ideally you have one) - he said you don't need a number 1 for the offense to function. That's true. But he definitely didn't say you don't need one for the offense to be at its top level.

Yea Booker is my EDGE9. Late 3rd on him grade wise. Explosive, has a good rush package for a relatively inexperienced player. He is only just turned 21 so lots of potential and room to grow. Great length and speed I can see him being on QBs quicker than they expect. Why not higher? Its a really small sample size with him, there is some rawness and I think he is small in terms of his frame. At the moment he would get washed on run downs and against bigger mauling tackles if they win the rep early it is over because he needs to improve his counter. But if I was building a Bills specific EDGE board he'd be ranked higher because I think he will ultimately be a 4-3 end whereas a lot of the other guys are better fits in a 3-4 IMO.

I think we have a chance while we have #17 but I'd be surprised. We'd need a lot to go our way in 2024 to make the Superbowl IMO. It is a very thin margin for error. Our roster will be less strong and less experienced. I do think the younger guys will take another step but I see this as more a 1 and done playoff roster.

Yea Kneeland and Roman Wilson. That would not please me. Not at all.

I feel like there has been an increasing number but I don't have the numbers to back that up it is just a gut instinct. There are a fair few this year.

It was how they started here too. Trading for Jordan Matthews (who is still in the league as a reserve tight end for the Panthers apparently) and Benjamin. I think Daboll managed to convince them that Josh needed separators not big slow guys and they have largely gone for either route runners or speedier types since. But Beane has followed Carolina drafting trends a fair amount. Just hope he doesn't this year.

My top edge on the board at #60 if it played out as @gonzo1105 has it would be Bralen Trice. Is he a scheme fit? It is a projection. I am not sure he comes in and starts year 1. I agree that through all the excercises we have done it basically looks like the value on the board at #60 is at safety. Maybe it plays our differently in the draft for real.

Yep. I put a 5th on him. He has very little production because he doesn't have a rush plan. I'm not sure how he wins in the NFL.

I'm not crazy about his tape either. I like Isaac some but as a 3-4 OLB more than an end who is gonna play with his hand in the dirt. I don't like Kneeland at all. He gives me Boogie Basham vibes. I wasn't high on Boogie I am even lower on Kneeland.

You say that.... there are a fair few 4 and 5 star recruits going on day 3 this year. Some of that might be covid legacy. Justin Shorter was a 5 star as well wasn't he? Maybe thats a temporary thing. I dunno. But the fact is underclassmen coming out are way down this year.

Odunze won't get past #9. Not. A. Chance. If he is there the Bears either take him or take a bounty to move back so someone else can. If Chicago does not get an offer they like enough they will just pick Odunze.

Kroenke started as a minority owner in St Louis....

Sure. If you discount all the others.

But still. Sell it. They are garbage. And seriously.... who watches sports that involve skating?

Sell the ***** Sabres they are next to useless.

Eeek. That is not good news.

I am not sure he is obsessed with his legacy yet to the point where he'd force his way out of anywhere. I think he may well get there. But I repeat I'd be stunned if it happens within a year.

I'd be stunned and I mean stunned if it happened after 2024 even if the Bills have something of a down year. But do I live in a fantasy world where Josh Allen with his Hollywood other half, an increasing national profile and a burning desire to win is destined to play for the Bills until he hangs them up? No. I absolutely think that there is a chance a point is reached where a combination of frustration at not getting over the hump, the chance to go somewhere "cool" and the opportunity to get away from Mahomes every darn year is tempting enough for him to find a way to move on. That said I continue to believe he'd drive Kyle "just run my damn plays" Shanahan to utter distraction with his play style. Kyle doesn't just have to win. He has to win by showing everyone he is the smartest guy in the room. Not sure how well his huuuuuge ego would deal with Josh Allen running around off script and being superman and therefore getting all the credit.

Yea top 7 is between 8 players 4 QBs, 3 WRs and Joe Alt. Exactly how it falls may be tbc because of trades. But they will be the top 7 will be made up of seven of those 8 guys.

Do you mean ranking them purely on how good of a vertical threat they are? Or do you mean ranking the top 5 guys that the Bills could use as a vertical receiver on their overall skillset? Because to me Thomas is clearly the best pure vertical guy. I might even have him as the best pure vertical guy including the top 3 (him and Odunze would be close). The problem with Thomas is he is "only" a pure vertical guy. He is very good at it but falls into the category of "one trick pony." If you are asking me who is the best of the guys who you can use as a vertical receiver when taking into account their whole package it's Legette for me.

Yea I can absolutely see that. Makes much more sense to me than Darnell Wright being a top 10 pick last year.

Yep. Elite players in their own right.

Yep. I have made this point multiple times. It is why I have never bought the narrative that the reason the Bills draft a lot of DL high and no receivers is because of Sean McDermott. Beane literally cut his teeth in personnel working under two GMs who had that philosophy. Is it any wonder he has followed it?

I'd add to that: We are not taking a corner early - he was very bullish on their depth there. More bullish than I am 😂 That does not necessarily rule Cooper DeJean totally out of first round consideration. He was effusive for him and said "some teams with holes at safety" (wonder who that could be) would be happy to take him and "plug him right in there." Not saying that means they will take DeJean. But I could imagine the board falling in a way where they do give it serious consideration. I largely agree with @Alphadawg7's readout on WR, although I thought he was a little less definitive on whether they'd move the 2nd they got for Diggs to get up this year. He did say somewhere in that answer something like "they are all currency." I came away thinking that is one of the chips he'd be most comfortable using to move up in the first.