GunnerBill

Apols that is right. You don't get the cap space until June

Yep, they have had exceptional offensive line health for the past two years. Think their starters played every game in 2023 and only Brown missed one in 2024.

Even in a down year for the D there were 3 or 4 of these. There have been plenty over the years. If you mean in the post season, fair enough.

First one of these I've posted this offseason - using Pro Football Network simulator. I was trying to balance the board (i.e. broadly pretend the PFN rankings are the rankings as the Bills see them) what I would do and what I think the Bills might do. I actually quite liked the results though: 30.Kenneth Grant - DT - Michigan A 1tech in round 1 is definitely not my favourite outcome. Walter Nolen was also there for me (the Chiefs took an offensive tackle) and if it was purely my preference I'd take him. But I suspect the Bills would side with the more natural compliment to Ed Oliver and take Grant. He fills a big need but is not a difference maker at a premium position. 56.Landon Jackson - EDGE - Arkansas I think Jackson is talented I just don't know what he is. I think a big end in a 4-3 base is probably my conclusion and the Bills love tall, long defensive ends and he has more explosiveness than you might imagine. 62.Isaiah Bond - WR - Texas I'm trusting with this pick that for once Brandon Beane follows through on his end of season conclusion that he needs to get more speed on offense. Some people felt his Combine run was disappointing but he still ran a 4.39. That is plenty fast enough. 108.Malachi Moore - S - Alabama This is probably more a me pick than a likely Bills pick given his arms are sub 30". He is a versatile chess piece rather than a down in down out free safety. I've heard him described as a poor man's Brian Branch and that works for me. 171.Ty Robinson - DT- Nebraska Probably doesn't get here after his combine performance but it is a strong DT group so some guys will drop and Robinson's relative lack of size despite being 24 and you'd expect as physically mature as he will get might drop him. He'd make a nice 1-2 punch at 3tech behind Ed. 175.Nohl Williams - CB - California Was the first time in this mock a corner made sense in terms of value at the spot. Williams has good size, ran reasonably and has some zone/man flex if the Bills want to become more of a hybrid defense. 179.Teddye Buchanan - LB - California Athletic linebacker, RAS monster, who fits the Bills profile at the spot and is probably a better run defender than the guys they typically end up with as coverage 'backers. 206.Jalin Conyers - TE - Texas Tech If the Bills don't bring Morris back on a cheaper that the RFA tag deal then I expect someone like Conyers would be attractive to them. Athletic enough to bring some value as a receiving tight end and while not the best in line blocker in the world I like him as a move blocker. 208.Will Sheppard - WR - Colorado I like him a lot as a late sleeper. Doesn't have a single outstanding trait but runs good routes, shows good understanding of leverage on the boundary and has the length to win at the catch point. Developmental guy but with WR2 upside.

The only year that injuries were a legitimate "excuse" for the Bills defense was 2023. They had significant cluster injuries all at the same time and were down to a 6th choice starter a spot. That is really hard to sustain against a high end opponent in the playoffs. Sure they have been unlucky to lose guys other years (and they have definitely suffered more serious season enders to their defensive stars than the average team - White x2, Milano, Von) but in a one off game in the playoffs being down a single guy isn't an excuse. Most teams will suffer that at some point. That's the attrition of the NFL. You gotta come through.

He can "agree" but he can't sign. He was legit good in 2024, top defense or not. He had a bounce back year. But agree a 35 year old who looked like an old man two years ago is not someone I want to rely on. It is unlikely last season ends up more than one glorious indian summer at the end of a great career.

I like Cam, I think he is very different style to Cook. I think this Bills offense needs someone more in the Cook style who is a home run threat every time he touches the ball.

Yea that is a slightly different point, because of trades on draft night. I suspect it won't happen this time either.

I love, love, love Darius Slay. He is the least well respected elite player of his generation. If he had been drafted in the top 10 or by a fancier team than (at the time) Detroit he would have way more than the one all pro nod he has and people would be talking about him as a future hall of famer. However, he is 34. He had the worst year of his career in 2023 and while he rebounded big time in 2024 to roll back the years.... I don't wanna be betting on that again. Breaks my heart to say it... but I'd pass.

No way Bond gets to the 4th, but Jay tested horrible so he may well slide into that 6th/7th range.

If they take any lineman who can't play left tackle in the top 10 I'd fire Poles. You don't win in the NFL drafting right tackles and guards early. To do it twice in two classes is fireable IMO. If they are more on your side of the Banks argument (and I do see why people don't love him... but he my kind of offensive tackle) and they don't think he can be an NFL left tackle then they should take another position. I actually think the Jets taking Membou would make more sense (in terms of if any team can justify it). I know they took Fashanu last year but for a team that has had oline issues in forever to suddenly have bookend tackles.... I'd give them more of a pass than the Bears.

The defense clearly needs more help than the offense. The most damning stat that you missed was they were like 29th in 3rd down conversions against. However, when you ask what I want to see more out of the offense... I want to see them score when getting the ball back, 3 minutes to go, all timeouts and #17. Two years in a row they have failed. I have to believe a big part of that is the lack of downfield threat they have in those positions. KC don't fear the Bills beating them deep so they can squat on the underneath stuff and throttle a drive in the clutch game on the line. Both cane be true. 1. The Bills D was bad in 2024 and needs major work; 2. The Bills lack of a legit downfield passing game is a factor in their last two playoff losses.

Good job @gonzo1105. I won't do a version 2.0 of mine until after the first wave of FA. Things I like: #6 - I'm starting to think Sanders ends up at Vegas too. The whispers are the Giants would pass. Now maybe that is just smoke but how hard they were apparently in for Stafford makes me think they are not liking what will be there at #3. Think on the day would eve see LV jump up a couple of spots to take him. #9 - Saints feels like an edge rusher spot and I agree Stewart meets their measurables and they have taken project edge rushers in the 1st before... Davenport and Turner. If I was doing a mock today I'd slot him here. #14 through #16 - think you have nailed that run - yes, yes and yes - for Barron, Campbell and Green. I was told by someone plugged into Arizona that if Green is there he won't get past them (though as you say off-field could play a part). #20 - I also think Warren has been slightly inflated and while the fit with the Colts does make some sense, once they pass Denver really becomes the only other sensible spot. #26 - I think the Rams are now a real player in the receiver stakes. I had them pegged as a tackle team initially, but they have re-upped Alaric Jackson and it looks like Kupp is on his way. If any of the consensus top four receivers make it to them (Egbuka in your mock here) they are likely the pick. General shape of Round 2 - I only do one two rounder, my first one, so I don't have to ponder the re-litigation of my second round, but the general shape of it as you have it looks pretty close to me in terms of the groups of players and the ranges they will come off the board. Things I like less: #7 & #18 - I think #18 is low for Tet and from the whispers I hear the guy who is more likely to be the surprise slider is Will Johnson. Heard a few people not sold on the medicals and the 2024 tape has definitely got some a little queasy. I actually think you could see a full swaperoo there with Tet ending up as Adams's replacement in New York and Johnson slipping into the later teens. #10 - Not a comment on Membou who I think is very talented, but if the Bears are really going to spend another first round pick on a right tackle they deserve everything that is coming to them. Membou is a better player than Darnell Wright, I definitely agree with that but I don't think either is an NFL left tackle. It would be horrific asset management. If I was the Bears owner and Poles made that pick I'd fire him on the spot. #23 - I just don't see the Packers spending a first on a receiver. They are a defense in the first team, almost always, and this is a much strong defensive group than offensive one. #25 - I still have Kelvin Banks as my OT1 and I will not be moved off that. If he gets to #25 then in two years time there will be a lot of GMs feeling pretty silly. I just don't think he falls this far. Though if he does I can definitely see Houston taking him.

Golden is a lot better player than Samuel.

Doing both (and it is very unlikely, I get that) would be a significant all in. It is a full chip push by the time you factor in salary. It doesn't feel like their style and there are ways to be aggressive without necessarily getting that aggressive.

It's unlikely to all come together but I do think it is possible while retaining a 2nd - as @Kirby Jackson set out. Garrett something like: #30, 2026 1st, 2026 3rd, James Cook Metcalf something like: #56, Greg Rousseau That would leave Bills with: #62 (2nd) #108 (4th) #131 (4th) #171 (5th projected comp) #175 (5th projected comp) #179 (6th) #206 (6th) #208 (6th) It WOULD however, leave us short in 2026 where we are already without a 6th. So we'd have a 2nd, a 4th, a 5th and a 7th. It isn't gonna be picks that makes it difficult. It is going to be: a) does Seattle actually want to trade DK? b) can the Bills win the Garrett sweepstake? c) if the answer to a) and b) is yes, can they make it all fit under the cap? The answer to c) is probably yes. But it will need some significant can kicking.

Agree. Fitting it all cap wise is the challenging part.

It definitely has. But it is a good few years since it has.

He would start in the slot for Philly. 100%. Jahan Dotson sucks. I thought he might hit moved into the slot this year with AJ and Smiddy outside but he was the same bang average, unreliable, poor route runner he was outside. If you re-drafted that class now Shakir goes before Dotson. There is no doubt about that. Would he start for KC? Bit trickier to say. KC actually used a ton of 12 personnel this year with Gray and Kelce as tight ends. In even in four wide scenarios they'd have a double tight end slot look. And Shakir can't play wide. I'm not even engaging in that argument again it is proven beyond any reasonable doubt at this point. So no, he wouldn't start ahead of Worthy or Brown and he isn't better than those guys. When they used 11 personnel generally Brown or Worthy came inside and Hopkins or Watson came in on the outside. The guy who was closes to their specialist slot was JuJu and I think at this stage in their careers yes, Shakir is better than JuJu. But that doesn't necessarily make you a starter for the Chiefs. Slot receiver for them isn't a "starting position" in the same way.

Yea he will be either my WR5 or WR6. He is a round 2 guy. But there are still some negatives on the film and all I was doing was saying what I think those are.

That first one isn't really a release win it is a nice route against off coverage. I think he is a good route runner, smooth, fluid. It's the suddenness I think he lacks a bit. It causes him problems in releasing when pressed and at the top of the route in his cuts to my eyes it allows defenders back into the play at times. I like Higgins and I think he helped himself this weekend. He is a 2nd round grade on my board. But those are the elements on his film that stop him grading even higher for me. I certainly don't agree with "best release package in the class". That is just not what my eyes tell me.

Yep.

If the Bills picked Higgins at the end of the 2nd I'd be very happy with that. I don't think he gets to them sadly. I had him mid 2nd in my two round mock and I haven't changed my mind.

He is a better prospect than Gabe. I think you can do a bit more in the middle of the field with Higgins and his hands are better. But I don't think he is a guy who is gonna be open within 2 seconds on many plays so in that sense, similar.

Yea London and Pittman are the kinda comps that make sense to me. And they are #1 receivers in the league. But they are more middle of the pack #1s than high end #1s.