Ozymandius

Well, I'm no draft expert, but I can tell you what I think and what others think and how they differ. The consensus top TE in the draft is Zach Miller from ASU if he declares. I think that's solid--he's a good blocker and a good but unexplosive receiving target. He's not Gonzo or Gates. There's a decent chance he'll be there at 44. For most people, the next best TE is Greg Olsen from Miami, who has already declared. I think he's too inconsistent and had a poor junior season. What can I say, he drops balls. He'll be there at 44. All other TE prospects should be there at 44. My favorite TE prospect in this draft for value is BYU's Jonny Harline ( http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=2117 ). Because he actually lined up at WR the majority of the time in BYU's offense, I can see him going in the 4th round or so. But he has TE size, excellent hands, excellent intangibles, and he's not slow.

I would say only Calvin Johnson and Joe Thomas are "guaranteed" top 10 picks. Quinn is a likely top 10 pick but I don't think anyone would bet their mortgage on it. I would bet my mortgage on the other two.

Hall could drop out easily. There are questions about his speed so he will have to run well. Usually top 10 corners are blazers.

I don't think he's going to be the first round prospect that people are projecting. He won't have to "slip" to get to 44, he'll have to climb. He's a very inconsistent player.

Sands has more upside. Scott is the safer choice, plus he already is playing in the Tampa-2 system. And, as others mentioned, we're not sure the Bills would be interested in a Sands-type.

Right, but crayonz isn't talking about other years. He's talking about this season.

LOL. Yeah, OF COURSE you make that trade if it's available. But it's not realistic. It's a horrible trade for the Giants. It's the offseason, so I guess it's time for terrible trade ideas. I think a rule should be made that if you want to post a trade idea, you need to clear it with the fans of the other team involved in the trade first. If you suggested this trade on a Giants board, you would be laughed off the board.

I agree. I get the sense that the Bills will pursue a DT in free agency. I'm more interested in the KIND of DT they pursue, though. Did this past season change their minds about big DTs? Will they consider a widebody like Terdell Sands?

This is a good post. As I said last year after the draft, McCargo wasn't a reach, in the sense that other teams probably valued him the same way as the Bills did -- late first rounder. In college, he had a good burst off the line. However, he was an injury risk. In the end, I probably wouldn't have drafted him there, certainly wouldn't have traded up to draft him, but that has less to do with talent than with his risk for injury.

Jamaal Anderson is an interesting prospect. Very good pass rusher from the left side with excellent size. If Kelsay leaves, he'd be a good replacement.

No. The NFL will always be there. This is a situation where he should stay and reap all the laurels from being a national champion.

Hehe. There are a couple of other possibilities as well. Antoine Cason, if he declares. Leon Hall, if he runs a good 40. Daymeion Hughes, if he runs a good 40. But there really isn't going to be anyone who's going to be as good as Nate, at least for a few years. Nate had to develop into the corner he is today, and so these guys will have to develop as well. Assuming they don't bust.

Sometimes one or two games are all that really matters when you're talking about players on elite teams. They play so many scrub teams during the season that the only chance you can really evaluate them is against the best teams that they play. Pittcock against Texas, Michigan, and Florida is not a first rounder.

LOL at Jimmy Johnson zinging Switzer there. "Not with me you didn't"

I feel bad for OSU losing Ginn like that. Rooting for Fla but you hate to see a team go at it less than full strength.

Let's just say I don't think I'm way way off. As for Okoye, he'll be there at 12. Especially with Branch declaring.

Pitcock at #44 is more like it. He won't go in the top half of the first.

Wrapped around another man's wife.

Clements will be paid more. Samuel has had a great season but he has more INTs in great part because he gets challenged more often.

Hey, I'm with you. I would love nothing more than to see Nate in a Bills uniform next year. I just think the odds of that happening are not much better than the odds the A's had of re-signing Zito. I think the promise the Bills made to Clements to not franchise him was a concession that they can't afford him long-term. Granted, I disagree strongly with Marv and Ralph for not getting another season out of Nate before letting him go, but I think the front office wanted to begin preparations for life without him as soon as possible, i.e. they believe the 2008 Bills will be better off by letting him go now and planning for his absence now instead of waiting until after 2007 when we would not have been able to franchise him again. I agree that technically the Bills can re-sign Clements, but I think technically, the A's could have re-signed Zito as well. However, in both cases, signing those players would've eaten into profits unacceptably for the respective owners. Of course, this is just my speculation and opinion without knowing the exact numbers for either of these teams. But I will be shocked if the Bills end up making a competitive offer for Clements and more shocked if he is a Bill next year.

What are the odds of finding a Jones-Drew type talent in the 2nd round, though? That was a really deep draft last year. I want whoever the Bills RB is going to be to be a good, nay great, starter. It's doubtful we'll find that player in the 2nd or 3rd round this year.

Why should they find him this year instead of just using Anthony Thomas? I would rather they use a 1st rounder next year to get a stud RB to replace Willis altogether. Sure a 3rd-rounder might outplay A-train and be a better backup, but then we're left with finding a stud next year anyway. Unless we somehow find a 3rd-rounder that can be the starter next year as well.

A Maroney/Williams type back means a first rounder. Too many holes elsewhere to do that. No RB this year, just use Anthony Thomas, then draft a RB high next year after Willis leaves. Hopefully Willis will have an outstanding contract year. Gotta get the bling bling.

Way out of our price range.

Yep. And I'd say they have already succeeded. I've said this before... the Oakland A's fans didn't concern themselves with signing Barry Zito. They knew he was gone. I don't see why we should concern ourselves with signing Nate Clements.