HappyDays

They just traded up for a MLB in the 1st round five years ago. Maybe their philosophy has changed, but however much they value MLB every team needs at least a starting caliber player at the position. We don't currently have one unless Bernard or Spector make a huge leap. It's crazy to think they're just going to ignore the position.

That leaves Hopkins and Jeudy as the available players to ensure we don't enter the season with Davis as the locked in #2. Let's hope Beane makes it happen. I'm going to be pretty disappointed if our only offensive improvements are moderate upgrades to McKenzie, Kumerow, and Saffold.

Yes which was perplexing to say the least. But he was one of the best players on the field for our defense in both playoff games. His interception against the Dolphins arguably won us the game. There's no comparison between that and Bernard getting zero snaps for the last several games and then being inactive in the final game. Also however the coaching staff feels about Elam, the CB room is loaded. You could take any two of White, Benford, Jackson, and Elam and field at bare minimum a starting caliber CB pair. That is not the case with MLB. There is no surefire starting caliber MLB on the roster. You can't possibly disagree with this.

Ah I just saw that. Still two WR2 options available. I hope we get one of them unless we're somehow able to draft Quentin Johnston.

The issue is that there may not be good value for an offensive player at pick 27. The more I look at the draft, the more I see a front 7 player as the most likely value pick. Ideally I would love Quentin Johnston or Dalton Kincaid or Broderick Jones at our pick, I just don't think it's likely those players make it to us. I guess next you're looking at Jalin Hyatt as the most realistic offensive player to still be on the board for us who wouldn't be a huge reach, but I'm not even 100% confident he'll make it that far, and he isn't going to be a game changing player for anyone in his rookie year anyways. Anyways the draft isn't the only avenue to improving our offense. I still want to end up with Hopkins, Jeudy, or OBJ. I'm going to be upset if we enter the season with Davis as our locked in #2. So I share your angst about adding offensive firepower, I'm just not going into the draft expecting a low 1st round rookie to take our offense to that next level.

Yeah, the same coaching and front office staff that talked glowingly about Edmunds, and talked about him as if he was sure to be here for the long term. I remember people using those words to prove that Edmunds would be extended this offseason. Me, I paid attention to their actions, not their words. Their actions said that when they really liked a player they drafted or signed, they extended them at least a year early. Allen, White, Dawkins, Hyde. Once the beginning of the 2023 season came and Edmunds still wasn't extended, I knew the chances were dwindling. When we reached this offseason with the same result, I knew the chances were zero. Yet there were still people trying to say that Beane's past comments made an extension imminent. Actions, not words. So you're telling me that a player who was a healthy scratch in the last game of the season is their plan at MLB? And you believe this just because Beane said that the starting MLB might be on the roster? I don't care what he says. Their treatment of Bernard last year is all that I need to see. It's of course still possible they will sign a MLB stopgap. I'm not saying a MLB in the 1st round is the only avenue to filling that hole. But it is a hole without a current solution on the roster.

The worst part about the pick is that everyone at the time said it was a huge reach. It wasn't like Cody Ford where some thought he was a 1st round talent and no one felt that he was a reach when we drafted him. Bernard was supposed to be a 5th rounder. Completely whiffing on a 3rd rounder is annoying, but doing it on a 5th round talent makes it a lot worse. I think McDermott trusted his buddy Dave Aranda (Baylor head coach) too much on this one. I think Aranda told him that Bernard is a hard worker and a team leader, which combined with the sideline to sideline range on his tape made McDermott salivate. No way Bernard was the BPA when they took him. They went into the draft specificaly targeting him and drafted him early to make sure they got him. It was a bad process and a bad pick.

It isn't my opinion. It's the coaching staff's opinion. The real issue here is that you are only going to be happy with an offensive player in the 1st round so you are stretching to find any reason that a 1st round defensive player is a bad pick. But we need a MLB. It's a glaring hole and no way they are going to rely on the likes of Bernard and Spector to fill it. If one of them develops into a good player, that's great. But that can't and won't be the plan.

Ignoring everything we saw from him on film in his limited snaps, we can still conclude how the coaching staff feels about him based on his usage last year. After playing 98% of defensive snaps against the Jets in week 9, he played just 9 defensive snaps total over the next two games, and zero defensive snaps the rest of the season after that. And he was a healthy scratch in the divisional round against the Bengals. Zero chance this regime plans on starting a player that they totally lost faith in during the back half of his rookie season. Whatever Beane says in front of the media, the Bills starting MLB for 2023 is not on the roster right now.

Both these players are seen as centers only. That's an uninspiring 1st round pick IMO. The likes of Ryan Bates have shown to be capable plug and play starters at center. 1st round picks are for more valuable positions that aren't so easy to fill.

The Steelers @GunnerBill are on the clock

Trade! The Raiders have received pick 28 from the Broncos. Raiders get: Pick 28 (660 points) Pick 108 (78 points) Pick 195 (11.8 points) =749.8 points Broncos get: Pick 38 (520 points) Pick 70 (240 points) Pick 220 (1.7 points) =761.7 points With the 28th selection, the Raiders select Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee. This trade was a doozy. I first made an offer to the Bengals, right before they traded the pick to the Ravens. I then made an offer to the Ravens, right before they traded the pick to the Broncos. The Broncos initially declined the trade which led to me making an offer to the Bills at pick 27 but they too declined. Luckily the Broncos reconsidered at the last second and here we are. Yes we signed Jimmy Garrappolo but everybody knows what he is in this league - a stopgap. A 7th round rookie outplayed him in San Francisco. We aren't tying the future of this organization to him, not in a year where everyone feels like they are on the hot seat and we have to compete with Mahomes and Herbert. We made the trade to jump ahead of the Saints in case they were thinking about drafting their QB of the future. Hooker has all the traits that Josh McDaniels looks for - rhythm passing, pocket passer size, good in the quick passing game. We feel good with Garrappolo as the presumed starter but Hooker ready to go in if things start to fall apart. Even if the beginning of the season goes south, if Hooker comes in late and wins some games it might buy this regime another year. The Saints @frostbitmic are on the clock.

This would be my offer to the Bills: Raiders get: Pick 27 (680 points) Pick 91 (136 points) Pick 137 (37.5 points) =853.5 points Bills get: Pick 38 (520 points) Pick 70 (240 points) Pick 109 (76 points) Pick 174 (20.2 points) =856.2 points For practical purposes: -Bills move back from pick 27 to pick 38 -Bills and Raiders swap 3rds (Bills go up from the 28th pick to the 7th pick) -Bills get an extra 4th round pick (7th pick in the 4th round) -Bills and Raiders swap 5th round picks (Bills go down from the 2nd pick to the 39th pick)

His physical skills at the catch point. Throw it in his general direction and he'll come down with it even if covered. He gets open with good route running but also with great size and strength. Correct me if I'm wrong but Addison isn't great at the catch point, he isn't strong, he isn't fast. I just don't see any upside there. I guess in a weak draft I'd be okay with it since we're likely to take a 2nd round graded player at pick 28 anyways. I'd just feel a little underwhelmed.

The Raiders may have a trade offer for the Bills but I won't bother putting it together if a trade back isn't an option.

Does this mean you are rejecting my trade offer?

Sure but most of the top receivers in football all have top tier physical traits. Justin Jefferson AJ Brown Tyreek Hill Ja'Marr Chase DeAndre Hopkins The exceptions are Stefon Diggs, Devante Adams, Cooper Kupp. But none of those guys were drafted in the 1st round. IMO route running specialists should be taken on day two and three. Just a personal preference.

I don't like his ceiling. Physical traits are very much on the charts, somewhere near the bottom to be more specific. Good route running to me is not enough to be worthy of a 1st round pick. What upside are we getting here? I guess you're hoping he becomes a smaller and slower version of Stefon Diggs if he hits his ceiling. Meh.

My two cents is that Josh Downs is a dime a dozen slot WR. Players like that shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st round. Just say no to more smurf receivers.

I voted for Campbell because that's what I think we would actually do in this scenario. My personal preference would be Jeudy. But that doesn't appear to be in the cards. I don't think Addison has the physical traits and ceiling that Beane looks for in the 1st round.

If we trade up for any offensive player, my guess is Quentin Johnston. He is a Brandon Beane pick through and through. Elite size and athletic traits, premium position, reportedly hyper competitive and the hardest worker on the team. If he falls to a range where Beane can package this year's or next year's 3rd to go up and get him I won't be surprised if he pulls the trigger.