Rochesterfan

That is not quite true. The Bills defensive line at times blew up the KC line. They just couldn’t finish. They got plenty of pressure - collapsing the pocket, but left openings for Mahomes to escape - hence multiple big runs and sliding out of the pocket and resetting for throws. I was not impressed with the KC line last year at all. Later in the game - the Bills were forced to slow the rush down to try and contain Mahomes and that gave him time. The hope is Miller can finish - where they did not finish last year.

I hear what you are saying, but they still drafted the absolute best players each time. They have had the same Pop Gun offense every year, but until they were completely derailed by injuries last year - they have found ways to win. They have one of the best HCs in the game and are built differently from almost every other team. I think they are better than Cleveland and Pittsburgh by a bit and will be a tough out for Cincinnati. I agree they have no WRs - they just have no qualms about trading as needed and they adjust the offense to fit the players.

I think you nailed it. Listening to some “Draft Expert” guests on a national show on Thursday the host asked a very pointed question. Name the 1 player that someone will pick in round 1 and the team will be disappointed due to them becoming just average. It was basically - you guys are so nice and always point to upside - even when it doesn’t fit. Who has limited upside going in round 1. The guests were a bit uncomfortable, but finally one of them gave McDuffie as an answer because with short arms and reach he will miss some plays that others could make and will potentially make contact and draw flags. He might fit well with some schemes, but if he will be overdrafted as an outside CB. The second guy quickly went to Karlaftis - He got away with being the most physical player, but in the NFL his lack of moves will be an issue. I thought it was funny that those were the 2 players the Chiefs went with in Round 1. Both could end up excellent, but both were guys with high end issues also. The rest of the draft was nice, but I think you fundamentally see this team change their offensive philosophy this year. Mahomes is no longer the far and away best QB in the division and without Hill and an older Kelce - it is not the high flying offense of the last few years. They have a big offensive line and I expect they will start shifting to more runs and protecting the ball - especially with some of the DEs. I think they will continue to be good, but they are not going to be the same team as the last few years and may struggle with that change.

The Ravens do this every year. They do not over think the draft - they just grab the best player and worry about filling positions later. This year they got excellent prospects across the draft and for the more limited number of picks they once again nailed the picks with elite players. My issue with how Baltimore drafts is they are almost strictly BPA (Best Player) and do not fill holes. That team is in huge need of talent at WR and has an abundance of TEs and RBs - they still drafted 2 more TEs and another RB. The team is flush with talent, but the entire roster has 6 WRs and currently has 6 TEs. The team also has 6 dedicated RBs and 2 full backs on the roster. The Roster is so out of balance on offense it is scary and I get maybe you can spread a TE out and post him up, but with their off season they appear set on being a strictly multi-TE and RB scheme and we are going to run all day. They will have no real ability to come back - which they already struggle with. Now maybe the plan internally is to offer up Mark Andrews and/or Nick Boyle and try to get a WR in return from a team that is now flush with WR, but they created a hole at receiver and filled it with TE. They should get an A+ for the draft, but a D- on team building - which at the end of the day is what matters.

Yes 1st round picks have been slanted to defense, but they have continued to acquire assets for the offense - Trades for Diggs - FAs like Brown, Sanders, Beasley, Crowder, McKenzie at wr alone. Draft picks and FA for RB and TE - Knox, Sweeney, Moss, Singletary, and now Cook all drafted for Josh. O-Line - picks and FA - more from the FA side, but you have 2 draft picks at each tackle, center and guard as FA, and a trade to get Bates as a UDFA. They have put a ton of resources into the Entire team - you may not agree with the moves, but they have continued to upgrade and provide weapons as he has developed. The Bills have typically just about split between offense and defense under this regime with yes some higher picks slanted to defense, but they have not ignored either side - hence being the only NFL team with Top 5 offense and Defense last year.

Top 4 picks: CB - Need RB - Pass catching (wr ability and running) LB - Milano clone - WR - speed and talent 1st 4 picks - 2 Defensive and 2 offensive Then you had the 6+7th round - these are projects essentially 1 ST - Punter 2 Defensive players (LB and CB) double dip for depth/ST 1 Offensive Player - Tackle that probably projects more inside with hi movement scores. A near split of Offense/Defense with the offense hitting O-Line, WR, and RB. Seems like most of the bases were covered - especially as both RB and WR have some position flexibility.

They already have 3 guys that they really like. Josh Thomas was relegated to the PS last year. I don’t think the Bills are anywhere near as worried about depth or Poyer as the Fans

I think they offered him 17 - not sure that is in use - Right?

Got some in the right order - how could I have left off the Punt God for the last spot. 😂

Pretty sure it had to do with the terrible QB class, the availability of multiple prove QBs - Mayfield and Garoppolo, and the recent movement of veteran QBs. Teams were already looking to acquire capital for next year to move up and get QBs.

Also still have Quentin Morris - nice receiving TE.

Oh I don’t discount that you can find talent at most positions - especially now with a 7 round draft - there are Hundreds of guys that used to be drafted, but aren’t now. The trick is you can field a competitive team of UDFAs over 5 years to compete, but that requires finding 30-40 players out of 2000 UDFA. So a little over 1% become good enough to field a competitive team. Across the league there are very good players from the UDFA ranks and I love the exercise - it just needs to be remembered that the actual % of impact players (even starter level) is tiny. Sorry - do not mean to sound like I am crapping on the exercise because I like the thought - it just drives me crazy when people go insane over missing out on signing a guy that isn’t making any roster, but is a camp body only.

I could see him getting outside depth work this year along with maybe some sweep action and kick/punt work. Then as contracts are up getting more work inside/Slot down the road.

Although very true - UDFAs also make up a huge number of roster players. Most teams sign between 10-15 UDFA a year - so there are between 300-400 UDFAs every year - compared to 32-50 in each round. There are some excellent UDFAs that have made it through, but % wise it is minuscule and has minor impact on teams each year. Important- especially for training camp bodies - but very minor. They do become underdog stories that we love though.

Except he will be QB#4 behind Keenum and Barkley - and Barkley may be PS bound. They also drafted 2 LBs and at TE they still have their UDFA from last year - so they have 4 - with a young guy already. They will pick up a few cut guys also before TC.

Yeah, but not the high end guys you want. That is why - even without the space - Beane wanted the extra picks.

It will be interesting. Beane told Sal last year with the roster so complete - the Bills will struggle to get even average UDFAs to sign. Hence the need to pick up extra draft picks to fill the roster. My guess is 6-8 UDFAs with maybe an OL, TE, and WR. It will be limited I would guess.

I’m not he was the 4-5 best punter in this draft. Pick him up 6th or later

I am not really heartbroken over much. I have done my fair share of mock drafts and simulations and reviewed available tape, but what I lack is the most important piece - the interviews. How do these guys process tape, How do they learn, How do they get along with staff and teammates, and most importantly- what are the teams plans and how do we want to move forward? For example - I thought Parham would be a potential pick, but his RAS score is average and is mostly boosted size - some of his movement scores to show pulling and space blocking was terrible. He had Elite level explosion. To me that fits more with a box in-line guard and not the current plan. I feel the same way about some of the WRs/TE and how are we going to attack defenses with our new OC. I would of liked a player like Ruckert the TE from OSU, but with Knox, Howard, and Sweeney already on the team and Morris who is athletic as a UDFA - I am not sure what they are really looking to do with the group. It seems to me they are looking for more athletic TEs to attack seams and Ruckert is more all around. I just think some people get so caught up with names and rankings by these draft sites that we forget that they are trying to rank comparing everyone and NFL scouts don’t do that. A player like Skyy Moore at under 5-10 and fast, but not blazing speed might not fit with the Bills vision the same way it fits with how KC wants to attack the field and people think we should of drafted him and I am not sure he was even in the conversation for where we were picking as a player we want.

Are you taking him from another roster? - he was already picked.

Interesting - I will wait to see the plan, but I wonder if this signals further change in the defensive plans. We drafted a press man corner with speed. Do we start to transition to a 4-3-4, but with 1 deep safety, 2 CBs that can play man/Zone, and Taron as a slot coverage. We then have Milano and Bernard on the outside with speed and tackling to attack the edges of the offense and Edmunds patrolling middle. Gives you coverage with DBs and Johnson - deep safety protection - and more size and speed at the LB position versus a 2nd safety. Plus we struggled when Milano was injured - now you have that back-up also. I get the WTF idea, but It seemed like before the White injury last year - they were adjusting the defense to be more aggressive. I think with the speed and the lack of arm strength at QB in the division - maybe it gives a couple of guys that can help take away the quick routes better.

Maybe, but Sal said during his discussion with Beane last year that the Bills traded back to get extra picks because with a stocked roster - it is hard to get UDFAs. I would expect a trade up, but keeping most of the picks - we need so many players for camp.

He has the exact same speed as Dalvin. They pt their 40s side by side and it was identical. I think Dalvin has shown himself to be more than fast enough.

Stop spoiling picks JC

It was good work when you did it and nice work by ESPN to copy you. It goes to show they continue to hit picks and even when they let guys go - those players contribute elsewhere. Even a “miss” like Zay Jones that everyone gripes about has gotten not only a second, but a third nice contract.