TigerJ

From all appearances, it was important to Beane to move higher in the round. The only motive that really makes sense is to draft a QB. The first question, to which we don't have the answer, is which QB. To be assured of one of the top four, Beane will need to move higher. At least a couple, in that group of top four, will require a spot in the top 3. I doubt Buffalo is going to trade up to first overall, but Beane could be after the Giants' spot. If there are a couple he'd be happy with, and they are not named Rosen, he might be OK with trading up to the fifth spot. I just don't know what he wants, though.

You could trade in your house for a new pick up truck with all the bells and whistles.

The only one I would completely rule out is Henne. The others all have something to recommend them, and drawbacks. I really wouldn't want Henne, however.

Because the Bills made the playoffs, you can say the Tyrod era represented incremental progress. I would not personally characterize it as either success or failure.

Wouldn't losing him have potentially resulted in receiving a pick? Not that I'm complaining.

If OJ had had a better QB while in Buffalo, his life would never have taken the tragic path it did. There, I had to say it before somebody else did. I can take my tongue out of my cheek now.

The Giants are said to be going with Eli. I think they are going to pass on a first round QB. It wouldn't be surprising if they picked up a developmental guy later, but that takes them out of this exercise.

At think point, I don't think a trade up is the most likely strategy for the Bills. We'll see what happens in free agency. That will have a strong effect on draft strategy.

I don't get the sense that it is most people who think that's going to happen. My sense is that there are a group of Rosen fans who want it to happen, and are trying to make it happen with their wishful thinking. I also think there is a sizable group of Mayfield fans doing the same thing. There are smaller groups pushing other alternatives. I don't think that there is any real information out there. Beane seems to run a fairly tight ship with regards to player personnel decision. I don't think much has been leaked, though we have heard murmurings that Tyrod was history in Buffalo.

Dunkirk Don

I said free agency because only one QB can be a starter at a time. I think the Bills will also draft a QB. Where they draft depends on the free agent they sign. If the sign a true bridge type QB (Josh McCown/Derek Anderson) they will draft higher. If they sign a guy who is a bit younger that might be a viable starter for several years, they will likely draft a QB later in the draft.

I'm not anti -McCarron, but virtually every QB the Bills might turn to has extensive playing experience as a collegian. Everybody else has more pro experience than McCarron. Yes, McCarron started for the collegiate national champion, but everybody knows that Nidck Saban likes to rely on the run more than a lot of college coaches, and Alabama QBs have not as a rule transitioned into successful pros. I do like McCarron. I think he's smart and has good leadership skills, and I think he might do well as a starter, but if you're a GM, and you're being careful, you might be less inclined to depend on a guy to be your starter who has so little game exposure in the pros.

They're a necessity in subways.

That seems realistic, and rather tempting.

He's certainly an option. The problem with McCarron is that he lacks a significant body of work if you're signing him to be a starter. Guys like Keenum and Bridgewater have played more as pros, so the Bills might be more comfortable with one of them. Or, they could go the route of a true bridge QB, a guy who is only going to start until a young QB on the roster can get his game up to speed for the NFL, someone like Josh McCown or Derek Anderson.

I don't pretend to know whether the Bills are locked into a low priced bridge QB, or would be opne to a QB that might have the potential to start for a few years (Bridgewater or Keenum. It will be interesting to watch the twists and turns of this offseason, considering how it has started.

He's a good guy and does the best that he can with the level of ability he has, but the limits he has as a QB are always going to prevent him from going to the top of the profession, and that in turn will limit what teams can do when he is their starting QB. I wish him the best.

Before I saw this thread, I said essentially the same thing in a post in another trade thread.

That is actually a decent move for the Browns. They were historically bad last season, and you know Tyrod will give them steady play - he won't turn the ball over and will make plays with his legs when receivers aren't open. He's much better than what they had, and they should actually win several games. That will create some good will among fans. Happy fans mean a happy owner, and a happy owner may cut the new GM and incumbent head coach some slack. For Buffalo, it's a clean break and removes the financial pressure of paying his bonus to reserve the right to trade him later. It also says Beane is relatively confident he can obtain an upgrade whether via free agency or the draft. The pressure will be on him to turn that potential into reality.

That's the one!

Skill in drafting does make a difference to NFL teams. It is very possible to pick high in the first round and get a bust. Buffalo was plagued by poor drafting through most of the current millennium. Fans can worry about that, or not. I have lots of interest, but don't worry too awful much since I can't do anything about it.

Knowing Buffalo is looking to draft a QB, and probably wants to do it higher rather than lower, I could see Miami trying to manipulate the Bills into spending draft picks to get higher than Miami to snag their QB.

The indications are that the Giants are going to be passing on a QB. The question is, how likely are they to trade out of the second overall pick. I imagine it will be hard for the Browns to not pick a QB with one of their top 5 picks - maybe more likely with #4 overall. Obviously, the Colts aren't drafting a QB. Let's say the first QB goes at #4 overall. Denver and the Jets are certainly possibilities to pick a QB. I think the next spot where a QB could go might be Arizona. (I believe the Dolphins are going to stand pat with Tannehill for the time being.) Of course, free agency could affect any of those teams that I see as possible landing spots for a first round QB. Thus, I figure at most 4 QBs could be reasonably thought to go before the Bills pick, but that number could be reduced by free agent signings. For the Bills, it all depends on what they're looking for. If they thing they absolutely have to have a particular QB from among those who are more or less likely to be drafted before #21, they trade up. I think the most likely scenario is they stand pat at #21 and #22. Whether or not they draft a QB at that point depends on what they do in free agency.

beat me to it

This is about where my thoughts lie on the subject. If Beane can sign street free agents who don't cost a lot, don't count in the compensatory draft formula, and might help the team, why wouldn't he, whether he is planning to trade up or not?