BuffaloBillyG

This is the spot Beane said that they would know if they need to move up or not. My gut feeling with the way this draft is falling is to sit tight. Something good will drop right to us.

I hear they will have some pretty good deals on discounted DHop jerseys tomorrow.

David Putney

Welp, on the bad side we may not make the big move for the offensive weapon many hoped for. On the good point page 250 is fast upon us. So we got that going for us. Which is nice.

Titans 2024 1st would be in play I would think as well.

I just don't see the sense in this from the Titans standpoint. A year after sending Brown to Philly because they didn't want to pay him they turn around and take on DHop's contract? I get wanting to move from 11 to 3 (If Stroud is there I think that's what they are targeting)...but to take on that contract with what it would cost to move up that far and Hopkins will be pretty pricy...wouldn't shock me if it would cost them high picks this year AND next years number 1 pick. That's a LOT to pay for 8 spots.

Man, they are trading Sandy the same day they release that movie? Nick Jr. is cold blooded.

I swear if the Ravens trade for Sandy Cheeks they will win the next 10 Super Bowls.

Sounds fun. I'm expecting to be 0 for 10...but my hot take picks are bolded above!

Step 1: Trade for Hopkins Step 2: Trade Hopkins BACK to Arizona for Ertz Step 3: ??? Step 4: Super Bowl. Beane plays the long game and finally gets his guy.

I have to wonder if they get a nice package of picks for the #3 pick if it would soften their stance even further of what they would take for Hopkins. I'm sure they would still want what they feel is good value...but it doesn't "make or break" their draft to take slightly less at t hat point to get that contract gone.

Off this list I went with Steve Avila. I would love to have a nice power IOL to add to this OL. Feel like it would bring some nasty that McD is looking for. I get the folks that selected WR, however feels like in this scenario the Bills addressed the spot. Not sure I like any of the DTs at this spot either.

Very solid looking Mock. Well thought out. I think this year we see a lot of unexpected picks. I know we talked about him yesterday and you aren't as sold on him...But O'Cyrus Torrence just SCREAMS Detroit at 18 for me. Even more so if they manage a small trade back into the early to mid 20s. Talk about a guy with Dan Campbell DNA. They have a need at RG and at least there (as opposed to here in Buffalo) he is a great fit for their scheme. He was also one of their top 30 visits...brought in late last week just before visit time was over. Hmm. Gibbs to Philly is a pretty scary thought as well. Great fit. All in all great work as usual. Mocking this year is no easy task. Hope your picks hit!

The Bills got several seasons of high volume play on a cheap rookie contract and will likely recoup a 3rd round pick in the trade in. While it's always more optimal for you to hit on your 1st rounders and see them get a second contract with your team...that really isn't bad value for what they got. Had Edmunds signed a low ball 1 year prove it deal and there was no 3rd rounder coming back...then yeah I'd see your point.

You make a lot of valid and not untrue statements here but I feel like there is another train of thought that proves differently. We have seen teams like the Jets and Dolphins for YEARS throw rosters together with elite free agents. Seems like every big name FA is linked to or signs with one of them. They have elite players...but are not elite as a team. It's a bunch of great players that don't compliment each other with a huge revolving door both at the player level and coaching level. There is a lack of on field leadership and team chemistry which leads to being mediocre. We saw the same thing here in Buffalo under Whaley. Added good players be it a fit or not. The Bills on the other hand have a lot of good players that form to make a great team. Hyde and Poyer are an excellent example of this. On their own I don't know if either reaches the heights they have together. It's that way in a lot of the position rooms. Yes, the team has holes and needs upgrades. But they guys they do have are close and their skillset compliments each other well. That bring them up some levels in my opinion. The pieces put in place here for the most part fit what we do and that makes the machine run smoother so to speak.

I actually know of such a team. The Buffalo Bills. It's not crazy to think that Ed steps up in a contract year. Players have done this forever. Ed does seem like the kind of guy that will show out for a big payday. So if you are Brandon Beane...why would you deal him away in a contract year after investing a high pick and 4 years into his development? If he does step up with a great season it would be in our best interest that he does so wearing our laundry and not another teams. If he prices himself out of Buffalo (which may happen with a good year) we still may see that same 3rd or 4th round pick as a comp pick that people here are convinced he could fetch on the open trade market this season. And frankly speaking I would rather get that pick in next years draft class over this years anyway. The only investment is the cap space this year but even with that trading him won't come without the cost of replacing him...which may eat up half of that amount right off the bat. And going cheaper with the draft just means you're losing more draft capitol to fill a hole you created yourself. I would say it's much more likely to see an Oliver extension than trade.

I actually like Ryan Leaf. Guy has really matured and come into his own after his NFL career sputtered. Tons of respect for the guy for the way he turned his life around and became a better person. That said a one eyed grasshopper in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean standing on a piece of driftwood would make a better pick than this.

I feel like we need to know if the bones were from flats, drums or a mixture of the two before we know if we should take this seriously.

Gentlemen, I just want to thank you for the well stated replies and excellent points you bring to the table. Not just on this subject...but everyday. I believe my biggest weakness when it comes to seeing players is I'm more of an "old hat" what does the film say guy. Never have gotten into the metrics and how they play in and I suspect I never really will. So it's great to have access to people that can and do take the other side of the isle and can raise points I wouldn't normally consider. Like I tell my kids...every opportunity is a learning opportunity. I still would be thrilled with Torrence at 27 because of the game footage. He can play. But, I'll also concede that it may be risky and there may be guys that bring what he does to the table a bit later. I have seen some Steen and like him as well. I see the Spain comparison as well. I think that's actually pretty accurate. And this is what's been odd about the offensive build for the Bills under McDermott and Beane to me. It's like they want to "build a bully" and dip their toes in every once in a while...then get scared to commit and go back to modern offensive thinking. Not only with the OL but kind of all over the board with RBs too. Bringing in Ivory, Tolbert, Gore type power runners...then walking it back with guys like Hines, Cook and Singletary. They have waffled back and forth so long that we really don't have any identity on O other than Josh Allen and Diggs.

Just saw this response and thank you for the clarification of the thought process on Torrence. I know Incognito had a pretty high RAS...in the 9.5 range if memory serves. Saffold in the mid high 7s-mid 8s? I think a large part of his success in the NFL will be what kind of support he gets at the NFL level. While you are correct in saying it could go very wrong for him I feel like he's a kid that needs the right people around him (coaches, trainers, conditioning and teammates) to flourish at the next level. I'd be surprised if he were the pick at 27, but optimistic that they can get the most out of him with what we have in place. I don't think he will be there at 27, let alone 59.

Well, both @GunnerBill and @MrEpsYtown are very highly respected members of the community and have some great knowledge and insight. I also enjoy seeing their perspectives on players coming out as well as their scouting and grading takes. This board is a better place due to their insights, and that's not debatable lol. My question for them would be when scoring him...is it the player that you aren't high on or the player in Buffalo's scheme? As it sits with what the Bills have done in the past with the type of OL they take and their blocking schemes...I would actually agree with them that his fit with what the Bills have done and looked for is not ideal. It's quite the opposite, actually. And that's the reason I like him for Buffalo. We have a lot of the high RAS scorers. Guys with athletic traits that are through the roof. Spencer Brown is a prime example. While I still feel like Brown may turn the corner at some point...a plug and play mauler would bring a different skillset to this line. A guy that would absolutely push the pile, is a very capable pass blocker and brings some edge would be a very strong move IMO. He would also likely play RG, which is where Allen almost always pushes to on those 3rd and 4th and short sneaks. Could really be an asset with proper conditioning. And this isn't to say Gunner or Eps are wrong at all. Torrence may very well be a square peg in a round hole on this team. But insanity is doing the same thing time after time and not getting the results you are looking for. At some point it's time for fresh concepts and new thought processes by Beane and McD.

Not for nothing and something to keep in mind. The 2 NFL comparisons I've seen on Torrence the most have been Saffold and Incognito. Both guys were coached and had really solid success under Kromer at points in their career. The "sloppy body type" comment that Campbell made seemed a bit weird. However, the Bills have one of the top end training and nutrition staffs in the NFL and I'd be confident they can assist there. I haven't heard anything about him being particularly unmotivated or lazy, so my hunch is that he can turn that around. The body comment on Torrance reminds me somewhat of the chatter about Jordan Davis from last year close to the draft. I believe Torrence would be a solid pick...however I think he will be gone before pick 27.

I actually thought Christian Ponder was going to surprise a lot of people.

With the perceived lack of top end talent in round 1, team draft boards are all very different this year. This will lead to a TON of talk about teams "reaching" and many of the guys mocked in the 12-20 range will still be on the board when the Bills pick. This includes at least 1 of the top 4 mentioned QBs and wouldn't shock me to see either Levis or Richardson drop out of round 1 altogether.

That's a whole lotta words to basically say "We don't know what we have yet" Demonstrated performance from 2 years ago is a wild concept. Cole Beasley in 2023 is not likely the same player he was in 2020 and early 2021. That's like saying Shady McCoy should be brought back because he demonstrated that he played better a few years back than Cook and Harris did last year. If we want to talk most recent performance, Did Cole Beasley make the Buffalo Bills a better football team last year? What was his impact? My short form answers to those questions are "No and NONE". Also, honest question here on something you bring up about Shakir. I was under the impression that the book on him was actually the opposite. He excelled against zone but struggled getting separation against man coverage? I actually though most of his played he did make last year were against zone concepts. Is there some information that you have read/seen that contradicts that and if so, could you either link or let me know where to find that info? Not calling you out or anything...I would just be interested in seeing what you are with Shakir.