Matt in KC

Just say it Bill. Who did you want? Reiff? When is it okay to draft a DB?

Who I predict: Gilmore, Reiff, Kirkpatrick Who I'd pick if available: Kalil, Blackmon, Gilmore, Koochie, Floyd, DeCastro, Reiff. I don't really think the first couple are realistic except for in the pre-draft nonsense we're hearing. Sorry if that and the extra names means I broke the rules.

Wait a minute. Is this supposed to be a prediction thread (how I first took it) or a request to list who we'd pick out of who would realistically be available?

Gilmore, Reiff, Kirkpatrick

How come the Bengals are the only team that realised _____________ was a real talent? I can't believe the Bills (and every other team) passed on him! We've been talking about him here for months. I guess that just goes to show you TBD posters are sharper than a lot of GMs.

Welcome aboard, Mike. I lurked for almost 2 years before registering to comment in a debate that was raging about intelligent design and Noah's ark of all things. I think those are the proper Canadian spellings, and it's a Canadian site. http://grammarist.com/spelling/offence-offense/

Good analysis, WSS?. I won't be surpassed if the Bills pick Gilmore either. Bill, I really wish you'd start a thread on "When is it okay to draft defensive backs early in the draft?" There's whole long debate to have there, I think. I too think you are scarred. "We don't know how good or bad our corners are?" Really I think we know McGees at the end of the road now, or certainly after the next season or two at most. It looks like McKelvin has plateaued to me: he shows flashes of his physical skills, but lacks field awareness and is never going to be a physical player. Florence has been okay, with some very good plays, and some awful ones. Corner doesn't deserve to be on an NFL team and Rogers is developing nicely and is new/young enough we don't really know about him. I think a better pass rush will help our safeties look much better, but our CBs desperately need reinforcements. I don't think a pass rush is going to make them solid this year or prepare us for the future.

So if the Bills have two players they want equally, do they stand there not turning in their pick in time so they can slap it down and be at 11 when some other team turns in their pick at #10? And are the Chiefs going to react the same way since they love being at pick 11?

So if this is the case, why does the ref need to go over to the awkward little replay tent thingie? If the same feed is being played to the home crowd, why wouldn't the ref look up at the big screen with everyone else?

This sounds like a horrible decision to me. This opens up the refs to a whole additional level of scrutiny over how much time the spend, what shots are reviewed and how many times etc.. So fans attending the game will see the feed. Does that mean the feed is not shared with the networks? Are we going to spend all season with the TV cameras pointed at the in-stadium screens with the TV announcers providing real-time color? The refs are going to get a whole new level of criticism this year. I predict this will change next year after the reaction. Why on Earth would they do this? I guess they think more transparency will help the sense of fairness. With the home crowd reacting real-time, I don't see how it would.

Thanks for the stats. I wonder how many of the failed WRs played on teams that really needed a LT....

I agree it seems something more than cooincidence is at play here, but why do you think the Pats want to play us after their bye? I haven't read it yet, but here's the NY Times article for anyone who's interested: The Art and Science of Scheduling Meet in the N.F.L. Office

There are three main philosophies you can use to choose player in the draft: Best player available (BPA) Position of need Benefit of hindsight Personally, I'd like to use the benefit of hindsight wherever possible. I don't think any team really uses BPA, completely ignoring need. On the other hand, I do think team sometimes focus on need and don't have the luxury of taking the BPA, because, well, they need a player a position. I think some teams can handle uncertainty better on draft day than others, and others are prettty clear on what they are going to do. Seriously, I think it's better to use a BPA-heavy evaluation the earlier the pick. You'd better get a stud if you have a top pick! One gripe: I haven't replied to anyone yet, but have read dozens of times people post that they believe we should take the best player available... so long as they fill a postion we need. I do agree that we shouldn't take the second or third best player at a position we need when it's time to pick.

1. I don't think it's random we often play the Pats after their bye week. 2. I don't like it that we often play the Pats after their bye week. 3. I don't think it helps the Pats that we often play them after their bye week. 3b. I definitely don't think it helps the Bills that we often play the Pats after their bye week. 4. I don't think anyone is trying to give a team an advantage in any part of the scheduling. 4b. I do think TV ratings are considered in the scheduling, but don't ask me how this comes to bear. If I could choose, I'd want to play a team we're evenly matched with, or a slight underdog after our bye week. Ideally it would not be after their bye week, and they'd be flying cross country coming up to the Bils game.

Wow! At the same time!?

Uh-oh. I think we just confirmed this thread is stillborn....

1: Ryan Tannehill QB - Miami 2: Michael Floyd WR - St. Louis--> Jets 3: Courtney Upshaw OLB - Cowboys 4: David DeCastro G - KC Chiefs 5: Luke Kuechly LB - Seahawks

As each player has visited OBD they have been the last. Maybe they just have few questions about him....

You can say that again! OMG this is the most painful part of the off season. The draft needs to come wash this all away! OMG this is the most painful part of the off season. The draft needs to come wash this all away!

My hope: Blackmon My dream: Kalil A wish, bleeding through from previous years: DeCastro My fear: Tannehill My nightmare: Stephen Hill My guess: Reiff Gilmore

Yeah, again. Sheesh!

Kind of like Clay Matthews without the pass rushing skill? I really like Keuchly's pass coverage skills and what that does for our defense. Sure he flies around the field, but is a LB who doesn't rush the passer really worth the #10 pick?

I like the thought of getting as many 2nd-3rd round picks as possuble if you can't get the top talent at the begining if the first round. I'd rather have more 2nd round picks than first rounders, and additional 2-3rd rounders for more late round picks. I agree this depends on how mature your roster is. A SB team might well want fewer higher-skilled draftees, while a team finishign last in the division needs as many bodies as possible to clean house and get new blood on the team. One other note: you can't trade compensatory picks like our late 7th rounder.

You can say that again!