Bill from NYC

John, let me explain it this way: You and I do disagree wrt Gilmore. You seem to feel that he was very good. I think he was fairly good despite lackluster effort. Let's put our feelings aside and pretend that he was great, ok? How much of a difference would he have made? How many times would the Bills have made the playoffs? Before Rex screwed up the defense Searcy was picking off passes because there was more consistent and better pass rush. People on this board often confuse good players with good draft picks. Quarterbacks win football games. So do elite pass rushers and dynamic lines. Great receivers win games if they have a QB to get them the football. The Bills used 2 firsts and a 4th to draft Watkins. HE is good (when healthy). This is beyond dispute. It was the draft pick that sucked. I liken it to buying and paying extra for a Jaguar without a steering wheel.

I don't know Jeff, but I would bet that if he handled the drafts for the last 17 years, the Bills would have at least 1 playoff appearance. I would say the same for at least 50 other posters. I don't blame you if you think that the above is bs mind you, but I truly do mean this. A couple (imo) could run the team quite well.

Yeah, there is. Cooper is a much bigger target and his hands are at least as good as Sammy's. Don't you think that a big, open receiver such as Amari makes life easier for Carr? Watkins would appear to have a bit more talent than Cooper, but imo it is far less of a slam dunk than the picture you paint. Now, who would I rather have on the Bills? Cooper, but I am probably not being 100% impartial. Still, the kid is special. I have seen him pull in passes for completions that looked WAY out of bounds. Amari is a good kid and a clutch player who can and will win a team some football games.

Exactly.

Other than Derrick Henry, not too many Crimson Tide players are going to put up gigantic numbers because there is just so much talent there. Coaches have room to call plays to any number of gifted players on every down. I saw every game Jones played in college and he was great the second he walked on the field. As you say, his physical skills are unreal. Do you see how high he can get to catch a football? And do keep your eye on Amari Cooper as well. It wouldn't surprise me if he turns out to be as good as Jones. Watkins has amazing talent. He really can get open. I have no problem with a healthy Watkins but I'm not so sure I would consider him as good as Jones. Jmo.

Who is he saying we will take?

If you are correct, I view it as proof that he was a horrible draft pick. I will never understand those who defend Whaley. Btw CB, would you take a middle to late 1st round pick for him?

What do you folks think he would be worth in a trade if we signed him? I am not saying that I am 100% for a trade. Now, would I consider one for a very nice offer? Yes, absolutely.

You have a point but believe me, they are totally different players. Ragland relies much more on muscle than does Foster. He plays hard but Foster is 100% on every play and simply flies all over the field. Foster is far more versatile than Ragland; there is no phase of linebacker play that he isn't good at, including coverage. It's tough to say how good Rags will be in the NFL. What I do know is that he is one tough kid.

And as you well know, Foster also rushes the passer and is very good in coverage. He plays hard on every down. This kid is a complete linebacker and if he stays healthy, he will play in this league at a high level for a very long time.

I am feeling you but don't be surprised if they continue down this losing path. And I know there is a new coaching staff but do you remember what Levy did in 2006? Well, that was his first year as GM. The resources that the Bills have used on rb and the secondary is simply staggering, and came at the expense of the QB position, as well as both lines. I am preparing myself for the worst and will try as hard as I can to not waste my time and energy with anger, or getting too upset. It's a mess but it's our mess. GO BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think safety but one or the other.

He really might be CB but it's even hard for me to tell and I have seen all of his games. Remember, last year he had a freshman qb and the year before Derrick Henry was getting all those carries. Plus, the Tide have a roster full of star skill position players. He has every single tool and his blocking has vastly improved over the years to the degree that I consider him to be an excellent blocker. Is 10 still a bit early? It might be. I won't complain if they draft him but you know why. Besides, I think we both know where the Bills will go in round 1, don't we?

Hey metz, how many "complete studs" have the Bills drafted at, or even before #10? Please, ya know? And as for "exciting" picks, that got us the big time stud CJ Spiller. You remember the 2,000 yard man, and how excited he was going to make us? Wrt the OL, we can just agree to disagree. I think Tyrod saves them from looking a lot worse, and even at that they are very thin. I will grant you that there is no totally horrible player such as Greg Jerman or Terrance Pennington on this OL, but aside from Glenn none are all that good, and Mills is pretty bad. Do you happen to know how Trent Edwards scored?

ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want the Bills to draft a qb at 10 but history tells us they will not. Barnett is a very good player and I am surprised at the lack of love for Jonathan Allen. Imo he finished up the season injured, but his 2016 season was spectacular. The kid is SO fundamentally sound, is very smart and has talent galore. But history tells us that we won't draft these two payers either.

You are making sense. What I have said over and over is that if the Bills really thought EJ was a very good quarterback or even a great prospect, they would NOT have traded down and taken him. It would have made no sense to do so. Imo, if a team thinks a qb is really all that they should snatch him up, even if they already have a franchise quarterback. These guys get hurt all the time and if a backup steps in and has a few good games, he is worth a fortune in trade value, let alone depth. I would love to see the Bills grab Watson in round 1 but I don't see it happening. I need to see it to believe it.

He also had the worst receiving corps in the NFL, or close to it. Woods got a little better as the season progressed, but early on he was falling down untouched. Remember that? And of course Sammy was hurt quite a bit. Bandit, these guys weren't getting open a whole lot. This makes me think they will draft a wr at #1 but my money still says they draft a safety or a corner. We are after all the Buffalo Bills.

Because of his mobility, TT makes this OL look much better than it really is. Also, it is much easier for these players to run block than it is to pass block. On running plays, 300+ pound blockers who know the count are moving forward, not backing up. Glenn is fine at LT. Aside from Mills who is terrible the rest are adequate. Has the Bills OL been worse? Of course but it surely could use an infusion of talent.

Bradley Sylve was a backup corner for Alabama who tore his Achilles on the 2016 pro day. I can't say that I remember much about him but I hope that he plays well. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/04/07/a-year-after-devastating-workout-injury-bradley-sylve-signs-with-bills/

Dave I am not splitting hairs. R.Rich doesn't agree (he picks Walter Jones) but Orlando Pace, at the top of his game, was the best blocker I ever saw. That said, Tarik Glenn and Adam Meadows were a GREAT pair of offensive tackles. Glenn wasn't as good as Pace but he was only a step below imo, and Meadow was an excellent RT. The Colts had some blockers. Jmo brother.

If the Bills really are going to play lots of cover-2, why would you want to guarantee 40 million dollars to a corner? Seriously, wouldn't you rather spend the money somewhere else? When and if Woods is the best receiver on an NFL Team (which he was not and never will be imo), one would have to think it's a sorry state of affairs. I don't think that it will be too hard to replace him. Jmo. Do you speak often in absolutes?

You seem to be very unhappy with Bills Fans. That's perfectly ok but imo, this is your own personal method of coping. It's a lot easier to judge fans in a negative way (and lecture them about what you think they should do) than it is to blame an organization that you care deeply about. Yes, the fans get pretty angry on this board too but fans are not to blame for the inferior product we have invested countless hours and thousands of dollars in. I hope that this post was not overly "realistic" for your tastes. And do continue let us know if you have other ideas about the way Bills Fans should behave and what is wrong with them.

I agree Badol. I do however think that a team can flush itself even further down the sewer if it wastes 1st round picks, especially those in the top 10. The thing is, you and your 4 vcrs would have taken this team to the playoffs at least once. Our drafts have been a textbook model of what NOT to do. It's almost as if an NFL team would have to try to be as bad as us.

You are right and I did, and continue to offer up an apology. As I said, I should take this stuff less seriously.