Haven't posted on TBD for several years...though haven't missed a single game over that time. Having lost faith in the organization I disconnected myself a bit from the front office and really debating or analysing the merit of their actions
Also shortly before that time I moved to goergia for college, I now watch and attend more SEC/ACC football than I do NFL and I can tell you straight up Mr. Watkins is a special player. It wont matter who the QB or coach is, he will perform and produce. Mark it now, he IS the best Bills WR since Andre Reed and could be better with similar help.
Perhaps to help the above confusion with the idea of losing/gaining a first pick. From a business perspective, you look at it in the following way:
You enter the deal with (2) first and fourth round picks each between this year and next. You exit the deal with (1) first round pick and (1) fourth round pick between this year and next. You are giving up 2 picks total, which averages to 1 pick per year. I don't offer this as an argument for the watkins trade...when it comes to football I accept that I'm an idiot. This is is just the "business end" of the deal, for all the armchair GMs.
Anyways, I don't think EJ is "the guy" which makes losing next years first a truly gut wrenching gamble. I look at it this way, the rest of our team looks very good on both sides of the ball, when you compare it to rosters around the league it is without a doubt a playoff team with a big question mark at QB. I then ask myself what this offense would do with guys like Chad Henne, Matt Cassell, Kyle Orton, Alex Smith...again I think we make the playoffs. With all of that in mind, if EJ is not at least average, we can certainly improve the position without a first round pick. Not ideal, but at this point the deck is so stacked we are not living and dying with EJ anymore.