biggerdaddynj

Levi Brown is a tad bit bigger and stronger at 6'6" and 325lbs than Thigpen is at 6'1" and 216 lbs. Levi also has the benefit of having started 75 of 77 games at OT while Thigpen has not played OT. However, Thigpen does hold an advantage over Levi Brown because he's already under contract so perhaps we can save some money. He converted to Left Tackle from Right Tackle in 2010 (he was picked 5th overall in the 2007 draft coming out of Penn State). Thanks for the laughs guys!!!

If we have a LT come draft day then taking Floyd wouldn't make feel like I did when we took Whitner (though I'd rather trade down but I doubt that will happen). I also like taking a shot at a guy like Brian Quick, Tommy Streeter or Marvin McNutt in the 4th and using our first 3 picks on defense (e.g., Ingram - Curry - Irvin).

Quality person + quality player (at position of need) = safe pick

Found this on ProFootballTalk.com. Pure speculation but if he is cut do you think the Bills should make a play? He's a safer play than Bell who, as many have aptly noted, might command more than he's worth due to the dearth of LTs in FA. Why not pay Brown a bit more and sleep soundly at night? We could then use the 10th pick on a DE or WR. We'd also be set at LT for a while. Well, here's the article: "Competent left left tackles rarely if ever become available in free agency. And while Levi Brown, the fifth overall pick in the 2007, wasn’t regarded as a competent left (or right) tackle early in his career, Brown has become in the past two seasons a much more consistent performer. As he enters the final year of his rookie deal, Browns is carrying the kind of inflated cap number that will cause a team to either extend the deal and reduce the burden — or cut the player loose. Per a league source, momentum currently is pointing toward the latter. With a $6 million roster bonus due on March 12 and an $8.3 million base salary and a $250,000 workout bonus, the Cardinals have more than $14.5 million in cap space devoted to Brown. Several years ago, the Cardinals found themselves in a similar situation with receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The two sides worked out a long-term deal that gave the team cap relief, and that gave Fitzgerald a four-year, $40 million contract. This time around, the smart money is on Brown being cut by March 12 and hitting the market at a time when more than a few teams have needs a left tackle."

More negative buzz--this time from Charlie Casserly (via ProFootballTalk): "We’ve talked a lot about the standouts at the just-completed NFL Scouting Combine, but what players may have hurt their stock? According to Charley Casserly of NFL.com, highly rated Alabama defenders Courtney Upshaw and Dre Kirkpatrick are on the list. Upshaw lacked the explosion that you’d like to see from an edge rusher according to Casserly. Kirkpatrick’s cornerback drills were lacking and he didn’t display the burst you’d like to see from a potential top-15 pick. It’s possible Janoris Jenkins could pass Kirkpatrick as the No. 2 cornerback in the draft. UNC defensive end Quinton Couples is also mentioned as someone that struggled. While Coples ran a ridiculous forty time for his size, his work in the drills left something to be desired. Of course, not everyone watching the workout is going to agree with Casserly. It only takes one team to fall in love, and Coples seems especially likely to make one team reach high for him in the draft."

Until we know what we're doing with Stevie, Bell and the available FAs it's even more of a guessing game than it will be on draft day (though, I do enjoy playing the guessing game). The only thing I'm confident about is that we will take an OT if we don't re-sign Bell. If Stevie and Bell are re-signed, I love trading down but know that makes too much sense to happen. Wish we needed a guard or ILB so we could draft DeCastro or Kuechly (though technically they'd both be reaches at 10 based on their positions it looks like they'll be All-Pros for years to come).

I've been looking high and low but I can't find any interviews or quotes from Buddy about the possibility of trading down this year. Anyone else? If not, wtf are the guys who cover the Bills doing? Buddy's assessment of the talent in this draft begs the question.

I like your draft a lot and think we can make it happen (even if we trade back which would be great!). Hear what everyone is saying about Perry but I think if he's not there we should be able to get Branch or Curry. Think you need to move Irvin up to the 3rd though. I'd pass on Osweiler and take a WR in the 4th. Of course, if we don't re-sign Bell I think we need to go OT in the 1st (don't mind waiting to the 4th for OT if it's for "depth"). I think next year is the year for our QB of the future.

Yep, great news for us. All they did was talk about how each of the guys we have on our boards as 43 DEs will be able to play as 34 LBs.

Manningham is a nice complementary receiver who will get more than he's worth. He's a serviceable #2 on his best day.

Thought it would be fun if we all collaborated on a thread that focuses on the negative things we've heard coming from the Combine about players we think are on the Bills' radar. Since I'm particularly interested with Buddy's getting us a WR who is "uncovered when he's covered", I've been checking into the big-bodied WRs available this year (fortunately, there are a lot). One guy I thought might be of interest in the 2nd or 3rd was Dwight Jones from UNC. Well, after finding this nugget, I hope the Bills will just say no to "Mr. Jones": According to NFL Network's Mike Mayock, position coaches at the Combine "jumped all over" North Carolina WR Dwight Jones in on-field drills for disobeying instructions and a lack of hustle. Jones apparently ran a bad route at one point in drills and didn't hustle to the other area of the field, where the quarterback placed his pass. Russ Lande of Sporting News also noted that Jones had similar problems at the Senior Bowl, specifically in terms of effort. Though long on potential at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds with 34-inch arms and mid-4.5s speed, Jones has now been flagged as a character risk in an incredibly deep receiver class. Feb. 26 - 1:37 pm et Anybody got somethng they'd like to share???

[Equote name=NewEra' timestamp='1330383103' post='2390535] No sir. I guess that one flew over my head. That's OK. You got a nice mock draft there (though I'd go Martin or Reiff at 10 assuming Bell isn't coming back and then take a WR in the 3rd or 4th depending on BPA at WR in the 3rd).

Guess you're not a fan of "Curb Your Enthusiasm!

Someone who needs an OT would definitely be interested in trading up to grab Reiff, Martin or Adams because the drop off is significant after they're gone. In addition, as someone else mentioned in another thread, a team in need of a RB might trade up if Richardson fell to 10 (could happen if TB takes Claiborne). If we re-sign Bell we won't need to take an OT early, we all agree there's no need for a RB and the drop off in what we're looking for, i.e., DE or WR, isn't that significant and we'd definitely pick up another 2.

I agree 110%. Our 10th pick is a great spot because it guarantees one of the several teams who need OT help one of the two second tier OTs--Reiff or Martin. That's also why we need the pick if we don't re-sign Bell. You also raise a good point about Richardson should he fall.

And a proud history as the first black-led republic after the slave rebellion booted the French out. Fast forwarding to today, culturally speaking, Haitian-Americans, from the poor to the rich, instill in their children moral values and a strong work ethic which includes an emphasis on education. That's why we're seeing a lot of high character athletes coming from this community. Now back to football, if the Bills draft Mercilus and he's the next JPP, Ralph can start playing some games in Montreal!!!

TRADE DOWN = smart move!!! For what it's worth, the Giants took a risk in '10 on a pure pass rushing DE (who coincidentally also happened to be Haitian) and it turned out pretty well (sure, he was a couple inches taller and could do more than a dozen backflips!). Maybe it's time for a risk to pan out in our favor!! Let's see how M. Mercilus works out...

There are a bunch of big WRs in this year's draft--Floyd amongst them--Jones, Jeffery, Randle, Hill, Criner, Quick, Streeter, Fuller and I probably missed a few! It will be interesting to see how the big fellas run at the Combine. Might mean we can wait until after the 1st round to address WR (assuming we re-sign Stevie or a legit #1 FA). BTW---TRADE DOWN!!!!!

Trading down would be FANtastic!!! Seems like a no-brainer since there is no DE worth a 10 and you can get the same value at DE if you trade down + an extra 2. Win-win. (Egnew did well today might be a solid pick in he 4th).

Please share your views on Demetrius Bell too.

But if we don't re-sign Bell we can use the extra money to sign a free agent DE or OLB and then we can draft Reiff or Martin--both of whom will be better than Bell. That makes so much sense they won't do it!

If we re-sign Bell, then I'd be ecstatic if we trade down. If Bell is not re-signed, how can you pass up Reiff or Martin?

If he's around in the 2nd, I take a shot. Not at 10.

Astro--as our resident Drafttek rep. I was wondering which big bodied "not covered when they're covered" WRs you think are possible picks if we wait until the 3rd or 4th? Brian Quick, Justin Criner, Dwight Jones, Jeff Fuller, Marvin McNutt? Of course, thoughts and opinions from all are encouraged too!!! Thanks.

Unless we don't re-sign Bell, we're really in a tough spot with the 10th pick because there is not going to be any player at a position of need who is worthy of the pick. If Bell doesn't come back then OT is the smart pick (we can address DE in the 2nd and 3rd). If we re-sign Bell, we can wait until later in the draft to add OT depth (perhaps with a 5th). As for CB, it's a good idea to add one (perhaps with one of our 4th round picks) because McGee can't be relied on and McKelvin may be gone next year if he doesn't turn it around. As such, we need to draft a CB to serve as their replacement and it will take time to develop one.