LABills08

They won't need to be at 8 to get Wells.

I think it is more likely the Bills take Jenkins at 11 than it is likely they trade up for Smith. It makes no sense when they have so many holes. Their draft day strategy is going to be simple......take the best available player D-Line/O-Line player at 11. And do the same thing at 28. Or at least that is what their strategy should be. Trading up for any of the OT's in this draft is a dumb move.

I like it, though I have heard all rumors point to the Bills holding off on a OT with number 11 (and sticking to the gameplan). I honestly think that they will pick a DE at number 11 and take the best available O-lineman at 28. I bet they would be just as happy with having Alex Mack as they would with having Oher. He would solve a hole one way or the other. If Andre Smith falls to them they pull the trigger, I think Oher would be hard to turn down, but I honestly think the FO views DE as a more pressing need.

Why would the Jets do that? W/ Keller? They still have Franks too right? They need a QB/WR.

Decent point. But we still didn't make the playoffs.

That would be a sick draft, but I think someone will take on Johnson before he falls to us in the 2nd round. Its more likely that Pettigrew gets drafted before the 28th pick and Johnson falls to that spot.

I would rather have an extra 3rd rounder to put "in the works".

I appreciate your optimism Alphadawg. But please tell me the last time the Bills drafted 4 impact players in a draft? More importantly, when was the last time they drafted 4 dominant starters with their first 4 picks? I mean, we had the 28th ranked pass rush in the league. We now have 2 major holes on the OL alone (no G or LT). We don't need sufficient players, we need dominant players. We have a tough schedule and we play in one of the toughest divisions in the league. We need a dominant TE, a dominant LT and a dominant pass rusher. If we can pull off those 3 in the top 42, I will be content, but we had a much higher chance of pulling it off before when we alread had a top caliber LT and we had the 11th pick to address one of the other 2 major concerns.

How does one judge that Peters gave up the sacks? Is that an actual stat?

No way. The Bills have too many holes to worry about fixing TE through the draft if TG is in reach. If you can get him for a 2009 3rd, a 2010 3rd and a 2009 5th, I think you pull the trigger. I mean what the hell? The Bills need to rebuild w/ cheap youthful players, I agree, but lets concentrate on doing that on our lines via the draft. Pettigrew is a standout, but Gresham will be around next year, who was touted as a better prospect (in terms of stretching the field) than Pettigrew anyways. Plus, after Pettigrew, there is little to no consensus on who the next best TE is available. Jared Cook is supposed to be an athletic freak in the Dustin Keller mold, Travis Beckum aside from durability concerns was the top TE prospect going into the year and had a good combine showing, and Cornelius Ingram from the Gators is supposed to have a lot of upside. And obviously the Bills fan favorite, Chase Coffman. I'm sure one of those guys will be available to us. I just think the Bills established this year that at least offensively, they are going for it. You don't sign TO for one year and then pass up the opportunity to acquire TG for a short stint as well.

I think that I would rather have Brown > Ayers + a 3rd. I have heard that some teams are really high on him and think he is the best DE of the group, but Brown gives us a little more versatility because he can rush as an OLB where Ayers is just a true DE. I'm not sure if the Bills brass will trade down with Brown on the board. I also think Vaughn will be gone by the 4th round as this draft is weak on S. Other than that, I like it.

This is what happens when you give guys like Kelsay and Dockery big money. Everyone else realizes they deserve a piece. Peters should have been extended last summer when he was cheaper, I hope they don't make the same mistake with Jackson

There is no way trading Peters will net us 2 1st round picks. He is not Jay Cutler.

Great trade for Denver. They remain in a position to pick up Sanchez (though SF is still his likely destination) and if not, they certainly will be able to get Freeman. I will be curious to see who McDaniels picks up for QB, as he seems to be pretty particular about which QB's he works with. I assume he'd love to work with another USC guy though. Was the market for Cutler really that hot for the Bears to give up Orton, 2 1st rounders and a 3rd round pick? That is a huge amount of picks. I'm not sure if they got hosed, I think Cutler will give the Bears what they have been looking for over the past decade (a legitimate QB), but trading away 2 1st rounders is a big sacrifice. By the way, the Bills were in no position to make this trade. They have no flexibility in terms of risk taking. Our franchise is built to fix holes via the draft, we NEED our draft picks because our terrible FO has put us in a position year after year of having 3-4 positions open for rookies to take each offseason. It is either a rookie takes it or some no talent ass clown.

See, I think that is crazy. On what basis? The list of reasons for the massive Bills collapse last season is fairly long. But, when you narrow it down, there are two fundamental reasons: 1) Coaching 2) Lack of a Pass Rush Unless you want to argue that Kelsay performed up to expecations (which are fairly low) and Peters did not, I think you're wrong.

The draft is deep for lineman in general. Though I think you are right, it is important to note that there is no Jake Long or Joe Thomas. Lets say the Bills trade Peters and are able to get another 1st rounder (most likely between 20-31). Would do the Bills pick? I guess they could take a DE/OLB first and Mack/Unger at the 20-31 choice, but does that really make us better or just give us more question marks? My point all along is that regardless of what you think about Peters, a rookie would be a much larger question mark at LT, no matter who it is.

Well the clear consensus, at least in this thread, seems to be that I am wrong. I can accept that, though I still believe a lot of the resentment towards Peters comes from the contract situation and the fact that he didn't put his money where his mouth was last season. But, the legend persists..... Link

Now that is an interesting, and perhaps a fair argument to make. But I appreciate you are bold enough to make it.

Oh come on, we aren't talking about Ryan Leaf here! Peters has two pro bowls under his belt at 27. Regardless of whether we agree or not, he was awarded a pro bowl last season by his peers. What? Do you think it was some massive conspiracy to get him a larger contract? Or perhaps he is GOOD!

I think the Bills will need to seriously consider Robinson over Unger, though Unger provides versatility, I have heard he would not fit in as well at G as he does at C. I also think the Bills should get another 2nd rounder to pick up Jared Cook who seems to be this years Dustin Kellar.

I think the Bills have made it clear they will address the TE position. I would prefer Jared Cook in the later rounds as he is explosive as hell. Anyways, the Bills just can't pick a TE with 11. They need to address one of the lines with their first pick. If they haven't learned that by now, I don't know when they will learn, but strong lines win games. Duke Robinson is someone I think we need to seriously consider trading back into the first round to acquire ( I highly doubt a team will let him slip to the 2nd) and I think the top Linebacker/DE on the board at 11 needs to be taken. Cushing would be great on the outside and though he isn't going to score any touchdowns, he is a USC linebacker. Durability concerns, yes, but Pete Carroll has said amazing things about him. I think Maybin should be considered too as he will be on the board. I would like Pettigrew, I think Evans/Lynch/Owens/Pettigrew would make for a dynamic offense. But I think you can get similar things out of Coffman and Cook.

Yea I actually think this was a very good post. I don't like being one of those the sky is falling people (because the sky has already crashed over the Bills multiple times), but there is a difference between being negative and being realistic. While I agree, losing Royal was not a downgrade, the rest of the points are well taken. The basic point is, the Bills have not improved since last season. The loss of Greer will be substantial unless McKelvin steps up. Dockery played terribly, but unles Waters comes our way, we are not in a position to sign a substantial upgrade at Tackle and most likely Chambers will take that role. Hardy's rehab might be going well, but rehab does not include learning how to run routes and physically break away from NFL caliber CB's. We need a legitimate WR or all bets are off for next season. The draft WILL NOT SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS! So get over it. Even if Modrak has the best draft of his life, a rookie will not get the Bills into the playoffs. Unless the FO makes a few killer trades, or springs for one of the top Veteran FA left on the market, we are in rough shape going into next season.

We will probably end up signing Bryant Johnson for 5 million won't we?

Hardy wasn't as much of a gamble as everyone thinks. Did he perform well last season? Not that well. But did he show flashes of what his size can bring if he polishes his route running? YES! We needed a big WR and we got one. Did we miss on Eddie Royal and Jackson? Possibly, but they are also undersized receivers with quick feet. The Bills have two of those and it wasn't worth taking another one. Not to mention, young WR's benefit from 3 things. 1) Who is throwing them the ball 2) What other WR's are on the field 3) What system they are in. And I will say this: McNabb +Cutler > Edwards + Losman Brandon Marshall+ Westbrook > Lee Evans (given their size, strength and ability to run after the catch) Andy Reid + Shanahan> Jauron. So yea, I agree Modrak has for the most part been terrible. but don't blame him for Hardy.

Regardless of whether or not the Bills sign Coles or not, if we do not get a true #2 WR next year to compliment Evans, there is no chance in hell we will have a winning record. We don't have a draft pick to spend on a 1st day WR, though Crabtree will be tempting to pass up. As of now, the Bills will go into draft day needing depth for the O-line, a pass rushing DE/OLB, a weakside LB, a safety, a fullback, and almost certainly a TE. We will probably not be able to sign both Coles and one of the veteran linebackers that have been visiting. And I don't know why we keep bringing in Running Backs, Marshawn could be the next Michael Vick and it wouldn't be feasible for us to cut him. Correct me if I am wrong, but unless we trade him, he would not save us much money in regards to the Salary Cap. He wouldn't net us a 1st or 2nd round draft pick. And Fred Jackson/ Foster would cost us 5-6 TD's IMO. So, if we don't sign a WR better than Josh Reed, we are in trouble.