Brandon Graham will be selected 9th

[Thurman#1]

First of all, where are all the Bills fans who don't like anything negative said on this board to flame this post?? You disagree with most of this thread (how dare you?), and then go and predict our great Bills to finish last in the AFC East if they pick defense first? Why, I think I'm supposed to say "I hate you." for being such a negative "fan."

 

That said, I agree 100% with you!

 

If draft-genius Buddy Nix keeps number 9 and doesn't pick the best QB or best OT on his board, you're right. He's just as stubborn and stupid as Donahoe/Levy/Brandon/Modrak/"Inner Circle" were. In fact, forget QB. I think the only player he should use his #9 pick on is whoever he feels is the best OT on his board....period.

 

If he trades down, then all bets are off. Trading down would be fine with me for the extra picks, but once you get below the top 10 picks, the OT's most likely will take a huge drop-off. If Buddy trades down, I will just hope he can pick out the very best talent available with his extra picks, since he won't be drafting a real elite player, unless one slips through the cracks or surprises the experts.

 

 

 

Yeah, you're both right. Once you know a guy's first pick, you can easily predict the entire regime's success, and particularly if a defensive guy is chosen. Bruce Smith, for example. God I hate it when we use our first pick on defense.

[Thurman#1]

what's your beef?

 

the Bills already signed their answer at LT in Cornell Green

 

after another off-season, Bell is almost certain to be Pro Bowl caliber

 

Trent had an epiphany and will also be studly in 2010

 

and since none of the DL and LBs are capable of playing a 3-4, the entire front 7 needs to overhauled.

 

the plan is to go 3-13 and have first shot at teh QBs in 2011

 

too bad the draft will be cancelled by court order due to lack of a CBA

 

 

 

Nobody's saying the offense is shipshape. Just that the defense, after the switch, is pretty much just as bad.

 

And that defense wins championships. That too.

[spartacus]

Nobody's saying the offense is shipshape. Just that the defense, after the switch, is pretty much just as bad.

 

And that defense wins championships. That too.

 

you are correct

 

the offense should have been the focus

 

too bad, Chan is an offensive coach who overstates his ability to over-coach the severe lack of talent on that side of the ball.

 

in the same breathe, due to arrogance or stupidity, he also severely overstates the ease of switching to a 3-4 which will realistically need to replace the bulk of the front 7.

 

typical bills move, though, to voluntarily create gaping holes where there were only weakness before, thus preventing them from improving and filling pre-exsiting holes in other areas. (RT,LT) They have done this before (cutting Milloy, trading Willis- thus forcing 1st rd picks spent on replacements), but never to the extent of needing to replace most of the defense at one time (while having no NFL caliber OTs on the roster)

[BillsPhan]

Yeah, you're both right. Once you know a guy's first pick, you can easily predict the entire regime's success, and particularly if a defensive guy is chosen. Bruce Smith, for example. God I hate it when we use our first pick on defense.

 

Wow. You are comparing the Bills having the number one pick in the entire draft in 1985, and using it on the best defensive lineman available in the country, to guessing what Nix, a first time GM, will do with his number 9 pick? Excuse us.

 

Plus, I did not say the Bills season would be lost if he went defense first. I've said all along it won't make any difference who Nix takes with his #9, or if he trades it down for more picks, his Bills will most likely finish last in the AFC East anyway.

 

The only way the Bills move out of last, and contend for an 8-8-0 to a 10-6-0 season this year, is if they really do make the McNabb trade....period. (Unless the rookie QB they draft, if they do draft one, shocks the NFL and plays his way into the starting lineup and has like 17 TD's with only 8 Ints' or something amazing like that!) If anyone believes that Edwards, Fitzy, Brohm or a 4th unproven veteran NFL QB can play well enough to win 8 or more games for the Bills this first year trying to learn a new system, is just dreaming.

 

But as aways when the Bills have gone into a new season over the past 10 that I've predicted them to do lousy, I certainly hope they prove me wrong!!

[Buffaloed in Pa]

I agree with this thinking 100%. Something about top 10 picks makes me feel like we should be able to get the best player at a semi-premier position. You don't get better by taking the 4th OT in the draft in the top 10 unless all four of them look like instant all-stars.

 

I have said before that I think they will target Morgan (only saying his name because I think he's the best pass rusher, but you can insert whomever you that way about here) unless Okung is still there (QB being the wild card, as they may take one of the top 2 if they're there). The other OTs look like RTs or projects to me (or both) and if we're going to take that type of player, it should be reserved for at least the 2nd round and later.

 

I want a player that they can use in the first round. Even if Morgan for example might need a year to be a starter, but can still play a role (i.e. rush specialist). I'd really like any player that they felt they integrate into the system on either side of the ball early on in 2010.

[Paup 1995MVP]

lol nice post. I like Graham a lot. I'd only be happy if we traded down to get him, then focus on offense. Our offense is the reason we are a laughing stock of the NFL. We signed Chan to make sure our offense improves. Now we need some talent to make sure that that happens. Offense at pick 9 if we don't trade down.

New Era I totally agree with you. This is a tough one for me. I am a huge Wolverines fan, and for the past two seasons Brandon Graham was our ENTIRE defense. He had very little around him, and still made many plays every single game. He is tough, competitive and very athletic. I think he is the whole package.

 

That being said, our O line sucks bigtime. We need a major league LT if we want any chance of moving the football. It is as simple as that. If we can trade down and still get a starting LT in the second round, than I would definitely take Graham middle of the first round. But that is up to our front office to find a LT who can step up and play right away who everyone is not going crazy over as a first round pick. If we can somehow get Graham, bring in a LT who can play and get an extra pick in the process than this team is on its way. (hey a guy can dream, can't he?)

 

My perfect scenario would be to trade down in first round 6-9 spots, take Graham mid round and than grab the best LT prospect and possibly Tebow in the second round. If Tebow is gone, than we take Pike or Lafeveur in a later round to compete for the starting QB job.

 

It is quite the dilemma, because Graham will be a STUD in the pros.

[ax4782]

Defense wins championships. Just ask the Baltimore Ravens back in the early 2000s, when they had Trent Dilfer at QB how important defense is. That's why people on this board want to draft DL players early.

 

Two more points. First, I agree that if either Bulaga, Okung, or Trent Williams are there at #9 you take them. Simple as that. They are all very likely to be good LTs in the pros, though Bulaga and Okung will likely be more NFL ready as rookies. However, if the top four tackles are gone, and you have to choose between taking the fifth best T, or the best NT or best DE or best OLB/ILB in the draft, why the hell would you take the Fifth best guy at any position when the best players at other positions of need are there.

 

Second, Brandon Graham should not the be the #9 pick. It would be a huge talent reach as most consider him a mid to late 1st rounder, and second our DE position is actually in very good shape with Marcus Stroud and Dwan Edwards as the starters. Taking a DE makes no sense when we have a gaping hole in the middle of the line b/c we have no NFL 3-4 NT. Building the lines are important, either on offense or defense and there isn't much drop off between the #5 and #6 LT in this draft. Saying that they better take offense in the first round or they are stupid is just ignoring the fact that there are a lot of holes on D right now too. Let's get the best player available at a position of need.

 

And if Clausen is there at #9 I don't think we should take him either. Overrated. I'd still go NT or LT even if Clausen is there. He is not the answer for us at QB.

[BillsVet]

lol nice post. I like Graham a lot. I'd only be happy if we traded down to get him, then focus on offense. Our offense is the reason we are a laughing stock of the NFL. We signed Chan to make sure our offense improves. Now we need some talent to make sure that that happens. Offense at pick 9 if we don't trade down.

 

Buffalo hasn't traded down since 2001, but I've always felt Levy/Jauron/Brandon simply weren't savvy enough to drop down and still get their guy. Graham at 9 would be too high, but those characters from 06-09 are gone now, save Smithers.

 

Gailey's supposed offensive wizardry as noted by several TBD'ers would seem to indicate they go defensively, but it's not certain either. Offensively, whether it's either a run first or balanced offense, they need OT's. Green is limited, and behind him there's nothing. Bell, Meredith, et al, aren't NFL starters. They go OT with the first pick, as long as at least Bulaga or Trent Williams are available.

[thewildrabbit]

Yeah, you're both right. Once you know a guy's first pick, you can easily predict the entire regime's success, and particularly if a defensive guy is chosen. Bruce Smith, for example. God I hate it when we use our first pick on defense.

Do you actually equate Brandon Graham with Bruce Smith?

 

If the Bills were in the Detroit Lions position this year I'd have no problem with them taking a boy named Suh, or Gerald McCoy as they are about the only defensive players I'd take with a top ten pick.

Reaching for needs on defense doesn't outweigh the dire needs on offense IMO, they need an premier left tackle-starting WR- and I wouldn't be upset to see them take CJ Spiller either.

[purple haze]

Good post. I agree with your comparisons of Graham to Woodley and Freeney. I think the guys gonna be a great pro and I would love it if the Bills drafted him. Another positive attribute of BG is his character and work ethic. By all accounts he's a great kid who provided tremendous leadership to his teammates while UM football was going thru it's toughest stretch in decades. GO BLUE!!!

 

Maybe so, but they can trade down and still get Graham from 18-25. At 9? No sir.

[purple haze]

Buffalo hasn't traded down since 2001, but I've always felt Levy/Jauron/Brandon simply weren't savvy enough to drop down and still get their guy. Graham at 9 would be too high, but those characters from 06-09 are gone now, save Smithers.

 

Gailey's supposed offensive wizardry as noted by several TBD'ers would seem to indicate they go defensively, but it's not certain either. Offensively, whether it's either a run first or balanced offense, they need OT's. Green is limited, and behind him there's nothing. Bell, Meredith, et al, aren't NFL starters. They go OT with the first pick, as long as at least Bulaga or Trent Williams are available.

 

Agree on Graham. Bell and Meredith could be NFL starters. They are still young in the game. Some players take time to develop. Actually most do. Especially a guy like Bell who has played about 5 years of organized football in his life.

Bulaga and Williams I have a feeling will be gone. Bills should trade down anyway and pick up another 2nd, but if they stay at 9 and the top tackles are gone don't be surprised if it's Spiller.

[agardin]

As has been noted on these boards and every other source the Bills are not in good shape going into the season and the prognosis is last in the division. We have several needs, OT/DL(any of the 3)/WR/QB/LB/RB not necessarily in that order. You shouldn't reach for any player in our situation. It is not like we are one or two players away from making it deep in the playoffs. We need assets period. Take the best player on your board, don't take at tackle 8 spots higher than you should just because it is the most glaring need. Everyone knows that need is important and that it wouldn't make sense for us to draft the best DB but barring that is there any position on this football team that is that solid that you wouldn't take the best guy? If we stay at 9, draft for any of the aforementioned positions and I would be happy.

 

This is football, you are only as strong as your weakest link. You can't run if you can't pass and vice versa. You can't stop the run if you can't stop the pass ect..

 

Give me a player.

[ax4782]

As has been noted on these boards and every other source the Bills are not in good shape going into the season and the prognosis is last in the division. We have several needs, OT/DL(any of the 3)/WR/QB/LB/RB not necessarily in that order. You shouldn't reach for any player in our situation. It is not like we are one or two players away from making it deep in the playoffs. We need assets period. Take the best player on your board, don't take at tackle 8 spots higher than you should just because it is the most glaring need. Everyone knows that need is important and that it wouldn't make sense for us to draft the best DB but barring that is there any position on this football team that is that solid that you wouldn't take the best guy? If we stay at 9, draft for any of the aforementioned positions and I would be happy.

 

This is football, you are only as strong as your weakest link. You can't run if you can't pass and vice versa. You can't stop the run if you can't stop the pass ect..

 

Give me a player.

 

Agree 100% Why take the fifth rated LT on the board when you might be able to take the top rated NT, DE, OLB/ILB or WR in the draft? If Bulaga or Okung are there, you should take them and fill your LT need with a top quality, proven commodity at the position. If they are gone, it just make sense to take the top player at one of your other needs. The Bills are not going to win the Superbowl in one year, but if they draft smartly, in two or three years we might be back in they playoffs and contending for it.