My thoughts on the draft

[NewEra]

I love the Gilmore pick. Tremendous athlete that's been a starter day one in the best conference in college football (by far). He's a mature kid with tremendous focus and desire. Great size and very good tackling ability. Decent ball skills and has the ability to take back any ball he gets his hands on. Pairing him with Aaron Williams gives us 2 big physical corners for the foreseeable future.

 

Getting Cordy Glenn is the 2nd is a gift from above. Monster of a man with great strength, long arms and decent feet. Another SEC guy thats played vs the best. I'd love for him to be our LT of the future, but I also have high hopes for Hairston. If Hairston turns out to be the guy, Glenn moves over to G or RT and should solidify wither position. This adds great depth at G or RT.

 

Graham....the only pick I'm unsure about. I don't know anything about him, except from what I've read. Could be a mike Wallace. Could be a bum. Could be a decent player that keeps the defense honest. Time will tell, I couldn't tell you anything, except he's a burner and buddy and chan like him. I hope to love him.

 

Bradham. Wow. Really love his hitting. He can be reckless and I can see some penalties for head hunting. Fine by me. I love his aggresiveness, size and speed. Decent in coverage. Seems to be a guy that can play either OLB position in the 4-3. I think he'll be starting in 2013, hopefully by the end (or start of 2012).

 

Brooks is my favorite pick in the draft. I viewed him as a 2nd rd talent. While I really like rogers as a nickel CB, I love brooks there. Might not have the cover skills that Rogers has, but his speed and ability to lay the smack down is a bonus. Great on the blitz. Playing for lsu, he never got the pub because he wasn't a "starter" with Claiborne and matheiu (and peterson) ahead of him. Everytime i saw him play, he impressed. I think he's going to be a fan favorite and a big contributor. Love love love love love this pick!!!!!

 

Sanders was great value. It seems like he lacks a little motivation, but his got the tools. With some good coaching and a little seasoning he could be a starter. If not, he's a solid swing tackle and adds great depth.

 

Carder is also a great value pick and a position of need IMO, he can play inside or outside. Great instincts and even better in coverage. Needs to add some strength to fight through blocks, but considering his draft position, I'm ecstatic to have him. 2 time mt west (yeah I know) defensive player of the year for one of the best defenses in college football. Played in a 4-2-5, which is what we played 40% of the time last year. Like Bradham, sanders and brooks, he adds talent on our bench for the time being, with a chance to become a starter with time.

 

I don't talk about kickers. They aren't really players IMO.

 

Overall, I think it'll be our best draft in decades. 6 guys that really have a chance to be starters (eventually). Experienced players that have played in a lot of big games and each with big upside. Great value picks (except graham, I would've loved sanu, if not mcnutt. But oh well. Chix wanted speed, and he's got it). I think buddy will look like a genius in a couple years after this one. Only time will tell. Just my opinion. Great job buddy.

[ndirish1978]

+1. It's never meaningless if it's well thought out!

[BRAWNDO]

I love the Gilmore pick. Tremendous athlete that's been a starter day one in the best conference in college football (by far). He's a mature kid with tremendous focus and desire. Great size and very good tackling ability. Decent ball skills and has the ability to take back any ball he gets his hands on. Pairing him with Aaron Williams gives us 2 big physical corners for the foreseeable future.

 

Getting Cordy Glenn is the 2nd is a gift from above. Monster of a man with great strength, long arms and decent feet. Another SEC guy thats played vs the best. I'd love for him to be our LT of the future, but I also have high hopes for Hairston. If Hairston turns out to be the guy, Glenn moves over to G or RT and should solidify wither position. This adds great depth at G or RT.

 

Graham....the only pick I'm unsure about. I don't know anything about him, except from what I've read. Could be a mike Wallace. Could be a bum. Could be a decent player that keeps the defense honest. Time will tell, I couldn't tell you anything, except he's a burner and buddy and chan like him. I hope to love him.

 

Bradham. Wow. Really love his hitting. He can be reckless and I can see some penalties for head hunting. Fine by me. I love his aggresiveness, size and speed. Decent in coverage. Seems to be a guy that can play either OLB position in the 4-3. I think he'll be starting in 2013, hopefully by the end (or start of 2012).

 

Brooks is my favorite pick in the draft. I viewed him as a 2nd rd talent. While I really like rogers as a nickel CB, I love brooks there. Might not have the cover skills that Rogers has, but his speed and ability to lay the smack down is a bonus. Great on the blitz. Playing for lsu, he never got the pub because he wasn't a "starter" with Claiborne and matheiu (and peterson) ahead of him. Everytime i saw him play, he impressed. I think he's going to be a fan favorite and a big contributor. Love love love love love this pick!!!!!

 

Sanders was great value. It seems like he lacks a little motivation, but his got the tools. With some good coaching and a little seasoning he could be a starter. If not, he's a solid swing tackle and adds great depth.

 

Carder is also a great value pick and a position of need IMO, he can play inside or outside. Great instincts and even better in coverage. Needs to add some strength to fight through blocks, but considering his draft position, I'm ecstatic to have him. 2 time mt west (yeah I know) defensive player of the year for one of the best defenses in college football. Played in a 4-2-5, which is what we played 40% of the time last year. Like Bradham, sanders and brooks, he adds talent on our bench for the time being, with a chance to become a starter with time.

 

I don't talk about kickers. They aren't really players IMO.

Overall, I think it'll be our best draft in decades. 6 guys that really have a chance to be starters (eventually). Experienced players that have played in a lot of big games and each with big upside. Great value picks (except graham, I would've loved sanu, if not mcnutt. But oh well. Chix wanted speed, and he's got it). I think buddy will look like a genius in a couple years after this one. Only time will tell. Just my opinion. Great job buddy.

 

 

Kickers are people too..

 

[Blanco_Diablo]

Don't sleep on Mark Asper. Solid late rounder as well. Smart guy, very mature, cornerstone of Ducks complex offense that paved the way for Legarrette Blount, LaMichael James and the best rushing offense in Division 1 football in 2011 (7th best in 2009, 5th best in 2010).

[PromoTheRobot]

We won't know how good these players will be for a while yet but there is no question this draft was done to a thought-out plan with high standards of performance for each player picked. Big, fast, character guys. Hard-hitters. I like our odds.

 

PTR

[Packerland Bills Fan]

I thought last year's draft was better, because Dareus is a much better player than Gilmore (or anyone else they could have taken at 10). However, they followed it up with a very solid one. Glenn was a gift in the 2nd. The 4th and 5th round picks were all excellent pickups.

[Marv Levy]

Seems like a good solid draft with positions of need. However, I was really hoping for a QB too. I like Kirk Cousins (MSU), Bills could have gotten him. I don't like our QB depth too much, but I give the Bills a solid A- for this years crop.

 

GO BILLS!

Edited April 30, 2012 by Marv Levy

[Dennis in NC]

Graham....the only pick I'm unsure about. I don't know anything about him, except from what I've read. Could be a mike Wallace. Could be a bum. Could be a decent player that keeps the defense honest. Time will tell, I couldn't tell you anything, except he's a burner and buddy and chan like him. I hope to love him.

I was surprised here, too. But why do so many folks object to drafting a BURNER? I don't think Lee Evans had this kind of speed. He ran the 100 meters for NCSU track team, but did not let track get in the way of his football career.

 

Just watch some of the Youtube stuff on TJ. You might feel better.

 

Brooks is my favorite pick in the draft. I viewed him as a 2nd rd talent. While I really like rogers as a nickel CB, I love brooks there. Might not have the cover skills that Rogers has, but his speed and ability to lay the smack down is a bonus. Great on the blitz. Playing for lsu, he never got the pub because he wasn't a "starter" with Claiborne and matheiu (and peterson) ahead of him. Everytime i saw him play, he impressed. I think he's going to be a fan favorite and a big contributor. Love love love love love this pick!!!!!

They asked Les Miles what's the difference between Brooks and Claiborne. "Claiborne's a little taller."

 

Ha! I, too, love this Ron Brooks pick!

 

I love the whole draft. The kicker (another surprise to me) is a kickoff specialist, shortening the field for the defense.

[BuckeyeBill]

I don't talk about kickers. They aren't really players IMO.

 

But without a great kicker, New England* would have never won a Superbowl. Viniateri was the MVP on those teams, IMHO.

 

If the Bills had a great kicker with a strong leg, I wonder if SuperBowl XXV would have turned out differently.

 

Kickers never get the respect they deserve, but too often they are the difference between celebration and heart break.

[eball]

You simply can not fault the Bills' PLAN in this draft. Everybody seems to be hung up on the 3rd round pick because Graham wasn't on the "experts" radar, but the bottom line is Buddy and Chan REALLY wanted him -- the proof is in the trade-up. That has to mean something. None of the other picks are even slightly questionable, and all of the players have significant upside/experience/character. At the very least, the Bills got a lot deeper; if things break their way, we may have seen 3-4 starters just added to the roster.

 

I'm a fan of the K pick in the 7th. Save Lindell from having to make any more tackles, and give your ST guys a break. If the Bills' defense is going to become the monster it's starting to look like, who doesn't like the idea of making an opponent go 80 yards after every kickoff?

[Max Fischer]

But without a great kicker, New England* would have never won a Superbowl. Viniateri was the MVP on those teams, IMHO.

 

If the Bills had a great kicker with a strong leg, I wonder if SuperBowl XXV would have turned out differently.

 

Kickers never get the respect they deserve, but too often they are the difference between celebration and heart break.

 

Agree. I hope NewEra was kidding but kickers are a huge part of any team and are extremely underrated by fans. Good kickers could make the difference in a few games and great kickers could make a huge difference.

 

I will love this year's pick if it means Bills' opponents are guaranteed to start every drive on the 20.

[tennesseeboy]

I thought we would get Reiff in Round one..but the selections were excellent. Gilmore was the BPA and we do need a corner. Glenn, I'm still not sure about him but on paper the third best tackle out there. I keep thinking Mike Williams, but we shall see. I think Bill from NYC hit the nail on the head calling him high risk but high reward, or something like that. The other picks look excellent.

 

In the final analysis you better not plan to stay around after a six win season without turning the tables on the win-loss record-good draft or bad draft.

[bowery4]

Since corners are 1. better when they are still fast and youngish

2. cost a lot if they are great. 3. A weakness in the making(before the draft). 4."you can't have enough of them",

I like the pick, they got their OT in the 2nd and even added depth @ OL later.

The mid to end of the draft was great (big fan of Tank, love a kid with a great football name).

The kicker well a KO specialist, that is using the FO's head. Good stratigy

[simpleman]

While the draft after round 2 was not exactly what I wished for, with the exception of round 3 I think the Bills did well. But the Round 3 pick was a real WTF. A developmental player, a one dimensional player. There was so much WR talent in the draft and we wasted a 3rd on this pick. And besides we have a QB with a weak arm and lousy accuracy deep. Even if the WR had hands like glue (which his history does not show at all) our QB for at least the next two years is not good enough to take advantage of a burner. There were so many decent quality WR though the first 5 rounds of the draft (and a couple of serviceable TEs that could not only catch, but block and stay back for protection if needed) and we wasted 2 picks on 6 or 7th round talent in the 3rd. No number 2 possession receiver and no developmental QB. The defense got better and I give the Bills and A on defense for the draft, but a C on offense for the draft. The line choices were good, but the QB, TE, and WR were not properly addressed at all. I know everyone says our FO does not do TEs but the rest of the league has moved into the present and out team is stuck in the past about TEs.

Edited April 30, 2012 by simpleman

[Maddog69]

I thought we would get Reiff in Round one..but the selections were excellent. Gilmore was the BPA and we do need a corner. Glenn, I'm still not sure about him but on paper the third best tackle out there. I keep thinking Mike Williams, but we shall see. I think Bill from NYC hit the nail on the head calling him high risk but high reward, or something like that. The other picks look excellent.

 

In the final analysis you better not plan to stay around after a six win season without turning the tables on the win-loss record-good draft or bad draft.

taking him at ten would have been a High risk situation. Having him fall to us in Rd2 is the opposite of high risk. If he plays well at LT, it is a gift from god. If he plays well at RT or G, it is still a good pick. The only risk is if he completely flames out, which does not seem likely. Even if he is a complete bust, he is still just a second round pick. There is very little risk with this pick and potentially tremendous upside.

 

While the draft after round 2 was not exactly what I wished for, with the exception of round 3 I think the Bills did well. But the Round 3 pick was a real WTF. A developmental player, a one dimensional player. There was so much WR talent in the draft and we wasted a 3rd on this pick. And besides we have a QB with a weak arm and lousy accuracy deep. Even if the WR had hands like glue (which his history does not show at all) our QB for at least the next two years is not good enough to take advantage of a burner. There were so many decent quality WR though the first 5 rounds of the draft (and a couple of serviceable TEs that could not only catch, but block and stay back for protection if needed) and we wasted 2 picks on 6 or 7th round talent in the 3rd. No number 2 possession receiver and no developmental QB. The defense got better and I give the Bills and A on defense for the draft, but a C on offense for the draft. The line choices were good, but the QB, TE, and WR were not properly addressed at all. I know everyone says our FO does not do TEs but the rest of the league has moved into the present and out team is stuck in the past about TEs.

I don't think the Bills envision Graham as a deep threat/outside receiver. I expect him to be used more like Roscoe. He will be getting WR screens and quick slants and then will use his elusiveness and speed for RAC yards. I'm sure they will send him on some fly patterns to keep the Defense honest but I don't think that will be his bread and butter.

[eball]

While the draft after round 2 was not exactly what I wished for, with the exception of round 3 I think the Bills did well. But the Round 3 pick was a real WTF. A developmental player, a one dimensional player. There was so much WR talent in the draft and we wasted a 3rd on this pick. And besides we have a QB with a weak arm and lousy accuracy deep. Even if the WR had hands like glue (which his history does not show at all) our QB for at least the next two years is not good enough to take advantage of a burner. There were so many decent quality WR though the first 5 rounds of the draft (and a couple of serviceable TEs that could not only catch, but block and stay back for protection if needed) and we wasted 2 picks on 6 or 7th round talent in the 3rd. No number 2 possession receiver and no developmental QB. The defense got better and I give the Bills and A on defense for the draft, but a C on offense for the draft. The line choices were good, but the QB, TE, and WR were not properly addressed at all. I know everyone says our FO does not do TEs but the rest of the league has moved into the present and out team is stuck in the past about TEs.

There's so much I disagree with about this post I don't know where to start. The only thing I'll say is, you DO realize that Chan and Buddy liked Graham enough to actually give up another pick to move up and grab him, correct? Do you think if Buddy and Chan thought they could get what they wanted out of "so much WR talent in the draft" by picking another player, they wouldn't have done that? This was not a "oh no, the guy we wanted just was picked so we have to scramble for something" pick -- they MOVED UP to get the guy.

 

Why/how do you presume to know better than Chan/Buddy, what they were looking for in a WR, when, again, they MOVED UP to get this particular guy?

[dpberr]

I've liked the Nix drafts and this one doesn't disappoint me.

 

Unlike the other drafts (in another poster's quite thorough post about the drafts from 2005-2009), the Nix drafts have had a plan, and that plan has worked.

 

No reason to doubt it in year #3.

[McBeane]

I don't think the Bills envision Graham as a deep threat/outside receiver. I expect him to be used more like Roscoe. He will be getting WR screens and quick slants and then will use his elusiveness and speed for RAC yards. I'm sure they will send him on some fly patterns to keep the Defense honest but I don't think that will be his bread and butter.

 

Buddy clearly said in a post-draft presser that they will use Graham as an outside receiver. Just because he is small like Roscoe doesn't mean they plan on using him like Roscoe. I am looking forward to seeing what this absolute burner can do in a Bills uni!

 

I don't talk about kickers. They aren't really players IMO.

 

First off, great post. It's nice to have a well thought out post regarding this draft as opposed to uninformed knee-jerk reactions. That said, I totally disagree with you here. Kickers almost always lead the team in scoring and hold nearly every teams scoring records. Having a great kicker can be the difference in close games. Kickers are extremely underrated IMO, we saw what happened with Rayner and Coutu

[scurdog1]

Buddy clearly said in a post-draft presser that they will use Graham as an outside receiver. Just because he is small like Roscoe doesn't mean they plan on using him like Roscoe. I am looking forward to seeing what this absolute burner can do in a Bills uni!

 

 

He's 5'11 and 190 lbs....he's not small! He's basically the same size as Lee, we'll play outside.

[eball]

Buddy clearly said in a post-draft presser that they will use Graham as an outside receiver. Just because he is small like Roscoe doesn't mean they plan on using him like Roscoe. I am looking forward to seeing what this absolute burner can do in a Bills uni!

 

Roscoe -- 5'9" 175 lbs.

Graham -- 5'11" 188 lbs.

 

TJ is not a waterbug slot receiver. He's also a kid, and we can expect he'll add some weight as he adds muscle. The Bills stated publicly they view Graham as an outside deep threat, and he'll need development on other aspects of the position.

 

This is the kind of pick Al Davis was famous for making with the Raiders. Some hit, some don't. But, as they say, you can't coach speed.