I'll leave this list here for the non-QB in the 1st people

[Kirby Jackson]

The person who didn't rate RGIII as high as most was Mike Shanahan, the coach of the Redskins. It was the owner who was in love with him. Much of the infatuation had to do with the marketing potential of the star player. Or another way of saying it was the marketing inclination of the owner who demanded the selection. Shanahan told the owner before the draft that it would take at least three years of training before he would be ready to play in the NFL. The owner wasn't interested in hearing what the HC had to say.

 

RGIII had a good rookie year. Much of it due to his physical abilities and little to do with his mental grasp of the game. When the battered RGIII had to rely on his mental talents for the game instead of his physical abilities he was sunk as a player. The same deficiency that still plagues him.

 

Mike Shanahan has taken a lot of unfair criticism for the way he handled RGIII. The problem wasn't the coach for this diva player's stupendous failure. It was the hard headed player who was too intoxicated with himself to listen to anyone who might be critical of this heaven sent gift to the NFL.

 

The person who knew the scoop about Griffin along with the HC was Kyle Shanahan, the son, who was the OC. Kyle outright detested Griffin not because he couldn't grasp what he was trying to teach him but because he was not receptive to what he was trying to teach him to the point of being dismissive. It didn't take long for the Shanahans, father and son, to recognize that Cousins was ultimately going to be the better qb. They were right.

It is kind of odd that everyone loved RG except the people that paid the price for him. They were saying (forget which service) that Luck and RG3 were the highest graded QBs since Peyton.

[dave mcbride]

The person who didn't rate RGIII as high as most was Mike Shanahan, the coach of the Redskins. It was the owner who was in love with him. Much of the infatuation had to do with the marketing potential of the star player. It was the marketing inclination of the owner who demanded the selection. Shanahan told the owner before the draft that it would take at least three years of training before he would be ready to play in the NFL. The owner wasn't interested in hearing what the HC had to say.

 

RGIII had a good rookie year. Much of it due to his physical abilities and little to do with his mental grasp of the game. When the battered RGIII had to rely on his mental talents for the game instead of his physical abilities he was sunk as a player. The same deficiency that still plagues him.

 

Mike Shanahan has taken a lot of unfair criticism for the way he handled RGIII. The problem wasn't the coach for this diva player's stupendous failure. It was the hard headed player who was too intoxicated with himself to listen to anyone who might be critical of this heaven sent gift to the NFL.

 

The person who knew the scoop about Griffin along with the HC was Kyle Shanahan, the son, who was the OC. Kyle outright detested Griffin not because he couldn't grasp what he was trying to teach him but because he was not receptive to what he was trying to teach him to the point of being dismissive. It didn't take long for the Shanahans, father and son, to recognize that Cousins was ultimately going to be the better qb. They were right.

This is an excellent post. I agree that the Shanahans were unfairly maligned. Some people thought Kyle was a nobody who got his job through nepotism. Nepotism surely played a role, but he's a hell of an OC.

[Kirby Jackson]

This is an excellent post. I agree that the Shanahans were unfairly maligned. Some people thought Kyle was a nobody who got his job through nepotism. Nepotism surely played a role, but he's a hell of an OC.

He's a really good football coach and I think that his system will always work. There are things like the Tampa 2, the Ryan 4-6, the wishbone, etc... that have come and gone. That Shanahan offense worked 20 years ago, works now and will work in the future.

[JohnC]

It is kind of odd that everyone loved RG except the people that paid the price for him. They were saying (forget which service) that Luck and RG3 were the highest graded QBs since Peyton.

I have no doubt that some rating groups rated RGIII highly. He was a physical phenomenon. It was the owner driving the bus on the selection. From what was written post Shanahan (revisionism) the former HC did not want to pay the exorbitant price to get the deal done. The owner insisted on it.

 

In hindsight, if the owner would have followed Shanahan's advice and used the traded picks to address more needs the team would have been better off. And the tiresome and lingering Griffin drama would have been avoided. It must also be remembered that it was Shanahan's keen eye for qb prospects that resulted in the selection of Cousins in the same draft in the fourth round. The second qb selection understandably resulted in a lot of criticism but deep down it probably was a hedge against what he knew could happen with the first qb selection.

 

It's not provable because people skew the truth to make themselves look good or not look bad but I really believe that Shanahan was right on his assessment on Griffin and his assessment on Cousins. At least that's how it looks to me. What's really aggravating is that Russell Wilson and Cousins were there for the taking. Nix declined the opportunity and the rest is history. We're still having an extended discussion on the qb prospects.

[JohnC]

This is an excellent post. I agree that the Shanahans were unfairly maligned. Some people thought Kyle was a nobody who got his job through nepotism. Nepotism surely played a role, but he's a hell of an OC.

Kyle covets Cousins. And Cousins covets Kyle. So that attraction is still in play. Unquestionably Cousins is in tune with Kyles complicated schemes and required multi-reads. Griffin was never going to grasp the intricacies of Kyle's system. And neither would a qb such as TT. (Not making a criticism but observation.) In fact, Matt Ryan often clashed with Kyle in their first year working together. It took an offseason of peace making before they came to an understanding and accommodation to dealing with one another.

 

While acknowledging his fertile mind in designing plays my one complaint with coaches such as Kyle is that too often they are unable to adjust their complicated systems and tone it done to people who are not ready to grasp the totality of what they are offering. More often than not steadily parceling out your playbook in manageable bites instead of throwing the book at the besieged and uncomprehending player is a better way to go.

Edited April 26, 2017 by JohnC

[Kirby Jackson]

Kyle covets Cousins. And Cousins covets Kyle. So that attraction is still in play. Unquestionably Cousins is in tune with Kyles complicated schemes and required multi-reads. Griffin was never going to grasp the intricacies of Kyle's system. And neither would a qb such as TT. (Not making a criticism but observation.) In fact, Matt Ryan often clashed with Kyle in their first year working together. It took an offseason of peace making before they came to an understanding and accommodation to dealing with one another.

 

While acknowledging his fertile mind in designing plays my one complaint with coaches such as Kyle is that too often they are unable to adjust their complicated systems and tone it done to people who are not ready to grasp the totality of what they are offering. More often than not steadily parceling out your playbook in manageable bites instead of throwing the book at the besieged uncomprehending player is a better way to go.

I have long thought that Cousins for pick 2 made sense for both sides.

[JohnC]

He's a really good football coach and I think that his system will always work. There are things like the Tampa 2, the Ryan 4-6, the wishbone, etc... that have come and gone. That Shanahan offense worked 20 years ago, works now and will work in the future.

His zone blocking and running schemes have always worked. One of the first thinks that Mike S does when he takes over a team is get blockers who are capable of executing his blocking schemes.

[major]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, we should draft a QB every year (I don't care which round either)

[BigBuff423]

I would be willing to bet that a QB at 10 would have a similar rate of becoming a franchise QB as a second round QB historically.

 

In reality, the best QBs are drafted in the first few picks, definitely before 10, and then the late gems. (wilson 3rd, brady 6th, etc...) My opinion is you draft a QB in the first 3 picks or you wait until later rounds. No need in wasting picks (like the jets) just drafting a qb yearly for the sake of it. OP wants to believe all you need is QB but that is only true with the Cheaters. Even Peyton Manning and Drew Brees needed significant help getting rings, and only did when they had defenses that were class of the league. Are you suggesting we will get a QB better than Manning or Brees at the tenth overall freakin pick?

 

Not to rain on your parade, but Brees was a 2nd round pick out of Purdue....not exactly a football factory. I agree the answer to QB is the most frustrating as a Bills fan, maybe even more than the actual losing because there isn't that single player identity many other franchises have.

[JohnC]

I have long thought that Cousins for pick 2 made sense for both sides.

Russell Wilson and Cousins were there to be had for us in that draft year but Nix dithered. It was a disastrous decision that has had lasting repercussions on this troubled franchise. Nix commented after that particular draft that he was eyeing a qb that was taken just before us in the fourth round. I believe it was Cousins while some say it was Wilson. I never believed it was Wilson because Nix had the old school bias of a preference for prospects to meet a physical profile.

[Playoffs?]

Tyrod Taylor is really underrated by this fanbase in general. It's interesting - when I talk to fans of other teams, they hold him in higher regard than many here.

 

I can't wait to see what he can do with real coaching and better receivers.

Agree. To me, TT was not a franchise guy last year, but who knows if coaching and better/healthier receivers will make a difference? If the Bills are pretty sure they have a franchise guy, then draft him. Otherwise, we know that TT is serviceable at least. We're not just missing a franchise QB.. we're missing a lot of pieces. Let's fill them in! Then we need coaches who can coach and a GM that can freakin manage our team and $!

[Saxum]

Your point that the FO should pull the trigger IF they believe they've found The Franchise QB is well-taken. The problem around here is that OBD is regarded by a large portion of its fan base as incompetent, so that drafting a QB at 10 will prove that incompetence while to another group NOT drafting one is a sign of its incompetence. In other words, OBD is expected to believe what the fans believe or else they're morons who should be fired.

 

Right now, there are committed factions supporting about every QB coming out of college. And it seems like OBD has scouted everyone of them. So if they don't jump on one at 10, many of the "fans" around here won't give them the benefit of the doubt but will instantly unleash thread after hateful thread about their incompetence. It's pretty much a "lose-lose" situation for OBD.

 

So you are saying the Bills should act like "fans", be morons?

[mannc]

Russell Wilson and Cousins were there to be had for us in that draft year but Nix dithered. It was a disastrous decision that has had lasting repercussions on this troubled franchise. Nix commented after that particular draft that he was eyeing a qb that was taken just before us in the fourth round. I believe it was Cousins while some say it was Wilson. I never believed it was Wilson because Nix had the old school bias of a preference for prospects to meet a physical profile.

It wasn't Wilson. He was taken in round 3. Cousins went in round 4. I think Nix opted for a DB from Wake Forest in that round.

[BobChalmers]

The problem is that if you build yourself a nice mediocre KC or Houston type team you'll win 11 games each season, have zero chance of going anywhere in the playoffs and lose early every year for 5-6 years.

 

Then your core players get older, teams poach your free agents or you sign players to huge contracts to keep them and maintain the mediocrity and suddenly the window of being somewhat decent but going nowhere closes and you're back to square one.

 

That's the plan if you do not have a QB.

 

KC and Houston will never advance to the Super Bowl, let alone win without a real QB. Both teams have stacked rosters and good coaching. They will win a bunch of games, then lose in either the Wild Card or Divisional round again, depending on who they draw for matchups.

 

So what's the point?

 

Worst of all, your mediocre "no chance in the post-season" team will never be up high enough to take a top QB prospect.

So who is Cleveland taking this year that qualifies for using their #1 pick???

 

Some years are just crap for QB's. When the Bills took Trent Edwards with a 3rd, in retrospect he may have been the best one in the whole draft. Just turns out there were ZERO franchise QBs to be had that year.

[hondo in seattle]

While our college scouting department has not been the best, DW and McD don't have much choice but to trust the scouts.

 

If the scouts think an available QB is worthy of a #10 pick, take him. If not, take the best player on the board.

 

It's not wise to make up your mind to take a QB no matter what. I think that's what happened with EJ and we wasted the pick. We're not good enough to waste picks.

[BobChalmers]

It is kind of odd that everyone loved RG except the people that paid the price for him. They were saying (forget which service) that Luck and RG3 were the highest graded QBs since Peyton.

 

The hype about RG3 was always that - HYPE. BS the media was stirring up to make the draft exciting, and Redskins owner Dan Snyder was just the sort of fan-turned-owner idiot to fall for it.

 

Andrew Luck was the highest rated prospect since BEFORE Manning - you have to go back to Elway to find a higher rated QB prospect.

 

RG3 was not remotely ever in Luck's class as a prospect.

 

 

None of this year's QB's are worth a first - much like the EJ/Geno year. Maybe a second for some of them.

Edited April 26, 2017 by BobChalmers

[QuoteTheRaven83]

Sorry but there's not 1 QB in this year's draft that will be an immediate upgrade over Tyrod in the next 2 years. Draft players that will help from day 1.

 

Don't feel like we should play the QB carousel for the next 10 years. Get it right the next time. Quantity doesn't equal quality

[Reed83HOF]

Sorry but there's not 1 QB in this year's draft that will be an immediate upgrade over Tyrod in the next 2 years. Draft players that will help from day 1.

 

Don't feel like we should play the QB carousel for the next 10 years. Get it right the next time. Quantity doesn't equal quality

 

The difference between TT and a journeyman will have a very small if any effect on our record...

[PolishDave]

First off I'm a new member here, but have been reading this board along with BBMB for years. This is my first ever post so I expect to get some abuse as I've seen before, lol. Anyway, I've wavered a lot in the past few months in what I want the Bills to do. With position players, it obviously depends on how the board falls, but I think there are realistically 5-6 players that would make sense for us at 10 that I wouldn't be mad at. With that said, I look at this list of former 1st round picks: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Buffalo_Bills_first-round_draft_picks....especially since 2000 and think what's the point if we don't have a QB. There's some great players, solid starters, bust and everywhere in between, but can you honestly say any of them were franchise changing players? No you can't and until we find a QB it just doesn't matter. I understand people are frustrated with no playoffs (as am I), but I'd much rather have our goal be to be a contender year in and year out than to "just make the playoffs." I don't want to just do what the Dolphins did last year and get in the playoffs, but lose early. I want to contend for a Super Bowl and to do that you need a franchise QB. Maybe this QB class isn't the best compared to past years, but if the Bills can identity someone who they think can be that guy and he's there at 10, take him and don't think twice. If he flames out, I still wouldn't be mad at the pick because we took a chance. Its a risk we need to take. If we take the next Darrel Revis or Luke Keuchly, but go 8-8 for the next 3 years then who cares. Not to mention, non-QB have a chance to be a bust, too. My draft dream is for the Bills to trade back a bit, get an extra 2nd or 3rd (to help with their positional needs) and still get their guy at QB, but not sure how realistic that is and it risks losing their guy. So if they want to take him at 10, I'm all for it

 

Just because you want an elite QB so badly with all your heart - does not mean that the college ranks is going to produce one in the draft - nor does it mean your team is going to identify the right guy and decide he is the one they want.

[TheFunPolice]

Here's the trouble with the "trade a couple firsts NEXT YEAR" idea when it comes to QB....

 

If I thought the next Peyton Manning was sitting there and I could pick him, there's pretty much nothing you could trade me to make me pass up a guy who could take me to and win me Super Bowls and give me 15+ years of HOF type play.

 

3 1st rounders isn't worth it. Hell, 5 wouldn't be either. After all, as we so often hear, most drafts don't have ANY good QB prospects at all. So when would I get mine?