Do the Bills have "their guy" picked out?

[mjt328]

On 3/30/2021 at 5:51 AM, GunnerBill said:

It was Allen or Darnold. I have that on very good authority. Mayfield and Rosen were off their board, they didn't like Lamar, if they flamed out on both (and at one point the rumour mill was very much that Allen at #1 to Cleveland was possible) then I think they'd have taken Tremaine at #12 and moved back with the other pick and possible taken Rudolph or Lauletta in round 2/3. 

 

But Beane said recently on that Collinsworth podcast thing that the week before the draft they were pretty certain Mayfield was going to be #1 and most people believed the Jets loved Darnold so on draft night itself, I actually think it probably was "all about Josh Allen" for Buffalo. They talked to Cleveland about #4 but believed they were making a pick, they had a deal ready to go with Denver for #5 but Elway pulled it because Chubb was there, they spoke to the Colts but Ballard was not for moving and the Bills were pretty sure he wasn't taking a QB (still had Luck). He talked at pretty good length on the process recently (sure it was on that Collinsworth thing) and while of course had it not worked out they would still have made picks and done something else.... I think Josh Allen might be the rare case of where Brandon Beane sat down in his chair in the War Room 5 minutes before the draft and said to himself "it is Josh Allen or bust."

 

Sounds about right, based on what I've heard.

 

Outside of Cleveland (who had picks #1 and #4), the Bills had the best collection of capitol going into that draft.  If a team in the Top 10 was interested in moving down, Buffalo was the first team for them to negotiate with.  So as long as Beane kept in contact, there was very little danger that another franchise could suddenly leap into the fray and steal a spot ahead of them.

 

Everybody knew the Browns were going QB at #1, and the Jets were going QB at #3.  In his conversations with the various GMs, Beane correctly determined that neither the Giants (#2) or Colts (#6) were interested in trading down from their spots.  The Browns were also not interested in moving from the #4 spot, since they already had tons of picks stockpiled.

 

That left Denver at #5 and Tampa Bay at #7, and Beane has stated that tentative deals were agreed to with both franchises.  When Bradley Chubb fell to the Broncos, the deal went to the Bucs and the rest is history.

 

[Boxcar]

On PFF's latest mock, they have Caleb Farley to NO at 28. I'd hope Beane would trade up if that happens.

[Thurman#1]

On 3/30/2021 at 9:00 PM, auburnbillsbacker said:

I think there is a 90% chance the trade up.  Like the OP said, they tend to target guys then find a way to get them.

 

 

They do often make small tradeups. 

 

And yet outside of the one year when they stockpiled large amounts of capital to trade up for Allen, and had not used it all up in getting him and so were able to also go get Edmunds, they haven't traded up in the first.

 

 Most likely because they'd have to give too much.

 

2 hours ago, Boxcar said:

On PFF's latest mock, they have Caleb Farley to NO at 28. I'd hope Beane would trade up if that happens.

 

 

Farley had back surgery a couple of days ago.

 

If they vet him medically, maybe they take him, but he's more likely to fall to us or even farther at this point. He's likely a riskier pick at this point.

 

I certainly wouldn't see us trading up anyway.

Edited April 1, 2021 by Thurman#1

[eball]

There is only one position I’m confident the Bills won’t target with the 30th pick in the draft — QB.  Anything else (besides ST specialists) is fair game based upon who the BPA is at that point.